country higher education profile bangladesh

COUNTRY HIGHER EDUCATION PROFILE: BANGLADESH This information has been prepared by and is the property of the Institute of International Education.

COUNTRY HIGHER EDUCATION PROFILE: BANGLADESH Description of Education System: Structure of education system

After 10 years of schooling at primary and secondary level, students (16+) who succeed in passing the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination have the option of either joining a college for a two-year higher secondary education in their respective areas of specialization, or enrolling in the Technical Education System for a four-year long course in their respective areas of technological study, to obtain a "Diploma-in-Engineering" degree. Students in the Madrasah Education System and English-speaking schools also sit for their respective public examinations, called 'Alim' and 'A' level (12th Grade). These exams are conducted by the Madrasah Education Board and Cambridge University respectively, to qualify for further education.

In the General Education System, after a two-year higher secondary education, the student has to sit for another public examination called the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) Examination to obtain HSC certificate to qualify for further education.

In the Technical Education System, those who enrolled for regular or trade diploma certificate courses, which are usually one year or less long, must take examinations conducted by the Bangladesh Technical Education Board (BTEB). Those who passed the SSC (vocational) or SSC (general education system) can enroll into a two-year vocational or trade certificate course, and sit for examinations after that period of study. These examinations are conducted by the BTEB, and result in obtaining a HSC (vocational) (12th Grade) certificate degree. The students who enrolled for the Diploma-in-Engineering courses sit for the final public examination conducted by BTEB after a four-year long study period, and obtain a "Diploma-in-Engineering" diploma degree (14th Grade), to qualify for further education.

Language of Instruction Bengali, English At all levels of schooling, students can choose to receive their education in English or Bengali. Private schools tend to make use of English-based study media while government-sponsored schools use Bengali. Higher Education Admission Requirements & Competitiveness

Name of secondary school credential required: Higher Secondary Certificate

Entrance exams required: There are admission tests for medical colleges, the BITs and university departments.

Admission to colleges is organized both by the Governing body Dhaka University or the autonomous private institutions. These exams are extremely competitive and the total number of applicants across the country is usually around 78 times the number of students finally accepted. Admission is based solely on the entrance examination -- academic records have minor consequences on an application.


Overview of local Universities: Overview There are 30 public universities, 56 private universities, one international university, 31 specialized colleges, and two special universities in Bangladesh. The University of Dhaka is the only university in Bangladesh which has made into the QS Top University ranking, but we give other interpretations below. Below is a list of top five colleges and universities in Bangladesh by web popularity ranking (2009). These universities are highly competitive in Bangladesh. Dhaka University is top-flight. Other schools which are doing sound and laudable interdisciplinary work are the Asian Institute for Women (working on an international level) and American International University-Bangladesh, which is in the midst of a process of internationalizing its campus - successfully in our view to date. Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology is very sound across its engineering faculties. Top Universities University of Dhaka Ranked 501-600 worldwide in 2009 QS Top Universities ranking. Strengths: Engineering & IT, Life Sciences & Biomedicine, Social Sciences. Note: The oldest and the largest university in Bangladesh with more than 32,000 students and 1,600 teachers. One of the leading research institutes in Bangladesh American International University-Bangladesh Strengths: School of Business Studies Note: a government-approved private research university of Bangladesh. Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology Strengths: engineering, architecture, planning and science Note: BUET is the oldest institution for the study of Engineering and Architecture in Bangladesh. East West University—EWU is a private university located in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. EWU is the best amongst new private universities and is developing strong international collaboration channels. In our view, it is very good in economics and literature and very strong in social sciences (working at a higher level than other Bangladeshi universities in these areas). In 2007, Webmetrics ranked this university 3rd in all universities (1st among private universities) of Bangladesh and 64th in the Indian subcontinent in their World Universities Ranking based on web visibility of electronic publication, scientific results and international activities. Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology Strengths: Electrical Engineering, Environmental Engineering – very good. Note: a private technical university located in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Other Universities Asian University for Women—Located in Chittagong, The Asian University for Women (AUW) is an international institution of higher education based competitive liberal arts education. Its board includes many prominent international individuals including Muhammad Yunus, founder of Grameen Bank. North South University Strengths: Social Sciences, School of Business. Note: the first private university in Bangladesh. The university follows an American system--semesters, credit hours, letter grades, one examiner system etc.


Independent University, Bangladesh-- IUB is a private university located in Bangladesh. Based on the visibility of its website, in January 2009, Webometrics ranked this university first in private universities, third in Bangladesh and 75th in the Indian subcontinent in their World Universities Ranking. IUB is a member of a number of international academic associations, such as the American Association of University Administrators, the Association of Universities of Asia and the Pacific, the International Association of University Presidents and International Association of Universities. One of only four universities in Bangladesh to hold membership of AIESEC (http://www.aiesec.org/). Comparison of local academic grading system:

Main grading system used by higher education institutions

Full Description:

60%-100% 1st class/division;

45%-59% 2nd class/division;

33%-44% 3rd class division.

Pass and Honours degrees are classified as a division or class respectively. Honours degree students who narrowly fail may be awarded a Pass degree.

Other main grading systems The minimum pass mark in the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) is 50 %. Students who have obtained over 80% are awarded Honors degrees.

The grading system followed besides the percentage marks is that of letter grading which translates as follows:

Letter Grade Grade Points Per Credit

A Excellent 4.0 A- 3.7 B+ 3.3 B Good 3.0 B- 2.7 C+ 2.3 C Average 2.0 C- 1.7 D+ 1.3 D Poor 1.0 F Failure 0.0

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BRAZIL

STRUCTURE OF EDUCATION SYSTEM Pre-higher education: Age of entry: 7 Age of exit: 18 Total: 11 years Primary

Type of school providing this education: Ensiño Fundamental (Primary and lower secondary) Length of program in years: 8 Certificate/diploma awarded: Certificado de Conclusão de Ensiño Fundamental Secondary Type of school providing this education: Ensiño Médio Length of program in years: 3 Certificate/diploma awarded: Certificado de Ensiño Médio Vocational Type of school providing this education: Educação Profissional Length of program in years: 3 Certificate/diploma awarded: Diploma de Técnico de Nivel Médio; Diploma de Técnico de Segundo Grau; Certificado de Auxiliar Técnico University level studies Academic year: Classes from: Mar. to: Nov. Long vacation from: Dec. to: Feb. Languages of instruction: Portuguese University level first stage: Undergraduate studies Higher education is provided in public federal, state, municipal or confessional and private universities and other higher education institutions, foundations, federations and independent establishments. It is organized at two levels: undergraduate programmes which take usually from 4 to 6 years of study and graduate programmes lasting 2 to 6 years. The first stage of higher education leads to the award of a Bacharelado which is usually obtained after four to six years of study, depending on the institution and the field of study (Odontology and Agriculture, four years; Architecture and Law, five years; Medicine, six years). The Licenciatura is generally awarded after four years' study to students who wish to become school teachers.

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University level second stage: Postgraduate studies The second stage, which is the first stage of postgraduate study, leads to the Mestrado, awarded upon completion of a minimum of one year's study following the Bacharelado or Licenciatura to students who have followed a certain number of courses, passed examinations and submitted a thesis. The third stage of higher education leads to the award of the Doutorado, the highest degree. The requirements for this degree are identical to those for the Mestrado. The Doutorado normally requires three to four years' further study. Grading System Each university is autonomous in determining its grading scale. The grading scale used by a university is often, but not always, indicated on the official transcript. Many use a system based on a 0-10 scale; others may use letter scales, similar to those found in the United States. Grading scales may even vary within each institution. Variance also occurs in regard to the grade point average required for graduation. In Brazil the GPA - known as Coeficiente de Rendimento, Média Geral Acumulada ou Índice de Rendimento Acadêmico - is calculated bimonthly, per semester or per year (usually the GPA is calculated per semester, just sometimes per year and most often bimonthly). Typically, grades vary between 0 and 10. The minimum grade for approval varies between 5.0 and 6.0 (most often used) or 7.0. The GPA can also be used for college entrance evaluation in Federal Universities (State funded and free of charge), but is systematically being implemented by private Universities. For Federal institutions and private alike, the typical evaluation is a specific exam created by each University known as "vestibular". Some other methods are used in order to enhance a student grade, such as ENEM (Exame Nacional do Ensino Médio - National High School Standardized Exam) or PAS (Programa de Avaliação Seriada - Continuous Evaluation Program) according to the choice of the university. Grading is fairly severe. The top grades are awarded to relatively few, and the failure rate in a given course can be high. Still, there is little stigma attached to failing. In the basic cycle, a failure rate of up to 50 percent is common; in the professional cycle, failure rates of up to 30 percent in individual courses are not uncommon. A student may repeat a course twice. The majority of students receive grades in the "average" range. What is considered most important is simply passing the course, not necessarily achieving a high grade. Highest on scale: 10 Pass/fail level: 5 Lowest on scale: 0

Grading Scale

Scale Grade Description U.S. Grade

Equiv. Hong Kong Grade

Equiv.

9.0-10 Excelente A/A- First Class Honours/

Second Class Honours, Upper Division

7.0-8.9 Bom B Second Class Honours,

Lower Division/Third Class Honours

5.0-6.9 Regular C Pass

0.0-4.9 Insuficiente F Fail

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Top Brazilian Institutions* Rank Institution 1 Universidad de São Paulo 2 Universidade Estadual de Campinas 3 Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro 4 Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais 5 Pontificia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro 6 Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho 7 Universidade de São Paulo 8 Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul 9 Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina 10 Universidade Federal Fluminense

* according with Shanghai Jiao tong World Universities Ranking, Times-Qs World Universities Rankings and Webometrics Ranking of World Universities (see web references).

