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International and three-year degree equivalency for graduate admissions

In the U.S. educational system, bachelor's degree recipients have 16 years of formal education — 12 years of elementary and secondary education plus 4 years of postsecondary study. A bachelor's or equivalent degree, as determined by the U.S. Department of Education, normally requires at least four – but not more than five – years of full-time equivalent college-level work.

The Graduate School will consider three-year bachelor’s degrees equivalent to U.S. bachelor's degrees if the country of the degree-awarding institution is part of the Bologna system, and only if the degree was granted after 2012 (the official date of the full Bologna agreement implementation). The Graduate School will only consider a three-year degree from India as long as the institution is NAAC accredited with an A rating AND the student graduated 1st Division/1st Class.

Applicants with three-year bachelor's degrees will be considered on a case by case basis when supplemented by one additional year of post-secondary education at either the undergraduate or graduate level.

Graduate school requirements for admission to the University of ϱ, Reno
Country Description Required documents
Angola Completion of five-year Licenciado (Licentiate), or three-year Bacharelato + one year of a Licenciado (Licentiate), or five-year Professor de Ensino Secundario Degree Certificate and Transcript
Australia Completion of four-year Honours Bachelor’s Degree, or three-year Ordinary/Pass Bachelor’s Degree + one-year Bachelor’s Degree with Honours, or three-year Ordinary/Pass Bachelor’s Degree + one year of a Master’s Degree Degree Certificate and Transcript
Austria Completion of three-year Bakkalaureaus/Bakkalaurea Degree + one year of a Magister Degree Degree Certificate and Transcript As an alternative to a traditional transcript, a Diploma Supplement may be submitted along with a Degree Certificate.
Bahamas Completion of Bachelor’s Degree Degree Certificate and Transcript
Bahrain Completion of Bachelor’s Degree Degree Certificate and Transcript
Bangladesh Completion of a four-year Bachelor’s Degree, or two-year Bachelor’s Degree + two years of a Master’s Degree, or three-year Bachelor’s Degree + one year of a Master’s Degree Degree Certificate and Statement of Marks for each year of study
Belarus Completion of Дыплом аб Вышзйшай адукацыі (Diploma of Higher Education/Diploma Specialist), or Дыплом бакалўра (Diploma of Baccalaureate/Diplom Bakalaura) Diploma Certificate and Dadatak da diploma/Vypiska z zalikovaj knizhki/Transcript. As an alternative to a traditional transcript, a Diploma Supplement may be submitted along with a Degree Certificate.
Belgium Completion of a three-year Bachelor’s Degree + one year of a Master’s Degree Degree Certificate and Transcript. As an alternative to a traditional transcript, a Diploma Supplement may be submitted along with a Degree Certificate.
Brazil Completion of four- to five-year Licenciado/Licenciatura, Bacharelado, or Titulo Profissional Degree Certificate and Historico Escolar/Transcript
Bulgaria Completion of Bachelor/Bakalavr (Бакалавър) Degree Certificate (бакалавър) and Transcript (Приложение Към диплом/Prilozhenie Kŭm diplom). As an alternative to a traditional transcript, a Diploma Supplement may be submitted along with a Degree Certificate.
