Grading
Graduate Grading
All master’s and doctoral programs administered through The Graduate School—including those offered at our school—operate under the same grading system. The graduate grading scale in use at UNC-Chapel Hill is unique in that it cannot be converted to the more traditional ABC grading scale. Graduate students do not carry a numerical GPA.
Grading at the graduate level is intended to offer feedback to students on their performance in a given course, including once students reach the thesis and dissertation stage. Faculty are encouraged to specify course requirements and grading expectations for students. The regular permanent grades for graduate students enrolled in courses numbered 400 and above are:
- H: High Pass – Clear Excellence
- P: Pass – Entirely Satisfactory Graduate Work
- L: Low Pass – Inadequate Graduate Work
- F: Fail
Information on special permanent grades, temporary grades and related policies are provided in The Graduate School Handbook: