Postgraduate Admissions Office

| The UK HE System | Comparison with other EU HE qualifications | Comparison with Overseas (non-EU) HE qualifications | Terms & Conditions

Comparability Screen

The following site provides comparisons between UK and International qualifications. Unfortunately, this cannot be a full listing for every country in the world but we have included qualifications from countries that we at the Postgraduate Admissions Office encounter frequently. Please note that this site will be reviewed throughout the academic year and is thus subject to change.

N.B. Comparability is derived from NARIC information [International Comparisons and/or Grading Transfer System]. This information does not necessarily reflect the views of Aberystwyth University and is provided for general guidance purposes only. This information is subject to change and will be revised as appropriate.

Please note that we are only able to recognise qualifications that are awarded by Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) that are recognised degree awarding bodies and listed as recognised HEIs by the UK NARIC. The comparability tables shown below are derived from UK NARIC statements on comparability with additional evaluation from the Postgraduate Admissions Office.

Please note that mature applicants with at least 24 months relevant work experience may be considered for taught Masters programmes. Evan if an applicant's academic qualifications are not comparable to a UK Bachelor's degree, their work experience may supplement their overall profile and could be a deciding factor in determining whether or not they are suitable for the relevant taught Master's, Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate course.

The UK HE System

To compare an international qualification with a UK qualification, one must first define the relevant UK qualification.

The UK Bachelor's degree is usually studied over a period 3 years in which they will accumulate 360 CATS credits at Levels 1, 2 and 3. Some students in the sciences may study for an additional year, at Level M, in order to obtain an undergraduate Masters degree (e.g. MEng, MPhys, MMath, ..) that consist of a total of 480 CATS credits and are recognised as appropriate research training for these subject areas.

UK Bachelor's Honours Degrees

Degree Classification	Mark range	*Percentage of Students Obtaining Class/Division [Source: UK NARIC]*
First [I] Honours	70% to 100%	8.93%
Upper Second [IIi] Honours	60% to 69%	41.57%
Lower Second [IIii] Honours	50% to 59%	30.00%
Third [III] Honours	40% to 49%	4.6%
Fail / Drop out	0% to 39%	14.9%

UK Masters Degrees

These are usually 12 month full-time, 2-year part-time or 3-year distance-learning programmes. These may be specialist courses leading on from a Bachelor's degree in that subject area; Research Training or Research Preparation Masters that specifically prepare students for PhD; conversion courses that condense the essential elements of final 2-years of a Bachelor's degree and a Masters dissertation into a 12-month period. These are all taught Masters programmes and consist of 180 CATS Credits. A MPhil however is purely a research degree. A MRes consists of a 1/3 taught element and a 2/3 research element. Entry requirements are usually either a 2i or a 2ii Honours degree. Some vocationally oriented Masters courses also require relevant work experience.

N.B. 180 CATS credits = 90 ECTS credits

UK PhD

This is a pure research programme conducted under the supervision of a specialist in the field. Where relevant, students will follow research training modules during their first year to support their research project. The final assessment will be based on the doctoral thesis and a viva-voce examination in the presence of a (non-Aberystwyth University) External Examiner and a (Aberystwyth University) Internal Examiner. A full-time PhD programme takes at least 3 years whilst a part-time PhD programme will take at least 5 years. Entry requirements are usually a 2i Honours degree and in some cases a relevant Masters degree.

