Convert Egyptian Grades to US GPA

Scale: Egyptian universities use a percentage-based system with Arabic descriptors. Mumtaz (90%+) is the highest distinction. The minimum passing grade is typically 50% (Rased), though some faculties set 60%.  |  Range: 0–100% percentage scale (pass = 50%)
US GPA Equivalent
4.00
Excellent
US Letter Grade
Egypt Grade
90–100%
Score Range
90–100
Classification
Mumtaz — Excellent

How Egyptian University Grading Works

Egypt's higher education system is overseen by the Supreme Council of Universities (SCU) and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. Egyptian universities use a percentage-based grading system with Arabic descriptors that classify academic performance into five passing bands plus fail.

The five official grade categories are: Mumtaz (ممتاز, 90–100%) — Excellent; Jayyed Jiddan (جيد جداً, 80–89%) — Very Good; Jayyed (جيد, 70–79%) — Good; Maqbool (مقبول, 60–69%) — Satisfactory/Acceptable; Rased (راسب, 50–59%) — Bare Pass. Scores below 50% receive Rasib (راسب) — Fail. Some technical faculties (Engineering, Medicine, Pharmacy) raise the pass threshold to 60% (Maqbool).

Egyptian public universities typically award a Licence degree (Lisans) after 4–5 years of undergraduate study, with Medicine and Dentistry taking 6 years. The cumulative average (Al-Taqdir Al-Am) is printed on the final transcript as both a percentage and a descriptor. Graduate programmes — Diploma, Master's (Majistir), and Doctorate (Dukturah) — follow similar grading conventions.

Key Egyptian institutions: Cairo University — Egypt's flagship public university, founded 1908, consistently QS ranked; Al-Azhar University — the world's oldest continuously operating university (970 AD), particularly renowned for Islamic studies and medicine; American University in Cairo (AUC) — uses the US 4.0 GPA system directly due to US accreditation; Alexandria University — leading institution in the Nile Delta region; Ain Shams University — major Cairo public university across 15 faculties.

Egypt to US GPA Conversion Table

Percentage Arabic Descriptor English Meaning US GPA US Letter
90–100% ممتاز (Mumtaz) Excellent 4.00 A
80–89% جيد جداً (Jayyed Jiddan) Very Good 3.50 B+
70–79% جيد (Jayyed) Good 3.00 B
60–69% مقبول (Maqbool) Satisfactory 2.00 C
50–59% راصد (Rased) Pass 1.00 D
< 50% راسب (Rasib) Fail 0.00 F

Conversion Formula

Band-based conversion (recommended): Match your percentage to the table above.

Approximate formula: US GPA ≈ (Percentage − 50) ÷ 50 × 4.0

Example: 85% → (85 − 50) ÷ 50 × 4.0 = 35 ÷ 50 × 4.0 = 2.8 GPA (approximate)

The band-based method is preferred by WES and NACES evaluators. The formula is a rough estimate only. Always use an accredited credential evaluation service for official applications.

Conversion Example

Student: Ahmed studies Computer Engineering at Cairo University and is applying to US MS programmes.

His transcript grades: Data Structures 88% (3 hrs), Algorithms 92% (3 hrs), Operating Systems 75% (3 hrs), Networks 83% (3 hrs), Graduation Project 91% (6 hrs).

Egyptian cumulative: (88×3 + 92×3 + 75×3 + 83×3 + 91×6) / 18 = (264 + 276 + 225 + 249 + 546) / 18 = 1560 / 18 = 86.7% — Jayyed Jiddan (Very Good)

US GPA equivalent: 86.7% falls in 80–89% band = 3.50 / 4.0 (B+) — Competitive for US MS engineering programmes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the pass mark at Egyptian universities?▼
The standard pass mark at Egyptian public universities is 50% (Rased). However, some faculties — particularly Engineering, Medicine, and Pharmacy — require a minimum of 60% (Maqbool) to pass. Check your specific faculty's regulations (Laiha), as this varies by institution and programme.
Why does Jayyed Jiddan (80–89%) convert to 3.5 GPA rather than 4.0?▼
Egyptian grading is more stringent than the US system — achieving 80–89% in Egypt is genuinely competitive and corresponds to Very Good performance. However, the jump between bands is large, so WES and similar services map it to 3.5 (B+) rather than 4.0, reserving the top conversion for Mumtaz (90%+). This reflects international comparative standards.
How does Al-Azhar University's grading compare to other Egyptian universities?▼
Al-Azhar University uses the same percentage descriptors (Mumtaz, Jayyed Jiddan, etc.) as other Egyptian public universities, but the conversion follows the same standard bands. However, Al-Azhar's religious studies programmes may have specific evaluation criteria. Medical, Engineering, and Science faculties at Al-Azhar follow standard Egyptian grading conventions.
Do I need a certified translation for Egyptian transcripts?▼
Yes. Egyptian university transcripts are issued in Arabic and require certified English translation for US applications. Most US universities require transcripts to be evaluated by a NACES-member organisation such as WES, ECE, or IERF. Some Egyptian universities provide bilingual (Arabic/English) transcripts on request, but a WES evaluation is still typically required.
Is an Egyptian Licence degree equivalent to a US bachelor's degree?▼
A 4-year Egyptian Licence (Lisans) degree is generally evaluated as equivalent to a US bachelor's degree by WES and NACES member organisations. A 5-year degree (as in Engineering) or 6-year degree (Medicine/Dentistry) is evaluated equivalently. Egyptian Diplomas (1–2 years post-Licence) are evaluated as graduate-level certificates, not master's degrees.

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Sources & References
Egypt Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research grading regulations.
WES (World Education Services) Country Guide: Egypt.
NACES member evaluation standards.