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CHILE


Type of school providing this education: General Basic Education Length of program in years: 8 Certificate/diploma awarded: Licencia de Educaciòn Basica (License of Basic Education) Secondary Type of school providing this education: Middle Education Scientific-humanistic Length of program in years: 4 Certificate/diploma awarded: Licencia de Educaciòn Media (License of Middle Education) Technical Secondary Type of school providing this education: Professional-Technician Length of program in years: 4 Certificate/diploma awarded: Middle level technician University level studies Academic year: Classes from: Mar. to: Dec. Languages of instruction: Spanish University level first stage: Undergraduate studies Certain courses lead to the award of the Bachelor (e.g., in Theology, Philosophy and Biology at the Universidad Católica de Chile) after three years. In the main stage, courses vary in length from four to seven years and generally lead to the Licenciatura and/or professional qualifications. Undergraduate programs are 8 to 12 semesters in length. University level second stage: Postgraduate studies Students holding the Licenciatura may be awarded a Magister (Master of Science) after two years' further study. This title is awarded by an Universidad (university), there three types of universities: the state universities (Universidades Estatales), which can be created only by a specific law, they are distributed in almost all the regions of the country and receive financial public contribution directly for their functioning; the non state universities (Universidades No Estatales) that, being of property and private administration, receive financing from the State, they are located in the

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Top Chilean Institutions* Rank Institution 1 Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile 2 Universidad de Chile 3 Universidad de Santiago de Chile 4 Universidad de Concepción 5 Universidad Adolfo Ibanez 6 Universidad Diego Portales 7 Universidad Tecnica Federico Santa Maria 8 Universidad del Talca 9 Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso 10 Universidad Austral de Chile * according with Shanghai Jiao tong World Universities Ranking, Times-Qs World Universities Rankings and Webometrics Ranking of World Universities (see web references).

principal cities of the country; the private universities (Universidades Privadas), which do not receive direct contribution from the State. They are concentrated principally in Santiago. The Doctorado takes between three and five years beyond the Magister. Candidates must submit a thesis also in this case the institution awarding this title is the Universidad. Grading System Grades are assigned with a numeric scale from 1 to 7, including one decimal. 1 is the lowest and 7 the highest, with 4 as the lowest approval grade (equivalent to 60%). For the PSU, Prueba de Selección Universitaria (UST, University Selection Test), the scale goes from 400 to 850 points. Depending on which university and major, the student will need a minimum score. The final score will depend on the points obtained in each test (Mathematics and Linguistics, both compulsory; Natural Sciences and History; both optional) and the NEM score, Notas de Enseñanza Media (High School Grades turned into a PSU Scale). The student’s grade rises as he proves his gain of knowledge throughout the semester. As such, Latin American universities tend to be severe in their grading and a grade of Muy Bueno (7 - the highest grade possible in Chile) is rarely awarded. In most classes, the majority of students will receive either suficiente or bueno (from 4 to 6). Highest on scale: 7 Pass level: 4 Lowest on scale: 0

Grading Scale



Equiv.

6.0-7 Muy Bueno (Very

Good) A/A-

First Class Honours/ Second Class Honours,

Upper Division

5.6-5.9 Bueno (Good) B+ Second Class Honours,

Lower Division

5.0-5.5 - B Third Class Honours

4.0-4.9 Suficiente (Sufficient) C Pass

0-3.9 Insuficiente (Insufficient)

F Fail

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COLOMBIA

STRUCTURE OF EDUCATION SYSTEM

Pre-higher education

Age of entry: 6

Age of exit: 17

Total: 11 years

Primary

Type of school providing this education: Educación Básica Primaria

Length of program in years: 5

Lower Secondary

Type of school providing this education: Educación Básica Secundaria


Certificate/diploma awarded: Certificado de Estudios de Bachillerato Básico

Upper Secondary

Type of school providing this education: Educación Media


Certificate/diploma awarded: Bachillerato

Technical Secondary

Type of school providing this education: Educación Media Técnica


Certificate/diploma awarded: Bachillerato

Higher Education

Higher education is provided by university institutions, institutes of technology and technical professional institutions. These three institution types include both public and private institutions. Students must pass an entrance examination/test for access to universities. In university institutions, each faculty is divided into departments. Distance education is provided by universities and regional centers. Higher education comes under the responsibility of the Ministry of National Education. The Instituto Colombiano para el Fomento de la Educación Superior (ICFES) is in charge of the evaluation of the education system. The Consejo Nacional de Educación Superior (CESU) proposes policies for the development of higher education.

Academic year

Classes from: Feb. to: Dec.

Languages of instruction: Spanish

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Non-university level (technical/vocational type):

Technological education is offered in technical and technological institutions. Studies usually last for five to six semesters and lead to the title of Técnico Profesional Intermedio. There are also eight-semester courses leading to the title of Tecnólogo.

University level first stage: Undergraduate studies

This stage is characterized by a high level of knowledge and practical experience of the subject and lasts for four or five years. It leads to the Licenciatura or to a professional qualification (Título Profesional). A thesis or monograph and/or preliminary work in the main subjects are sometimes compulsory for the award of the professional qualification. Course work is measured in Unidades de Labor Académica (ULA). A minimum of 3,200 ULAs is required for a Licenciatura.

University level second stage: Postgraduate studies

The entry requirement for Specialist (Especialista) and Magister programmes is the title of Licenciado and, usually, an entrance examination. A Magister is conferred after two years of study and is usually required for entry to doctoral programmes. Specialist programmes are usually offered in practical or applied disciplines and vary in length from one to four years. The Doctorado is awarded after two years' postgraduate specialization study in the same subject as the Magister and the defense of a thesis. It requires a complete mastery of the specialization and an effective contribution to the advancement of knowledge through extensive research.

Grading System

Although there are several grading systems in the country, the most widely used is a numeric scale from 1 to 5, including one decimal. 1 is the lowest and 5 the highest, with 3 as the lowest approval grade, equivalent to 60%. Latin American universities tend to be severe in their grading and a grade of 5 - the highest grade possible is rarely awarded.

Highest on scale: 5.0

Pass/fail level: 3.0

Lowest on scale: 0.0

Grading Scale

Scale Grade Description U.S. Grade Equiv. Hong Kong Grade

Equiv.

4.6 -5.0 extremely high A First Class Honours

4.0-4.5 excellent A- Second Class Honours,

Upper Division

3.5-3.9 good B/B+ Second Class Honours,

Lower Division/ Third Class Honours

3.0-3.49 sufficient C Pass

0.0-2.9 failure F Fail

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Top Colombian Institutions*

Rank Institution

1 Universidad de Los Andes

2 Universidad Nacional de Colombia

3 Universidad de Antioquia

4 Universidad de Medellin

5 Pontificia Universidad Javeriana

6 Universidad del Valle

7 Universidad del Cauca

8 Universidad EAFIT

9 Universidad ICESI

10 Universidad de la Sabana

* according to Times-Qs World Universities Rankings and Webometrics Ranking of World Universities (see web references).

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ETHIOPIA



Age of entry: 7

Age of exit: 19

Total: 12 years

Primary

Type of school providing this education: Primary School

Length of program in years: 8 (4+4)

General Secondary

Type of school providing this education: Secondary School


Certificate/diploma awarded: Ethiopian General School Leaving Certificate Examination (EGSLCE)

Preparatory Secondary



Certificate/diploma awarded: Ethiopian Higher Education Entrance Examination (EHEEE)

Vocational Type of school providing this education: Vocational School and Junior College


Certificate/diploma awarded: Diploma

Higher Education

Higher education institutions include eight universities, thirteen colleges (including teacher-training colleges), three institutes (polytechnic, mass media and water technology), and a number of private institutions (mainly colleges). Diploma programmes generally last two to three years. All higher education institutions except one are under the supervision of the Ministry of Education. In its internal management each institution is autonomous and has a board of governors. The sector witnessed rapid expansion in recent years. Four new universities have been established through amalgamating and elevating the status of existing colleges and institutions. Five new private higher education establishments were accredited up to 2000/01. As a result, the total enrolment increased from 42,132 students in 1996/97 to 87,431 students in 2000/01. Institutions in the private sector enrolled a total of 15,201 students, or 17.2% of the total enrolment. The majority of the students are enrolled in diploma programmes. Enrolment in post-graduate programmes accounts only for about 1%. The Ethiopian education policy requires higher education at diploma, degree and graduate level to be practice oriented, enabling students to become problem-solving professional leaders in their fields of study and in overall societal needs. The higher education reform anticipates the establishment of a Quality and Relevance Assurance

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Agency in accordance with the higher education Proclamation in order to develop standards and evaluate institutions to maintain quality and relevance. The reform has also stipulated a “block grant” budgeting system for higher education institutions. On the other hand, building capacity of leaders and managers through training and experience sharing, decentralization, and autonomy of decision making (mainly administrative and financial) have become strategic issues of the reform. Academic year:

Classes from: Sep. to: Jul.

Languages of instruction: English


Higher vocational and technical education are offered by agricultural colleges, teacher training colleges, engineering and technological institutes, health and commercial institutions. Courses last between two and three years and lead to Diplomas. University level first stage: Undergraduate studies The first stage of university level education leads to the Bachelor's Degree after three to four years' study. Examinations are organized at the end of each semester. In Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, the professional qualification of Doctor is conferred after five years' study.