Comparison with other EU HE Qualifications

Comparison with non-EU HE Qualifications

*Country*	*UK 2ii Honours standard*	*UK 2i Honours standard*	*UK 1st Class Honours standard*	*UK Masters standard*
Argentina	Licenciado / Professional title (4-year course): 7.5	Licenciado / Professional title (4-year course): 8.5	Licenciado / Professional title (4-year course): 9.5	Maestria / Magister
Australia	Bachelor's Honours:2.2 / 2B / Credit 60%-69% Bachelor's Ordinary: 2.1 / 2A / Distinction 70%-79%	Bachelor's Honours:2.1 / 2A / Distinction 70%-79% Bachelor's Ordinary: 1st Class / High Distinction 80%-100%	Bachelor's Honours:: 1st Class / High Distinction 80%-100%	Master's degree
Bangladesh	Bachelor degree (4 years duration from a private university rated as ‘Good’ by UGC (see list below)): 52% 2nd Class (North South University, Dhaka / Independent University, Dhaka / International Islamic University, Chittagong / American International University, Dhaka / East West University, Dhaka / BRAC University, Dhaka / University of Development Alternative, Dhaka / Stamford University, Dhaka / Daffodil International University, Dhaka ) Bachelor degree (4 years in duration) from BUET: 45% 2nd Class Bachelor of Medicine Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) / Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery: 52% Bachelor degree from University of Dhaka or University of Chittagong: 2nd Class Bachelor degree from Khulna University or University of Rajshahi: 2nd Class + subject to additional individual assessment including a satisfactory interview by relevant member of AU staff. MA, MSc, MCom, LLM: 52% 2nd Class	Bachelor degree (4 years duration from a private university rated as ‘Good’ by UGC (see list below)): 60% 1st Class (North South University, Dhaka / Independent University, Dhaka / International Islamic University, Chittagong / American International University, Dhaka / East West University, Dhaka / BRAC University, Dhaka / University of Development Alternative, Dhaka / Stamford University, Dhaka / Daffodil International University, Dhaka ) Bachelor degree (4 years in duration) from BUET: 52% 2nd Class Bachelor of Medicine Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) / Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery: 60% Bachelor degree from University of Dhaka or University of Chittagong: 1st Class Bachelor degree from Khulna University or University of Rajshahi: 2nd Class + subject to additional individual assessment including a satisfactory interview by relevant member of AU staff MA, MSc, MCom, LLM: 60% 1st Class	Bachelor degree (4 years in duration) from BUET: 60% 1st Class	Masters from BUET MPhil Masters in Engineering/Masters in Science (Engineering) = UK PG Diploma PhD = UK MPhil
Brazil	Bacharel / Licenciado / Professional title (4 years or more) - 7.0	Bacharel / Licenciado / Professional title (4 years or more) - 8.0	Bacharel / Licenciado / Professional title (4 years or more) - 9.0	Mestrado (rating 4 -5)
Brunei Darussalam	Bachelor's Honours: 2ii Bachelor's Ordinary 2i	Bachelor's Honours: 2i Bachelor's Ordinary 1st	Bachelor's Honours: 1st	Masters
Canada	Bachelor's Honours 5.5 on 9pt. scale 68% where pass mark 60% 62% where pass mark 50% C+ GPA 2.5	Bachelor's Honours 6.5 on 9pt. scale 75% where pass mark 60% 70% where pass mark 50% B GPA 3.0	Bachelor's Honours 7.8 on 9pt. scale 82% where pass mark 60% 82% where pass mark 50% A GPA 3.6	Master's degree/Maîtrise
Chile	Licenciatura/Professional Degree: 5.0	Licenciatura/Professional Degree: 5.5	Licenciatura/Professional Degree: 6.0	Magister (when awarded on basis of research and thesis)
P.R. China	Xueshi /学士学位 (4-year Bachelor's degree) Prestigious Universities: final average 70% National Universities: final average 80%	Xueshi/ 学士学位 (4-year Bachelor's degree) Prestigious Universities: final average 75% National Universities: final average 85%	Xueshi/ 学士学位 (4-year Bachelor's degree) Prestigious Universities: final average 80% National Universities: final average 90%	Shoshi/ 硕士学位 (Master's degree)
