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

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.

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.

Note: Exemption from degree recognition does not include exemption from degree verification; regulatory bodies, organizations or employers shall take responsibility for degree verification where necessary.

What degrees issued by foreign educational institutions are exempt from degree recognition when they are used in Vietnam? (Image from the Internet)

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 required documents for recognizing degrees issued by foreign educational institutions in Vietnam?

Under Clause 2 Article 7 of Circular 13/2021/TT-BGDDT amended by Clause 1 Article 1 of Circular 07/2024/TT-BGDDT, the required documents for recognizing degrees issued by foreign educational institutions include:

- A copy of the degree or a copy from the original degree book requesting recognition along with a notarized translation into Vietnamese;

- A copy of the transcript appendix or academic results transcript along with a notarized translation into Vietnamese;

- Notarized copies of relevant direct degrees, certificates (if any);

- Proof of study period abroad (if any): Decision to send the individual for study and acceptance by the labor management unit; passport, visa pages, appropriate exit and entry stamps relevant to the study period, or other proof documents;

- An authorization letter for verifying degree information (if required by the verification unit).