Convert Your Grades to UCAS Points (International Students)

Quick answer: Only some international qualifications convert to UCAS points. The IB and the Irish Leaving Certificate are on the UCAS Tariff and convert directly, but most others (the German Abitur, French Bac, ATAR, AP, CBSE/ISC and more) are assessed by each university directly. Start by finding your own qualification below.

Convert Your Grades to UCAS Points (International Students)

If you are applying to a UK university from overseas, the honest answer is that some qualifications convert into UCAS Tariff points and many do not, and either way there is a clear path forward. A few systems, like the International Baccalaureate and the Irish Leaving Certificate, are mapped onto the Tariff so you can calculate your UCAS points as a single number. Most other school-leaving qualifications are assessed by each university against its own entry criteria instead. This page helps you find your own system, understand what UCAS points are, and take a realistic next step. Don't worry if your qualification isn't on the Tariff. It does not put you at a disadvantage. It just means the university reads your grades directly.

Which international qualifications convert to UCAS points?

Only some international qualifications convert to UCAS points: the IB and the Irish Leaving Certificate are on the UCAS Tariff and convert to points directly, while most others (the Abitur, French Bac, European Baccalaureate, ATAR, AP, CBSE/ISC, HKDSE, WAEC and Canadian systems) are assessed by each university directly. So the first thing to check is simple: is your qualification one of the two that the Tariff covers, or one that universities look at on its own terms?

Here is the clear split. The left column is on the Tariff and gives you a points number. The right column is read directly by each university, so there is no single official points value to quote.

This is not a ranking. A qualification being assessed directly is completely normal, and it is how the most selective UK courses treat almost everyone, including UK applicants. The reason the IB and the Irish Leaving Certificate are on the Tariff is that UCAS has formally mapped every grade in those systems to a fixed points value. Other systems are huge, vary by region or board, and change over time, so universities prefer to read them with their own admissions expertise rather than squeeze them into a single number. If you want the bigger picture on why this happens, our guide on whether all universities use UCAS points explains it in plain English.

How grade-to-points conversion actually works

The UCAS Tariff works by giving each Level 3 result its own points value and then adding them up. There is no percentage formula and no clever shortcut. A grade simply maps to a fixed number of points, and your total is the sum of those numbers. The catch for international applicants is that UCAS only assigns points to qualifications it has formally mapped. If your system has not been mapped, it does not get a points value at all, which is exactly why so many overseas qualifications are assessed directly instead.

A few rules keep the maths honest, and they are worth knowing before you start:

• Level 3 only. The Tariff covers final school-leaving qualifications, like A-levels, the IB Diploma or the Irish Leaving Certificate. Earlier exams (your Year 11 or GCSE-equivalent stage) earn zero points.
• No double-counting. You count each qualification once. You cannot claim points for both a full diploma and its individual components.
• Components, not the headline number. For the IB this matters a lot. Your points come from each subject and core element, not from your 24 to 45 diploma score. We show exactly how that adds up further down.

If you want the mechanics in more depth, see how UCAS points are calculated and our explainer on what the UCAS Tariff is. Both are written for people meeting the system for the first time, so you won't need any prior knowledge of UK admissions to follow them.

Find your qualification: country-by-country guides

This is the heart of the page. Find your own system below and follow the link to its dedicated converter, where we walk through your grades step by step and give you either a points figure or a realistic grade equivalent. Each page uses the current 2026 rules.

Globally recognised diplomas

• IB to UCAS points — the International Baccalaureate Diploma, on the Tariff.
• Irish Leaving Cert to UCAS points — Higher level results, on the Tariff.

Europe

• German Abitur to UCAS points
• French Bac to UCAS points
• European Baccalaureate to UCAS points

Asia and Pacific

• CBSE and ISC to UCAS points — Indian Class 12 boards.
• HKDSE to UCAS points — Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education.
• ATAR to UCAS points — the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank.

Africa and the Americas

• WAEC to UCAS points — the West African Senior School Certificate.
• AP to UCAS points — US Advanced Placement exams.
• Canadian grades to UCAS points — provincial high school diplomas.

Worked example: IB grades to UCAS points

The IB is the clearest example of the component-sum method, so let's work through it. You do not convert your 24 to 45 diploma total. Instead you add up the points for each Higher Level subject, each Standard Level subject, and each core element (Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay). Here is the official points table.

Higher Level grades carry the most weight: H7=56, H6=48, H5=32, H4=24, H3=12. Standard Level is lighter: S7=28, S6=24, S5=16. The two core elements add up to 12 points each at grade A, on a scale running A=12, B=10, C=8, D=6, E=4.