Egypt	Bachelor of Arts (from a Public or Private University): 65% Bachelor of Science (from a Public or Private University): 65% Bachelors from the American University in Cairo: GPA 2.5	Bachelor of Arts (from a Public or Private University): 80% Bachelor of Science (from a Public or Private University): 75% Bachelors from the American University in Cairo: GPA 3.0	Bachelor of Arts (from a Public or Private University): 90% Bachelor of Science (from a Public or Private University): 85% Bachelors from the American University in Cairo: GPA 3.6	Majister
Ghana	Bachelor's 2ii Honours/GPA 2.5	Bachelor's 2i Honours/GPA 3.0	Bachelor's 1st Honours/GPA 3.6	2-year Master's degree with thesis or MPhil
India	Bachelor of Science (Engineering)/Engineering/Technology when awarded from a central university, a recognised state university, or a regional Engineering college: II Class (50%) Bachelor of Engineering / Technology (when awarded from an institute of national importance, centre of advanced study, or an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) or the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore): II Class (50%) Bachelor degree in professional subjects (when awarded from a central university, recognised state university or a centre of advanced study): II Class (50%) Bachelor of Arts / Science (Honours/Special degree) when awarded from a central university, a recognised state university: II Class (50%) Bachelor of Education (4 year integrated programme): II Class (50%) Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from a law college approved by the India Bar Council: II Class (50%) Bachelor of Arts / Science / Commerce (3-year programmes)(when awarded from a central university, recognised state university or a centre of advanced study): II Class (58%)	Bachelor of Science (Engineering)/Engineering/Technology when awarded from a central university, a recognised state university, or a regional Engineering college: II Class (58%) Bachelor of Engineering / Technology (when awarded from an institute of national importance, centre of advanced study, or an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) or the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore): II Class (58%) Bachelor degree in professional subjects (when awarded from a central university, recognised state university or a centre of advanced study): II Class (58%) Bachelor of Arts / Science (Honours/Special degree) when awarded from a central university, a recognised state university: II Class (58%) Bachelor of Education (4 year integrated programme): II Class (58%) Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from a law college approved by the India Bar Council: II Class (58%) Bachelor of Arts / Science / Commerce (3-year programmes)(when awarded from a central university, recognised state university or a centre of advanced study): I Class (65%)	Bachelor of Science (Engineering)/Engineering/Technology when awarded from a central university, a recognised state university, or a regional Engineering college: I Class (65%) Bachelor of Engineering / Technology (when awarded from an institute of national importance, centre of advanced study, or an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) or the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore): I Class (65%) Bachelor degree in professional subjects (when awarded from a central university, recognised state university or a centre of advanced study): I Class (65%) Bachelor of Arts / Science (Honours/Special degree) when awarded from a central university, a recognised state university: I Class (65%) Bachelor of Education (4 year integrated programme): I Class (65%) Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from a law college approved by the India Bar Council: I Class (65%)	MA/MSc/MCom MPhil = UK MPhil but individual assessment may be required Master of Engineering / Technology (when awarded from an Engineering college, an Institute of national importance, centre for advanced study, an Indian Institute of Technology, or the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore)
