The Dutch grading system is an absolute grading system. Grades are awarded on a scale from 0 to 10, 0 being the lowest and 10 being the highest. The not rounded cut-off score is 5.5 out of 10. Rounded grades from 6 upwards are regarded as 'pass'. In order to be awarded a diploma, one grade above 6 cannot compensate for another that is below 6; in other words, all grades must be at least 6.
To facilitate the comparison between the Dutch grading system and other related grading systems, we have included a frequency table below. This table shows the frequencies of the grades (6 and higher) that have been awarded at NHL Stenden Unversity of Applied Sciences during the academic year 2024-2025.
Grade | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
Distribution for NHL Stenden | 38.2% | 22.6% | 29.1% | 6.4% | 3.7% |
Distribution per domain |
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Business & Leadership | 32.9% | 26.9% | 28.1% | 9.3% | 2.8% |
Education | 43.5% | 15.1% | 33.0% | 3.5% | 4.9% |
Health & Wellbeing | 32.5% | 23.2% | 33.2% | 7.4% | 3.7% |
Leisure, Tourism & Hospitality | 37.5% | 30.7% | 23.0% | 6.4% | 2.4% |
Media, Commerce & Entrepreneurship | 46.7% | 14.0% | 29.5% | 4.8% | 5.0% |
Public Administration, Safety & Security, Law | 35.6% | 28.4% | 27.4% | 7.2% | 1.3% |
Tech & Design | 33.5% | 22.6% | 28.9% | 8.0% | 4.2% |
Additional notes on grading: Sometimes no numerical mark is given but a rating such as insufficient (Onvoldoende; O); sufficient (Voldoende; V); Good (Goed; G) or Excellent (Uitmuntend; U). Also, the rating 'behaald' (completed/achieved) is used. The denotation 'vrijstelling' indicates an exemption.