Canada
  • Alberta: Honours Bachelor’s Degree or General Bachelor’s Degree + one year of a Master’s Degree
  • British Columbia: Four- or five-year Bachelor’s Degree (sometimes called Honours or Advanced)
  • Manitoba: Honours Bachelor’s Degree, Bachelor of Education, Bachelor of Law LLB
  • New Brunswick: Honours Bachelor’s Degree, or three-year Bachelor’s Degree + Bachelor of Law, or Bachelor’s Degree + one year of a Master’s Degree
  • Newfoundland and Labrador: Bachelor’s degree
  • Northwest Territory: No accredited universities
  • Nova Scotia: Four-year Bachelor’s Degree/Baccalaureat, or a three-year Bachelor’s Degree + one year of a Master’s Degree
  • Nunavut: No accredited universities that issue bachelor’s equivalent work
  • Ontario: Four-year Bachelor’s Degree, or Honours Bachelor’s Degree Prince Edward Island: Bachelor’s Degree (pass or honors)
  • Quebec: Three-year Bachelor’s Degree (or Baccalarium, Baccalaureat, Bachelier, or Bacheliere) + one year of a Master’s Degree, or four-year Bachelor’s Degree
  • Saskatchewan: Four-year or Honours Bachelor’s Degree
  • Yukon Territory: No accredited universities that issue bachelor’s equivalent work
Transcript showing conferral of Degree
Chile Completion of Licenciatura or Titulo Profesional Degree Certificate and Certificado de Notas/Transcript
China Completion of Bachelor’s Degree Degree Certificate and Transcript in original language and English. Both English and original language degree certificates and transcripts must be stamped by the issuing institution.
Colombia Completion of Titulo de Licenciatura or Titulo Profesional Degree Certificate and Transcript
Costa Rica Completion of Bachiller Universitario Degree Certificate and Transcript
Denmark Completion of Bachelorgraden/Bachelor’s Degree + one year of a Master’s Degree Degree Certificate and Transcript. As an alternative to a traditional transcript, a Diploma Supplement may be submitted along with a Degree Certificate.
Ecuador Completion of Licenciado Degree Certificate and Transcript
Egypt Completion of Baccalaureos, Licence, or Bachelor’s Degree Degree Certificate and Transcript
Estonia Completion of four-year Diplom or Bakalaureuskraad/Bachelor’s Degree Degree Certificate and Transcript. As an alternative to a traditional transcript, a Diploma Supplement may be submitted along with a Degree Certificate.
Finland Completion of Kandadaatti/Kandidat/Bachelor’s Degree + 1 year of a Maisterin tutkinto/Magister/Master’s Degree Degree Certificate and Transcript. As an alternative to a traditional transcript, a Diploma Supplement may be submitted along with a Degree Certificate.
France Completion of three-year Licence + Maitrise, or two-year DEUG + one-year Licence + one-year Maitrise Degree Certificate and Releve de Notes. As an alternative to a traditional transcript, a Diploma Supplement may be submitted along with a Degree Certificate.
Georgia Republic Completion of Bakalavris Kharishki/Bachelor’s Degree, or Specialistis Diplomi, or Datskebiti Skolis Mastsavlebeli (Primary School Teacher), or Sashualo Skolis Mastsavlebeli (Secondary School Teacher) Degree Certificate and Transcript. As an alternative to a traditional transcript, a Diploma Supplement may be submitted along with a Degree Certificate.
Germany Completion of four-year Bakkalaureus (Bachelor’s Degree), or three-year Bachelor’s Degree + one year of a Master’s Degree Diplom certificate and Scheine (certificate) for each course completed. As an alternative to a traditional transcript, a Diploma Supplement may be submitted along with a Degree Certificate.
Ghana Completion of Bachelor’s Degree Degree Certificate and Transcript
Greece Completion of Ptychio (Diploma) Diploma Certificate and Transcript. As an alternative to a traditional transcript, a Diploma Supplement may be submitted along with a Degree Certificate.
Haiti Completion of four- or five-year Licence or Diplome, or three-year Licence or Diplome + one year of a Maitrise Degree Degree Certificate and Releve de Notes
Hong Kong Completion of four-year Bachelor’s Degree, or three-year Bachelor’s Degree + one year of a Master’s degree Degree Certificate and Transcript
India Completion of four-year Bachelor’s Degree, or three-year Bachelor’s Degree + one year of a Master’s Degree.

The Graduate School will only consider a three-year degree from India as long as the institution is NAAC accredited with an A rating AND the student graduated 1st Division/1st Class.

Degree Certificate and Individual Marks Sheets. Provisional degree certificates and consolidated mark sheets (transcript) may be considered under special circumstances.
