| Course / Subject | Credit hrs | Grade |
|---|
Hong Kong grading scale reference (4.0 and 4.3 letter grades)
| Letter | Marks % | HK 4.0 | HK 4.3 | Standing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A+ | 90 to 100 | 4.0 (capped) | 4.3 | First Class Honours |
| A | 85 to 89 | 4.0 | 4.0 | First Class Honours |
| A- | 80 to 84 | 3.7 | 3.7 | Upper Second (2:1) |
| B+ | 75 to 79 | 3.3 | 3.3 | Upper Second (2:1) |
| B | 70 to 74 | 3.0 | 3.0 | Upper / Lower boundary |
| B- | 65 to 69 | 2.7 | 2.7 | Lower Second (2:2) |
| C+ | 60 to 64 | 2.3 | 2.3 | Lower Second (2:2) |
| C | 55 to 59 | 2.0 | 2.0 | Third / Pass |
| C- | 50 to 54 | 1.7 | 1.7 | Pass with warning |
| D | 45 to 49 | 1.0 | 1.0 | Pass (minimum) |
| F | Below 45 | 0.0 | 0.0 | Fail, no credit |
Source: HK university academic regulations as published by HKU Registry, CUHK Registrar, HKUST Academic Registry, and the University Grants Committee (UGC) Hong Kong. Good Academic Standing requires a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or above on the 4.0 scale at most HK universities. Individual universities may shift the A or A- boundary by 1 to 2 percentage points; verify with your registrar.
GPA Meaning in Hong Kong Higher Education
GPA stands for Grade Point Average. In Hong Kong higher education, GPA is the credit-weighted average of the grade points earned across all courses on the transcript. The University Grants Committee (UGC) Hong Kong oversees the eight publicly funded universities, and most adopt a common 4.0 grading scale for undergraduate degrees: HKU, CUHK, HKUST, PolyU, HKBU, EdUHK, and Lingnan all report cumulative GPA on the 4.0 scale, while City University of Hong Kong (CityU) and selected HKUST research postgraduate programmes use the 4.3 scale that adds an A+ at the top.
Hong Kong university transcripts most commonly show a cumulative GPA (CGPA) covering every semester on record plus a term GPA for the current semester. The grade point average meaning is the same as in the US system: the arithmetic mean of grade points, each weighted by the credit units of the course. This GPA calculator for Hong Kong handles three scales in one tool: the standard 4.0 (used at most universities), the 4.3 (used at HKUST research postgraduate and CityU), and HKDSE (used by secondary school leavers planning JUPAS university applications).
How GPA Is Calculated at Hong Kong Universities
Every UGC-funded Hong Kong university uses the same weighted-average formula for GPA. Only the letter-to-points table differs slightly between the 4.0 and 4.3 scales, and only the highest grade band (A+) distinguishes them. The formula itself is identical across HKU, CUHK, HKUST, PolyU, CityU, HKBU, EdUHK, and Lingnan:
- Grade Points = numeric value assigned to the letter grade on the HK 4.0 or 4.3 scale (A = 4.0; A+ = 4.3 on the 4.3 scale only; F = 0.0)
- Credit Units = the credit units the course carries on the transcript (typically 3 credits at HKU/CUHK/HKUST/PolyU/HKBU/EdUHK/Lingnan; 3 to 4 credits at CityU)
- Sum = totalled across every course in the calculation period (one semester for term GPA; all semesters for cumulative GPA)
Two practical details matter for accuracy at Hong Kong universities. First, credit-unit weighting: a 3-credit theory course influences the GPA three times as much as a 1-credit physical education or experiential learning course. Students who prioritise strong grades in high-credit core courses see larger CGPA improvements than students who load up on low-credit electives. Second, repeat-course policy: HKU, CUHK, and HKUST generally allow the higher of two attempts to replace the earlier one in the CGPA calculation; PolyU and HKBU apply a mixed-attempt average in some programmes. Check the academic regulations published by your registrar before entering retaken courses.
Hong Kong Grading Scale: 4.0 vs 4.3 vs HKDSE Comparison
Hong Kong runs three distinct grading scales side by side: the 4.0 used at most universities for undergraduate work, the 4.3 used at HKUST research postgraduate and CityU programmes, and the HKDSE used for secondary school leavers. The chart below visualises the difference at the top of the scale: the 4.3 reaches higher (A+ = 4.3 grade points) than the 4.0 (capped at A = 4.0), while the HKDSE uses subject-specific level grades (5** down to 1).
