Grade Point Average (GPA)

Find out all about the GPA, including how it's calculated and what it's used for.

What is your GPA?

The grade point average (GPA) is an internationally recognised measure of a student’s performance.

The GPA may be used:

  • to select students for prizes and scholarships
  • as a basis to award degrees with honours and pass with distinction
  • to set minimum entry levels for students articulating from vocational eduction to higher education programs
  • as an eligibility criterion for selection into research programs
  • as an eligibility criterion for selection into undergraduate and postgraduate programs at other Australian universities
     

How to view your GPA

Your GPA is available in Enrolment Online:

Your GPA is also recorded on your academic transcript.

How does GPA work?

RMIT has adopted a 4-point GPA scale for the ordinal result scheme, as indicated in the following table.

Grade Key code Mark range Grade point value

High distinction

HD

80-100

4

Distinction

DI

70-79

3

Credit

CR

60-69

2

Pass

PA

50-59

1

Pass only

PX

N/A

Not included in the GPA calculation

Supplementary Pass

SP

N/A

1

Fail

NN

0-49

0

Failed mandatory hurdle requirement

NH

N/A

0

Did not sit

DNS*

N/A

0

Not yet competent

NYC*

N/A

0

Competent with high distinction

CHD

N/A

4

Competent with distinction

CDI

N/A

3

Competent with credit

CC

N/A

2

Competency achieved – Graded

CAG

N/A

1

* Where the grade is used in the training package but the assessment is non-graded, the grade does not contribute to GPA score. 

Calculating the GPA

To calculate your GPA for each course:

  1. multiply the number of credits points (higher education) or student contact hours (vocational education) by the grade point value of the grade received, then
  2. divide the total grade points by the credit points or student contact hours

The GPA is rounded to one decimal point.

Examples of GPA calculations

Higher education GPA example

Credit points Grade point value Credit points x grade point value

12

4 (HD)

48

12

3 (D)

36

24

1 (P)

24

Total = 48

 

Total = 108

GPA = 108/48 = 2.25 (rounded up to 2.3)

Vocational education GPA example

Student contact hours Grade point value Contact hours x grade point value

40

4 (HD)

160

60

3 (D)

180

20

0 (NN)

0

Total = 120

 

Total = 340

GPA = 340/120 = 2.83 (rounded to 2.8)

Grades that are not included in GPA calculations

The following table outlines other grades used at RMIT that are not included in GPA calculations. 

Grade  Definition    

DEF

Deferred exam granted

   

NEX

No exam scheduled

   

WDR

Withdrawn from the course

   

CA

Competency achieved

   

NYC*

Not yet competent

   

DNS*

Did not submit assessment

   

NC**

Not complete

   

EX BX MX or AL

Credit transfer

   

RNY, RCG, RCN, RLG or RLN

Recognition of prior learning

   

EPG or EFG

Externally assessed grades

   

EQV

Equivalent assessment granted

   

CPE

Competency achieved, pending employer sign-off

   

EOT

Extension of time

   

RNF

Result not finalised

   

SUP

Supplementary exam granted

   

PX

Pass grade only

   
RSC Remission (removal) of debt under special circumstances – applies where a student is granted a remission of debt in special circumstances after the census date.    

* Where the grade is used in the training package but the assessment is non-graded, the grade does not contribute to GPA score.
** This grade is only used for Foundation Studies.

Who can access your GPA

Your GPA is recorded in the student database as part of your academic information. Only authorised RMIT staff members have access to this information.

RMIT will only release your GPA outside of RMIT if:

  • you apply for admission to another tertiary institution through the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) and you claim previous study. Your application authorises VTAC to collect and circulate your results through the Automatic Results Transfer System (ARTS). The ARTS system automatically collects your result and GPA information from RMIT and provides it to the institution/s that you are applying to via VTAC; or
  • you authorise RMIT to do so on your behalf

Definitions

Career: Level of study, e.g. vocational education, undergraduate, postgraduate.

Credit points: Courses in higher education programs all have credit points which reflect the total student workload required to satisfactorily complete the course. Each full-time year of the program totals 96 credit points: 48 in each semester. Credit points are also the basis for calculating Equivalent Full Time Student Units or EFTSU (96 credit points equal 1.0 EFTSU).

Cumulative GPA:  A numerical calculation weighted by credit points or hours, of the mean of grades received by a student in courses in the program or career to date.

Grade point average (GPA):  A numerical calculation weighted by credit points or hours, of the mean of the grades received by a student over a defined study period (e.g. a semester) or over an entire program.

Mark: A precise determination, usually expressed in percentage terms, of the student’s outcome for a course, e.g. 74%.

Mean: A value calculated by dividing the sum of a set of terms by the number of terms (average).

Pass/fail only: In courses to which this scale applies, students are assessed only as either a pass (ungraded) or a fail.

Result/grade: Alphanumeric code given for a course, e.g. ‘C’ (credit).

Term GPA: Numerical calculation, weighted by credit points or hours, of the mean of grades received by a student in courses over a defined study period.

Student contact hours (SCH): The nominal hours for the VE modules/courses undertaken.

Transcript of Results: Formal document issued by RMIT to enrolled students advising of the result and mark (if applicable) for all courses on conferral of the award.

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