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:

  1. Academic transcripts, designated as “official,” must be sent directly to the University of Colorado at Boulder from all schools attended.
  2. By province.
  3. By institution.
  4. 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