Post-graduate courses require one to three years of study. The second stage leads to a Master's Degree after a minimum of two years' further study. In Medicine and Veterinary Medicine the specialization degree is obtained after a minimum of three years' further study beyond the MD and DVM degrees. The Doctor of Philosophy is conferred after some three years' study beyond the Master's degree. Grading System

Highest on scale: 100

Pass/fail level: 60

Lowest on scale: 0

Grading Scale


Equiv.

95-100 Excellent A First Class Honours

90-94 Very Good A- Second Class Honours,

Upper Division

80-89 Good B+ Second Class Honours,

Lower Division

70-79 Average B Third Class Honours

60-69 Pass C Pass

0-59 Fail F Fail

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Other main grading systems

Full Description: It is A-F. The highest on scale is "A" and the lowest is "F". The pass/fail level for undergraduates is "C", and for postgraduates is "B".

Some universities use the American grading system based on a scale of 4 points.

Top Ethiopian Institutions*

Rank Institution

1 Addis Ababa University

2 Mekelle University

3 Jimma University

* according to Shanghai Webometrics Ranking of World Universities (see web references).

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FRANCE


Type of school providing this education: Ecole Primaire Length of program in years: 5 Lower Secondary Type of school providing this education: Collège Length of program in years: 4 Certificate/diploma awarded: Brevet des Collèges Upper Secondary Type of school providing this education: Lycée d'Enseignement général, technologique et professionnel Length of program in years: 3 Certificate/diploma awarded: Baccalauréat général, Baccalauréat technologique, or Baccalauréat professionnel

Grade Age School

Terminale 17

Première 16

Seconde 15

Lycée

High school

Troisième 14

Quatrième 13

Cinquième 12

Sixième 11

Collège

Middle school

Cours moyen 2 (CM2) 10

Cours moyen 1 (CM1) 9

Cours élémentaire 2 (CE2) 8

Cours élémentaire 1 (CE1) 7

Cours préparatoire (CP) 6

Ecole primaire

Elementary school

Grande section (GS) 5

Moyenne section (MS) 4

Petite section (PS) 3

Toute petite section (TPS) 2

Ecole maternelle

Pre-school

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Vocational Secondary Type of school providing this education: Lycée professionnel Length of program in years: 2 Certificate/diploma awarded: Certificat d'Aptitude professionnelle (CAP) or Brevet d'Etudes professionnelles (BEP) Higher Education Higher education in France is characterized by a dual system: it is provided in universities (including Instituts nationaux polytechniques) open to a large number of students, whose programmes are generally geared towards research and its applications and in "Grandes Ecoles" and other professional higher education institutions with selective admission policies. Lycées also offer non-university higher education courses leading to the Brevet de Technicien supérieur (BTS). Whereas most institutions come under the responsibility of the Ministry of Education and Research, some "Grandes Ecoles" come under the responsibility of other Ministries. Universities are made up of units offering curricula in academic fields and of various institutes and schools - such as the IUT - offering courses in Engineering and Technology and special programmes in Management, Political Science, Languages and Physical Education, the IUFM (Instituts Universitaires de Formation des Maîtres) which offer training courses for primary and secondary schools teachers, the IUP (Instituts Universitaires Professionalisés) which offer technological courses and practical training with an introduction to research and foreign languages. The "Grandes Ecoles" offer a high standard of professional education in three or more years after two years of "classes préparatoires" and the passing of a very selective competitive entrance examination. They offer scientific training, teacher training or advanced business studies. Five "Etablissements d'Enseignement supérieur catholique" prepare for either national and professional diplomas or for church diplomas. National diplomas are conferred by universities. University level studies Academic year: Classes from: Sep. to: Jun. Long vacation from: 1 Jul. to: 15 Sep. Languages of instruction: French University level first stage: Undergraduate studies The first cycle of university courses passed from 2 to 3 years after the implementation of the Bologna Degree structure. It leads, three years after the Baccalauréat, to the Licence corresponding to 180 ECTS. The Diplôme d'Etudes universitaires générales (DEUG) used to be the diploma awarded in the old system after two years of studies, it has been maintained in the new system as an intermediate diploma corresponding to 120 ECTS. In Medicine, the first cycle is called PCEM. Two years in Classes Préparatoires aux Grandes Ecoles (CPGE) are required to enter a Grande Ecole.

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University level second stage: Postgraduate studies The second cycle in the post-Bologna system leads to the Master Recherche (formerly Diplôme d'études approfondies - DEA) or to the Master Professionnel (formerly Diplôme d'études supérieures spécialisées - DESS) corresponding to 120 ECTS after the Licence. In the pre-Bologna system it used to lead to the Licence, one year after the DEUG, and to the Maîtrise one more year after the Licence. The Maîtrise has been maintained as an intermediate diploma and can be awarded one year after the Licence upon request of the student. The “Grade de Master” has been awarded since 1999 to holders of DEA, DESS, of some Engineering degrees (Titres d’ingénieur) and of some écoles de commerce degrees (diplômes visés). In professional fields, the following Maîtrises can still be awarded: Maîtrise des Sciences et Techniques (MST), Maîtrise des Sciences de Gestion (MSG), Maîtrise des Méthodes informatiques appliquées à la gestion (MIAGE). The Magistère was awarded three years directly after the DEUG (or the DUT). It is not a national diploma, but rather a "diplôme d'université" (DU) accredited in the past by the ministry of education. It associates fundamental and scientific knowledge, professional applications and introduction to research. It is possible to distinguish between general magistères, prepared together with a DEA or master recherche, leading to a doctorate, and the professionally oriented magistères, usually prepared together with a DESS or master professionnel. Not being a national diploma, the magistère has no legal protection and accreditation procedures stopped in 1988 - 1989. With the implementation of the Bologna system in 2004, some magistères disappeared. Maîtrise holders of Instituts universitaires professionnalisés and engineering students in their last year of engineering school can be admitted to a Diplôme de Recherche technologique (DRT) (Technological Research Diploma), a third cycle diploma issued after completion of a course centring on innovation through technological research in the industrial sector and service industries. The DRT marks the successful completion of a programme of 18 months to two years that is carried out in an industrial or service-oriented scientific environment. In Medicine this cycle (DCEM) consists of four years of study and hospital internship. In Dentistry and Pharmacy, it leads to the Diplôme d'Etat de Docteur en Chirurgie Dentaire and to the Diplôme d'Etat de Docteur en Pharmacie after six years. In the Grandes Ecoles, a Diploma is awarded in Engineering or Commerce, generally three years after two years at university or at CPGE. The Titre d'Ingénieur is conferred upon successful completion of five years of study beyond the Baccalauréat. Some école d’ingénieur accept students on the basis of a competitive examination generally taken two years after the Baccalauréat (in this case, studies last three years at most) or according to the Baccalauréat results, followed by aptitude tests and an interview (in this case, studies last four or five years). The établissements d'Enseignement supérieur catholique, besides preparing to State diplomas at this level (in agreement with a public university), offer four-year and six-year ecclesiastic canonical qualifications. In the pre Bologna system, the third cycle was devoted to specialization and training for research. It offered two paths: a professional one, leading in one year to the Diplôme d'Etudes Supérieures Spécialisées (DESS), and a doctoral one leading in one year to the Diplôme d'Etudes Approfondies (DEA) and then to the Doctorat. The latter was obtained three or four years after the DEA and after extensive research, either individual or as part of a group supervised by a Directeur de Thèses (thesis director) and the writing and successful defense of a thesis. In the post Bologna system the third cycle corresponds to doctoral studies; a doctorate is usually obtained after at least three years of extensive research, under the supervision of a thesis director, and the writing and successful defense of a thesis. Several schools of Engineering, Business and Management offer a Mastère spécialisé to students who are recipients of Engineering degrees or the DEA. The Mastère spécialisé is a specialized 12-month programme (including four months' training). It is not recognized by the State. It is a label that is controlled by the "Conférence des Grandes Ecoles", given to a specific programme organized by a school that is a member of the "Conférence des Grandes Ecoles", and after an accreditation procedure. In general Medicine, the third cycle culminates in the Diplôme d'Etat de Docteur en Médecine after two years' further study following DCEM. In specialized Medicine, it leads to the Diplôme d'Etudes spécialisées (DES) after four to five years' further study.

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Grading System Although the grading system in France goes from 0 to 20, the grades from 0 to 14 are generally used; 15 and 16 are relatively rare; 17 and 18, very rare; and no one is sure that 19 and 20 really exist. A 10 is about a U.S. "C"; in some courses an 8 or 9 may be a "C" for a non-native speaker; 12 is good. A 8 gives you the right to take an additional exam in order to try and improve your average to 10 and pass. The grades received from the faculté are not contestable. The only way to modify a bad grade is to do supplementary work, the grade for which will be averaged with the bad one. Highest on scale: 20 Pass/fail level: 10/8 Lowest on scale: 0

Grading Scale



Equiv.

14-20 Bien/ très bien

félicitations du jury A First Class Honours

12-13.9 assez bien A- Second Class Honours,

Upper Division

11-11.9 - B Second Class Honours,

Lower Division

10.5-10.9 - B- Third Class Honours

8-10.4 passable C Pass

0-7.9 insuffisant F Fail

Top French Institution* Rank Institution 1 École Normale Supérieure de Paris (ENS Paris) 2 École Polytechnique, ParisTech 3 Université Pierre et Marie Curie (UPMC) 4 École Normale Supérieure de Lyon (ENS Lyon) 5 Université Paris Sorbonne, Paris 4 6 Sciences Po, Paris 7 Université Paris 11, Sud 8 Université Paris 1, Panthéon-Sorbonne 9 Université de Strasbourg 10 Université Grenoble, Joseph Fourier * according with Shanghai Jiao tong World Universities Ranking, Times-Qs World Universities Rankings and Webometrics Ranking of World Universities (see web references).

