Admissions standards at the University of Colorado Boulder are competitive, and students are expected to have excellent academic records. Graduate student applicants are expected to have completed appropriate course work in mathematics, science, language, and the humanities. Below are credential and grade standards requirements for approximately 100 countries.
Students who meet or exceed the credential or grade standards are encouraged to apply. Be aware that satisfaction of minimum academic standards, while mandatory, is only one factor in securing admission to the university. If your country is not listed below and you possess an excellent academic record, you are encouraged to apply for admission.
Direct any further inquiries about these country-specific requirements to the International Admissions team at intlgrad@colorado.edu.
Notes:
- Academic transcripts, designated as “official,” must be sent directly to the University of Colorado at Boulder from all schools attended.
- By province.
- By institution.
- For Bologna Compliant credentials required, see “Bologna Process – European Higher Education Area” line in this guide.
Argentina
| Tertiary School Credential Required |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| Licenciado |
6 |
0-10 |
Armenia
| Tertiary School Credential Required |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale4 |
| 5-year Diplom |
4 |
1-5 |
Australia
| Tertiary School Credential Required |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| 4-year Bachelor’s, Honours Degree, or Postgraduate Diploma |
B |
A-E; Varies3 |
Azerbaijan
| Tertiary School Credential Required |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale4 |
| 5-year Diplom |
4 |
1-5 |
Bangladesh
| Tertiary School Credential Required |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| Bachelor’s Degree (total 16 years) |
50
Div. II |
0-100; Div. I, II, III, P, F |
Belarus
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| 5-year Diplom |
4 |
1-5 |
Bolivia
| Tertiary School Credential Required |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| Licenciado |
77 |
0-100 |
Bologna Process – European Higher Education Area
| Tertiary School Credential Required |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| Varies by country. Bachelor’s Degree (total of 16 years). |
C |
A-F
|
Bosnia & Herzegovina
| Tertiary School Credential Required |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale4 |
| Diploma (total 16 years) |
7 |
1-10 |
Brazil
| Tertiary School Credential Required |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| Bacharelado, Licenciado, or Titulo |
B;7 |
A-F; 0-10 |
Bulgaria
| Tertiary School Credential Required |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale4 |
| Diploma of Completed Higher Education |
4 |
2-6 |
Canada
| Tertiary School Credential Required |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| Bachelor’s Degree (total 16 years) |
65 |
0-100; Varies2 |
Cayman Islands
| Tertiary School Credential Required |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| A-levels plus Bachelor’s Degree |
Div. II Honours |
Div. I, II, P, F |
Chile
| Tertiary School Credential Required |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| Licenciado |
5 |
0-7 |
China (PRC)
| Tertiary School Credential Required |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| 4-year Bachelor’s Degree |
76 |
0-100; Varies3 |
Colombia
| Tertiary School Credential Required |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| Licenciado |
3.5 |
0-5 |
Costa Rica
| Tertiary School Credential Required |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| Licenciado |
80 |
0-100 |
Croatia
| Tertiary School Credential Required |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale4 |
| Diploma (total 16 years) |
7 |
1-10 |
Cyprus
| Tertiary School Credential Required |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale4 |
| Bachelor's Degree |
B |
A-F |
Czech Republic
| Tertiary School Credential Required |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale4 |
| Bachelor's Degree (total 16 years) |
2 |
1-4 |
Denmark
| Tertiary School Credential Required |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale4 |
| 4-year Degree (Candidatus or Civilingenior) |
7 |
0-13 |
Ecuador
| Tertiary School Credential Required |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| Licenciado |
32 |
0-40 |
Egypt
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| Bachelor’s Degree (total 16 years) |
70 |
0-100; Varies |
Estonia
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale4 |
| 5-year Diplom |
4 |
1-5 |
Ethiopia
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| Bachelor’s Degree |
B; 3; 80 |
A-F; 0-4; 0-100 |
France
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale4 |
| Maitrise |
12 |
0-20 |
Georgia
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale4 |
| 5-year Diplom |
4 |
1-5 |
Germany
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale4 |
Vordiplom plus 2 semesters
or
13-year Abitur + 3 year bachelor
or
12-year Abitur + 3 year bachelor + 1st year of master's |
2.5 |
1-6 |
Ghana
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| Bachelor’s Degree (total 16 years) |
B |
A-F |
Greece
|
Tertiary School Credential Required1
|
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| Bachelor’s Degree (total 16 years) |
B |
A-F |
Hong Kong
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| Bachelor’s Degree |
B |
A-F |
Iceland
|
Tertiary School Credential Required1
|
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale4 |
| 3-4-year Bachelor’s Degree |
6 |
0-10 |
India
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution |
7 (B); 55;
Div. II
|
0-10; 0-100;
Div. I, II, III, F
|
Indonesia
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| Sarjana (S1) |
7 |
1-10; Varies3 |
Iran
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| 4-year Licence/Karshenasi |
15 |
0-20 |
Iraq
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| Bachelor’s Degree |
65 |
0-100 |
Ireland
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale4 |
| Bachelor’s Degree (total 16 years) |
55 |
0-100 |
Israel
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| 4-year Bachelor’s Degree |
75 |
0-100; Varies3 |
Italy
