How Nigerian CGPA Converts to International GPA Scales — A Complete Guide

 

If you studied at a Nigerian university and are now applying abroad — whether for a master's degree, a job, or immigration — understanding how your CGPA converts to international scales is essential.

Nigerian universities use a 5.0 CGPA scale. This is different from the 4.0 scale used in the US and Canada, the 10.0 scale used in India, and the classification system used in the UK. Here is everything you need to know.

Understanding the Nigerian grading system

Nigerian universities award degrees based on CGPA bands:

• First Class Honours: 4.50 - 5.00
• Second Class Upper (2:1): 3.50 - 4.49
• Second Class Lower (2:2): 2.40 - 3.49
• Third Class: 1.50 - 2.39
• Pass: 1.00 - 1.49

How Nigerian CGPA converts to a US 4.0 GPA

The conversion uses a two step process. First your CGPA is normalised to a 0-100 score by dividing by 5 and multiplying by 100. Then that score maps to the 4.0 scale.

• 5.0 CGPA = NAS 100 = 4.0 US GPA
• 4.5 CGPA = NAS 90 = 3.6 US GPA
• 4.0 CGPA = NAS 80 = 3.2 US GPA
• 3.5 CGPA = NAS 70 = 2.8 US GPA
• 3.0 CGPA = NAS 60 = 2.4 US GPA

How Nigerian CGPA maps to UK classifications

• First Class (4.5 - 5.0) = First Class Honours in the UK
• Second Class Upper (3.5 - 4.49) = Upper Second Class (2:1) in the UK
• Second Class Lower (2.4 - 3.49) = Lower Second Class (2:2) in the UK

How Nigerian CGPA converts for Canadian applications

Canada uses a 4.0 GPA scale. The conversion from Nigerian CGPA follows the same normalisation approach. A First Class Nigerian degree typically converts to a 3.5 - 4.0 Canadian GPA, which is competitive for most graduate programs.

Do I need a WES evaluation for my Nigerian degree?

It depends on where you are applying. Canadian immigration through Express Entry requires a formal Educational Credential Assessment from a designated organisation like WES. Most Canadian universities also require WES or an equivalent for graduate admissions.

For applications that just ask you to self-report your GPA, a proper conversion is enough. You do not always need to pay for a formal evaluation.

Convert your Nigerian CGPA now

Use GPA Bridge at https://www.gpabridge.com to convert your Nigerian CGPA to any international scale instantly. The tool shows the full NAS methodology so you can explain your conversion clearly in your application.