Vietnam: What are the conditions for recognizing degrees issued by foreign educational institutions?

What are the conditions for recognizing degrees issued by foreign educational institutions in Vietnam?

Under Article 4 of Circular 13/2021/TT-BGDDT, the conditions for recognizing degrees issued by foreign educational institutions are as follows:

- Degrees awarded by foreign educational institutions may be recognized when the study or research duration of the degree programs is appropriate to the structural framework of the national education system and either of the following conditions is fulfilled:

+ The degree program has been accredited by an accrediting organization of the home country of the foreign educational institution as suitable for the mode of study;

+ The foreign educational institution is permitted to provide training and award the degree by the competent education authority of its home country or has been accredited by an accrediting organization of its home country.

- Degrees awarded by foreign educational institutions operating in another country besides their home countries (including in Vietnam) may be recognized when these institutions are permitted to establish a branch and provide training or participate in joint training or training cooperation by competent education authorities of both countries; provide training according to their licenses and meet the regulations in Clause 1 of Article 4 of Circular 13/2021/TT-BGDDT.

- Online-learning and blended-learning degrees awarded by foreign educational institutions may be recognized when they meet the regulations in Point a Clause 1, Article 4 of Circular 13/2021/TT-BGDDT and either of the following conditions:

+ The Ministry of Education and Training permits provision of the degree program in Vietnam to learners living and studying in Vietnam;

+ The competent education authority of the country where the degree program is provided permits provision of the program to learners living and studying in that country;

- The Minister of Education and Training has the power to decide recognition of degrees awarded by foreign educational institutions to learners affected by war, natural disasters, epidemics, fire and other force majeure events.

What are the conditions for recognizing degrees issued by foreign educational institutions in Vietnam? (Image from the Internet)

What degrees issued by foreign educational institutions are exempt from degree recognition when they are used in Vietnam?

According to Article 5 of Circular 13/2021/TT-BGDDT, the following types of degrees are exempt from degree recognition in Vietnam:

- Degrees awarded by foreign educational institutions under agreements on degree equivalence or mutual degree recognition or degree-related conventions to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a signatory and which have been published by the Ministry of Education and Training;

- Degrees awarded by foreign educational institutions to learners sent to study by the Ministry of Education and Training using the state budget;

- Degrees awarded by foreign educational institutions to learners under Vietnam-based joint training programs approved by the competent authority after the entry into force of the Law on Higher Education 2018.

Note: These degrees must meet the following requirements:

- Their names are in compliance with regulations on degrees of the Vietnamese national educational system;

- Training duration and admission requirements adhere to regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training;

- For in-class learning and blended learning, online classes must constitute no more than 30% of total classes of each program.

Who has the competence to recognize Master's Degrees issued by foreign educational institutions for learners in Vietnam?

Under Article 6 of Circular 13/2021/TT-BGDDT, the competence to recognize degrees issued by foreign educational institutions is regulated as follows:

Competence in degree recognition

1. Head of Quality Control Department affiliated to the Ministry of Education and Training has the competence to recognize bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, doctoral degrees and equivalent degrees.

2. Directors of Departments of Education and Training have the competence to recognize lower secondary diplomas, upper secondary diplomas and certificates of completion of the national curriculum.

Thus, the Head of the Quality Control Department affiliated to the Ministry of Education and Training has the competence to recognize master's degrees issued by foreign educational institutions.

What are the cases of the annulment of recognition results of degrees issued by foreign educational institutions in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 8 of Circular 13/2021/TT-BGDDT, the provisions on the annulment of degree recognition results are as follows:

 

Annulment of degree recognition results

1. In case it is verified that a degree is not lawful or a degree recognition application is not honest, the degree recognition result will be annulled.

2. Head of the recognition authority has the power to issue decisions on annulment of degree recognition result and certificate revocation, which must include the reason for such annulment and revocation.

3. Every decision on annulment of degree recognition result and certificate revocation shall be posted on the portal of the recognition authority and sent to the degree holder, inspection and violation detection authority (if any), workplace of the degree holder (if any) and relevant regulatory bodies and organizations.

Thus, the recognition results of degrees issued by foreign educational institutions in Vietnam will be annulled if it is verified that a degree is not lawful or a degree recognition application is not honest.