Quick Answer
Portuguese universities grade on a 0–20 scale, where 10 is the minimum passing grade and 20 is the highest. Official qualitative descriptors, established by Portuguese law (Decree-Law No. 42/2005), are: 10–13 = Suficiente (Sufficient), 14–15 = Bom (Good), 16–17 = Muito Bom (Very Good), and 18–20 = Excelente (Excellent). Unlike Italy, Portugal records failing grades (0–9) on the transcript and does not have a separate final degree scale — final degree marks are calculated as a weighted average on the same 0–20 scale. There is no official Portugal-to-US GPA conversion table published by any government body; US universities and credential evaluators like WES convert grades individually.
Portuguese Grading Scale at a Glance
- Individual exams and final degree: 0–20 scale (“escala de 0 a 20 valores”)
- 10 is the minimum passing grade — grades below 10 are recorded on the transcript as failing grades (0–9)
- Official qualitative descriptors: 10–13 = Suficiente, 14–15 = Bom, 16–17 = Muito Bom, 18–20 = Excelente
- Final degree classification is a weighted average on the same 0–20 scale, calculated using ECTS credits
- Portuguese universities also use the ECTS grading scale (A–E), based on statistical distribution of passing grades over the previous three years
- Grades of 17+ are exceptional and rarely awarded — 18–20 is genuinely outstanding performance
ECTS Grading System
Grade Lookup Tool
Why No Single GPA Number
A Real US Conversion Example
WES Conversion
Reporting Your GPA
FAQs
Understanding the Portuguese 0–20 Scale
Portuguese university exams and final degrees are graded on a scale from 0 to 20, established by Decree-Law No. 42/2005 of 22 February. A grade of 10 is the minimum passing mark — this is the legal standard across all Portuguese public universities.
Unlike Italy, where failing grades are not recorded, Portugal records all grades from 0 to 9 on the transcript as failing grades. These do not have a corresponding ECTS grade. Students cannot “reject” a passing grade to retake an exam — the accepted grade is final.
The official qualitative descriptors, as published by the Portuguese Directorate-General for Higher Education (DGES), are:
| Portuguese Grade (0–20) | Official Descriptor | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 18–20 | Excelente | Excellent |
| 16–17 | Muito Bom | Very Good |
| 14–15 | Bom | Good |
| 10–13 | Suficiente | Sufficient / Pass |
| 0–9 | Reprovado | Fail (recorded on transcript) |
Good to know: Portuguese grading culture is known to be conservative — grades of 17 and above are exceptional and rarely awarded. A 16 represents very good academic performance, while 18–20 is genuinely outstanding and may not appear for years in some departments. This cultural context is important when interpreting a Portuguese transcript.
The ECTS Grading System in Portugal
Portuguese universities complement the national 0–20 scale with the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) grading scale (A–E). ECTS grades are not a replacement for national grades — they provide additional context on how a student performed relative to their peers.
At Portuguese institutions, ECTS grades are assigned based on the statistical distribution of passing grades over the previous three academic years. The distribution follows this reference scale:
| ECTS Grade | Qualitative Definition | % of Passing Students | Portuguese Scale (10–20) |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Excellent | Top 10% | 18–20 |
| B | Very Good | Next 25% | 16–17 |
| C | Good | Next 30% | 14–15 |
| D | Satisfactory | Next 25% | 12–13 |
| E | Sufficient | Last 10% | 10–11 |
Source: Instituto Superior Técnico ECTS Grading System and University of Coimbra Assessment Methods. ECTS grades are based on the distribution of passing grades (10–20) only — failing grades (0–9) do not receive an ECTS grade.
Portuguese Grade Lookup Tool
This tool shows your grade’s official Portuguese descriptor, an approximate ECTS equivalent, and an approximate US GPA equivalent based on commonly accepted conversion standards. It does not generate an official GPA — see the sections below on why that number can’t be produced by a simple formula, and how to get an official conversion.
