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 Notes
Taiwan Official Bachelor's Degree (4-7 year program) AND academic transcripts  
Tajikistan Official Bakalavr (4 year program) AND academic transcripts in original language with English translations  
Tanzania Official Bachelor's Degree (3+year program) AND academic transcripts  
Thailand Official Bachelor's Degree (4+year program) or Higher Diploma/Degree (4 year program) in original language AND academic transcripts with English translations  
Togo Official Certificate de Maitrise, Master Recherche, or Diplome d'Ingenieur AND Releve de Notes (academic transcripts) in original language with English translations  
Trinidad and Tobago Official Bachelor's Degree (4 year program) AND academic transcripts  
Tunisia Official Maitrise or Diplome National d'Ingenieur AND Releve de notes (academic transcripts) in original language with English translations  
Turkey Official Lisans Derecesi/Diplomasi or Muhendislik Diplomasi AND academic transcripts in original language with English translations *3 year degrees will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the department.
Turkmenistan Official Bakalavr (4 year program) AND academic transcripts in original language with English translations  
Turks & Caicos Islands Turks and Caicos Islands offer 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).
Uganda Official Bachelor's Degree (3-5 year programs) or Higher Technician's Diploma, Ordinary Diploma in Electrical Engineering AND academic transcripts in original language with English translations  
Ukraine Official Dyplom Bakalayra (4-6 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.
United Arab Emirates Official Bachelor's Degree (132-136 credit hours) AND academic transcripts  
United Kingdom Official Bachelor of: Arts, Science, Nursing, Midwifery, Engineering, Education, Science in Physiotherapy (3-4 year programs) AND academic transcripts  
Uruguay Official Licenciado, Titulo de Trabajador(a) Social, or Magister en Quimica AND Certificado de Notas/Calificaciones (academic transcripts) in original language with English translations  
Uzbekistan Official Bakalavr Diplomi or Bakalavr Diplomi Imtiyozli (with Honours) AND Vypiska/ prilozhenie k diplomu/ arkhivnaya spravka/ appendix to diploma (academic transcripts) in original language with English translations  
Vatican City, Holy See Official Baccellierato PLUS Licenza AND academic transcripts in original language with English translations *3 year degrees will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the department.
Venezuela Official Licenciado (4-5 year program) or Titulo (5-6 year program) AND Certificado de Notas/Calificaciones (academic transcripts) in original language with English translations  
Vietnam Official Bang Tot Nghiep Dai Hoc (4-6 year program) AND academic transcripts in original language with English translations  
Virgin Islands (British) The British Virgin Islands 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).
Yemen Official Bachelor's Degree (4-5 year program) AND academic transcripts  
Yugoslavia Official Bachelor's Degree (4-5 year program) AND academic transcripts in original language with English translations  
Zambia Official Bachelor's Degree (4-7 year program) AND academic transcripts  
Zimbabwe Official Bachelor's Degree (4-5 year program) AND academic transcripts