Written by Christian Chinonso
Founder, LearnViaHub | Academic Credential & International Student Research
✓ Last checked: 16 October 2026
Quick answer
Swiss universities grade from 1 to 6, where 6 is the highest and 4.0 is the minimum pass. Anything below 4.0 is a fail. ETH Zurich grades in quarter steps, and EPFL allows half and quarter points.
A 4.5 is a pass, half a point above the minimum. It is not a GPA, and it is not a 4.5 out of 5.
We found no official Swiss-to-US GPA conversion. EPFL says it does not publish a table of equivalences with other grading systems, so report your grades as printed and use the method your target programme names.
The Swiss 1–6 scale
Every source we read agrees on the core of the scale: the highest grade is 6, the lowest is 1, and a grade of 4 or higher passes. The differences are in the steps between grades and in how each university describes them.
| Grade | What it means |
|---|---|
| 6.0 | Highest grade |
| 4.0 to 6.0 | Pass |
| Below 4.0 | Fail |
| 1.0 | Lowest grade |
ETH Zurich puts it this way: “The performance assessment is passed if it receives a grade of 4.0 or higher” (ETH Zurich). The University of Bern says a passing attainment needs a grade between 4 and 6 and that grades between 1 and 3 do not count (University of Bern).
How Swiss universities state it
| University | Scale | Pass mark | Steps |
|---|---|---|---|
| ETH Zurich | 6.0 to 1.0 | 4.0 | Quarter grades |
| EPFL | 1 to 6 | 4.0 | Half and quarter points |
| University of Geneva | 6.00 to 0 | 4.00 | Not stated on the page we read |
| University of Bern | 1 to 6 | 4 | Not stated on the page we read |
Sources: ETH, EPFL grading certificate (undated), Geneva and Bern. Each university sets its own rules, so check the one on your transcript.
ECTS grades
Swiss universities do not share one table for ECTS letter grades. The University of Geneva publishes its own (Geneva grading scale). Its page says the table applies “as of the May/June 2011 exam session” and was last modified in February 2026:
| Geneva grade | ECTS grade |
|---|---|
| 6.00, 5.75, 5.50, 5.25 | A (Excellent) |
| 5.00, 4.75 | B (Very good) |
| 4.50 | C (Good) |
| 4.25 | D (Satisfactory) |
| 4.00 | E (Pass) |
| Below 4.00 | F (Fail) |
This is Geneva’s table, not a national one. EPFL says its certificate does not cover ECTS letter grades, and ETH’s page does not publish one, so we do not apply Geneva’s mapping to other universities. Bern publishes its own mapping, for example a 6 as A and a 4 as E (Bern).
Blocks, averages and retakes
At ETH, the result of an examination block is the weighted average of its individual grades. A block is passed at an average of at least 4.0, and credits are awarded only when the whole block is passed. A failed assessment may be repeated once, and a failed block is repeated as a whole (ETH).
At EPFL, subjects grouped in a block are passed as a whole when their weighted average is 4 or higher, even if one subject is below 4. A subject with a grade below 1 and no valid reason for a missed exam or late work receives NA (not acquired), which counts as a fail. Averages are calculated to the second decimal (EPFL transcripts page, grading certificate).
Worked example
Four hypothetical courses in one block, weighted by credits as an illustration. Your own regulations set the real weights:
| Course | Grade | Credits | Grade × credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 5.25 | 6 | 31.50 |
| B | 4.50 | 4 | 18.00 |
| C | 5.00 | 3 | 15.00 |
| D | 4.00 | 3 | 12.00 |
| Total | 16 | 76.50 |
The weighted average is 76.50 ÷ 16 = 4.78, which is above 4.0, so the block would pass. This is a planning figure, not your official result, and it is not a GPA.
How US readers treat Swiss grades
EPFL states that it does not publish a table of equivalences with other grading systems (EPFL grading certificate). We found no official Swiss-to-US conversion from a Swiss or US government body. US schools and credential evaluators set their own methods, so ask your target programme which one it uses.
If a programme requires a formal evaluation, see our WES evaluation guide. Switzerland is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, in force since 11 March 1973 (HCCH status table). Ask the receiving institution whether it requires an apostille.
Reporting your Swiss grades
- Report your grades as printed, on the 1–6 scale, with the pass mark of 4.0 stated.
- Attach your university’s grading certificate or transcript key where the application allows supporting documents.
- Convert only if the application asks, and use the method it names.
- Report the figure an evaluator gives you and do not round it up.
Converting other grading systems? See these guides:
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert a Swiss grade to a US GPA?
There is no official conversion. Report your grades as printed on the 1–6 scale and follow the method your target programme or evaluator names. We found no source that fixes one US value for each Swiss grade.
What is a 4.5 in the Swiss grading system?
A pass. The minimum pass is 4.0, so a 4.5 is half a point above it. Geneva’s table maps a 4.50 to ECTS C. It is not a 4.5 GPA and not a grade out of 5.
What is the passing grade in Switzerland?
It is 4.0 at ETH Zurich, EPFL, Geneva and Bern. Grades below 4.0 are fails.
What is the highest grade in Switzerland?
A 6. Universities such as ETH describe the scale as 6.0 (highest) to 1.0 (lowest).
Does Switzerland use GPA?
The universities we read grade each assessment from 1 to 6 and calculate weighted averages. We did not find a GPA at them.
Is a Swiss 5.0 the same as a 5.0 GPA?
No. A Swiss 5.0 is a 1–6 grade, one point above the pass mark of 4.0 and one below the maximum. US schools or evaluators decide how to read it.
Can I retake a failed Swiss course?
It depends on the university. ETH lets you repeat a failed performance assessment once, and a failed block is repeated as a whole. Check your own regulations.
Do all Swiss universities use the same ECTS table?
No. Geneva publishes its own table, and Bern publishes another. We found no national table.
Should I convert my Swiss grades myself for an application?
Only if the application asks, and with the method it names. If it requires an evaluation, use the evaluator it names.
How we researched this
Last checked: 16 October 2026. We read ETH Zurich’s page on degrees, credits and grading, EPFL’s grading certificate and transcripts page, the University of Geneva’s grading scale page, the University of Bern’s attainment checks page and the Hague Conference Apostille status table.
Limits: we read four universities, not all Swiss institutions, and the rules can differ elsewhere. EPFL’s certificate is undated, and Geneva’s ECTS table dates from the 2011 exam session. We did not read the University of Zurich, Basel or other regulations, and we found no national ECTS table or official Swiss-to-US conversion. The worked example uses hypothetical grades. Universities revise their rules, so confirm the current version with your registrar.
This page is for general information. LearnViaHub is not affiliated with any Swiss university, credential evaluator or government agency mentioned. Check the requirements of your target programme before applying.
Christian Chinonso is the founder of LearnViaHub, with 6+ years of research experience in international education — including GPA systems, scholarships, student financing, and study-abroad guidance — for students worldwide.