Degree Equivalencies

In the U.S. educational system, bachelor's degree recipients have 16 years of formal education — 12 years of elementary and secondary education plus four years of post-secondary study — which qualify them for admission to advanced degree programs. This is the benchmark we use to evaluate foreign educational systems.

When reviewing academic records from a school outside the U.S., we assess whether the applicant has reached an academic level equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution. Our admissions staff is proficient in reviewing academic records from different educational systems around the world.

In rare instances when our admissions staff is unable to verify the nature or authenticity of foreign academic documents, the applicant may be asked to provide supplemental information or to obtain an evaluation from a foreign credential evaluation service.

In some educational systems, the first university degree may be obtained after three years of post-secondary study. Holders of such degrees may be eligible for graduate admission depending upon:

  • Evaluation of the degree by admissions staff in the Office of Graduate Studies
  • Recommendation regarding degree equivalence and evaluation of the application as a whole from the Graduate Committee of the academic program in which the applicant is applying

 

Degrees the University of Arkansas typically consider equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree.

Diplomas, the Higher National Diploma (H.N.D.), certificates, memberships or associate memberships in some professional organizations, and some bachelor's and technical degrees are not considered equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree for the purpose of gaining admission to the Graduate School. Note to applicants from Bangladesh, Burma, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka: a 2-3 year bachelor's degree does not qualify an applicant for admission to the Graduate School. Generally, only a 4-5 year bachelor's degree or a 2 year master's degree beyond the 2-3 year bachelor's program will qualify such students for studies.

Country Required Credential NOTES:
Bahamas Official, attested Bachelor's Degree (4 year program) AND academic transcripts  
Bahrain Official, attested Bachelor's Degree (4 year program) in original language AND academic transcripts with English translations  
Bailiwick of Guernsey Bailiwick of Guernsey offers no Bachelor equivalent  
Bailiwick of Jersey Official, attested Bachelor's Degree AND academic transcripts *Highlands College (Plymouth University - UK) is the only degree granting institution and offers one 3 year BSC (Hons) in Social Sciences
Bangladesh Official, attested Bachelor's Degree (4 year program), Bachelor's Degree (Pass) (2 year program) PLUS Masters Degree (2 year program) or Bachelor's (Honours) (3 year program) PLUS Masters Degree (1 year program) AND individual Mark Sheet/Result Card  
Barbados Official, attested Bachelor's Degree (4 year program AND academic transcripts  
Belarus Official, attested Дыплом аб Вышзйшай адукацыі/Diploma of Higher Education (4-5 years) or Дыплом бакалўра/Diplom Bakalaura in the original language AND Vypiska/ prilozhenie k diplomu/ arkhivnaya spravka/ akademichnaya davedka (academic transcripts) or Diploma Supplement in original language with English translations *3 year degrees will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the department.
Belgium Official, attested Licence/Licentiate or Ingenieur/Engineer AND Diploma Supplement in original language with English translations *3 year degrees will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the department.
Belize Official, attested Bachelor Degree (4 year program) AND academic transcripts in original language with English translations  
Benin Official, attested Maitrise or Diplome d'Ingenieur (4-6 year programs) AND Releve de Notes (academic transcripts) in original language with English translations  
Bermuda Bermuda offers no Bachelor equivalent *While there is no university that offers 4 year Bachelor Degrees on these islands, many students choose to obtain a 4 year Bachelors Degree through the University of the West Indies (distance education).
Bhutan Official,attested Bachelor Degree (4+ year program) AND mark sheets (academic transcripts) with English Translations  
Bolivia Official Licenciado (4-6 year program) PLUS Diploma de Grado Academico AND Certificado de Notas/Calificaciones (academic transcripts) in original language with English translations  
Bosnia and Herzegovina Official,attested Strucni Naziv Diplomirani (Diploma with Professional Title) (4-6 year program) AND academic transcripts in original language with English translations *3 year degrees will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the department.
Botswana Official, attested Bachelor's Degree (4 year program) AND academic transcripts in original language with English translations  
Brazil Official, attested Grau de Bacherel, Titulo de Licenciado, or Titulo Profissional AND Historico Escolar (academic transcripts) in original language with English translations  
British Virgin Islands Official, attested Bachelor Degree (4 year program) AND academic transcripts *It appears that the University of the Virgin Islands is the only degree granting institution
Brunei Official Bachelor Degree (4+year program) AND academic transcripts in original language with English translations  
Bulgaria Official, attested Bakalavr (4 year program) AND Diploma Supplement in original language with English translations *3 year degrees will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the department.
Burkina Faso Official, attested Diplome de Maitrise AND Releve de Notes (academic transcripts) in original language with English translations  
Burundi Official, attested Diplome de Licence, Diplome d'Ingenieur Industriel or Diplome d'Ingenieur Civil AND Releve de Notes (academic transcripts) in original language with English translations