Understanding Marks Given According to the Danish Grading Scale

 When attempting to understand the value of marks given in the system of another country, it is important not to automatically assume that the practice is similar to your own familiar system. While some systems use a fixed distribution curve and expect all classes to fall within that curve, others specify the level of performance necessary for each mark.

Denmark grades each student on his or her specific level of performance; therefore "grading on the curve" is not a valid structure used at CBS. The participation of external examiners from other institutions in almost all CBS exams contributes to the stability of the scale and should prevent individual interpretation bias in marks. In Denmark, where education at all levels, including higher education is regulated by the state, the marking scale and its use is described in a ministerial order which gives the following overview of the scale:

The grading scale is compatible with the ECTS-grading scale, which is a credit transfer and accumulation system co-ordinated by EU. Please note that ECTS marks are not to be understood as US marks (A, B, C, etc.).

The CBS International Office does not provide official translation from Danish grades to specific country grades. If you are an international Guest student, it is up to your home university to determine the translation terms. If you are applying to CBS as an international Full-Degree student, please visit the CBS Admission Office website to read more about the grade translation of your former higher education degree or the qualifications or your upper secondary school leaving certificate.