Honours Classification at Hong Kong Universities
Hong Kong universities apply British-style honours classifications at graduation, derived from cumulative GPA plus department-specific thresholds. The table below shows the standard bands with US 4.0 and UK degree equivalents for international applicants:
| Honours Class | CGPA Range (4.0 scale) | US 4.0 Equivalent | UK Degree Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Class Honours | 3.60 to 4.00 | 3.60 to 4.00 | First (1st) |
| Upper Second Class (2:1) | 3.00 to 3.59 | 3.00 to 3.59 | Upper Second (2:1) |
| Lower Second Class (2:2) | 2.50 to 2.99 | 2.50 to 2.99 | Lower Second (2:2) |
| Third Class | 2.00 to 2.49 | 2.00 to 2.49 | Third (3rd) |
| Pass (no honours) | 1.70 to 1.99 | 1.70 to 1.99 | Pass |
| Academic warning risk | Below 1.70 | Below 1.70 | N/A |
What B GPA, B+ GPA, and C GPA Mean at HK Universities
The letter grades on a Hong Kong university transcript map to grade points and percentage bands that students often look up directly. A B grade equals 3.0 grade points on the 4.0 scale and corresponds to roughly 70 to 74 percent at most HK universities. A B+ grade equals 3.3 grade points (75 to 79 percent), and a C grade equals 2.0 grade points (55 to 59 percent). A minimum-pass D grade at 1.0 grade points covers 45 to 49 percent and earns credit but contributes little to the cumulative GPA; accumulating multiple D grades pushes the CGPA toward the 2.0 Good Academic Standing threshold.
A 4.0 GPA at a Hong Kong university represents a flawless A average; a 4.3 GPA (the highest on the 4.3 scale) requires an A+ in every course attempted, which is rare. A 3.2 GPA falls near the B+/B- boundary, typically Upper Second range at most HK universities; a 3.48 GPA falls in the upper 2:1 band, competitive for most international graduate programmes. The accumulated GPA (the same figure as cumulative GPA on HK transcripts) drives both Dean's List eligibility (threshold 3.5 at most universities) and honours classification at graduation.
GPA Calculator Hong Kong: University Directory
The eight UGC-funded Hong Kong universities below all report GPA on the 4.0 scale for undergraduate degrees, with HKUST research postgraduate and CityU programmes additionally using the 4.3 scale. Each follows the same weighted-average formula; differences are limited to the highest grade band (A+ on the 4.3 scale) and minor variations in the A or A- percentage cutoffs. Use the calculator above and select the scale that matches your home institution.
CityU GPA Calculator, HKBU, HKUST, and Scale Variations
Several HK universities run scale variations that affect GPA reporting at the margin. The CityU GPA calculator on this page covers the City University of Hong Kong 4.3 scale (the HKUST research postgraduate scale also fits this mode). The HKBU GPA calculator and HKUST GPA calculator use the standard 4.0 with A = 4.0, A- = 3.7, B+ = 3.3, B = 3.0, B- = 2.7. Hong Kong Community College (HKCC) and PolyU SPEED both use the 4.0 scale for associate degrees and higher-diploma programmes. The minimum point of GPA for Good Academic Standing across this institutional list is 2.0 on the 4.0 scale (2.15 on the 4.3 scale at CityU).
HKDSE to University GPA for JUPAS Planning
For secondary school leavers planning JUPAS university applications, the HKDSE awards subject grades on a seven-level scale: 5** (highest), 5*, 5, 4, 3 (minimum pass for university), 2, and 1. JUPAS programmes typically calculate a best-5 or best-6 subject score using raw points (5** = 7, 5* = 6, 5 = 5, 4 = 4, 3 = 3, 2 = 2, 1 = 1); a best-5 score of 25 is competitive for most JUPAS programmes, 30 to 35 is competitive for selective programmes at HKU/CUHK/HKUST, and 38 or above is required for top-tier medicine and law.
