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    
Gabon Official, attested Diplome de Ingenieur or Maitrise AND Releve de Notes (academic transcripts) with English translations    
Gambia Official Bachelor's Degree (4-6 year program) AND academic transcripts with English transcripts    
Georgia Official, attested Bakalavris Kharishki (4 year program) or Specialistis Diplomi (4-5 year program) AND academic transcripts with English translations *3 year degrees will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the department.  
Germany Official Bakkalaureus (4 year program) or Bachelor (FH) (4 year program) AND Leistungsnachweise (Academic transcripts) with English translations *3 year degrees will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the department.  
Ghana Official Bachelor's Degree (4 year program) AND academic transcripts with English transcripts    
Gibraltar Official Bachelor of: Arts, Science, Nursing, Midwifery, Engineering, Education, Science in Physiotherapy (3-4 year programs) AND academic transcripts    
Greece Original, attested Ptychio (4-6 year program) AND academic transcripts with English translations *3 year degrees will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the department.  
Greenland 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.  
Grenada Official Bachelor's Degree (4 year program) AND academic transcripts with English transcripts    
Guadeloupe Guadeloupe offers no Bachelor equivalent    
Guam Guam offers no Bachelor equivalent    
Guatemala Official, attested Titulo de Licenciado en, Titulo Profesional de, or Baccalaureatus AND Certificado de Notas/Calificaciones (academic transcripts) with English translations    
Guinea Official, attested Licence (Licentiate) PLUS Maitrise, Licence (Licentiate) PLUS Diplome d'Etudes Superieure/DES, or Diplome d'Etudes Universitaires Generales/DUEG PLUS Diplome d'Ingenieur AND Releve de Notes (academic transcripts) with English translations    
Guinea-Bissau Guinea-Bissau offers no Bachelor equivalent    
Guyana Official Bachelor's Degree (4 year program) AND academic transcripts with English transcripts