Canadian GPA Calculator
Your Courses
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- • Don’t mix different GPA scales (check your university’s system)
- • Make sure credit hours match your course syllabus exactly
- • Include ALL courses from the term, even electives
- • Check if pass/fail courses count toward GPA at your school
How the Canadian GPA Calculator Works
Canadian universities use three main GPA scales: 4.0, 4.33, and 9.0. This calculator converts your letter grades to the correct GPA scale for your school.
The basic formula is:
For example, if you took three courses: A- (3 credits), B+ (4 credits), and A (3 credits) on a 4.0 scale, the calculation would be:
((3.7 × 3) + (3.3 × 4) + (4.0 × 3)) ÷ 10 credits = 3.64 GPA
Important: Different Canadian universities use different scales. UBC and University of Alberta use 4.33, while most Ontario schools use 4.0. York and Windsor use 9.0. Always confirm your school’s system.
Understanding Canadian GPA Scales
4.0 GPA Scale
Most common across Canada, used by University of Toronto, McGill, Western, Queen’s, and most colleges.
| Letter Grade | Percentage | 4.0 Scale |
|---|---|---|
| A+ | 90-100% | 4.0 |
| A | 85-89% | 4.0 |
| A- | 80-84% | 3.7 |
| B+ | 77-79% | 3.3 |
| B | 73-76% | 3.0 |
| B- | 70-72% | 2.7 |
| C+ | 67-69% | 2.3 |
| C | 63-66% | 2.0 |
| C- | 60-62% | 1.7 |
| D+ | 57-59% | 1.3 |
| D | 53-56% | 1.0 |
| D- | 50-52% | 0.7 |
| F | 0-49% | 0.0 |
4.33 GPA Scale
Used by UBC, University of Alberta, McMaster, and some other western schools. The key difference is A+ equals 4.33 instead of 4.0.
Conversion Tip: If you’re transferring from a 4.0 school to a 4.33 school (or applying to grad school), your GPA doesn’t automatically convert. Schools evaluate transcripts individually.
9.0 GPA Scale
Less common but used by York University and University of Windsor. A 9.0 equals an A+, and the scale goes down to 0.
What Your GPA Means
| GPA Range (4.0) | Standing | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| 3.85-4.0 | Summa Cum Laude | Top tier, competitive for any program |
| 3.70-3.84 | Magna Cum Laude | Excellent, strong grad school candidate |
| 3.50-3.69 | Cum Laude | Very good, qualifies for most scholarships |
| 3.00-3.49 | Good Standing | Solid performance, many opportunities |
| 2.50-2.99 | Satisfactory | Acceptable, may limit some options |
| 2.00-2.49 | Probation Risk | Below average, improvement needed |
| Below 2.0 | Academic Probation | At risk, requires intervention |
Common Questions About Canadian GPA
What GPA Do I Need for Graduate School in Canada?
Most master’s programs require a minimum 3.0 GPA (B average), but competitive programs often expect 3.5 or higher. Professional programs like law and medicine typically want 3.7+. Check specific program requirements because they vary significantly.
Do Pass/Fail Courses Affect My GPA?
It depends on your university. Most Canadian schools don’t include pass/fail courses in GPA calculations. However, some count “P” grades as a C (2.0) if you choose the pass/fail option after seeing your grade. Check your academic calendar.
Can I Remove a Failed Course From My GPA?
Some universities allow grade forgiveness or course repeats where the new grade replaces the old one. Others calculate both attempts. At University of Toronto, for example, you can repeat a course but both grades appear on your transcript and both count toward your GPA.
What’s the Difference Between Cumulative and Term GPA?
Your term GPA is calculated from courses in one semester only. Your cumulative GPA includes all courses you’ve ever taken at that institution. For academic standing and graduation requirements, cumulative GPA is what matters.
How Do I Convert My Percentage to GPA?
Each university has its own conversion chart. An 85% might be an A at one school (4.0) and an A- at another (3.7). Always use your specific institution’s grading policy, usually found in the academic calendar or student handbook.
Transfer Students: When you transfer between Canadian universities, your credits may transfer but your GPA usually doesn’t. You start fresh at the new school. However, professional programs and grad schools will see your full academic history from all institutions.
