United States
Undergraduate students in US universities are given grades on a letter scale (from A-F) for individual pieces of work, which correspond with the US system of Grade Point Averages (GPAs). The highest possible GPA to achieve is 4 points.
Latin honours, such as summa cum laude are awarded to students at American colleges who perform outstandingly in their degrees.
Europe
The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) is used throughout the European Union to encourage mobility amongst European graduates. Students can gain up to 60 ECTS credits in one academic year of undergraduate study and accumulate a certain number of credits upon the successful completion of their degree.
This system is in use in the UK, Germany and France and allows graduates to pursue professional and academic opportunities following graduation in the EU with relative ease.
United Kingdom
Undergraduate students in UK universities are given grades for individual pieces of work in the form of percentages, which correspond with British degree classifications. The British degree classifications are first-class honours (1st), second-class honours, upper division (2:1), second-class honours, lower division (2:2), third-class honours (3rd) and an ordinary degree (pass).
Honours are given to students who demonstrate exceptional academic ability and 2:1 honours are typically the minimum requirement for entry to the best postgraduate programmes in the UK.