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GERMANY


Type of school providing this education: Grundschule (4 years, 6 years in 2 Länder) Length of program in years: 4 Lower Secondary Type of school providing this education: Hauptschule (5 or 6 years in most Länder) Length of program in years: 5 Certificate/diploma awarded: Hauptschulabschluss Type of school providing this education: Gesamtschule

Length of program in years: 5 Certificate/ diploma awarded: Mittlerer Schulabschluss/Hauptschulabschluss, Ubergangsberechtigung in die Gymnasiale Oberstufe Type of school providing this education: Realschule (in most Länder) Certificate/diploma awarded: Mittlerer Schulabschluss (Realschulabschluss) General Secondary Type of school providing this education: Gymnasium

Length of program in years: 8 or 9 Certificate/diploma awarded: Allgemeine Hochschulreife/Fachgebundene Hochschulreife Upper Secondary Type of school providing this education: Berufliches Gymnasium/Fachgymnasium (in some Länder) Length of program in years: 3 Certificate/diploma awarded: Allgemeine Hochschulreife Type of school providing this education: Gymnasiale Oberstufe (Since 1972)

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Length of program in years: 2 or 3 Certificate/diploma awarded: Allgemeine Hochschulreife Type of school providing this education: Gymnasiale Oberstufe (Since 1972) Length of program in years: 2 or 3 Certificate/diploma awarded: Allgemeine Hochschulreife Vocational Type of school providing this education: Fachoberschule (full-time) Length of program in years: 2 Certificate/diploma awarded: Fachhochschulreife University level studies Academic year: Classes from: Oct. to: Aug. Long vacation from: Aug. to: Sep. Languages of instruction: German University level first stage: Undergraduate studies: FACHHOCHSCHULEN (Universities of applied sciences): offer application-oriented study courses mainly in Engineering, Economics, Social Work, Public and Legal Administration and Health and Therapy. A Diplomgrad (Diplom degree) is awarded after the Diplomprüfung (Diploma examination), e.g. Diplom-Ingenieur (FH). The initials "FH" are added to the Diplom degrees of the Fachhochschulen. According to the Regelstudienzeit (standard period defined for each period of study), a degree programme at Fachhochschulen should be completed in 8 semesters (2 semesters = 1 academic year), including one or two practical semesters. Success in the final academic examination usually qualifies the candidate for a particular profession. Some Fachhochschulen have adopted a similar approach to the Berufsakademien, particularly in Engineering and Business Management and have introduced courses that combine academic studies with on-the-job training, along the lines of a dual system. These courses are called dual courses of study (duale Studiengänge). The students have training or employment contracts. Fachhochschulen also confer Bachelor's and Master's degrees. The new graduation system introduced in 1998 supplements the traditional Diplomgrad conferred by the Fachhochschulen. For courses with a more theoretical orientation the Bachelor/Master of Arts or Bachelor/Master of Science is awarded. In the case of study courses that are more application oriented the actual degree has a subject-related supplement (e.g. Bachelor/Master of Engineering). UNIVERSITIES: Stage I, or basic studies (Grundstudium), usually lasting four semesters (2 academic years) at universities culminate in an intermediate examination (Diplom-Vorprüfung, Zwischenprüfung). This examination gives the right to continue in Stage II (Hauptstudium). A degree is not awarded. Since 1998, a basic higher education degree within the new graduation system of consecutive study courses, the Bachelor (or Baccalaureus) has also been introduced in universities requiring a minimum of three years' study (maximum four years). It normally leads to a career. University level second stage: Postgraduate studies: Stage II consists of more advanced studies (Hauptstudium) leading to the final degree examination. The Hauptstudium usually lasts for five more semesters and leads to the award of the Diplom. The Magister is awarded by universities, predominantly in the Arts, on the basis of the Magister examination. The course of study comprises either two equally weighed major subjects or

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a combination of one major and two minor subjects. As a first degree, the Magister is usually awarded as a Magister Artium/MA without specifying individual subjects. The Magistergrad can also be awarded at the end of one or two years' postgraduate studies following upon the acquisition of a first degree. Within the new graduation system of consecutive courses leading to a BA/BSc after three to four years, a Master of Arts/Science may be acquired after another one to two years. Doctoral studies are only pursued in universities (Universitäten). There are several procedures for admitting particularly qualified holders of a degree obtained at a Fachhochschule to doctoral studies at universities. The period of doctoral studies, known as the Promotion, consists of two to four years' independent research and the submission of a thesis following the award of the Diplom/Erstes Staatsexamen/Magister Artium/Master of Arts/Science. The title of Doktor is conferred following upon a written thesis and either an oral examination or the defence of a thesis. The Habilitation is a post-doctoral qualification proving ability to teach and engage in research in an academic subject. It is awarded by the departments of universities and equivalent higher education institutions, usually on the basis of a post-doctoral thesis and a public lecture followed by a discussion. Grading System In German universities (except for law schools) a 1 to 6 scale is used. For law students at German universities, a similar system to the 1 to 6 scale is used that comprises one more grade that is inserted between 2 (gut) and 3 befriedigend, named vollbefriedigend. This is because the grades gut and sehr gut are extremely rare, so an additional grade was created below "gut" to increase differentiation. Every grade is converted into points, starting at 18 points (excellent) down to 0 points (poor). 4 points is the lowest passing grade. Assessment is based on oral and written reports in seminars for which the student receives a Schein, or certificate (a grade can be requested). A certain number of Scheine are required in order to take the intermediate exam. The state exam, for which the student receives a grade, assesses the quality of his or her entire course of study. Grades are given on a five-point scale: 1, very good, to 5, unsatisfactory or failing. However, by introducing the ECTS credit system, the German Schein is becoming less common. Highest on scale: 1 Pass level: 4 Lowest on scale: 6

Grading Scale



Equiv.

1 – 1.5 Sehr Gut (Very Good) A/A-

First Class Honours/Second Class

Honours, Upper Division

1.6 – 2.5 Gut (Good) B+ Second Class Honours,

Lower Division

2.6 – 3.5 Befriedigend (Satisfactory)

B Third Class Honours

3.6 – 4.0 Ausreichend (Sufficient)

C Pass

4.1 - 6 Nicht Ausreichend

(Insufficient) F Fail

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Top German Institutions* Rank Institution 1 Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg 2 Technische Universität München (TUM) 3 Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU) 4 Freie Universität Berlin 5 Universität Freiburg 6 Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin 7 Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen 8 RWTH Aachen 9 Universität Karlsruhe 10 Georg-August-Universität Göttingen * according with Shanghai Jiao tong World Universities Ranking, Times-Qs World Universities Rankings and Webometrics Ranking of World Universities (see web references).

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GHANA



Since 1986, pre-tertiary education in Ghana includes 6 years of primary education, 3 years at the junior secondary school level, and 3 years at the senior secondary school level. A new educational reform, beginning September 1, 2007, introduced 2 years of kindergarten education beginning at age 4 and increased the 3 years senior secondary to 4 years. However, early 2009 this reform was immediately reversed again by the new NDC government, and presently it is 3 years again. Primary and junior secondary school education is tuition-free and mandatory.

Age of entry: 6

Age of exit: 18

Total: 12 years

Primary



Junior Secondary

Type of school providing this education: Junior Secondary School (JSS)


Certificate/diploma awarded: Basic Certificate of Education

Senior Secondary

Type of school providing this education: Senior Secondary School (SSS)


Certificate/diploma awarded: Senior Secondary School Certificate

Higher Education

The units of the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports (MOESS) responsible for higher education are: the National Council on Tertiary Education; the National Accreditation Board; the National Board for Professional and Technician Examinations (NABPTEX). The West African Examinations Council (WAEC), a consortium of five Anglophone West African Countries (Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Gambia, and Liberia) is responsible for developing, administering, and grading school-leaving examinations at the secondary level. Successful completion of senior secondary school leads to admission eligibility at training colleges, polytechnics, and universities. In 2006 there were approximately 5.1 million students attending schools at these three levels: 68% at the primary level, 23% at the junior secondary level, and 10% at the senior secondary level. However, access to each successive level of education remains severely limited by lack of facilities. About 99.1% of junior secondary school graduates are able to gain admission to senior secondary schools, and only about 34.4% of senior secondary school graduates are able to gain admission to universities and polytechnics, plus another 10%-20% to diploma-level

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postsecondary education. Private secondary schools play a very small role in Ghana, with only a handful of institutions offering international curricula such as the British-based A-levels, International Baccalaureate, and U.S. high school. Private tertiary education is a recent but rapid development in Ghana, meticulously regulated by the National Accreditation Board. Twenty-one private institutions are also accredited by the National Accreditation Board to award Bachelor’s degrees. Entrance to one of the five Ghanaian public universities is by examination following completion of senior secondary school. At the end of the three year senior secondary course, students are required to sit for the West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations (WASSCE). Students who obtain aggregate 18 or better (six is best) can enter the university. Usually, the score is determined by aggregating the student's grades in his elective subjects. The aggregate score is then added to the aggregate score of his best 'core' subjects, with scores in English and Mathematics considered first. The minimum university standard for admission to post-secondary education is a ‘C-’ average on the SSSCE, with passes (A-E) in all subjects. U.S. universities normally do not admit Ghanaian students who have not attained at least this level. Students are expected to retake exams in subjects they have failed. Colleges should require a photocopy of the SSSCE Statement of Results bearing an original signature and stamp from the headmaster or headmistress, as well as the transcript.



