Convert New Zealand Grades to US GPA
How New Zealand University Grading Works
New Zealand's eight universities are all part of a nationally coordinated higher education system regulated by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA). All universities use a standardised letter-grade and 9-point GPA system, making grade comparison straightforward across institutions.
The 9-point scale works as follows: A+ (9) for 90–100% — outstanding; A (8) for 85–89% — excellent; A- (7) for 80–84% — very good; B+ (6) for 75–79% — good; B (5) for 70–74% — competent; B- (4) for 65–69% — satisfactory; C+ (3) for 60–64% — pass; C (2) for 55–59% — low pass; C- (1) for 50–54% — minimum pass; D (0) for below 50% — fail.
The GPA is calculated as the weighted average of all course GPA points multiplied by credit points (typically 15 or 30 points per course). A full-time year is usually 120 credit points. Minimum progression GPAs vary by programme but are typically 2.5–3.0 on the 9-point scale.
New Zealand offers both 3-year Bachelor's degrees and 4-year Honours Bachelor's degrees. Honours degrees require a higher GPA and include a substantial research or project component. For most US graduate programmes, the 4-year Honours degree is the preferred qualification — though a 3-year degree plus a postgraduate certificate/diploma may also qualify.
New Zealand to US GPA Conversion Table
| Grade | NZ GPA | Score % | US GPA | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A+ | 9 | 90–100 | 4.00 | Outstanding |
| A | 8 | 85–89 | 4.00 | Excellent |
| A- | 7 | 80–84 | 3.70 | Very Good |
| B+ | 6 | 75–79 | 3.30 | Good |
| B | 5 | 70–74 | 3.00 | Competent |
| B- | 4 | 65–69 | 2.70 | Satisfactory |
| C+ | 3 | 60–64 | 2.30 | Pass |
| C | 2 | 55–59 | 2.00 | Pass (Low) |
| C- | 1 | 50–54 | 1.70 | Minimum Pass |
| D | 0 | < 50 | 0.00 | Fail |
Conversion Example
Student: Aroha studies Computer Science (Honours) at the University of Auckland and is applying to PhD programmes in the United States.
Her courses: Algorithms A- (30 credits, 80–84%), Machine Learning A (30 credits, 85–89%), Research Methods B+ (15 credits, 75–79%), Dissertation A+ (45 credits, 90+%).
NZ GPA: (30×7 + 30×8 + 15×6 + 45×9) / 120 = (210 + 240 + 90 + 405) / 120 = 945 / 120 = 7.875 NZ GPA
US GPA equivalent (using letter mapping): weighted = (30×3.7 + 30×4.0 + 15×3.3 + 45×4.0) / 120 = (111 + 120 + 49.5 + 180) / 120 = 460.5 / 120 = 3.84 US GPA
An excellent profile for US PhD programmes in computer science.