Convert Tanzanian Grades to US GPA
How Tanzanian University Grading Works
Tanzania's higher education system is overseen by the Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU). Public and private universities follow a percentage-based grading system with degree classifications influenced by the British model, similar to the systems in Kenya, Uganda, and Ghana.
Degree classification bands: First Class (A, 80–100%) for exceptional performance; Upper Second Class (B+, 70–79%) for very good work; Lower Second Class (B, 60–69%) for good work; Third Class (C, 50–59%) for satisfactory minimum-pass performance; Pass (D, 40–49%) for borderline; and Fail (E/F, below 40%).
The flagship institution is the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), established in 1970. Other key institutions include Sokoine University of Agriculture, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, and private universities such as Tumaini University and St. Augustine University. Many newer universities have adopted credit-based systems alongside the traditional classification model.
When applying to US universities, Tanzanian students typically need to provide official transcripts plus a credential evaluation. Since Tanzanian transcripts typically show percentage marks and final degree classification rather than a GPA, a WES or ECE evaluation is usually required to produce a comparable US GPA figure.
Tanzania to US GPA Conversion Table
| Grade | Score % | US GPA | Classification |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 80–100 | 4.00 | First Class |
| B+ | 70–79 | 3.50 | Upper Second Class |
| B | 60–69 | 3.00 | Lower Second Class |
| C | 50–59 | 2.00 | Third Class |
| D | 40–49 | 1.00 | Pass |
| E / F | < 40 | 0.00 | Fail |
Conversion Example
Student: Zawadi studies Law at the University of Dar es Salaam and is applying to LLM programmes in the United States.
Her module results: Constitutional Law 82% (A), International Law 73% (B+), Criminal Law 65% (B), Contract Law 76% (B+), Dissertation 85% (A).
US GPA conversion: (4.0 + 3.5 + 3.0 + 3.5 + 4.0) / 5 = 18.0 / 5 = 3.60 GPA
US equivalent: 3.60 / 4.0 — Upper Second Class to First Class range, competitive for US LLM programmes.