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 Official when sealed in envelope fromÉ    
Denmark Official, attested Candidatus/a.. (4+ year programs) AND Diploma Supplement in original language with English translations *3 year degrees will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the department.    
Djibouti Dijbouti offers no Bachelor equivalent      
Dominica Dominica 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).    
Dominican Republic Official, attested Licenciatura en (field) (4-6 year program), Ingeniero, or Arquitecto AND Certificado de Notas/Calificaciones (academic transcripts) in original language with English translations      
East Timor East Timor offers no Bachelor equivalent      
Ecuador Official Licenicado or Titulo Profesional AND Certificado de Notas/Calificaciones (academic transcripts) with English translations      
Egypt Official, attested Baccalaureos, Licence, or Bachelor's Degree AND academic transcripts      
El Salvador Official, attested Licenciado or Titulo de... AND Certificado do Notas/Calificaciones (academic transcripts) in original language with English translations      
Equatorial Guinea Equatorial Guinea offers no Bachelor equivalent      
Eritrea Official Bachelor's Degree (4 year program) AND academic transcripts      
Estonia Official, Bakalaureuskraad AND Diploma Supplement in original language with English translations *3 year degrees will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the department.    
Ethiopia Official Bachelor's Degree (4 year program) AND academic transcripts      
Falkland Islands The Falkland Islands offer no Bachelor equivalent      
Faroe Islands Official Bachelor's Degree (4 year program) AND academic transcripts      
Fiji Official Bachelor's Degree (3 year program following Form 7/13th year) AND academic transcripts      
Finland Official, attested Arkkitehti / Arkitekt, Diplomi-insinoori / Diplomingenjor, Kandidaattin tutkinto PLUS Maisterin tutkinto AND Diploma Supplement in original language with English translations      
France Official Licence PLUS Maitrise AND Releve de Notes Annuels (academic transcripts) with English translations      
French Guiana Official Licence PLUS Maitrise AND Releve de Notes Annuels (academic transcripts) with English translations      
French Polynesia Official Licence PLUS Maitrise AND Releve de Notes Annuels (academic transcripts) with English translations