There are 10 public polytechnics offering the British Higher National Diploma (HND), a 3-year tertiary system in applied fields of study. The polytechnics also offer vocational, non-tertiary diploma programs. In addition, there are approximately 40 teacher-training colleges and 15 nurses' training colleges. The HND is not equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree, but undergraduate transfer credit can be awarded, as is also the case for Teacher Training Colleges and other tertiary non-degree programs.


Ghanaian university admission is highly competitive, especially in fields such as medicine, engineering, law, and pharmacy. For Bachelor's degree programs, the minimum entrance requirements were five credits at O level and three A levels. For those whose secondary education is under the new Senior Secondary Certificate Examination system, a University Entrance Examination is also required. Bachelor degree programs usually take three years to complete. At the University of Science and Technology and the University of Development Studies, bachelor degree programs in the social sciences likewise take three years. Programs in the applied sciences normally require four years of study to complete. The University College of Education offers Bachelor of Education degrees after two years of study to students who hold diplomas from advanced teacher training colleges. A bachelor's degree in Ghana is considered equivalent to a bachelor's in the United States. University level second stage: Postgraduate studies

Master's and Master of Philosophy programs last one to two years and require writing a thesis. Applicants must have a bachelor's degree from a recognized university. Candidates are awarded the Graduate Diploma, a master's degree or Master of Philosophy degree. The one-year master's program requires course work and a dissertation. The two-year Mph. requires a year of course work followed by research and a thesis. The Doctorate is offered to candidates who hold a master's or Mph. degree. Doctoral programs generally last three years. Candidates must study at least two semesters at their university, if they acquired previous degrees from the same university, or four from another. After this, students may spend the rest of their time off campus, conducting research and writing a dissertation upon approval from the Board of Graduate Studies.

Grading System

Highest on scale: First Class Honours (A)

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Pass/fail level: Pass (C)

Lowest on scale: Failed (F)

Grading Scale


Equiv.

First Class Honours A A First Class Honours


A- A- Second Class Honours,

Upper Division


B+ B+ Second Class Honours,

Lower Division

Second Class Honours, Lower Division

B B Third Class Honours

Pass C C Pass

Fail F F Fail

Top Ghanaian Institutions*

Rank Institution

1 University of Ghana

2 Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology

3 Central University College

4 Ashesi University

5 University of Cape Coast

6 Regent University College of Science & Technology

7 University of Education Winneba

8 Valley View University

* according to Webometrics Ranking of World Universities (see web references).

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GREECE


Type of school providing this education: Dimotiko Length of program in years: 6 Secondary Type of school providing this education: Gymnasio Length of program in years: 3 Certificate/diploma awarded: Apolytirio Gymnasiou Upper Secondary Type of school providing this education: Lykeio Length of program in years: 3 Certificate/diploma awarded: Apolytirio Lykeiou Vocational secondary Type of school providing this education: Technika Epangelmatika Ekpedeftiria (TEE) Length of program in years: 3

Certificate/diploma awarded: Level 3 Certificate University level studies Academic year: Classes from: Sep. to: Jun. Long vacation from: 1 Jul. to: 15 Sep. Languages of instruction: Greek University level first stage: Undergraduate studies Undergraduate degree programmes at universities normally last for four years (eight semesters) and lead to the Ptychio in the relevant field. In Veterinary Science, Dentistry, Engineering and Agricultural Studies, studies last for ten semesters. In Medicine, they last for twelve. The study programme contains compulsory and elective courses. Each semester, students are required to follow a number of compulsory courses consisting of the core programme and a number of elective

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courses. The total number of courses to be taken is decided by the respective course programme of the department. In some departments, the submission of a dissertation describing the final (graduation) project is required. For example, the 10th semester of all Engineering Departments is devoted to the preparation of a final year project and the submission of a dissertation. Entrance requirements to the Institutions of Technological Education (TEI) are the same as for universities. Studies in TEI last for seven or eight semesters, including the compulsory professional placement and the completion of a graduation project and lead to a Ptychio. Subjects include general compulsory subjects, mandatory elective subjects and optional subjects. The Ptychio qualifies holders for immediate employment. It also allows them to continue their studies in a related university undergraduate course and, at postgraduate level, in a Greek or - mostly - in a foreign university. University level second stage: Postgraduate studies The first level of postgraduate studies, of a duration of a minimum of four semesters, leads to the Metaptychiako Díploma Exidíkefsis (Postgraduate Diploma of Specialization). This study programme may be carried out and completed in a university or research institute outside Greece, the degree, however, is awarded in Greece. The Doctoral Degree (Didaktoriko) is conferred after the public defence of a thesis. The research must be original and show advances in research and science. A doctoral thesis requires at least three years' study since the student was admitted to doctoral studies. Students can be admitted to a doctoral research programme when they hold a Greek Ptychio or Diploma or an equivalent qualification obtained abroad and recognized by Dikatsa. In certain university departments, students must also hold a Diploma of Postgraduate Specialization. This is the case when the department offers a postgraduate programme that is relevant to the doctoral research. Grading System The students’ performance is assessed every semester in various ways according to the nature of the course. In theoretical courses, examinations or tests may be held, or assignments required. At the end of the semester, final examinations are held which usually account for about 60% of the final mark in the course. The project of the graduating student is first assessed by the supervising faculty member and is then presented to a three-member committee of faculty members which awards the final mark. Lowest on scale: 0 Highest on scale: 10 Pass/fail level: 5

Grading Scale



Equiv.

9.5-10.0 Excellent A First Class Honours

9.0-9.4 Very Good A- Second Class Honours,

Upper Division

8.0-8.9 Good B+ Second Class Honours,

Lower Division

6.0-7.9 Average B Third Class Honours

5.0-5.9 Pass C Pass

0.0-4.9 Fail F Fail

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Top Greek Institutions* Rank Institution 1 University of Athens 2 Aristotle University of Thessaloniki 3 University of Crete 4 National Technical University of Athens 5 University of Patras 6 Athens University of Economy and Business 7 National and Kapodistrian University of Athens 8 University of the Aegean 9 University of Ioannina 10 Technical University of Crete * according with Shanghai Jiao tong World Universities Ranking, Times-Qs World Universities Rankings and Webometrics Ranking of World Universities (see web references).

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HUNGARY

STRUCTURE OF EDUCATION SYSTEM Pre-higher education: Age of entry: 6 Age of exit: 18 Total: 12 years Basic First Stage

Type of school providing this education: Általános iskola (Elementary School) Length of program in years: 4 Basic Second Stage Type of school providing this education: Általános iskola Length of program in years: 4 Academic Secondary

Type of school providing this education: Gimnázium Programme 1 (Four-Year, Regular, Academic Secondary School) Length of program in years: 4 Certificate/diploma awarded: Érettségi Bizonyítvány/Secondary School Leaving Certificate Type of school providing this education: Gimnázium Programme 2 (bilingual education) Length of program in years: 5 Certificate/diploma awarded: Érettségi Bizonyítvány/Secondary School Leaving Certificate Vocational Secondary Type of school providing this education: Szakközépiskola (Vocational Secondary School) Length of program in years: 4 Certificate/diploma awarded: Érettségi Bizonyítvány

Vocational Type of school providing this education: Szakiskola (Vocational School) Length of program in years: 4 Certificate/diploma awarded: Lower Level Vocational Qualification

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University level studies Academic year: Classes from: Sep to: Jun Long vacation from: Jul to: Aug Languages of instruction: Hungarian University level first stage: Undergraduate studies:

Higher education at university level generally consists of a course, usually four to six years in duration, which confers the higher education qualification of Oklevél/Egyetemi Oklevél (University-level Degree) after the defence of a thesis and successful completion of the final examination. This qualification - which may also be called "Master's"- entitles holders to practise a profession or to continue higher education studies and obtain a Szakirányú Továbbképzési Oklevél (Post-university Further Specialization Degree) in one to three years or to pursue doctoral studies. University level second stage: Postgraduate studies: The Szakirányú Továbbképzési Oklevél (Post-university Further Specialization Degree) may also be obtained after the Oklevél/Egyetemi Oklevél (University-level Degree) after following a programme of one to three years. Doctoral studies are another type of postgraduate studies. This stage of higher education leads to Doktor or Master Degrees three years after the Oklevél/ Egyetemi Oklevél (University-level Degree). The Doktor and Master Degrees are awarded by a Committee of the University after not less than three years' research following upon the Oklevél/Egyetemi Oklevél (University-level Degree). The training requirements of doctoral studies that should be completed are the following: language proficiency as appropriate for the given field of science in two foreign languages, an original scientific work supported by scientific publications and summarized in a dissertation. Applicants have to pass two oral doctoral examinations and defend the thesis of the dissertation in a public debate. The new Hungarian Doctorate (Doctor of Philosophy and, in the case of Arts universities, the Doctor of Liberal Arts degree) corresponds to what is known and recognized as a PhD. Grading system In general, oral exams, a tradition at Hungarian institutions, are most common, but written examinations are also increasing in frequency. The local grading system is a 5-point scale where 1 is a failing grade and 5 is excellent. The academic year is usually divided into two semesters: September to December and February to May. Highest on scale: 5 Pass/fail level: 2/1 Lowest on scale: 1

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Grading Scale



Equiv.

