Vietnam: How many times may the original higher education degree be issued?

How many times may the original higher education degree in Vietnam be issued?

Under Clause 2, Article 2 of the Regulation on management of lower secondary diplomas, upper secondary diplomas, Level 4 of VQF diplomas in teacher training, Level 5 of VQF advanced diplomas in teacher training, higher education degrees and certificates of the national educational system issued together with Circular 21/2019/TT-BGDDT on the rules for management and issuance of degrees and certificates:

Rules for management and issuance of degrees and certificates

1. Degrees and certificates shall be under uniform management; Departments of Education and Training shall be assigned management tasks, and pedagogical institutions and higher education institutions may exercise autonomy and shall take responsibility for their own actions according to regulations in Article 3 herein.

2. A degree or certificate shall be issued only once, excluding the cases prescribed in Article 18 herein.

3. All acts of fraudulence in issuance and use of certificates and degrees are prohibited.

4. Degrees and certificates shall be issued with transparency.

Referring to Article 18 of the Regulation on management of lower secondary diplomas, upper secondary diplomas, Level 4 of VQF diplomas in teacher training, Level 5 of VQF advanced diplomas in teacher training, higher education degrees and certificates of the national educational system issued together with Circular 21/2019/TT-BGDDT:

Reissuance of degrees and certificates

1. If an issued degree or certificate is found to have been wrongly written by the issuing authority, the issuing authority shall reissue the authentic copy of the degree or certificate.

2. Heads of the issuing authorities specified in Article 15 herein have the power to reissue degrees and certificates.

3. Procedures for reissuance of degrees and certificates:

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Thus, according to the above regulations, the original higher education degree will be issued only once.

Note: If an issued degree or certificate is found to have been wrongly written by the issuing authority, the issuing authority shall reissue the authentic copy of the degree or certificate.

How many times can the original higher education degree in Vietnam be issued? (Image from Internet)

Is a copy of the higher education degree in Vietnam legally valid as the original?

Under Clause 1, Article 28 of the Regulation on management of lower secondary diplomas, upper secondary diplomas, Level 4 of VQF diplomas in teacher training, Level 5 of VQF advanced diplomas in teacher training, higher education degrees and certificates of the national educational system issued together with Circular 21/2019/TT-BGDDT:

Legal value of copies of degrees and certificates based on master registers

1. Copies of degrees and certificates based on master registers may be used in place of authentic copies in transactions unless otherwise provided for by law.

2. If there is any evidence proving that a copy of a degree or certificate is forged or invalid, the regulatory body or organization receiving the copy shall request the person possessing the copy to present the authentic copy for comparison or verification.

Copies of degrees and certificates based on master registers may be used in place of authentic copies in transactions unless otherwise provided for by law.

Thus, according to the above regulations, a copy of a higher education degree will have the same legal value as the original, except where the law stipulates otherwise.

What are the procedures for issuing a copy of the upper secondary diploma in Vietnam?

In case the copy is lost, you can refer to the reissuance procedures in Article 31 of the Regulation on management of lower secondary diplomas, upper secondary diplomas, Level 4 of VQF diplomas in teacher training, Level 5 of VQF advanced diplomas in teacher training, higher education degrees and certificates of the national educational system issued together with Circular 21/2019/TT-BGDDT, the procedures for issuing a copy of the upper secondary diploma in Vietnam are as follows:

- The application for issuance of copies of degrees and certificates based on master registers includes:

+ A letter of application for copy issuance which includes information on the issued degree or certificate;

+ The authentic copy or a certified true copy of an unexpired identity card or passport for the person receiving the application to inspect;

+ If the applicant is one of the persons prescribed in Clauses 2 and 3 Article 30 of the Regulation on management of lower secondary diplomas, upper secondary diplomas, Level 4 of VQF diplomas in teacher training, Level 5 of VQF advanced diplomas in teacher training, higher education degrees and certificates of the national educational system issued together with Circular 21/2019/TT-BGDDT, they must present the letter of authorization (if authorized) or documentary evidences proving their relation with the holder of the authentic copy of the degree or certificate;

+ If the application is sent by post, the applicant must include certified true copies of the documents specified in Points a, b and c herein and 01 (one) stamped addressed envelope to the authority with competence in copy issuance (“copy issuing authority”).

- The procedures for issuance of copies of degrees and certificates based on master registers are stipulated as follows:

+ The applicant submits 01 (one) application prescribed in Clause 1 of Article 31 of the Regulation on management of lower secondary diplomas, upper secondary diplomas, Level 4 of VQF diplomas in teacher training, Level 5 of VQF advanced diplomas in teacher training, higher education degrees and certificates of the national educational system issued together with Circular 21/2019/TT-BGDDT in person or by post to the copy issuing authority;

+ Within the date of receipt of the application or the next working day (if the application is received after 03:00PM), the copy issuing authority must issue the copy to the applicant. In case the application is submitted by post, the time limit for issuance shall begin from the time of receipt of the valid application attested by the postal mark denoting its arrival;

+ Should the applicant request copies from different master registers or multiple copies, or the degree or certificate contain information that is difficult to inspect or compare, and the copy issuing authority be unable to abide by the time limit prescribed in Point b herein, such time limit may be extended by a maximum of 02 (two) working days or a longer period under a written agreement with the applicant.

- The copy issuing authority shall issue the copy to the applicant based on the master register; and contents of the copy must be consistent with those retained in the master register. In case the master register is unavailable or missing information necessary for the copy to be issued or the application is rejected, the copy issuing authority shall provide a written explanation to the applicant.