Grades and study results

Schools in secondary education use a range of systems to assess study results. While the 1-100 scale is most common, schools also use 1-10, 1-20 or percentage scales.

Schools decide autonomously how they award points. For the French Community, it is only important whether someone has obtained the leaving certificate, the Certificat d’enseignement secondaire supérieur. No final mark is indicated on the diploma.

To demonstrate that they have completed secondary education, students must be in possession of a Certificat d’enseignement secondaire supérieur with a list of subjects.

Higher education institutions often use a grading system from 1 to 20 to assess study results:

In addition, students are awarded one of the following honours at the conclusion of their studies:

• avec satisfaction (pass);
• avec distinction (with honours);
• avec grande distinction (with great honours);
• avec la plus grande distinction (with maximum honours).

To demonstrate that they have completed higher education, students must be in possession of a higher education diploma with a list of subjects and a diploma supplement.

Diploma supplement

The diploma supplement, which has been obligatory for universities since 1991 and for universities of applied sciences since 1994, is issued automatically to graduates. On request, institutions can issue both the degree and the diploma supplement in English.

More information about the Diploma Supplement (DS) is available on the Europass website including examples of diploma supplements.