Cases of exemption from recognition of degrees awarded by foreign educational institutions for use in Vietnam

Cases of exemption from recognition of degrees awarded by foreign educational institutions for use in Vietnam (Internet image)

Regarding this issue, LawNet would like to answer as follows:

1. Rules of recognition of degrees awarded by foreign educational institutions for use in Vietnam

Rules of recognition of degrees awarded by foreign educational institutions for use in Vietnam according to Article 3 of Circular 13/2021/TT-BGDDT are as follows:

- 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-BGDDT.

- 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-BGDDT.

- Higher education institutions shall self-assess degrees for use in training activities based on conditions provided for in Article 4 herein 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 in Circular 13/2021/TT-BGDDT.

2. Cases of exemption from recognition of degrees awarded by foreign educational institutions for use in Vietnam

According to Clause 1, Article 5 of Circular 13/2021/TT-BGDDT, the following degrees awarded by foreign educational institutions are exempt from degree recognition when they are used 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 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 from 1/7/2019

3. Conditions for recognition of degrees awarded by foreign educational institutions for use in Vietnam

Conditions for recognition of degrees awarded by foreign educational institutions for use in Vietnam according to Article 4 of Circular 13/2021/TT-BGDDT are as follows:

- 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:

+ 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 of 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.

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