The grading scale in the Danish education system

Karakterskalaen i det danske uddannelssystem
Here you can read about the grading scale that is used in Denmark, and how you can convert your foreign grades to the Danish system.

All Danish educational programmes from elementary school to university use the so-called seven-step grading scale.

The top grade is 12. This corresponds to an ‘A’ on the ECTS scale. The lowest grade is -3. This corresponds to an ‘E’ on the ECTS scale.

The scale consists of the following grades:

  • 12. Corresponding to ‘A’ on the ECTS scale.
  • 10. Corresponding to ‘B’ on the ECTS scale.
  • 7. Corresponding to ‘C’ on the ECTS scale.
  • 4. Corresponding to ‘D’ on the ECTS scale.
  • 02. Corresponding to ‘E’ on the ECTS scale.
  • 00. Corresponding to ‘Fx’ on the ECTS scale.
  • -3. Corresponding to ‘F’ on the ECTS scale.

You can read more about the Danish grading system at the website of the Ministry of Higher Education and Science.

The previous grading scale: the 13-point scale.

The seven-point scale was introduced in 2006/2007, when it replaced the previous scale, which had grades from 00 to 13.

You can find a conversion table from the 13-step to the 7-step scale at the Education Guide website.

Converting foreign grades to Danish grades

In Denmark, the Ministry of Higher Education and Science is responsible for approving foreign qualifications.

The ‘examination manual’ on the Ministry’s website contains tables for converting foreign grades to the Danish system.

This information is only available in Danish. You select your country in the drop-down menu and ‘karakter’ (grade) in the grey menu bar at the bottom.

Ask Info Norden

Please fill in our contact form if you have any questions or if you have encountered an obstacle in another Nordic country.

NB! If you have questions regarding the processing of a specific case or application, or other personal matters, please contact the relevant authority directly.

Info Norden is the information service of the Nordic Council of Ministers. Here you can find info and tips if you wish to move, work, study, seek support or start a business in the Nordic region.