As a Belgian student going on Erasmus or returning from it, you need to convert grades between different systems. Here we explain how it works.
Erasmus+ is a European program that gives students the opportunity to study abroad for a semester or year. You take courses there that count toward your diploma at home.
Belgium actively participates in Erasmus+ with universities like KU Leuven, UGent, UCLouvain, VUB, and ULB as popular home bases.
To qualify for Erasmus, you usually need to meet these conditions:
- At least 60 ECTS completed (usually after your first year)
- Sufficient average (varies by university, often ≥ 10/20 to 12/20)
- Good language proficiency in the destination language
- Learning Agreement approved by your faculty
Tip: The higher your average, the more choice you have for popular destinations!
Each country has a different grading system. When you return, your foreign grades need to be converted to the Belgian scale (0-20).
Common conversions to the Belgian scale:
- Netherlands (1-10): NL 6 ≈ BE 12, NL 7 ≈ BE 14, NL 8 ≈ BE 16
- Germany (1-5): DE 1 ≈ BE 18-20, DE 2 ≈ BE 14-17, DE 3 ≈ BE 10-13
- France (0-20): Similar system, direct conversion possible
- Spain (0-10): ES 5 ≈ BE 10, ES 7 ≈ BE 14, ES 9 ≈ BE 18
- UK (First/2:1/2:2): First ≈ BE 16+, 2:1 ≈ BE 14-16, 2:2 ≈ BE 10-14
The courses you take abroad have ECTS value. These count toward your diploma just like courses at home.
Your foreign grades are converted and weighted with ECTS to be included in your study average.
Keep all official documents from your host university (Transcript of Records) safe!
- Ask your faculty in advance how grades are converted
- Choose courses that fit well with your curriculum at home
- Ask your host university for a grading table for conversion
- Stay in contact with your coordinator at home about your progress
- Be prepared for stricter or more lenient grading - this varies greatly by country
Use our calculator to calculate your average, including your foreign courses. Enter the converted grades and ECTS.