Grade Point Average

A Grade Point Average (GPA) is a calculation for higher education results. The GPA can be used for a variety of purposes, including:

identifying students who are candidates for university academic prizes and scholarships;
as criteria for an offer to into undergraduate and postgraduate degrees;
a measure for applying for a job or a place at another university;
providing a basis for eligibility for selection into research programs.

There are two GPA scales commonly used in Australia and overseas, the 4 point and the 7 point scale. These scales differ in the grade points that they allocate to each grade but the method of calculation is the same. Swinburne uses a 4 point method.

A GPA accounts for all results after the Census Date, therefore if you withdraw from your course or any units after that time, it will be counted towards your overall GPA.

The following table shows the 4 point GPA scale used at Swinburne:

Grade	Code	Percentage	GPA Value
High Distinction	HD	80 – 100	4
Distinction	D	70 – 79	3
Credit	C	60 – 69	2
Pass	P	50 – 59	1
Passed Supplementary	SP	50	1
Conceded Pass	CP	45 – 49	0.5
Fail	N	0 – 49	0
Failed Supplementary	SN	0 – 49	0
Fail – no attempt	NA	–	0
Withdrawn fail	WF	–	0

Here is an example of a first year Bachelor of Education (Primary) GPA calculation:

Unit	Credit points (CP)	Result	GPA Value	Grade Points (CP x GPA Value)
Teaching Period 1
COM10003	12.5	D	3	37.5
EDU10001	12.5	P	1	12.5
Teaching Period 2
EDU10002	12.5	C	2	25
EDU10003	12.5	WF	0	0
EDU10007	12.5	HD	4	50
Teaching Period 3
EDU10005	12.5	P	1	12.5
EDU10004	12.5	D	3	37.5
Total:	87.5			175

Total grade points divided by the total credit point = GPA

In the case of the above example, the total grade points are 175 and the total credit points are 87.5.

175/87.5 = 2. The GPA in the example is 2.