GPA requirements are one of the first things African students check when evaluating scholarship opportunities: and one of the most confusing, because African universities use different grading systems that do not translate directly to the 4.0 scale used in scholarship requirements.
This guide answers two questions: what GPA does each major scholarship require, and how does your African grade translate to that scale? By the end, you will have a clear picture of which scholarships are accessible to you right now, and which ones you might need to strengthen your academic record before applying for.
No minimum GPA: Swedish Institute Scholarships for Global Professionals (evaluates leadership and professional experience instead). GPA 2.8+: DAAD EPOS Germany, Orange Knowledge Programme Netherlands. GPA 3.0+: Chevening UK, Fulbright USA, Commonwealth Master's UK, Erasmus Mundus Europe, Mastercard Foundation, Australia Awards Africa, Ireland Fellows Programme, Italian Government MAECI, MAEC-AECID Spain, VLIR-UOS Belgium, McCall MacBain Canada, Dalhousie Canada. GPA 3.3+: Edinburgh Global Research UK, UCL Graduate Research UK, Commonwealth PhD, Eiffel Excellence France, Wageningen Netherlands, University of Helsinki Finland, Aalto Doctoral Finland. GPA 3.5+: Gates Cambridge UK, Rhodes UK, MIT USA, Harvard USA, Princeton USA, Yale USA, Imperial College UK, Knight-Hennessy USA, Mo Ibrahim UK. GPA 3.7+: Gates Cambridge UK (in practice), MIT Presidential Fellowship, Princeton Graduate Fellowship, Yale Fellowship.
Nigerian universities use a 5-point scale. Here is how it converts to the 4.0 scale used in scholarship requirements: First Class (4.5–5.0 Nigerian) = 3.7–4.0 GPA. Second Class Upper / 2:1 (3.5–4.49 Nigerian) = 3.0–3.7 GPA. Second Class Lower / 2:2 (2.5–3.49 Nigerian) = 2.5–3.0 GPA. Third Class (1.5–2.49 Nigerian) = 1.5–2.5 GPA. A Second Class Upper from a Nigerian university typically qualifies you for Chevening (3.0), Commonwealth (3.3 threshold, borderline), and DAAD (2.8). Use the StudiePoint GPA converter for an exact calculation.
Kenyan universities use letter grades similar to US grading: a B+ average typically corresponds to a 3.3 GPA, an A- average to 3.7. Ghanaian universities use letter grades where First Class corresponds to 3.6–4.0, Second Class Upper to 3.0–3.6. South African universities use percentage scores: a 75–100% average typically translates to 3.5–4.0 GPA, 65–74% to 3.0–3.5 GPA. The StudiePoint GPA converter handles all 54 African nationalities and 13 grading systems.
Chevening requires a minimum of a 2:1 undergraduate degree, which is approximately a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale. In practice, most successful Chevening scholars have GPAs of 3.3–3.7. The selection process considers leadership experience and essay quality as heavily as academic record, so a 3.0 GPA with exceptional essays and work experience can be competitive.
Yes, in some cases. DAAD EPOS accepts 2.8 GPA (which is approximately a strong 2:2 in the UK system). The Swedish Institute has no GPA minimum. Some Australian Awards and development-focused NGO scholarships evaluate professional experience and community impact more heavily than academic grades. A 2:2 limits your options but does not eliminate them.
The most common conversion: divide your CGPA by your university's maximum (usually 5.0) and multiply by 4.0. So a 3.6/5.0 Nigerian CGPA = 3.6 ÷ 5.0 × 4.0 = 2.88/4.0. This is an approximation: scholarship committees sometimes use different conversion formulas. Use StudiePoint's GPA converter for the most accurate conversion, which accounts for your specific university's grading system.
For PhD scholarship applications, your master's GPA is typically given more weight than your bachelor's, especially if there is an improvement. For master's scholarship applications, your bachelor's GPA is usually the primary academic criterion since that is your most recent completed degree. Either way, an upward academic trajectory (improving scores over time) is viewed positively by selection committees.
Erasmus Mundus does not publish a single GPA minimum because each consortium sets its own criteria. In practice, successful applicants typically have GPAs of 3.0–3.5. The motivation letter and alignment of your background with the specific programme are equally important. Some less competitive Erasmus Mundus tracks accept students with 2.8 GPAs if the research fit is strong.
Last updated: April 2026. Find scholarships on StudiePoint AI →