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    
Macedonia Official Diplomiran/Diploma and Professional Title (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.  
Macau SAR, China Official Licenciatura or Bachelor's Degree (4 year program) AND academic transcripts in original language with English translations    
Madagascar Official Licence PLUS Maitrise or Diplome d'Ingenieur AND Releve de Notes (academic transcripts) in original language with English translations    
Malawi Official Bachelor's Degree (4 year program) AND academic transcripts in original language with English translations    
Malaysia Official Baccalaureat degree (4 year program) AND academic transcripts    
Maldives Official, Bachelor's Degree (Honours) (4 year program) AND academic transcripts in original language with English translations    
Mali Official Maitrise or Diplome d'Ingenieur des Sciences Appliquees AND Releve de Notes (academic transcripts) in original language with English translations    
Malta Official Bachelor's Degree (3 year program) AND academic transcripts in original language with English translations    
Marshall Islands The Marshall Islands offer no Bachelor's Equivalent    
Martinique Official Diplome de Maitrise AND Diploma Supplement in original language with English translations    
Mauritania Official Maitrise AND Releve de Notes (academic transcripts) in original language with English translations    
Mauritius Official Bachelor's Degree (Honours) AND academic transcripts in original language with English translations    
Mayotte Mayotte offers no Bachelor Equivalent    
Mexico Official Licenciatura/Titulo de... (4 year programs) AND Certificado de estudios /calificaciones (academic transcripts) in original language with English translations    
Micronesia Micronesia offers no Bachelor equivalent    
Moldova Official Diploma de Studii Superiorare de Scurta Durata, Diploma de Licenta, or Diploma de Inginer AND Diploma Supplement in original language with English translations *3 year degrees will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the department.  
Monaco Official Bachelor's Degree (4 year program) AND academic transcripts in original language with English translations    
Mongolia Official Bachelor's Degree (4 year program) AND academic transcripts in original language with English translations    
Montenegro Official Diploma visokog obrazovanja PLUS Spetsialist AND Diploma Supplement with English translations *3 year degrees will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the department.  
Montserrat (UK) Montserrat 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).  
Morocco Original Diplome de Licence or Diplome d'Ingenieur d'Etat AND Releve de Notes (academic transcripts) in original language with English translations    
Mozambique Official Licenciatura (Licentiate) or Licenciature em Engenharia (Licentiate in Engineering) AND academic transcripts in original language with English translations    
Myanmar Official Bachelor's Degree (4 year program) AND academic transcripts in original language with English translations