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  
Cambodia Official, attested Licence or Bachelor's Degree (4 year programs) AND academic transcripts in original language with English translations  
Cameroon: Francophone Official,attested Diplome d'Estudes Superieures (DES) or Diplome d'Ingenieur de Conception AND Releve de Notes (academic transcripts) in original language with English translations  
Cameroon: Anglophone Official Bachelor's Degree (4 year program) AND academic transcripts  
Canada Official Bachelor's Degree (4 year program) AND academic transcripts *If your University follows the French-system, please submit English translations.  
Cape Verde Official,attested Licenciatura (Licentiate) AND Historico Escolar (academic transcripts) in original language with English translations  
Cayman Islands Official Bachelor's Degree (4 year program) AND academic transcripts  
Central African Republic Official,attested Diplome d'Ingenieur or Maitrise AND Releve de Notes (academic transcripts) in original language with English translations  
Chad Official, attested Licence (3 year) PLUS Maitrise OR Licence Professionelle (4 year program) AND Releve de Notes (academic transcripts) in original language with English translations  
Chile Official, attested Licenciatura (4 year program) or Titulo Profesional AND Certificado de Notas/Calificaciones (academic transcripts) in original language with English translations  
China Official Bachelor's Degree (4 year program) with Graduate Certificate AND academic transcripts in original language with English translations Transcripts, graduation certificates, and degrees verified by the China Academic Degree and Graduate Education Development Center (CDGDC) www.cdgdc.edu.cn or China Higher Education Student Information and Career Center (CHESICC) www.chsi.com.cn
Colombia Official, attested Titulo de Licenciature, Titulo de Ingeniero, Titulo Professional, Diploma de... AND certificado de estudios /calificaciones (academic transcripts) in original language with English translations  
Comoros Comoros offers no Bachelor equivalent  
Congo - Brazzaville Official, attested Maitrise or Diplome d'Ingenieur AND Releve de Notes (academic transcripts) in original language with English translations  
Congo - Kinshasa Official, attested Licence AND Releve de Notes (academic transcripts) in original language with English translations  
Costa Rica Official, attested Bachiller Universitario, Licenciado, or Titulo Profesional AND Certificado de Notas/Calificaciones (academic transcripts) in original language with English translations  
Cote d'Ivoire Official, attested Licence d'Enseignement or Maitrise AND Releve de notes (academic transcripts) in original language with English translations  
Croatia Official, attested Diploma i Strucni Naziv (4-5 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.
Cuba Official, attested Titulo de Profesional or Licenciado AND certificado de estudios /calificaciones (academic transcripts) in original language with English translations  
Curacao Official Bachelor's Degree (4 year program) AND academic transcripts in original language with English translations  
Cyprus Official, attested Ptychio or Lisans Diplomasi AND Diploma Supplement in original language with English translations *3 year degrees will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the department.
Czech Republic Official,attested Bakalar (4 year program), Diplom o Absolvovani Ucitelskeho Studia Prvni, Inzenyr, or Promovany AND Diploma Supplement in original language with English translations *3 year degrees will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the department.