Indonesia	Sarjana (S1)(course accreditation A): GPA 2.5 Sarjana (S1)(course accreditation B): GPA 3.0	Sarjana (S1)(course accreditation A): GPA 3.0 Sarjana (S1)(course accreditation B): GPA 3.5	Sarjana (S1)(course accreditation A): GPA 3.6	Sarjana II (S2) / Magister
Jamaica	Bachelor's degree: 2ii	Bachelor's degree: 2i	Bachelor's degree: 1st	2-year's Master's degree = UK taught Master's degree MPhil = UK MPhil
Japan	Bachelor degree (Gakushi): Average 67% or at least C grades in 90% of the courses	Bachelor degree (Gakushi): Average 75% or at least B grades in 90% of the courses	Bachelor degree (Gakushi): Average 85% or at least A grades in 90% of the courses	Master's degree (Shushi)
Jordan	Bachelor's degree: GPA 2.5 / Grade C	Bachelor's degree: GPA 3.0 / Grade B	Bachelor's degree: GPA 3.6 / Grade A	Master's degree (by examination) Master's degree (by thesis work)
Kenya	Bachelor's degree: 2ii	Bachelor's degree: 2i	Bachelor's degree: 1st	Master's degree
Libya	Bachelor's degree (from a university) Percentage System: 80% GPA: 3.0 Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Engineering or Medicine (from a university) Percentage System: 75% GPA: 2.5	Bachelor's degree (from a university) Percentage System: 85% GPA: 3.5 Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Engineering or Medicine (from a university) Percentage System: 80% GPA: 3.0	Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Engineering or Medicine (from a university) Percentage System: 85% GPA: 3.6	PhD = UK taught Master's degree
Macedonia	Bachelor degree (Bologna award): 5.9 Visoko Obrazovanja (4 to 6 year course): 6.7	Bachelor degree (Bologna award): 6.7 Visoko Obrazovanja (4 to 6 year course): 7.5	Bachelor degree (Bologna award): 7.5	Diploma o Specijalist (DSp) Magistar
Malawi	Master's degree: Pass with Credit (60% to 69%)	Master's degree: Pass with marginal Distinction (70% to 74%)	Master's degree: Pass with Distinction (75%)	No direct comparison with UK taught Master's degree
Malaysia	Bachelor's 2ii Honours	Bachelor's 2i Honours	Bachelor's 1st Honours	Masters
Mexico	Licenciado / Professional title (when awarded after 4 years): 7.7 (bien)	Licenciado / Professional title (when awarded after 4 years): 8.7 (muy bien)	Licenciado / Professional title (when awarded after 4 years): 9.7 (excelent)	Maestría
New Zealand	Bachelor's Honours degree: e.g. B- Bachelor's degree: e.g. B+	Bachelor's Honours degree: e.g. B+ Bachelor's degree: e.g. A	Bachelor's Honours degree: e.g. A	Master's degree
Nigeria	(after 1991) Bachelor's 2i Honours (before 1991) Bachelor's 2ii Honours	(after 1991) Bachelor's I Honours (before 1991) Bachelor's 2i Honours	(before 1991) Bachelor's 1st Honours	Master's degree
Norway	Bachelor's degree (from 2003) Candidatus Magisterii Sivilingeniřr (siv. ing.) Sivilřkonom (siv. řk.) (before 2002) final average between 3.2 and 2.6 (from 2002) at least D grades in all subjects	Bachelor's degree (from 2003) Candidatus Magisterii Sivilingeniřr (siv. ing.) Sivilřkonom (siv. řk.) (before 2002) final average between 2.5 and 1.6 (from 2002) B grades in at least 50% of subjects and at least C grades for the remainder	Bachelor's degree (from 2003) Candidatus Magisterii Sivilingeniřr (siv. ing.) Sivilřkonom (siv. řk.) (before 2002) final average between 1.0 and 1.5 (from 2002) A grades in at least 50% of subjects and at least C grades for the remainder	Candidatus Realium / Candidatus Philologiae = UK taught Masters Magister Artium (mag. art.) = UK MPhil Master's degree from 2003 = UK taught Masters
Pakistan	Bachelor Degree (four-years) in Science and Professional Subjects (e.g. LLB): II (55%) Master's degree (old system): II (55%) Master of Philosophy degree: II (45%) Master’s Degree (two-years) in Humanities and Commerce Subjects: II (45%)	Bachelor Degree (four-years) in Science and Professional Subjects (e.g. LLB): I (60%) Master's degree (old system): I (60%) Master of Philosophy degree: II (55%) Master’s Degree (two-years) in Humanities and Commerce Subjects: II (55%)	Master’s Degree (two-years) in Humanities and Commerce Subjects: I (60%) Master of Philosophy degree: I (60%)	Master of Engineering / Science in Engineering = UK taught MSc Master’s Degree (two-years) in Science and Professional Subjects PhD = UK MPhil
