What are the newest procedures for recognizing bachelor's degrees issued by foreign educational institutions for use in Vietnam?

What are the newest procedures for recognizing bachelor's degrees issued by foreign educational institutions for use in Vietnam?

Under Section A, Part 2 on the publication of amended and supplemented administrative procedures, the field of degree and certificate systems within the scope and function of management of the Ministry of Education and Training issued as per Decision 2761/QD-BGDDT in 2024, the newest procedures for recognizing bachelor's degrees issued by foreign educational institutions for use in Vietnam are specified as follows:

(1)Process:

Step 1: The applicant seeking recognition of the degree provides information about the degree via the application form for recognizing bachelor's degrees issued by foreign educational institutions as specified in Appendix 1 of Circular 13/2021/TT-BGDDT and uploads the application to the Online Public Service Portal of the Ministry of Education and Training (hereinafter referred to as the competent authority for degree recognition) and pays the fee as stipulated.

- Where the applicant has information or evidence for direct verification from the degree-granting educational institution or an authorized verification body, they should provide this information and evidence directly to the competent authority for degree recognition while uploading to the Online Public Service Portal: a scanned recognition request form from the foreign institution, a copy of the degree, or a copy from the original degree register along with a notarized translation in Vietnamese; (no need for electronic certification from the original); certification from electronic copies for original annexes or academic transcripts along with a notarized translation in Vietnamese, certified copies of relevant degrees and certificates;

- If the applicant has no information or evidence for direct verification, they should certify electronic copies from the originals for the applications stipulated at the paragraph points of the recognition request form from the foreign institution, a copy of the degree, or a copy from the original degree register along with a notarized translation in Vietnamese, annex copies or academic transcripts with a notarized translation in Vietnamese, certified copies of related degrees and certificates along with an authorization document for degree information verification (if required by the verifying entity) and upload it to the Online Public Service Portal;

- In case of failing to post documents to the Online Public Service Portal, the applicant must submit them directly or send them via postal service to the competent authority for degree recognition comprising the stipulated documents.

Step 2: Within 20 working days, the competent authority for degree recognition is responsible for delivering the degree recognition result to the applicant. In cases requiring verification of information on the degree from the foreign educational institution or foreign verifying entity, the result delivery shall not exceed 45 working days from the date of receipt of the recognition application.

Step 3: The degree recognition result is recorded on a recognition certificate.

Where the degree does not meet the recognition conditions or verification information about the degree cannot be determined within the stipulated time, the competent authority must respond in writing or by email to the applicant.

If the equivalent level of the degree cannot be determined with the training levels stipulated in the Vietnamese national qualifications framework, the competent authority shall provide information and recognize the value of the degree according to the educational system where the foreign educational institution's headquarters is located.

(2) Method of applying:

- Direct submission or through postal services

- Online submission at the Online Public Service Portal.

(3) Components and Quantity of application:

- An application includes:

+ Application form for recognizing bachelor's degrees issued by foreign educational institutions (as per the template in Appendix 1 issued with Circular 13/2021/TT-BGDDT).

If the applicant submits the application online, they should provide information directly on the electronic form on the Online Public Service Portal of the Ministry of Education and Training.

+ Copy of the degree or a copy from the original degree register for recognition request with a notarized translation in Vietnamese;

+ Copy of the degree annex or academic transcript with a notarized translation in Vietnamese;

+ Certified copies of directly related degrees and certificates (if any);

+ Proof of study time abroad (if any): Decision on sending to study abroad and acceptance from the labor-management unit; passport, visa pages with suitable exit and entry stamps corresponding to study abroad time, or other evidential documents;

+ Authorization document for degree information verification (if required by the verifying entity).

- Quantity of application: 01 set.

What are the newest procedures for recognizing bachelor's degrees issued by foreign educational institutions for use in Vietnam? (Image from the Internet)

What are the requirements and conditions for recognizing bachelor's degrees issued by foreign educational institutions for use in Vietnam?

Under Subsection 10, Section A, Part 2 on the publication of amended and supplemented administrative procedures, degree and certificate systems within the management of the Ministry of Education and Training issued as per Decision 2761/QD-BGDDT in 2024:

(1) A degree issued by a foreign educational institution is recognized when the educational program has a duration of study or research consistent with the Framework structure of the national education system of Vietnam and meets one of the two following conditions:

+ The educational program is evaluated for quality by the education quality assurance organization of the country where the foreign educational institution is headquartered, corresponding to the form of education;

+ The foreign educational institution is authorized by the competent educational authority of the country where it is headquartered to conduct education and award degrees or has been quality assured by the education assurance organization of the country where it is headquartered.

(2) Degrees granted by foreign educational institutions operating in another country where the institution is headquartered (including Vietnam) are recognized when the educational institution is permitted by the competent educational authority of both countries to open branches, provide education, or approve training cooperation and collaboration; conduct training activities under a license and comply with the stipulations in (1) above.

- Degrees issued by foreign educational institutions for online education, and blended learning are recognized when they meet the regulations stipulated in paragraph (1) above and one of the following conditions:

+ The educational program is authorized by the Ministry of Education and Training to offer training in Vietnam when the learner is residing and studying in Vietnam;

+ The educational program is authorized by the competent educational authority of the country where the training is organized when the learner is residing and studying in that country.

- Degree recognition issued by foreign educational institutions to learners affected by war, natural disasters, epidemics, fire, and other unavoidable circumstances shall be determined by the Minister of Education and Training.

What are the degree recognition rules in Vietnam?

According to Article 3 of Circular 13/2021/TT-BTC, the degree recognition rules in Vietnam are:

- Degree recognition shall be carried out at the request of the degree holder or the personnel authority or a worker management unit with the permission of the degree holder (hereinafter collectively referred to as “applicants”).

- A degree awarded by a foreign educational institution may be recognized when the learner has completed an accredited educational program according to regulations of the home country of the institution and the degree is recognized by the competent education authority of this country according to regulations in Article 4 of Circular 13/2021/TT-BTC.

- Degrees awarded by foreign educational institutions may be exempt from degree recognition if they meet the conditions provided for in Article 5 of Circular 13/2021/TT-BTC.

- Higher education institutions shall self-assess degrees for use in training activities based on conditions provided for in Article 4 of Circular 13/2021/TT-BTC and take responsibility before the law for degree assessment results. Where necessary, higher education institutions may request degree holders to apply for degree recognition in compliance with regulations in Article 7 of Circular 13/2021/TT-BTC.