Indonesia Completion of a Diploma IV or Sarjana Degree Certificate and Transcript
Iraq Completion of Bachelor’s Degree Degree Certificate and Transcript
Israel Completion of 4-year Bachelor’s Degree, or three-year Bachelor’s Degree + one year of a Master’s Degree Degree Certificate and Transcript
Italy Completion of Laurea di 1 livello (L) + one year of Laurea Specialista (LS)/Laurea Magistrale (LM) Laurea Certificate and Transcript. As an alternative to a traditional transcript, a Diploma Supplement may be submitted along with a Degree Certificate.
Ivory Coast Completion of two-year Diplôme Universitaire ďEtudes Générales (DEUG) + one-year Licence + one-year Maitrise Degree Certificate and Transcript
Jamaica Completion of Bachelor’s Degree Degree Certificate and Transcript
Japan Completion of a Gakushi Shogo/Bachelor’s Degree Degree Certificate and Transcript
Jordan Completion of Bachelor’s Degree Degree Certificate and Transcript
Kazakhstan Completion of Bakalavr Degree Degree Certificate and Transcript
Kenya Completion of Bachelor’s Degree Degree Certificate and Transcript
Kuwait Completion of Bachelor’s Degree Degree Certificate and Transcript
Kyrgyzstan Completion of Diploma Bakalavra/диплом бакалавра (Russian)/бакалавр дипломy (Kyrgyz)/Bachelor’s Degree or Diplom Spetsialista Official copies of the diploma booklet and Prilozhenie k Diploma/Transcript
Latvia Completion of four-year Bakalaurs Degree or Diplom, or three-year Bakalaurs + one year of a Magistrs Degree Degree/Diplom Certificate and Izraksts no studiju kartes/Transcript. As an alternative to a traditional transcript, a Diploma Supplement may be submitted along with a Degree Certificate.
Lithuania Completion of Bakalauro Diploma (Baccalaureate Diploma) or Aukstojo Mokslo (Diploma of Higher Education) Diploma Certificate and Priedas prie diploma/Transcript. As an alternative to a traditional transcript, a Diploma Supplement may be submitted along with a Degree Certificate.
Malaysia Completion of four-year Baccalaureate/Bachelor’s Degree, or three- year Baccalaureate/Bachelor’s Degree + one year of a Postgraduate Diploma or Master’s Degree Degree Certificate and Transcript
Mexico Completion of four-year Licenciado or Titulo Profesional, or three- year Licenciatura or Titulo Profesional + one year of Titulo Especialista or Grado de Maestro/Maestría Degree Certificate and Transcript
Moldova Completion of Diploma de Studii Superiorare (Diploma of Higher Education), or Diploma de Licenta (Diploma of Licentiate) Diploma Certificate and Certifcat Academic/Transcript. As an alternative to a traditional transcript, a Diploma Supplement may be submitted along with a Degree Certificate.
Myanmar (Burma) Completion of four-year Bachelor’s Degree + two years of a Master’s Degree, or three-year Bachelor’s Degree + one-year Bachelor’s (Honours) Degree + two years of a Master’s Degree, or three-year Bachelor’s Degree + three years of a Master’s Degree Degree Certificate and Transcript
Nepal Completion of four-year Bachelor’s Degree, or three-year Bachelor’s Degree + one year of a Master’s Degree Degree Certificate and Statement of Marks for each year of study
New Zealand Completion of four-year Bachelor’s Degree, or three-year Bachelor’s Degree + Bachelor’s Degree (Honours), or three-year Bachelor’s Degree + one year of Master’s Degree Degree Certificate and Transcript
Nigeria Completion of Bachelor’s Degree Degree Certificate and Transcript
Pakistan Completion of four-year Bachelor’s Degree, or three-year Bachelor’s Degree + one year of a Master’s Degre Degree Certificate and Statement of Marks for each year of study
Peru Completion of four-year Bachiller, or four-year Licenciado Degree Certificate and Transcript
Philippines Completion of Bachelor’s Degree Degree Certificate and Transcript
Poland Completion of four-year Lincencjat, or Dyplom ukończenia wyższych studiów zawodowych (Diploma of Completion of Higher Professional Studies), or three-year Lincencjat + one year of a Dyplom Tytul Magister Licenjat/Dyplom Certificate and a copy of all pages from the Indeks. As an alternative to a traditional transcript, a Diploma Supplement may be submitted along with a Degree Certificate.
