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    
Jamaica Official Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) Certificate PLUS Bachelor's Degree (3 year program) or Bachelor's Degree (4 year program) AND academic transcripts    
Japan Official Bachelor's Degree/Gakushi Shogo AND academic transcripts    
Jordan Official Bachelor's Degree (4-5 year program) AND academic transcripts    
Kazakhstan Official, attested Bakalavr AND Vypiska/ prilozhenie k diplomu/ akademicheskaya spravka (academic transcripts) in original language with English translations *3 year degrees will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the department.  
Kenya Official Bachelor's Degree (4-5 year program) AND academic transcripts    
Kiribati Kiribati offers no Bachelor equivalent    
Kosovo Official Bachelor's Degree (3-4 year program) or Diploma mbi Kualifikimin Superior Shkollor AND academic transcripts in original language with English translations    
Kuwait Official Bachelor's Degree (4 year program) AND academic transcripts    
Kyrgyzstan Official, attested Diplom Bakalavra or Bachelor's Degree (4 year program) AND Vypiska/ prilozhenie k diplomu/ akademicheskaya spravka (academic transcripts) in original language with English translations    
Laos Official Bachelor's Degree (4 year program) AND academic transcripts in original language with English translations    
Latvia Official Bakalaurs (4 year program) or Diploms (4-5 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.  
Lebanon Official Licence PLUS DEUG/DTBS/DPSS or Diplome d'... (4 year program) AND academic transcripts with in original language English translations    
Lesotho Official Bachelor's Degree (4 year program) AND academic transcripts in original language with English translations    
Liberia Official Bachelor's Degree (4 year program) AND academic transcripts    
Libya Official Bachelor's Degree/Karshenasi (4 year program) AND academic transcripts with English translations    
Liechtenstein Official Bachelor's Degree (3 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.  
Lithuania Official Bakalauro Diplomas (4-5 year program) or Aukstojo Mokslo (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.  
Luxembourg Official Bachelor's Degree (3 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.