Russia	Bakalavr (since 1991): overall average at least 4.5 Specialist Diploma (before 1991):overall average at least 4.5 Bakalavr (from 2009): overall average at least 4.0 Specialist Diploma (completed after 1991): overall average at least 4.0 Magistr: overall average at least 4.0	Bakalavr (since 1991): overall average of 5 Specialist Diploma (before 1991): overall average of 5 Bakalavr (from 2009): overall average of 4.5 Specialist Diploma (completed after 1991): : overall average of 4.5 Magistr: overall average of 4.5	Bakalavr (from 2009): overall average of 5 Specialist Diploma (completed after 1991): : overall average of 5 Magistr: overall average of 5	No direct comparison with UK taught Master's degree
Saudi Arabia	Bachelor's degree: GPA 3.0 / 70%	Bachelor's degree: GPA 4.0 / 85%	Bachelor's degree: GPA 4.5 / 92%	Master's degree
South Africa	Bachelor's Honours: 2ii / 60% Bachelor's Ordinary: 2i / 70%	Bachelor's Honours: 2i / 70% Bachelor's Ordinary: I / 75% / Distinction	Bachelor's Honours: I / 75% / Distinction	Taught Master's degree = UK taught Master's degree MPhil = UK MPhil
South Korea	Bachelor (Haksa) degree GPA 3.0	Bachelor (Haksa) degree GPA 3.5	Suksa (Master's degree) GPA 2.5	Suksa (Master's degree)
Sri Lanka	Bachelor's Special degree: 2ii (55%) Bachelor's General degree: 2i (60%)	Bachelor's Special degree: 2i (60%) Bachelor's General degree: I (70%)	Bachelor's Special degre: I (70%)	MPhil = UK MPhil Master's degree (taught) = UK taught Master's degree Master's degree (Research) = UK Masters (approx. MRes)
Switzerland	Bachelor Degree Diplom / Diplôme; Lizentiat / Licence; Staatsdiplom / Diplôme d'Etat Fachhochschule Diplom (FH) / Hautes Écoles Specialisées Diplôme Weighted average between 4,6 and 5,0 N.B. based on most common marking system	Bachelor Degree Diplom / Diplôme; Lizentiat / Licence; Staatsdiplom / Diplôme d'Etat Fachhochschule Diplom (FH) / Hautes Écoles Specialisées Diplôme Weighted average between 5,1 and 5,5 N.B. based on most common marking system	Bachelor Degree Diplom / Diplôme; Lizentiat / Licence; Staatsdiplom / Diplôme d'Etat Fachhochschule Diplom (FH) / Hautes Écoles Specialisées Diplôme Weighted average between 5,6 and 6,0 N.B. based on most common marking system	Master's degree
Syria	Bachelor Degree (in Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Veterinary Medicine, Architecture, Engineering) 70% all other subjects: Master's degree/ al-Mâjistîr 75%	Bachelor Degree (in Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Veterinary Medicine, Architecture, Engineering) 80% all other subjects: Master's degree/ al-Mâjistîr 85%	Bachelor Degree (in Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Veterinary Medicine, Architecture, Engineering) 90% all other subjects: Master's degree/ al-Mâjistîr 95%	PhD / al-Duktűrâh = generally comparable to a UK taught Master's degree but may be assessed on an individual basis
Taiwan	Bachelor's degree from National Universities: 70% Bachelor's degree from other universities: 75%	Bachelor's degree from National Universities: 75% Bachelor's degree from other universities: 80%	Bachelor's degree from National Universities: 80%	Master's degree
Thailand	Bachelor's GPA 3.0	Bachelor's GPA 3.5	Master's GPA 3.0	Thai PhD = UK MPhil (No direct comparison with taught Master's degree ) Masters Degree (awarded from the Asian Institute of Technology)
Turkey	Lisans Diplomasi GPA 2.5	Lisans Diplomasi GPA 3.0	Lisans Diplomasi GPA 3.6	Yüksek Lisans Diplomasi (with thesis) GPA 3.0
Uganda	Bachelor's 2ii Honours/GPA 2.7	Bachelor's 2i Honours/GPA 3.6	Bachelor's 1st Honours/GPA 4.4	Masters
United Arab Emirates	Bachelor's GPA 2.5	Bachelor's GPA 3.0	Bachelor's GPA 3.6	Master's degree
United States of America	Bachelor's GPA 2.5	Bachelor's GPA 3.0	Bachelor's GPA 3.6	Master's degree (taught) = UK taught Master's degree if in same subject as Bachelor's degree MA/MS (Research) = UK taught Master's degree