Qatar Completion of Bachelor’s Degree Degree Certificate and Transcript
Romania Completion of Diploma de Licenta Diploma Certificate and Foaie Matricola/Transcript. As an alternative to a traditional transcript, a Diploma Supplement may be submitted along with a Degree Certificate.
Russia Completion of Диплом бакалавра (Diploma of Bakalavr), or Диплом специалиста (Diploma of Spetsialista) Diploma Certificate and Prilozhenie k diplomu/Transcript. As an alternative to a traditional transcript, a Diploma Supplement may be submitted along with a Degree Certificate.
Saudi Arabia Completion of Bachelor’s Degree Degree Certificate and Transcript
Singapore Completion of four-year Bachelor’s Degree, or three-year Bachelor’s Degree + one year of a Master’s Degree or Postgraduate Diploma Degree/Diploma Certificate and Transcript
South Africa Completion of four-year Bachelor’s Degree, or three-year Bachelor’s Degree + one year Honours Bachelor’s Degree, or three-year Bachelor’s Degree + one-year Postgraduate Diploma Degree Certificate and Transcript
South Korea Completion of Haksa / 4-year Bachelor’s Degree Degree Certificate and Transcript
Spain Completion of Titulo de Licenciado, or Titulo de Ingeniero, or Titulo de Arquitecto, or Titulo de Graduado Degree Certificate and Certificacion Academica Oficial (CAO) or the Certificacion Academica Personal. As an alternative to a traditional transcript, a Diploma Supplement may be submitted along with a Degree Certificate.
Sri Lanka Completion of Bachelor’s (Special) Degree, or three-year Bachelor’s Degree + one year of a Master’s Degree Degree Certificate and Transcript
Switzerland Completion of Bachelor’s Degree + one year of a Master’s Degree, or four-year Lizentiat, Diplom, Licence, or Licenza, or three-year Lizentiat, Diplom, Licence, or Licenza + one year of a Master’s Degree Degree Certificate and Transcript. As an alternative to a traditional transcript, a Diploma Supplement may be submitted along with a Degree Certificate.
Taiwan Completion of Bachelor’s Degree Degree Certificate and Transcript
Thailand Completion of four-year Bachelor’s Degree, or two-year Associate's Degree + two-year Higher Diploma Degree/Diploma Certificate and Transcript
Turkey Completion of Lisans Derecesi/Diplomasi Lisans Derecesi/Diplomasi Transcript and Degree Certificate. As an alternative to a traditional transcript, a Diploma Supplement may be submitted along with a Degree Certificate.
Ukraine Completion of Dyplom Bakalavra, or Dyplom Spetsialista Dyplom Certificate and Dodatok do diploma/Transcript. As an alternative to a traditional transcript, a Diploma Supplement may be submitted along with a Degree Certificate.
United Arab Emirates Completion of Bachelor’s Degree Degree Certificate and Transcript
United Kingdom (except Scotland) Completion of four-year Bachelor’s Degree, or three-year Bachelor’s degree + one year of a Master’s Degree Degree Certificate and Transcript. As an alternative to a traditional transcript, a Diploma Supplement may be submitted along with a Degree Certificate.
United Kingdom (Scotland) Completion of Bachelor’s (Honours) Degree, or Master’s (Honours) Degree from an ancient university, or Bachelor’s Degree + one year of a Master’s Degree Degree Certificate and Transcript. As an alternative to a traditional transcript, a Diploma Supplement may be submitted along with a Degree Certificate.
Vietnam Completion of Bachelor’s Degree (Bằng Tốt Nghiệp Ðại Học) Degree Certificate and Transcript