5 Jeles (Excellent) A First Class Honours

4,5 Jó (Good) A- Second Class Honours,

Upper Division

4 - B+ Second Class Honours,

Lower Division

3 Közepes (Average) B Third Class Honours

2 Elégséges (Pass) C Pass

1 Elégtelen (Fail) F Fail

Top Hungarian Institutions* Rank Institution 1 Eötvös Loránd University 2 University of Szeged 3 Budapest University of Technology and Economics 4 Central European University 5 University of Debrecen 6 University of Pécs 7 Semmelweis University 8 University of West Hungary 9 University of Miskolc 10 Szechenyi Istvan University * according with Shanghai Jiao tong World Universities Ranking, Times-Qs World Universities Rankings and Webometrics Ranking of World Universities (see web references).

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COUNTRY HIGHER EDUCATION PROFILE: INDIA This information has been prepared by and is the property of the Institute of International Education.

COUNTRY HIGHER EDUCATION PROFILE: INDIA Description of Education System: Structure of education system The Indian education system is comprised of eight years of elementary school and four years of secondary education, followed by optional higher education. To be accepted into a higher education course, students must pass the senior secondary education (12th year) standard. Most BA, BSc and B.Com pass/Honours degree are three-year programs, while certain professional degrees require additional study. Engineering degrees require four years and Law/Medicine degrees require five years. Post-graduate courses are generally of two to three years’ duration.

Language of Instruction Bengali, English, Gujarati, Hindi Higher Education Admission Requirements & Competitiveness

Name of secondary school credential required: Higher Secondary School Certificate.

Entrance exams required: Pre-university examination. Joint Entrance Examination for the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and certain centrally sponsored institutes and universities. For entrance to most professional courses, students must sit for an entrance examination conducted by each institution, followed by an interview. Entrance examinations are also held by some universities for admission to Master's level courses and pre- and doctoral studies in General Education.

First degrees generally require three years' full-time study leading to Bachelor of Arts, Science and Commerce degrees.

Entrance to an Honours course may require a higher pass mark in the higher secondary or pre-university examinations. An Honours degree does not generally involve longer study but does indicate greater specialization. In professional subjects, courses last for four to five and a half years.

A Master's Degree in Arts, Science and Commerce generally requires two years of study after a first degree. Most are coursework-based without a thesis. The Master of Technology is awarded after a study period of three semesters. Students must complete a research project which usually takes one semester. The Master of Computer Applications (MCA) is awarded after three years' study beyond the Bachelor's Degree.

Entry to all higher education Institutions of India is highly competitive: The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) are among the most sought after-destinations for which it is necessary to compete, with about 200,000 students seeking the approximately 3,500 seats (1.75% rate of admission). For all technical and professional courses across the country, the competition is high. Entrance to regular undergraduate course in colleges of repute depends on the percentage marks received at the Senior Secondary School Examination. Admission at the top-most Delhi University affiliate colleges for an undergraduate course of choice may require a percentage of 95% and above.


Overview of local Universities: Overview Universities and its constituent colleges are the main institutes of higher education in India. As of 2009, there are at present 227 government-recognized universities in India. Out of them, 20 are central universities, 109 are deemed universities and 11 are “open universities” and rest are state universities. The emphasis in the tertiary level of education lies on science and technology. Many educational institutes in India can readily compete with the best educational institutes of the world. The Indian Institutes of Technology, Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), Indian Institutes of Science (IISc), National Law Schools, Jawaharlal Nehru University (in Delhi), Delhi University, are some such institutes. In the view of the Institute of International Education, Indian universities’ worldwide rankings are ranked deceptively low because of the high calibre of nearly all students applying – those who enter are the cream of the country and become highly successful in cutting-edge technologies, in Silicon Valley and worldwide. IITs are the top level of universities. The Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in Mumbai and the Indian Institute of Sciences in Bangalore at the same level as IIT. Delhi Technological University (formerly Delhi College of Engineering) is one of the top engineering colleges in India and ranks between IIT and NIT. The Delhi School of Planning and Architecture is a shade below IIT but above NIT and excels at architecture. National Indian Institutes of Technology (NITs) are at next highest level, as they are former regional institutes now at the national level, reflecting very high quality. The Indian School of Mines and Dhanbad are alongside NITs. Birla Institute of Technology and Science in Pilani (aka BITS Pilani) and the Indian Institute of Design are neither an IIT nor an NIT but are both extremely highly ranked. In Social Sciences, the top school is Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, then the Tata Institute of Social Science (TISS). India has one top school in the environment in The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), a research university specializing in environmental sustainable development (their head shared the Nobel Prize with Al Gore). TERI is one of the top schools worldwide, but as it is so specialized it is difficult to compare its standing. Top Universities Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) IIT-Bombay ranked 163 worldwide in 2009 QS Top Universities ranking IIT-Delhi ranked 181 worldwide in 2009 QS Top Universities ranking IIT-Kanpur ranked 237 worldwide in 2009 QS Top Universities ranking IIT-Madras ranked 284 worldwide in 2009 QS Top Universities ranking IIT-Kharagpur ranked 335 worldwide in 2009 QS Top Universities ranking IIT-Roorkee ranked 401-500 worldwide in 2009 QS Top Universities ranking (we rank Roorkee higher than IIT Guwahati) IIT-Guwahati ranked 401-500 worldwide in 2009 QS Top Universities ranking Strengths: Engineering and Technology Note: IIT is the largest provider of information technology training and education group in Asia. All 15


of the institutes in this group scattered throughout the country are strong in engineering and technology. Among them, IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Kanpur, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Madras, IIT Roorkee and IIT Guwahati are the seven IITs in India that are termed as “National Institutes of Importance”. Admission into an IIT is highly competitive in India. However, as IITs offer different types of courses, the admission procedure also varies from department to department. Admission to most of the courses depends on the performance of the candidates. The relevant entrance examination is given the most weight. Delhi University Ranked 291 worldwide in 2009 QS Top Universities ranking Strength: Mathematics, Education, Social Sciences. Note: a premier university justly famous for its high standard of education, quality faculties and state-of-the-art research facilities. Delhi University has a nationwide reputation that attracts a large number of top students and scholars from all corners of the country. Calcutta University Ranked 401-500 worldwide in 2009 QS Top Universities ranking Strength: Arts & Humanities, Engineering & IT National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirapally National Institute of Technology, Suratkhal National Institute of Technology, Rourkela National Institute of Technology, Calicut National Institute of Technology, Warangal National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra Admission to NITs is through a joint entrance exam AIEEE (All India Engineering Entrance Exam) which is highly competitive. These schools are premier technical education institutes in India that are fast becoming attractive alternatives to IIT for Indian students. Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU) Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU) is a premier institute of learning in the country. It is strong in engineering. Only recently in the past 20 years did JNTU start branching out to encompass other technological and scientific thrusts such as biotechnology, nanotechnology, environmental science and pharmaceutical science, but is very strong in the social sciences. Admissions: Admission to JNTU is tough as enrolment quotas are limited. Admission is based strictly on merit. The provisions of merit are decided by the admission policy of the university. Under the reservation policy of the government, up to 22.5% seats have been reserved for SC (Scheduled Caste)/ST (Scheduled Tribe) candidates and a further 3% have been allotted to physically challenged candidates. Other Universities

Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) are graduate business schools in India that also conduct research and provide consultancy services in the field of management to various sectors of the Indian economy. The IIMs are considered the top business schools in India. Admission into an IIM is highly competitive in India. Scoring high in the Common Admission Test is not enough to secure a seat in an IIM; one also needs to perform well in the group discussions and personal interview. The top seven Indian Institutes of Management are also known as the “Seven Sisters.” The top three ranked are Andrabad, Bangalore and Calcutta in that order; the next three are Lucknow, Indore, and


Kozikode, in that order. The seventh is new, IIM Shillong which started in 2007. IIM Ahmedabad The institute is considered to be the toughest business school in India to get into. Each year over 500 students apply for an MBA seat. IIM Bangalore The institute is frequently ranked among the leading Business schools in Asia and is extremely tough to get into, with applicant acceptance for post-graduate programme as low as 0.2% IIM Calcutta is extremely selective in terms of admissions offered, with about 1% of total applicants accepted in 2004. IIM Lucknow is the first and so far the only IIM to open a satellite campus. IIM Indore One of the unique features of the postgraduate programme in IIM Indore is its focus on social concern. In this regard, participants take up a mandatory course called Society, Business and Management. IIM Kozhikode It was the first institute in Asia to offer a distance learning programme in management for working executives. The institute has further introduced specialised modules for this course. IIM Shillong The youngest of the IIMs (opened in 2007), Shillong currently offers only a postgraduate programme in management. Indian School of Business--ranked number 15 in global MBA rankings by the Financial Times of London in 2009. Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani (known as BITS Pilani) -- the strength of BITS Pilani is in engineering and technology. Acceptance rate in BITS Pilani is very low, (Selectivity < 2.08% in 2007) making it one of the most selective in India. Admission is purely on the basis of merit and not through any kind of reservation, which ensures consistent student quality at BITS Pilani. BITS conducts its independent entrance exam BITSAT.

Comparison of local academic grading system:

Grading Scale

Grading scales differ by type of program and institutions in India. The grading scales range from A-F and 10 points to 0 points. Some institutions use the 4.0 point scale common to the US. The minimum passing grade may also vary by type of program and institutions.