Why There’s No Single “Correct” US GPA Number
1. No Official Portugal-to-US Conversion Authority
There is no official Portugal-to-US GPA formula published by the Portuguese government, the US Department of Education, or any bilateral agreement. The Portuguese Directorate-General for Higher Education (DGES) does publish a formula for converting foreign grades into the Portuguese scale (for students coming into Portugal) — but this runs in the opposite direction and is not applicable for US GPA conversion.
2. Institution-Specific Charts Vary
Some US universities publish their own conversion charts for Portuguese grades (see the Emory example below). These are real and usable as reference points, but they apply to that institution’s own grading system — not to every US institution.
3. Middle-Range Grades Have Inconsistent Conversions
Even among reputable sources like Expatica, Scholaro, and GradeAtlas, there is variation in how grades 13–17 map to US letter grades and GPA points. Some sources place 16 as a B+ (3.3), others as an A- (3.7). The tool above uses the widely accepted mid-point for reference purposes.
A Real US Conversion Example
Emory University’s Study Abroad program publishes a grade conversion chart for the Study in Portugal Network (SiPN). It’s a useful concrete example of how one US institution handles the conversion — not a universal standard:
| Portuguese Grade | Emory University US Grade Equivalent |
|---|---|
| 17–20 | A |
| 16–16.9 | A- |
| 15–15.9 | B+ |
| 14–14.9 | B |
| 13–13.9 | B- |
| 12–12.9 | C+ |
| 11–11.9 | C |
| 10–10.9 | C- |
| 9.5–9.9 | D |
| 1–9.4 | F |
Source: Emory College Study Abroad, Semester Program Study Abroad Credit and Grade Translation Memo (revised November 2016). This chart applies specifically to Emory’s own credit transfer and grade translation process — your target university’s admissions or study-abroad office may use a different scale entirely.
How WES Converts Portuguese Grades
Most US universities, scholarship programs, and immigration processes that require a numeric GPA from a Portuguese transcript point applicants to a NACES-accredited credential evaluation service, most commonly World Education Services (WES). WES evaluates Portuguese credentials by converting each grade individually and weighting the results by credit hours (ECTS) to produce a final GPA.
- Report type: A “Course-by-Course” evaluation — not a basic “Document-by-Document” report — is what produces a converted GPA. Confirm which type your target program requires.
- Cost and timeline change over time — check wes.org directly for current pricing rather than relying on a fixed figure.
- Apostille/authentication: Portugal is a Hague Apostille Convention member, so Portuguese academic documents can generally be apostilled if a program requires authenticated copies.
- The result from any pre-evaluation calculator, including the one on this page, is a planning estimate only — not an official evaluation.
How to Report Your Portuguese GPA on US Applications
1. Report Your Original Grades First
Don’t self-convert to a 4.0 scale unless the application specifically asks for a US-equivalent GPA. Report your grades on the 0–20 scale as they appear on your transcript.
2. Include Your Grading Scale Explanation
Portuguese transcripts don’t always spell out the scale explicitly for a foreign reader — attach a brief explanation or the Diploma Supplement (Suplemento ao Diploma) wherever the application allows supporting documents. The Diploma Supplement includes both the national grade and the ECTS grade.
3. Get a Formal Evaluation If Required
Many US graduate programs and scholarships — including some competitive, merit-based ones — require a WES or equivalent NACES-member evaluation rather than a self-reported conversion.
4. Don’t Round Up
If your evaluated GPA falls in a range, report the figure your evaluator actually gives you — not the top of the band.
Converting other grading systems? See these guides:
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I convert my Portuguese grade to a single, official US GPA number?
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Is 10 a good grade in Portugal?
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What’s the difference between the 0–20 scale and the final degree scale?
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Should I convert my Portuguese GPA myself for scholarship applications?
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Are failing grades recorded on Portuguese transcripts?
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Christian Chinonso is the founder of LearnViaHub, with 6+ years of research experience in international education, GPA systems, and study-abroad guidance for international students.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.