Are university degrees issued by foreign universities recognized in Vietnam?

Recognition of university degrees issued by foreign universities in Vietnam

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

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

a) 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;

b) 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.

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Thus, when a university degree is issued by a foreign university, if you have a study program that is suitable with the structural framework of the national education system of Vietnam and meets the prescribed conditions above, your university degree will be recognized by the competent authority to be valid for use in Vietnam.

Procedures for recognition of university degrees issued by foreign universities in Vietnam

The procedures for recognition of university degrees issued by foreign universities in Vietnam are specified in Article 7 of this Circular as follows:

1. Each applicant shall provide information on the degree using the form in Appendix I enclosed therewith on the online public service portal of the Ministry of Education and Training or Department of Education and Training (hereinafter collectively referred to as “recognition authority”). The following proof for degree verification may be submitted directly or by post to the recognition authority:

a) Copy of the degree or copy from the master degree register together with a notarized Vietnamese translation and copies of directly relevant degrees and certificates;

b) Copy of the degree’s appendix or transcript together with a notarized Vietnamese translation;

c) Proof of overseas study (if any);

d) Letter of authorization of verification of degree’s information (if requested by the awarding institution).

2. Within 20 working days, the recognition authority shall notify the applicant of the degree recognition result. In case where information on the degree needs to be verified by the foreign educational institution or a foreign verifying unit, this deadline may be extended to no more than 45 working days in total starting from the date of receipt of the degree recognition application.

3. The degree recognition result shall be written on a certificate according to Appendixes II and III enclosed therewith. If a degree is not eligible for recognition or there are insufficient grounds to verify information on the degree by the deadline mentioned in Clause 2 herein, the recognition authority must notify the applicant in writing. If the recognition authority is unable to determine the qualification equivalent to the degree in the Vietnamese Qualifications Framework, it shall provide information and recognize the degree’s value according to the education system of the home country of the awarding institution.

4. The recognition authority shall prepare a degree recognition certificate issuance book, which includes full name and date of birth of degree holders; name of awarding institutions; mode of study; equivalent qualification in the Vietnamese Qualifications Framework or qualification according to the education system of the home country of the awarding institution; and book entry number.

Best Regards!