Main grading system used by higher education institutions

65-100% First Division/Class

50-64% Second Division/Class

40-49% Third Division/Class

Other main grading systems Most undergraduate colleges affiliated to universities use the simple marks system where marks are assigned out of 100 and final exams consist of a single exam of 100 marks for each paper/subject.

Some universities have adopted the semester system at postgraduate level and use a marking system on a grade point average For the Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) the “letter grade” system is used in which an assessment is made of the student’s performance throughout the semester on a continuous basis. Each letter grade is given a numerical value for computing the semester and cumulative averages. The final grade is awarded at the end of a semester after taking into account the totality of the student’s performance in the above aspects and not on the basis of a single final examination as is conventionally done.

COUNTRY HIGHER EDUCATION PROFILE: INDONESIA This information has been prepared by and is the property of the Institute of International Education.

COUNTRY HIGHER EDUCATION PROFILE: INDONESIA Description of Education System: Structure of education system Basic education in Indonesia consists of nine years of compulsory education. Primary education lasts for six years. Secondary education is divided into junior (Sekolah Menengah Tingkat Pertama -SMTP), senior (Sekolah Menengah Tingkat Atas -SMTA) and vocational/technical education. In the third year of senior secondary school, students choose between Natural Sciences, Social Sciences and Languages (Bahasa). Graduates of the senior secondary schools obtain the Sekolah Menengah Atas which is a prerequisite for access to higher education (together with an entrance exam).

Higher education is an extension of secondary education consisting of academic and professional education. It consists of diploma programs (Diploma I-IV) and specialist programs (Specialist I-II).

In the early stages, higher education used the program structure inherited from the Dutch colonial period consisting of bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs. In 1979 the semester credit unit system was adopted offering more latitude in choice of courses.

Language of Instruction

Indonesian/English

Higher Education Admission Requirements & Competitiveness Graduates of the senior secondary schools obtain the Sekolah Menengah Atas which is a prerequisite for access to higher education. Besides, students must sit for the National Entrance Examination (Ujian Masuk Perguruan Tinggi Negeri). There are two options: Social Sciences (IPS) and Natural Sciences (IPA). Secondary school graduates from Physics and Biology streams can apply to any department; those from Social Sciences and Humanities are restricted to non-Science and non-Technology fields. The centralized public university admission examination system is highly competitive. The percentage of high school students enrolling in higher education in Indonesia is about 16.2%. From IIE’s experience in handling scholarships in Indonesia, we find that students tend to have weaknesses in English language proficiency and the quantitative skills such as math, statistics and economics. This is despite the fact that since 2004-2005, math, science, physics, chemistry, biology, information sciences have been taught in English at the secondary level. We believe it will take further time and effort for Indonesian students to become more competitive in these critical areas/skills.


Overview of local Universities: Overview Indonesia's institutions of higher education have experienced dramatic growth since independence. In 1950 there were 10 institutions of higher learning, with a total of 6,500 students. In 1970 there were 450 private and state institutions enrolling 237,000 students, and by 1990 there were 900 institutions with 141,000 teachers and nearly 1,486,000 students. Current world rankings of universities place Indonesia's top universities relatively low. Top Universities University of Indonesia Ranked 34th among universities in Asia (The Times Higher Education Supplement 2009) and ranked 201 among universities in the world (Times Higher Education Supplement in 2009). Strengths: The best university in Indonesia -- all areas of study are equally qualified. Note: Founded in 1950, the University of Indonesia is an accredited public institution in Jakarta. Gadjah Mada University Ranked 250th among universities in the world (Times Higher Education Supplement in 2009). Strengths: Bio-Science Note: Gadjah Mada University, which has taken on a new status as a state-owned legal entity since December 2000, is the oldest and largest university in Indonesia. It was founded in December 1949 and currently has 18 faculties. Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) Ranked 351st among universities in the world (Times Higher Education Supplement in 2009). Strengths: Engineering and related areas Note: Founded in 1920, Bandung Institute of Technology is a bona fide institution of tertiary education. Bandung was founded on March 2, 1959. In 1959, the present lnstitut Teknologi Bandung was founded by the Indonesian government as an institution of higher learning in science, technology, and fine arts, with a mission of education, research, and service to the community. It has since become an autonomous institution. Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) Note: The most well known Technological university in Surabaya, East Java. It was founded in 1957 and is a peer institution of Bandung Institute of Technology. It focuses on engineering and technology subjects. It has several prominent alumni. Current Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono studied mechanical engineering here briefly before joining the Indonesian Military Academy. Other Universities Institut Pertanian Bogor, Bogor- Institut Pertanian Bogor, also known as Bogor Agricultural University, was founded in 1963 following the enactment of new higher education laws. In December 2000, the university became an autonomous university. Airlangga University- a state university by a merger of faculties of law and medicine (formerly faculties of Gadjah Mada University and of the University of Indonesia) and the Teachers' College of Malang. Indonesian is the main language of instruction. Institut Teknologi Pembangunan Surabaya- Founded in 1981, the Institute of Technology Development Surabaya is an accredited institution located in Surabaya. President University, Bekasi- President University officially opened in 2001, offering a Bachelor of Engineering degree. In April 2004, the Ministry of Education granted President University official status as a full-fledged university. All classes are conducted entirely in English.


Comparison of local Academic Grading System: Students are given a Grade Point Average (GPA) on completion of their studies. For undergraduate study the minimum requirement is 2.0. The grading is on a scale of 1-4 and D-A with 2 and C as pass marks. The grading system is compatible with the US system and may vary from university to university in terms of 0.5 scale (+ or -)

Grade 4.0 GPA scale Grade A: Excellent 4 Grade B: Good 3 Grade C: Adequate 2 Grade D: Marginal pass 1 Grade F: Fail 0

Source: UNESCO (http://www.unesco.org/iau/onlinedatabases/systems_data/id.rtf) Honors System: From IIE’s experience with the major institutions in Indonesia, honours are not separated into first and/or second division. Students can graduate with honours if they achieve a certain percentage or grade (the cut-off mark or minimum achievement required varies between different universities). If they fail to meet the criteria, students will simply graduate with an awarded degree (i.e. without honours).

Italy STRUCTURE OF EDUCATION SYSTEM Pre-higher education: Age of entry: 5 Age of exit: 18 Total: 13 years Primary Type of school providing this education: Scuola Elementare (Primary) Length of program in years: 5 Certificate/diploma awarded: Licenza Elementare Secondary Type of school providing this education: Scuola Media Length of program in years: 3 Certificate/diploma awarded: Licenza Media Tertiary Type of school providing this education: Scuola Superiore / Liceo Length of program in years: 5 Certificate/diploma awarded: Diploma di Maturità Vocational Same as above (tertiary) but providing technnical degrees University level studies: Italy is among the Bologna Process countries, therefore we apply the ECTS European credit system First Level: Length of program in years: 3 Degree Awarded: Laurea (bachelor) Number of ECTS credits: 180 Second Level: Length of program in years: 2 Degree Awarded: Laurea Magistrale / Specialistica (master of science/ arts) Number of ECTS credits: 120 Third Level: Length of program in years: 3 Degree Awarded: Dottorato di Ricerca (PhD) Number of ECTS credits: 120 Vocational Masters: Length of program in years: varies, usually 1 year Degree Awarded: Master* *Italy grants legal status to university degrees, linked to the number of credits

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students mature while studying. Vocational masters usually don’t award credits, therefore they don’t have legal status (few exceptions apply) General Description of the University System: Academic year starts in September, with classes usually starting in October through July. University exams can be taken all year round by students, with few restrictions (e.g. number of times a certain exam can be taken). Italy has one of the most “socialistic” university systems in Europe. The “right to study” is granted by the constitution, about 90% of the universities are public and funded by governmental bodies. Students pay limited fees usually covering less than 80% of the real costs. University fees varies depending upon the wealth of the student and the subject studied: the richer the student is, the more he/she pays (tuitions varies from a minimum of 600 euros to a maximum of 1,500 euros per year at public universities. Best private universities rarely cost over 10,000 euros per year). Engineering and medicine studies are more expensive. The only two disciplines with restrictions in enrollment are medicine and architecture. All other disciplines of study are open to all students with a “Diploma di Maturità” (high school degree). Therefore there are no entrance barriers. Orientation services into universities are rather new activities and are still not well performed. Students in Italy keep choosing their favorite university according to their own will. Most students choose the university which is closer to their residence. A limited but growing number of students travels from the South of the country to the universities of the North, especially because these are located in wealthier districts. As of now Italy enrolls approximately 1,8 million students in its 61 public (governmental) universities, 4 public (but non-governmental) universities, 13 private universities, 11 online universities, 6 higher education institutions (granting degrees at research level only). Grading System: Italy applies its own grading system internally and the ECTS grading system below in relation to its Bologna Process Partners.

ECTS Grade

Percentage of Students normally expected to receive this grade

Definition

A Best 10% B Second 25% C Third 30% D Forth 25% E Fifth 10%

FX - Fail: some work required to pass F - Fail: considerable further work required

ECTS Users’ Guide , 2004

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University exams can be graded in a scale of 0/30. 18 is the minimum to pass, everything below it is failed (F equivalent in the US system). 30 cum laude is the maximum. Final degree awarding applies a 0/110 grade system, where 66/110 is the minimum and 110 cum laude is the maximum. Below is a general reference note for the Italian grade system: University Examinations

Score range Merits (in general)

30 Outstanding

29-27 Worth considering

26-18 Average

17-0 Fail

Final Degree

Score range Merits (in general)

110 Outstanding

109-100 Worth considering

99-66 Average

65-0 Fail

Note: Conversion tables above do not apply universally. Score ranges that define student performance levels may vary among institutions.