Let's add a realistic profile. Take three Higher Level subjects at 6, 6 and 5 (48 + 48 + 32 = 128), three Standard Level subjects at 6, 6 and 5 (24 + 24 + 16 = 64), and the core worth a combined 12. That comes to 204 UCAS points in total. Numbers like this look big next to A-level totals because the IB has more components, which is exactly why most IB-recognising universities make offers in IB points and Higher Level grades (for example "32 points overall with 6,6,5 at HL") rather than UCAS points. Use our IB UCAS points calculator to add your own subjects, and see the full IB UCAS points table for every grade.

What UK universities really do with your grades

Here is the realistic picture, because it shapes everything. Many UK courses do use the Tariff, especially at post-1992 universities, on foundation-year routes, and during Clearing, where a points total is a quick way to see who is in range. But plenty of selective courses do not lead with points at all. Most Russell Group offers, and almost all Medicine and Law courses, are made in specific grades rather than a points number.

For international applicants this means your offer will often quote your home qualification directly. A university might ask for a particular Abitur average, a set of CBSE percentages, or specific HKDSE grades, rather than a UCAS figure. On top of that, you will almost always need to meet an English-language requirement (usually IELTS, TOEFL or an equivalent), which sits separately from your academic grades. So treat your points total as a useful first signal, not the final word. To go deeper, see how many UCAS points you need and what counts as a good UCAS points score.

Turn your points into a course shortlist

Once you have a points figure or a clear grade equivalent, the next step is turning it into a realistic shortlist. The flow is simple, and it keeps you in control:

1. Convert your grades. Use the main calculator or your qualification's dedicated page to get a number or grade equivalent.
2. See what your total can study. Our what can I study with my UCAS points tool turns the number into real options.
3. Check the threshold pages. Browse courses at 112 points or courses at 128 points to see typical entry levels, then confirm each course's exact requirements.

Take it one step at a time. You don't need to understand the whole UK system at once. You just need your number, a few courses that fit it, and the confidence to check the details before you apply. That is a realistic, manageable plan, even from the other side of the world.

One last tip on reading offers. Whether your qualification is on the Tariff or assessed directly, always cross-check three things on each course page before you commit: the academic entry requirement (points or specific grades), the English-language requirement, and any subject-specific conditions (for example, Higher Level Maths for engineering, or a science for nursing). If a course lists a points total, your converted number tells you instantly whether you are in range. If it lists grades, match your home results to its stated equivalents. Either way you will have a clear, evidence-based answer rather than a guess, and you can apply knowing your grades genuinely fit the course.

Getting ready to apply from overseas

*This section is supplementary, for when you've sorted your points and want to think about the application itself.*

Applying from abroad has a few extra moving parts: the UCAS application timeline, references and your personal statement, plus practical things like accommodation and finance once you have an offer. A good starting point is our walkthrough of how the UCAS application works, followed by the student accommodation guide when you're ready to plan where you'll live. Keep an eye on UCAS key dates 2026, and if your grades are slightly below a course's standard offer, read about contextual offers too.

Frequently asked questions

Can international grades be converted to UCAS points?

Some can. The International Baccalaureate and Irish Leaving Certificate are on the UCAS Tariff and convert to points directly. Many other systems, like the Abitur, French Bac, ATAR, AP and CBSE, are assessed individually by each university instead.

How do I convert my IB score to UCAS points?

Add the points for each component, not your 24 to 45 total. Higher Level grades are worth more (H7=56, H6=48, H5=32), Standard Level less (S7=28, S6=24, S5=16), and each core element (TOK, EE) adds up to 12. Our IB to UCAS points page walks through it.

Do UK universities use UCAS points for international students?

Not always. Many courses use the Tariff, but selective ones, including most Russell Group, Medicine and Law, make offers in specific grades and often quote your home qualification directly, alongside an English-language requirement.

Why doesn't my qualification have a UCAS points value?

UCAS only assigns Tariff points to qualifications it has formally mapped, which are mainly UK Level 3 awards plus the IB and Irish Leaving Cert. If yours isn't listed, universities assess your grades against their own published entry criteria.

Are GCSE-equivalent or Year 11 results worth UCAS points?

No. The Tariff covers Level 3 qualifications only, the final school-leaving stage like A-levels or the IB Diploma. Earlier exams don't earn points, though some courses still ask for English and maths at a minimum level.

What should I do after converting my grades?

Find your qualification's dedicated page, get a realistic points figure or grade equivalent, then check what you can study with it and confirm each course's exact entry and English requirements before you apply.