For students using their HKDSE results to apply abroad (UK, US, Canada, Australia), the HKDSE grade typically converts to a US 4.0 GPA equivalent using a roughly linear mapping: 5** = 4.0, 5* = 3.7, 5 = 3.3, 4 = 3.0, 3 = 2.0, 2 = 1.0, and 1 = 0.0. The HKDSE mode in the calculator above runs both calculations: it shows the subject-points best-5 average for JUPAS planning plus the 4.0 GPA equivalent for international applications. Universities outside Hong Kong that accept HKDSE generally publish their own conversion tables; the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA) publishes the official HKDSE grade descriptors and percentile distributions each year.
HK 4.0 vs 4.3 Scale: Letter-to-Points Comparison
For students switching between the two HK university scales (for example, a student completing an undergraduate degree on the 4.0 scale then entering a postgraduate programme on the 4.3), the table below shows how each letter grade maps on both scales and the corresponding percentage range:
| Letter Grade | Percentage Band | HK 4.0 GPA Points | HK 4.3 GPA Points | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A+ | 90 to 100 | 4.00 (capped at A) | 4.30 | +0.30 |
| A | 85 to 89 | 4.00 | 4.00 | 0 |
| A- | 80 to 84 | 3.70 | 3.70 | 0 |
| B+ | 75 to 79 | 3.30 | 3.30 | 0 |
| B | 70 to 74 | 3.00 | 3.00 | 0 |
| B- | 65 to 69 | 2.70 | 2.70 | 0 |
| C+ | 60 to 64 | 2.30 | 2.30 | 0 |
| C | 55 to 59 | 2.00 | 2.00 | 0 |
| C- | 50 to 54 | 1.70 | 1.70 | 0 |
| D | 45 to 49 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 0 |
| F | Below 45 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0 |
Converting Hong Kong CGPA for US, UK, and Canadian Graduate School
Hong Kong CGPA on the 4.0 scale converts directly to the US 4.0 scale without arithmetic: a 3.5 at HKU is a 3.5 on the US 4.0. The 4.3 scale used at CityU and HKUST research postgraduate requires a linear conversion: divide the 4.3 GPA by 4.3 and multiply by 4.0 to get the US 4.0 equivalent (a CityU 3.85 becomes 3.58 on the US 4.0). The calculator above runs this conversion automatically when you switch to the 4.3 mode.
For UK graduate applications, Hong Kong CGPA maps to British honours classes directly: First Class Honours (CGPA 3.6 or above on 4.0), Upper Second Class 2:1 (CGPA 3.0 to 3.6), Lower Second Class 2:2 (CGPA 2.5 to 3.0), Third Class (CGPA 2.0 to 2.5). The World Education Services (WES) and Scholaro are common credential evaluators for US graduate applications. For Canadian applications, the HK CGPA typically maps to the equivalent Canadian 4.0 letter grading scale with a 1-to-1 correspondence. The GPA calculator above is a planning tool; for actual applications, a WES or equivalent credential evaluation is the authoritative source. For multi-scale conversions between 4.3, 4.0, and other systems, the GPA converter handles all standard scales in one tool.
Grading Curve at HKU, CUHK, and HKUST
A small number of HK university courses use relative grading (curve grading or bell-curve grading), particularly in introductory courses with large enrolments at HKU, CUHK, HKUST, and HKBU. Under relative grading, the letter grade is assigned based on the distribution of scores in the class rather than a fixed percentage cutoff. The accumulated GPA still follows the same 4.0 weighted-average formula; only the letter assigned to each course is determined relative to the class. Students in relative-graded courses should use the letter on the transcript (not the raw percentage) as the input to this calculator.
Accuracy and Source Note
The grading scales on this page follow the academic regulations published by the University of Hong Kong Registry, the Chinese University of Hong Kong Registrar, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Academic Registry, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University Registrar's Office, and the University Grants Committee Hong Kong, with HKDSE descriptors from the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority and graduate-school credential mapping from World Education Services (WES). Individual universities may shift the A or A- percentage boundary by 1 to 2 percentage points or apply relative grading in selected courses. Always verify your specific institution's grading scale in the academic regulations or registrar handbook before relying on this calculator for official purposes. The GPA values produced by this calculator are estimates for planning; the official figures are those on the transcript signed by your Registrar.
Last verified: May 2026 | Sources: HKU Registry, CUHK Registrar, HKUST Academic Registry, UGC Hong Kong, HKEAA