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale4 |
| Laurea |
24 |
0-30 |
Jamaica
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| Bachelor’s Degree (total 16 years) |
B |
A-F |
Japan
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| Bachelor’s Degree |
B; 70 |
A-F; 0-100 |
Jordan
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| Bachelor’s Degree |
B; 70 |
A-F; 0-100 |
Kazakhstan
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| Diplom (4-5 year program) |
4 |
2-5 |
Kenya
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| Bachelor’s Degree (total 16 years) |
B |
A-F |
Korea
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| Bachelor’s Degree |
B |
A-F; Varies3 |
Kuwait
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| Bachelor’s Degree |
5 |
0-9 |
Kyrgyzstan
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| 5-year Diplom |
4 |
1-5 |
Latvia
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale4 |
| Diplom (4-5 year program) |
4 |
2-5 |
Lebanon
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| 4-year Licence |
12; 75 |
0-20; 0-100 |
Libya
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| Bachelor’s Degree (total 16 years) |
65 |
0-100 |
Lithuania
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale4 |
| Diplom (4-5 year program) |
4 |
2-5 |
Macedonia
| Tertiary School Credential Required |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale4 |
| Diploma (total 16 years) |
7 |
1-10 |
Malaysia
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| Bachelor’s Degree |
B |
A-F |
Mexico
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| 4-year Licenciado or Titulo |
8 |
0-10 (7=Pass) |
Moldova
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale4 |
| Diplom (4-5 year program) |
4 |
2-5 |
Montenegro
| Tertiary School Credential Required |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale4 |
| Diploma (total 16 years) |
7 |
1-10 |
Nepal
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| Bachelor’s Degree (total 16 years) |
50;
Div. II |
0-100;
Div. I, II, III |
Netherlands
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale4 |
| HBO |
7 |
0-10 |
New Zealand
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| Bachelor’s Degree (total 16 years) |
B |
A-F |
Nigeria
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| Bachelor’s Degree (total 16 years) |
B |
A-F |
Norway
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale4 |
| Candidatus or Sivilingenior |
2.4 |
0-6; Varies3 |
Oman
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| Bachelor’s Degree |
B; 80 |
A-F; 0-100 |
Pakistan
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| Bachelor’s Degree (total 16 years) |
B; 55 |
A-F; 0-100; Varies |
Paraguay
| Tertiary School Credential Required |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
|
Licenciado
or
Ingeniero
|
3
3
|
1-5
1-5
|
Peru
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| Grado de Bachiller or Titulo de Licenciado |
13 |
0-20; Varies |
Philippines
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| Bachelor’s Degree |
B; 2.25 |
A-F; 1-5 |
Poland
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale4 |
| Dyplom (total 16 years) |
4 |
2-5 |
Qatar
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| Bachelor’s Degree |
B; 4 |
A-F; 0-5 |
Romania
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale4 |
| Diploma de Licenta |
7 |
0-10 |
Russian Federation
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale4 |
| Diplom (4-5 year program) |
4 |
2-5 |
Saudi Arabia
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| Bachelor’s Degree |
80 |
0-100 |
Senegal
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| Maitrise |
12 |
0-20 |
Serbia
| Tertiary School Credential Required |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale4 |
| Diploma (total 16 years) |
7 |
1-10 |
Singapore
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| 4-year Bachelor’s or Honours Degree |
B |
A-E |
Slovenia
| Tertiary School Credential Required |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale4 |
| Diploma (total 16 years) |
7 |
1-10 |
South Africa
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| Bachelor’s Degree (total 16 years) |
60;
Class II |
0-100;
Class I, II, III, F |
Spain
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale4 |
| Licenciado or 4-year university degree |
6 |
0-10 |
Sri Lanka
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| Bachelor’s Degree (Special) |
B; 55 |
A-F; 0-100 |
Sudan
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| Bachelor’s Degree (total 16 years) |
B; 50 |
A-F; 0-100 |
Sweden
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| Filosofie Kandidat or 4-year university degree |
4 |
1-7 |
Switzerland
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale4 |
| Licence or Diplom |
4.5 |
0-6 |
Taiwan (ROC)
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| Bachelor’s Degree |
75 |
0-100 |
Tajikistan
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| Diplom (4-5 year program) |
4 |
2-5 |
Tanzania
| Tertiary School Credential Required |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| Bachelor's Degree |
Div. II/B |
Div. I, II, III, P, F/A - E
|
Thailand
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| Bachelor’s Degree |
70 |
0-100 |
Turkey
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale4 |
| Bachelor’s Degree, Lisans or Muhendis |
7 |
1-10 |
Turkmenistan
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| Diplom (4-5 year program) |
4 |
2-5 |
Ukraine
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale4 |
| Specialist Diploma |
4 |
2-5 |
United Kingdom
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale4 |
| Bachelor’s Degree |
Div. II |
Div. I, II, III, P, F |
Uruguay
| Tertiary School Credential Required |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
|
Titulo de Licenciado
or
Titulo de Ingeniero
|
6
6
|
0-12
0-12
|
Uzbekistan
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| Diplom (4-5 year program) |
4 |
2-5 |
Venezuela
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| Licenciado or 4-year university degree |
13 |
1-20; Varies3 |
Vietnam
| Tertiary School Credential Required1 |
Grade Standard |
Grading Scale |
| Diploma of Graduation from a University |
6 |
0-10 |
