Grade Point Average (GPA) Calculation Guideline
| Document Number | 000968 |
|---|---|
| Date Approved | 14 December 2011 |
| Date Last Amended | 6 July 2012 |
1. Context/Overview
A grade point average is the sum of the unit value for each course multiplied by the numerical value of the grades, divided by the sum of the unit values for all grades.
2. Definitions
In the context of this document:
award means an academic qualification that is conferred when a student has met the relevant program requirements;
credit means the principle of accepting a student's prior learning or previous studies as being, in whole or in part, either identical to or the equivalent of studies contributing to a University of Newcastle award;
cross institutional study means approved study completed at another institution which counts toward the University of Newcastle program;
cumulative GPA means the Grade Point Average calculated over all units undertaken within the program;
extraneous enrolment in a course means a student has:
a. enrolled in a course which is not required for their program; or
b. already successfully completed the course and been awarded a pass mark, or greater; or
c. enrolled in a course, and that enrolment will result in the student completing units in excess of that required for their program;
GPA means the Grade Point Average calculated over the specified number of units at a particular level;
program means a program of learning, approved by the Academic Senate, that leads to the conferral of an award.
3. Guidelines
3.1. The GPA may be calculated either as a:
3.1.1. cumulative GPA, calculated over all units undertaken within the program;
3.1.2. GPA calculated over a specified number of units or all units at or above a specified level; or
3.1.3. GPA calculated over an approved major.
3.2. The grade point average can be expressed mathematically as:
GPA = Σ(unit value x grade)
Σ unit value
3.3. This calculation results in a number (GPA) between 0 and 7, and is usually taken to one decimal place.
|
Grade |
HD |
D |
C |
P |
UP* |
FF |
|
Numerical value |
7 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
0 |
3.4. The determination of units to be included in the calculation of the GPA is as follows:
3.4.1. Where all units have been completed at the University of Newcastle and within the same program, all units will be included in the GPA calculation;
3.4.2. Where all units have been completed at the University of Newcastle but across different programs, all units that have contributed to the relevant degree being awarded will be included in the GPA calculation (including credit);
3.4.3. Where a student has received credit from an external institution (including cross-institutional study) only those units completed at the University of Newcastle will be included in the GPA calculation;
3.4.4. Where a student has completed more than the maximum units, only the approved units will be counted towards the GPA calculation;
3.4.5. The GPA calculation for a:
a. 240 unit program will use only 240 units of courses where the student has received a pass (or greater) plus all fail grades.
b. 320 unit program will use only 320 units of courses where the student has received a pass grade (or greater) plus all fail grades.
3.4.6. Courses completed extraneously cannot be counted within the GPA calculation. Students who have successfully completed a course will not be permitted to undertake the same course again (see definition for extraneous enrolment in a course);
3.4.7. Where through an administrative error a student has passed the same course twice, the grade of the first completion, not the highest mark, will be utilised in the GPA calculation; and
3.4.8. Where a student is studying a combined degree, only those units which have contributed to the completion of each single degree will be included in the GPA calculation for each degree, subject to the conditions outlined above.
3.5. *Ungraded passes (UP) are not included in the calculation of a GPA except:
3.5.1. where these advantage the student, ie when the student has a GPA of less than 4. In this instance the GPA is recalculated including the value of the ungraded pass(es); or
3.5.2. when more than 50% of the grades presented are ungraded passes. In this instance, the GPA would be calculated with the ungraded pass included in the calculation.
3.6. The GPA will be calculated to one decimal place, that is, a second decimal place of X1-X4 will be rounded down, a second decimal place of X5-X9 will be rounded up. There is a GPA calculator available on the University website.
Example below:
|
|
|
A |
x |
B |
= |
C |
|
Course |
Grade |
Numerical value of Grade |
x |
Number of units |
= |
Total |
|
AHIS2000 |
HD |
7 |
x |
10 |
= |
70 |
|
ECON4000 |
C |
5 |
x |
40 |
= |
200 |
|
ENGL2200 |
F |
0 |
x |
10 |
= |
0 |
|
ENGL2200 |
P |
4 |
x |
10 |
= |
40 |
|
STAT3070 |
D |
6 |
x |
20 |
= |
120 |
|
EDUC2100 |
UP |
excl |
|
(10) excl |
|
|
|
TOTALS |
|
|
|
90 |
|
430 |
GPA = total of C
total of B
= 430
90
= 4.8 (rounded up from 4.78)
4. Essential Supporting Documents
5. Related Documents
Awarding with Distinction Guideline - 000952
Undergraduate Awards and Programs Schedule - 000960
Postgraduate Coursework Awards and Programs Schedule - 000961
Appendix - GPA Calculation Tool
| Approval Authority | Academic Registrar |
|---|---|
| Date Approved | 14 December 2011 |
| Date Last Amended | 6 July 2012 |
| Date for Review | 14 December 2014 |
| Policy Owner | Deputy Academic Registrar, Governance and Academic Administration |
| Policy Contact | Deputy Academic Registrar, Governance and Academic Administration |
| Amendment History | Clauses 3.3. and 3.6. amended from two decimal places to one decimal place to ensure consistency with University Medal Procedure and Guidelines - approved by (Acting) Academic Registrar 6 July 2012. Approved, Academic Registrar, 14 December 2011. |