Policy on Admitting Students from Three-Year Undergraduate Degrees from Outside the US
SCU graduate areas may choose to accept three-year undergraduate degrees from applicants that meet the University English Proficiency requirements for academic success and support of immigration and in keeping with university guidelines and procedures for three-year degrees.
Policy approved by the Academic Affairs Committee April 17, 2019
Guidelines for Admission
Bologna Signatory Country Degrees
Applicants from three year Bologna signatory country degrees meet the following guidelines or criteria:
- EHEA Bologna undergraduate degrees with at least 180 ECTS credits
- Degree must be in the same or similar field of study
- Should require an unrestricted post-secondary entrance qualification
- Bologna compliant degrees must lead to unrestricted admission to the next educational level
- Awarding institution should be comparable in nature to receiving institution
- A national quality assurance mechanism must be in place in order for a three-year degree to receive consideration for possible placement in graduate level programs in the US
- A close comparison of the curriculum of the overseas degree and the content of the US degree reveals significant compatibility according to the views of the faculty in the receiving graduate department.
- AACRAO suggested conditions or criteria for admission for Bologna signatory countries:
- Degree must be in the same or similar field of study
- Should require an unrestricted post-secondary entrance qualification
- Bologna compliant degrees must lead to unrestricted admission to the next educational level
- Awarding institution should be comparable in nature to receiving institution
- A national quality assurance mechanism must be in place in order for a three-year degree to receive consideration for possible placement in graduate level programs in the US
- A close comparison of the curriculum of the overseas degree and the content of the US degree reveals significant compatibility according to the views of the faculty in the receiving graduate department.
- The Bologna-compliant degree holder is deemed prepared to undertake graduate level study as would a student enrolled in comparable courses at an institution in the US i.e., beginning senior in undergraduate studies.
Indian Degrees
Applicants from three year Indian degrees meet the following guidelines or criteria:
- Three-year Indian baccalaureate degrees from institutions rated A, A+ or A++ by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (AAC) AND where the student’s degree classification is First Division/Class. To look up the AAC rating, admission officers may visit the AAC webpage on Accreditation Status and click on the link to the PDF Institutions with valid accreditation (as on 30/11/2018).
- Three-year Indian baccalaureate degree plus one year of a master’s degree
- Four-year Indian baccalaureate degree
Other countries and educational systems with three-year degrees:
The International Enrollment Advisory Committee recommends guidelines for Bologna-process countries and India only. No guidelines for other countries with three-year degrees are proposed at this time, e.g., Australia, Bangladesh, Israel, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka. Admission professionals should rely on their own expertise and normal resources for assessments related to those countries and others.