Convert Swedish Grades to US GPA

Scale: Sweden uses a letter-based grading scale from A (highest) to F (fail), introduced in 2011. Before that, universities used a Pass/Fail system. A-E are passing grades; F means fail. The scale is goal-referenced.  |  Range: A–F letter scale
US GPA Equivalent
4.00
Excellent
US Letter Grade
Sweden Grade
A
Score Range
90–100
Classification
Excellent — Utmärkt

How Swedish University Grading Works

Sweden's higher education system is governed by the Higher Education Ordinance (Högskoleförordningen) and supervised by the Swedish Higher Education Authority (UKÄ). Swedish universities introduced the current A–F letter grading scale in 2011, replacing the older three-level Pass/Fail system to better align with European and international standards.

The scale is goal-referenced (criterion-referenced), meaning grades reflect how well a student achieves specific learning outcomes — not how they rank against classmates. Grade A (Utmärkt / Excellent) represents outstanding performance; B (Mycket Bra / Very Good) is clearly above requirements; C (Bra / Good) meets all requirements well; D (Tillfredsställande / Satisfactory) meets most requirements; E (Godkänt / Adequate) is the minimum pass; F (Underkänd / Fail) means the student did not meet requirements.

A–E are all passing grades and can be transcribed on official academic records. F is fail and, importantly, Fx is sometimes used to indicate a fail that can be remedied by a supplemental examination — distinct from a full F. Swedish credits follow the ECTS system (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System), making transcripts directly comparable across EU countries.

Leading Swedish institutions include KTH Royal Institute of Technology — ranked top 100 globally for engineering and technology; Karolinska Institutet — one of the world's foremost medical universities and home to the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine committee; Uppsala University — founded 1477, Sweden's oldest university; Lund University — Sweden's largest by student numbers; and Chalmers University of Technology, renowned for engineering, IT, and architecture. Swedish degrees at bachelor's (kandidatexamen, 3 years, 180 ECTS), master's (masterexamen, 2 years, 120 ECTS), and doctoral levels are fully compatible with the Bologna Process.

Sweden to US GPA Conversion Table

Swedish Grade Classification US GPA US Letter
A Utmärkt (Excellent) 4.00 A
B Mycket Bra (Very Good) 3.50 A-/B+
C Bra (Good) 3.00 B
D Tillfredsställande (Satisfactory) 2.00 C
E Godkänt (Adequate — Minimum Pass) 1.00 D
F Underkänd (Fail) 0.00 F
Conversion approach: Swedish grades A–F are mapped to US GPA using a fixed equivalency table (A=4.0, B=3.5, C=3.0, D=2.0, E=1.0, F=0.0). To calculate a weighted GPA, multiply each grade's GPA value by its ECTS credits, sum the results, and divide by total ECTS credits.

Weighted GPA = ∑(GPA value × ECTS credits) ÷ ∑(ECTS credits)

Conversion Example

Student: Erik studies Computer Science (Civilingenjör) at KTH Royal Institute of Technology and is applying to US MS programmes.

His grades: Machine Learning A (7.5 ECTS), Algorithms B (7.5 ECTS), Computer Networks C (6 ECTS), Software Engineering B (6 ECTS), Thesis A (30 ECTS).

Weighted US GPA: (7.5×4.0 + 7.5×3.5 + 6×3.0 + 6×3.5 + 30×4.0) ÷ 57 = (30 + 26.25 + 18 + 21 + 120) ÷ 57 = 215.25 ÷ 57 = 3.78 GPA

US equivalent: 3.78 / 4.0 — Strong performance from KTH. Competitive for top US CS master's programmes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fx is a supplementary fail grade used by some Swedish institutions. It indicates that the student has narrowly failed but can achieve a passing E grade by completing a minor supplemental task (komplettering) — such as revising a report or answering additional questions. Fx is not a standard part of the A–F scale defined in national regulations but is permitted as a local addition.
Sweden uses an A–F letter scale, while Denmark uses a 7-point numeric scale (-3, 00, 02, 4, 7, 10, 12) and Norway uses a numeric A–F scale similar to Sweden's but with slightly different descriptors. All three Nordic systems are aligned under the Bologna Process and ECTS, making cross-country credit transfer relatively straightforward.
Most US graduate programmes accept Swedish transcripts with a certified English translation. Some universities may request a WES (World Education Services) or ECE evaluation to convert credits and grades. Swedish university degrees (kandidatexamen 180 ECTS = bachelor's; masterexamen 300 ECTS total = master's) are well recognised in the US.
A Swedish C (Good, equivalent to ~3.0 US GPA) meets the minimum GPA requirement for most US graduate programmes (typically 3.0). However, for competitive programmes at top universities, a mix of A and B grades (3.5–4.0 range) is generally expected. Research experience, recommendations, and a strong statement of purpose can offset a borderline GPA.
The ECTS grading scale (A–F) was designed to facilitate European grade comparison. Sweden's national A–F scale closely mirrors the ECTS scale. ECTS Grade A = top 10% of passing students; B = next 25%; C = next 30%; D = next 25%; E = bottom 10% of passing students; F = fail. Swedish institutions use this criterion-referenced approach rather than strict statistical percentile bands.

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