Non-grade notations on a PNU transcript
Besides the letter grades A+ through F, a PNU transcript can carry several administrative notations that do not work like ordinary grades:
- IP (In-Progress), IC (Incomplete), W (Withdrawn), E (Exemption), and EQ (external-course Equivalent) carry no grade-point weight and are not counted in the GPA.
- NP (Pass, no grade) is recorded for a mark of 60% or above, and NF (Fail, no grade) for a mark below 60%; neither carries grade-point weight.
- DN (Denial, an administrative fail) carries the same weight as an ordinary F.
- D2 (a pass on a second attempt) carries the same weight as an ordinary D.
Source: PNU Undergraduate Study and Examination Regulations, Annex (1), 1445H/2023 AD. — verified Aug 2026
Academic Alert thresholds
A student receives an Academic Alert when her semester GPA falls between 1.00 and below 2.50, or her cumulative GPA falls between 2.00 and below 2.50 (out of 5.00).
For Medicine and Dentistry students, the cumulative-GPA alert threshold is raised to between 2.50 and below 3.00 out of 5.00.
Source: PNU Study Regulations, Article One (definitions #20-21), 1445H/2023 AD. — verified Aug 2026
Graduation GPA requirements
To graduate, a student needs a cumulative GPA of at least 2.00 out of 5.00. Students in the Colleges of Medicine and Dentistry face a higher floor: a cumulative GPA of at least 2.50 out of 5.00 is required to graduate.
At graduation, cumulative GPA is also classified into a standing: Excellent (4.50-5.00), Very Good (3.75 to below 4.50), Good (2.75 to below 3.75), and Acceptable (2.00 to below 2.75).
Source: PNU Study Regulations, Executive Rules of Articles 37, 41-42, 1445H/2023 AD. — verified Aug 2026
Graduation honors at PNU
PNU's own Executive Rule of Article 39 sets two honors bands, both out of a 5.00 scale:
- First Class Honors: cumulative GPA of 4.75 or higher.
- Second Class Honors: cumulative GPA from 4.25 to below 4.75.
Source: PNU Executive Rule of Article 39, 1445H/2023 AD. — verified Aug 2026
Frequently asked questions
What grading scheme does Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University (PNU) use?
Where does this PNU grade scale come from?
What GPA do I need to graduate from PNU?
Most PNU students need a cumulative GPA of at least 2.00 out of 5.00 to graduate. Students in the Colleges of Medicine and Dentistry must reach a higher cumulative GPA of at least 2.50 out of 5.00 to graduate.
Source: PNU Executive Rules of Articles 41-42, 1445H/2023 AD. — verified Aug 2026
Why is PNU's fail grade 1.00 instead of 0.00?
PNU's own Executive Rule of Article 38 adopts the 5.00-point column of the national grading table, rather than the parallel 4.00-point column the same table also prints. On the 5.00 column, the lowest passing-scale value assigned to a fail (F) is 1.00, not 0.00 — see the Grade Scale Reference above for the full A+-to-F breakdown.
Source: PNU Executive Rule of Article 38, 1445H/2023 AD. — verified Aug 2026