Province-Specific GPA Systems
Ontario Universities
Most Ontario schools (U of T, Western, Queen’s, Ottawa, McMaster) use 4.0 scales, but the percentage ranges for each letter grade can differ. McMaster uses 4.0 for some programs and 12.0 for others. Always verify with your specific faculty.
British Columbia
UBC uses the 4.33 scale, where A+ gives you an advantage. Simon Fraser University uses a different percentage-to-letter conversion than most schools. An A at SFU starts at 80%, not 85%.
Alberta
University of Alberta uses 4.0, but their letter grade system differs slightly from Ontario schools. A 4.0 (A+) requires 90% or higher, and they use a wider range for B grades.
Quebec (CEGEP and Universities)
Quebec’s R-Score (cote R) is completely different from GPA. McGill and Concordia use the 4.0 GPA scale for their own students, but if you’re coming from CEGEP, your R-Score won’t directly convert. Professional programs have specific R-Score requirements.
How to Improve Your GPA
Raising your GPA takes time, especially if you’re in upper years with lots of completed credits. Here’s the math reality: if you have 90 credits with a 2.8 GPA and you take 30 credits at 4.0, your new cumulative GPA would only rise to 3.1.
Strategic Approach: Focus on high-credit courses where strong performance has bigger impact. A 6-credit course affects your GPA twice as much as a 3-credit course. Also, some programs let you repeat failed courses or drop your lowest grades when calculating major GPA.
Many universities calculate both a cumulative GPA and a major GPA (only courses in your program). Graduate schools and employers often care more about your major GPA, especially in your final two years.
GPA Requirements for Canadian Programs
Here are typical minimum GPAs, but competitive averages are often much higher:
- Medical School: Minimum 3.0-3.3, competitive is 3.85-3.95+
- Law School: Minimum 3.0, competitive is 3.7-3.9+
- MBA Programs: Minimum 3.0, top schools want 3.5+
- Master’s Programs: Minimum 3.0 (B average), competitive is 3.5+
- PhD Programs: Usually require 3.5+ minimum, prefer 3.7+
- Teacher’s College: Typically 3.0 minimum, some accept 2.7
Keep in mind that professional programs look at more than just GPA. MCAT/LSAT scores, research experience, volunteer work, and reference letters all matter significantly.
Weighted vs Unweighted GPA
Canadian universities typically don’t use weighted GPAs the way some American high schools do. A 3-credit course and a 6-credit course both use the same letter-to-GPA conversion. The weighting happens through credit hours in the calculation, not through the grade points themselves.
Some programs do calculate “major GPA” separately from overall GPA, giving you two different numbers. Your major GPA only includes courses required for your degree program, which can be higher or lower than your cumulative GPA.
Academic Standing and GPA Thresholds
Your GPA determines your academic standing each term:
- Good Standing: Usually 2.0 or higher
- Dean’s List: Typically 3.5+ (varies by faculty)
- Academic Probation: Usually below 2.0
- Required to Withdraw: Often below 1.5 for multiple terms
If you fall below 2.0, you’ll typically be placed on academic probation with specific conditions (reduced course load, mandatory advising, GPA targets). Failing to meet probation requirements can result in being required to withdraw from the university for a period of time.
Important: Academic probation and required withdrawal policies vary significantly between universities and even between faculties at the same university. Check your specific faculty’s academic regulations.
Scholarships and GPA Requirements
Most renewable scholarships require maintaining a specific GPA, commonly 3.0 or 3.5. If you drop below the threshold, you may lose funding for future years even though you keep what you’ve already received.
Entrance scholarships are often based on high school grades, but continuing scholarships depend on university GPA. Some awards have faculty-specific requirements, so a 3.3 GPA in Arts might not meet the same standard as 3.3 in Engineering.
When Your GPA Matters Most
Different audiences care about different parts of your GPA:
- Graduate/Professional Schools: Care about cumulative GPA, last two years, and major GPA
- First Job After Graduation: May ask for GPA if below 3.0, some ask for transcript
- Internships/Co-ops: Often require minimum 3.0, competitive positions want 3.5+
- After 3-5 Years Work Experience: GPA becomes largely irrelevant, work experience matters more
For most career paths, your GPA matters most in the first 2-3 years after graduation. After that, employers focus on what you’ve actually accomplished professionally.