The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has put in place a policy to address the academic progress of students who have a Cumulative Weighted Average (CWA) of 45 or below.
The university’s grading system is as follows:
| Mark (%) | Letter Grade | Remark |
| 70 – 100 | A | Excellent |
| 60 – 69 | B | Very Good |
| 50 – 59 | C | Good |
| 40 – 49 | D | Pass |
| 0 – 39 | F | Fail |
| I | Incomplete (Medical) | |
| I* | Mark not available |
Continuous assessment accounts for 30% of the total marks, while end-of-semester examinations contribute 70%.
Maintaining Good Academic Standing
Students must achieve a minimum pass mark of 40% in any course and a CWA of 45.00 at the end of each year, including supplementary examinations, to remain in good academic standing.
SEE ALSO: KNUST Grading System, How to Calculate Cumulative Weighted Average (CWA) & Degree Classification
Those who do not meet these requirements face the following actions:
- Probation: Students with a CWA between 40.00 and 44.99.
- Repetition: 2nd or 3rd-year students with a CWA below 40.00.
- Withdrawal: 1st-year students with a CWA below 40.00.
Graduation Criteria
To qualify for graduation, students must:
Complete the prescribed credit hours for their program.
Achieve a minimum CWA:
- Undergraduate: 45.00
- Diploma: 45.00
- Certificate: 45.00
Programs such as Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Dental Surgery, Optometry, and Pharmacy require a CWA of 50%.
Pass all required courses.
Fulfill other departmental, faculty, and college board requirements.
SEE ALSO: UEW Policy on Students With CGPA Of 1.0 or Below
Degree Classification
The class of degree for most undergraduate programs is determined by the following Cumulative Weighted Averages:
- First Class: 70.00 or above
- Second Class (Upper Division): 60.00 – 69.99
- Second Class (Lower Division): 50.00 – 59.99
- Pass: 45.00 – 49.99
Certain programs, including Medicine, Dental Surgery, Veterinary Medicine, Optometry, and Pharmacy, are classified under the PASS degree category.
Key Definitions and Terms
Supplementary Examinations: Held at the end of the academic year for trailing courses and open to eligible students, including those who missed exams due to illness.
Trail: When a student fails to obtain a pass mark, receives an Incomplete, or defers a course.
Probation: Applied to students with a CWA of 40.00 to 44.99 after Supplementary Examinations, which must be improved within two semesters.
Repetition: Required under certain conditions, such as low CWAs or multiple probation periods.
SEE ALSO: UCC Policy on Students with CGPA of 1.0 or Below – Check Here
Withdrawal: Students are withdrawn from a program for failing multiple courses.
Grace Period: Final year students have a limited time after Supplementary Examinations to meet CWA requirements for graduation.
Special Provisions for Level 400 Students
Special supplementary end-of-semester examinations are conducted in August for Level 400 students trailing courses.
Students failing these exams must repeat the failed courses the following academic year, paying 60% of the approved university fees.