How well your bachelor degree turns out is not decided by the final exam alone. The bachelor grade (Bachelornote) emerges from several steps: module grades, weighting, the treatment of ungraded achievements and rounding. How exactly this works for you is set in your examination regulation (Prüfungsordnung). This guide uses an example to show which levers exist.
Kurz beantwortet: How the bachelor grade is produced is set by your regulation. In the example of the University of Potsdam for law (LL.B., earlier study regulation), module grades are weighted by credit points. 362.1 points across 156 graded credit points give 2.32 there. The bachelor thesis counts with 6 credit points. Last updated: November 2026.
Key points at a glance
- In the Potsdam example, module grades are weighted by credit points (Leistungspunkte, LP).
- The final grade results from the sum of points divided by the graded credit points.
- Each module receives points calculated as credit points multiplied by the grade.
- In the example, the bachelor thesis counts with 6 credit points.
- According to the example, ungraded achievements do not enter the grade.
- According to the example, the final grade is cut off after the first decimal place without rounding.
What does weighting by credit points mean?
Weighting means that modules with more credit points carry more weight in the overall grade. In the example, a module with 9 LP counts more than a module with 6 LP. The Potsdam page describes that where a module grade consists of several partial achievements, it is also weighted by LP. A simple arithmetic average can therefore differ from your grade.
You need to check whether your regulation follows the same system. The page comes from a study regulation for the LL.B. in law and serves only as an example for other programmes. Do not transfer the figures to your own studies without checking them.
How do you calculate the grade step by step?
- Note the credit points and the grade for every graded module.
- Multiply the credit points by the grade to obtain the points for each module.
- Add all points and divide the sum by the total of graded credit points.
- Apply the rounding rule of your regulation and compare the result with your certificate.
Worked example with an assumption
Assumption: three graded modules carry 6, 9 and 6 credit points. The grades are 2.0, 2.7 and 1.3. Ungraded achievements are left out.
| Module | LP | Grade | Points (LP times grade) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Module A | 6 | 2.0 | 12.0 |
| Module B | 9 | 2.7 | 24.3 |
| Module C | 6 | 1.3 | 7.8 |
| Total | 21 | 44.1 |
The final grade is 44.1 divided by 21 graded credit points, which gives 2.1. The example is an exercise in calculation. Whether your regulation provides for rounding or special rules remains open until you check it.
What role does the bachelor thesis play?
In the Potsdam example, the bachelor thesis enters the assessment with 6 credit points. Also important is the rule for the case that the first and second examiners award different grades. According to the example, a special rule then applies, which cuts off the average and rounds to the nearest scale value.
Whether the thesis counts more heavily than an ordinary module is also set in your regulation. Check how many credit points it carries and whether the two assessments are weighted separately.
How is rounding applied, and what appears on the certificate?
According to the Potsdam page, the final grade is cut off after the first decimal place without rounding. Module grades appear on the certificate with one decimal place, but the final grade is calculated with the unrounded module grades. This difference often explains why a recalculation does not match the certificate exactly.
If you want to check your grade, use the unrounded module grades from your records rather than the rounded values on the certificate.
What about ECTS and credit points?
The Potsdam page uses credit points (Leistungspunkte, LP), not ECTS. In everyday use the two terms are often treated as equal. Still, check in your regulation which measure applies. The guides ECTS grades explained: what the letters A to F mean (in German) and ECTS points explained: how many you need per semester (in German) explain the scale in more detail.
How do unrated achievements affect the grade?
In the Potsdam example, some achievements stay ungraded, such as a compulsory internship with 6 LP and 12 LP in a specialisation area. Up to 6 LP of an external elective subject can also be replaced by an ungraded internship. In that case at least 156 LP enter the grade. For your calculation this means that the graded credit points set the denominator, not the total of all achievements.
Check the module handbook to see which achievements are listed as graded, because this assignment decides the calculation.
What applies to intermediate examinations?
Intermediate examinations can also have their own rules. In the Potsdam example, two of three modules per legal area must be passed. If all three are passed, the two better grades count. Such special rules change the result, so review them separately before you draw up a calculation. If you are unsure, ask the examinations office for the current version.
Common mistakes when recalculating
- Rounded certificate grades are used instead of the unrounded module grades.
- Ungraded achievements are added to the denominator.
- The bachelor thesis is treated like an ordinary module without checking the regulation.
- Special rules for partial achievements are overlooked, for example in exercises with several forms of assessment.
To avoid errors, work with a table that lists every achievement with its credit points, grade and calculation step. A clean table makes deviations visible before you need to ask the examinations office.
Frequently asked questions
Do all modules count equally towards the grade?
No. In the Potsdam example, modules are weighted by credit points. Whether this also applies in your regulation must be checked there. Under this pattern, modules with more credit points carry more weight.
Do passed modules without a grade count?
In the Potsdam example, the compulsory internship with 6 LP and 12 LP in the specialisation area remain ungraded. A maximum of 162 graded LP can enter the grade. Which achievements stay ungraded is set in your regulation and in the module handbook.
Why does my grade differ from the calculator?
Common reasons are the rounding rule, a different weighting or a special rule for the bachelor thesis. A calculator does not know your regulation, so compare the result with the rules of your university before you rely on it.
Is the bachelor grade the same as the state examination grade?
No, the state examination grade (Examensnote) follows its own rules. Read the guide calculating the state examination grade (in German). For applications, the question whether to state your grade also arises, and the guide final grade in your application: when to state it explains it.
Can I improve my grade by retaking an exam?
Your regulation sets this out separately. The guide grade improvement in the bachelor (in German) explains whether and how an improvement is possible. Check in advance how a new grade affects the overall result.
What you should do now
- Get the examination regulation of your programme and look for the weighting and rounding rule.
- Collect all graded modules with their credit points from your examination transcript.
- Recalculate the grade with the unrounded values and note each step.
- Compare your result with the certificate and clarify any difference with the examinations office.
Related reading
- Understanding your examination regulation: an overview for students
- ECTS grades explained (in German)
- ECTS points explained (in German)
- Grade improvement in the bachelor (in German)
- Final grade in your application
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
