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Netherlands Grade Conversion to US GPA

Convert Dutch university grades from the 1–10 scale to the US 4.0 GPA. In the Netherlands, 6 is the minimum passing grade and 9–10 is outstanding — grades rarely seen due to strict academic standards.

Scale: 1–10 numeric scale (6 = minimum pass, 10 = perfect)  |  Range: 1–10
US GPA Equivalent
4.00
Excellent
US Letter Grade
Netherlands Grade
9–10 — Uitmuntend (Outstanding)
Score Range
9–10
Classification
Outstanding / Excellent

How the Netherlands Grading System Works

Dutch universities use a 1–10 grading scale, where 10 is the highest possible grade and 5.5 (rounded to 6) is the minimum passing grade. Unlike France's 0–20 scale or Germany's reversed 1–5 scale, the Dutch scale is more intuitive: higher numbers mean better performance. The scale is standardized across all Dutch research universities (universiteiten) and universities of applied sciences (hogescholen).

Grade descriptors: 9–10 = Uitmuntend (Outstanding/Excellent), 8 = Zeer Goed (Very Good), 7 = Ruim Voldoende (More Than Sufficient), 6 = Voldoende (Sufficient/Pass), 5 = Bijna Voldoende (Almost Sufficient / near-pass), and below 5 = Onvoldoende (Insufficient/Fail). Grades of 10 are extremely rare — professors typically reserve them for exceptional thesis or exam work.

Major Dutch universities including Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), Leiden University, Utrecht University, Amsterdam (UvA), and Erasmus University Rotterdam all use this scale. TU Delft is particularly known to US graduate programs in engineering, and Leiden is one of Europe's oldest universities.

A grade of 8 or above (Zeer Goed / Very Good) is considered excellent in the Netherlands and represents the top tier of academic performance. Dutch students who consistently achieve 8s are in the academic upper echelon, as grade inflation is uncommon in Dutch higher education.

Conversion Formula

Dutch 1–10 Scale → US 4.0 GPA:
9–10 (Uitmuntend) → 4.0 GPA
8 (Zeer Goed) → 3.7 GPA
7 (Ruim Voldoende) → 3.0 GPA
6 (Voldoende) → 2.0 GPA
5 (Bijna Voldoende) → 1.0 GPA
<5 (Onvoldoende) → 0.0 GPA

Approximate: US GPA = (Dutch grade - 5) × (4 / 5) for passing grades

Worked Example

Student: Lisa, MSc Data Science, TU Delft

Lisa's average grade across all courses is 7.8/10.

7.8 is in the 7-range (Ruim Voldoende) → US GPA: approximately 3.2. Given Dutch grading culture, a 7.8 represents strong performance and is competitive for US tech companies and PhD programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, a 7.5 is a good Dutch grade. It sits between Ruim Voldoende (7) and Zeer Goed (8) and converts to approximately 3.0–3.3 US GPA. Dutch grading is strict — many students score 6–7, and a consistent 7.5 places you in the upper half of your cohort. US admissions offices familiar with Dutch grading will recognize this as solid performance.
Dutch academic culture is conservative with top grades. A 9 or 10 represents near-perfect or perfect work, and professors generally do not award 10 for anything short of exceptional insight beyond the course material. Grade inflation is uncommon. A student with an average of 8+ is in the top tier of academic performers, equivalent to a 3.7 US GPA.
Use the conversion table above. For a rough formula: US GPA = (Dutch grade − 5) × 0.8 + 2.0 (for passing grades 6–10). For example: Dutch 7 → (7−5) × 0.8 + 2 = 3.6 (rounds to 3.0 using bands). Many US institutions use the band-based conversion rather than a linear formula, so always check with your specific target program.
Yes, Dutch university degrees are fully recognized in the US. Degrees from TU Delft, Leiden, Utrecht, UvA, VU Amsterdam, and Erasmus Rotterdam are well-regarded. The Netherlands is part of the Bologna Process, so degrees follow a structured Bachelor's/Master's/PhD framework recognized internationally. Most US graduate programs do not require a credential evaluation for Dutch degrees.
The minimum passing grade in Dutch universities is technically 5.5, which is typically rounded up to 6 on the official scale. A grade of 5 (Bijna Voldoende / Almost Sufficient) is a fail in most Dutch universities. Some courses use a compensatory system where a 5 in one subject can be compensated by higher grades in others, but this varies by program and institution.

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