Faculty of Social Sciences

Grading

In its meeting on 24 March 2004 , the Senate of the University of Helsinki decided that as of 1 August 2005 , the University shall apply a six-level grading scale of 0-5 in the grading of basic degrees.

The grading scale is directly comparable to the ECTS grading scale, as shown below where the corresponding ECTS grade is given in brackets.

However, there is one important difference: the ECTS system is based on an expectancy of the distribution of different grades, the Finnish system is not. That means that in the Finnish system there is no rule or expectation as to how big a proportion of the participants in any given course can be given what grade; each student is graded on his/her individual performance, not in relation to the performance of others.

Grading scale

5 = excellent (A)
4 = very good (B)
3 = good (C)
2 = satisfactory (D)
1 = passable (E)
0= fail (F or FX)

In addition to applying this general grading system, pass/fail grading may be applied in cases of practical training and practical skills courses, as decided by the faculty council.

Please note, that some courses are graded as pass/fail only.

Grading scales in different European countries.