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Italian Universities in QS World University Ranking

176 174 Università di Bologna

190 205 Sapienza Università di Roma

261 312 Università degli Studi di Padova (UNIPD)

295 286 Politecnico di Milano

300 322 Università di Pisa

328 377 Università degli Studi di Firenze (UNIFI)

363 401-450 Università degli Studi di Pavia (UNIPV)

401-450 451-500 Università degli Studi di Napoli - Federico II

401-450 451-500 Università degli Studi di Roma - Tor Vergata

401-450 451-500 Università degli Studi di Trento (UNITN)

401-450 401-450 Università degli Studi di Trieste (UNITS)

451-500 501-550 Università degli Studi di Milano (UNIMI)

451-500 451-500 Università degli Studi di Siena (UNISI)

451-500 451-500 Politecnico di Torino

451-500 501-550 Università degli Studi di Torino (UNITO)

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COUNTRY HIGHER EDUCATION PROFILE: MALAYSIA This information has been prepared by and is the property of the Institute of International Education.

COUNTRY HIGHER EDUCATION PROFILE: MALAYSIA Description of Education System: Structure of Education System Primary education lasts for six years leading to the Ujian Penilaian Sekolah Rendah. Secondary education covers seven years, divided into three stages: lower (forms I-III); upper (forms IV and V) and then a two-year pre-university curriculum. At the end of the pre-university course, pupils take the Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia exam organized by the Malaysian Examination Council or the A level examination. Higher education is provided by universities, polytechnics and colleges. There are both public and a wide variety of private higher education institutions. In 2004, the Ministry of Education was revamped and a new Ministry of Higher Education was created to supervise higher education policy in the country. (Source: World Higher Education Database: http://www.unesco.org/iau/onlinedatabases/systems_data/my.rtf)

Language of Instruction Malay/English Malay is the official language of instruction in public schools and institutions of higher learning. Higher Education Admission Requirements & Competitiveness

The general entry requirement for admission to a bachelor degree program is the Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia examination (STPM), taken after 13 years of schooling, with a passing grade on the general studies paper and adequate scores on the exam.

Students must hold credits in at least five subjects, Bahasa Melayu/Malay, Mathematics and two other subjects. These qualifications must be obtained in one examination. Admission is also based on ethnic enrollment quotas determined by the government.

Statistically, about 28.2 % of all secondary school students in Malaysia will enroll in higher education institutions.


Overview of local Universities: Overview

Malaysia has six polytechnics, nine public universities and 30 teacher-training colleges. In the past, private colleges and foreign institutions have not been allowed to operate in Malaysia. This changed in 1994 with the implementation of new legislation on education. At present, there are more than 300 private institutions providing some form of tertiary education.

From IIE’s experience handling scholarships in Malaysia, students from this country are generally more qualified than their counterparts in other Southeast Asian countries (e.g. Thailand, Indonesia). Possessing competent English language skills, Malaysian students are competitive in pursuing higher education in good universities in USA, UK or Australia. In particular, students who graduate from reputable international universities which have opened campuses in Malaysia (e.g. Monash University from Australia and many others) are highly recommended. Top Universities University of Malaya UM Ranked 180th worldwide in 2009 QS Top Universities ranking Strengths: Arts & Humanities, Engineering & IT, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, Life Sciences & Biomedicine Note: The first University of the country. Public institution National University of Malaysia UKM Ranked 291st worldwide in 2009 QS Top Universities ranking Strengths: research-based university Note: UKM today has expanded to 12 well-established faculties, four institutes and nine centers. In addition, UKM has established a private limited holding company known as UKM Holdings, which handles the commercial activity of UKM. Note: Public university University of Science, Malaysia USM Ranked 314th worldwide in 2009 QS Top Universities ranking Strengths: Science, ecology, research-based university Note: Public university University of Technology, Malaysia UTM Ranked 320th worldwide in 2009 QS Top Universities ranking Strengths: Engineering based and largest in the southern tip of peninsular of Malaysia Note: The oldest public engineering and technology university in Malaysia Putra University of Malaysia Ranked 345th worldwide in 2009 QS Top Universities ranking Strengths: Agriculture and Science Note: Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) formerly known as Universiti Pertanian Malaysia was founded in 1971 through the merger of Faculty of Agriculture, University Malaya and Agriculture College in Serdang Other Universities

1. Multimedia University: Information Science, Graphic Design 2. Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman: Business


Comparison of local Academic Grading System: Grading Scales Grading at all universities is based on credit points system. Evaluation for each subject is done by grade and grade points for the course's credit hours as follows: The grading system in university in Malaysia is compatible with the US system. With the 4.0 scale GPA. It may vary in 0.5 scale (+ or -) depending on university to university.

Grade 4.0 GPA scale Grade A+ 4.00 Grade A 3.70 Grade B+ 3.50 Grade B 3.00 Grade B- 2.70 Grade C+ 2.50 Grade C 2.00 Grade C- 1.70 Grade D 1.50 Grade F 1.00

The Cumulative Grade Point Average is based on 4.0 scale

Highest on scale: 4

Lowest on scale: 1 Honors System:

Degree Classification Letter grade First Class Honours A Second Class Honours, Upper Division A-/B+ Second Class Honours, Lower Division B Third Class Honours (or Pass* ) B-/C+

Some Malaysian universities use the pass classification rather than Third Class Honors. The numerical percentage ranges for individual subject grades vary among institutions.

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9

MEXICO



Age of entry: 6

Age of exit: 18

Total: 12 years

Primary

Type of school providing this education: Escuela Primaria


Certificate/diploma awarded: Certificado de Primaria

Secondary

Type of school providing this education: Secundaria General


Certificate/diploma awarded: Certificado de Secundaria General

Technical Secondary

Type of school providing this education: Telesecundaria, Secundaria técnica


Certificate/diploma awarded: Certificado de Secundaria

Higher Secondary

Type of school providing this education: Educación media superior


Certificate/diploma awarded: Certificado de Bachillerato general, Bachillerato tecnológico, Educación profesional técnica

Specialized Secondary Type of school providing this education: Secundaria Para Trabajadores


Certificate/diploma awarded: Certificado de Secundaria

Type of school providing this education: Para adultos


Certificate/diploma awarded: Certificado or Diploma

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Higher Education

Higher education is mostly delivered at large public universities. In addition to the large national higher education institutions (like UNAM and the Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN), both located in Mexico City), each state has its own state university or state teachers’ college. Public universities are autonomous and are operated by their own organic laws, which means that even though they are publicly funded, their administrative and educational management is left to university boards and officials. There are different subsystems of higher education institutions in Mexico: - public universities, - technological institutes, - technological universities, - private institutions, - teacher training colleges, - and other public institutions. When all of them are counted, Mexico has 1,250 institutions of higher education. PUBLIC STATE UNIVERSITIES: This subset integrates 46 institutions (only the main campuses are counted), distributed over the 31 states that make up the Federal Republic. Of them, 78% are autonomous institutions, and 50% also provide education at the upper secondary level. The state public universities are, as opposed to the federal institutions, part of the local state governments and, like them, carry out teaching, research and extension services. PUBLIC TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITUTES: This subsystem comprises 211 institutes and 6 specialized centers. Of them, 110 are federal institutions scattered over the 31 states, and 107 are state technological institutes located in 22 states. Classified by vocation and orientation, 184 are related to industry, 20 to agriculture and livestock, 6 to marine science and one to forestry. The National Centre for Research and Technological Development, the Interdisciplinary Centre for Research and Teaching in Technical Education and 4 regional Centers for the Enhancement and Development of Equipment comprise the 6 specialized centers. This institutions are coordinated by the Ministry of Public Education through the Undersecretary of Higher Education. PUBLIC TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITIES: This subsystem comprises 60 institutions in 26 states offering two-year intensive higher education leading to an associate degree. The Technological Universities are created on the Federal government's initiative but as part of the local state governments and they carry out teaching, applied research as well as extension and technological services. Growth of the public system has been mainly concentrated on this type of universities. PUBLIC POLYTECHNICAL UNIVERSITIES: Only recently established by a federal government's initiative (2002), this subsystem has 18 local state-created universities distributed in 21 states, whose characteristic is the relevance of their provision to the aim of increasing the accessibility to public higher education institutions. TEACHER TRAINING COLLEGES: Distributed all over the Republic, they include 433 institutions , 249 of which are public. Some of them are part of the Ministry of Public Education and others have been created by the local state authorities. In both, the syllabus is defined by the Federal government and corresponds to licenciatura programmes. Teacher training colleges offer bachelor degrees in preschool education, elementary school education, secundaria school education, special education, and physical education. Until 1984, elementary education teacher training was offered at upper-secondary institutions, “escuelas normales”. Currently, teachers for both elementary and secondary education are trained at tertiary level institutions, teacher-training institutes that are separate from general universities and generally offer a four-year curriculum. PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS: Private institutions are grouped into universities (168), institutes (171), and centers, schools, and other institutions (259). Accreditation for these academic institutions is issued by SEP, state governments, or other public academic institutions authorized to accredit them. Private institutions of higher education have 27.6 percent of the undergraduate enrolment and 36.5 of the graduate enrolment in Mexico. The Ministry of Education (SEP) coordinates 102, while state governments coordinate the other 45. In the latter, students can choose between regular and three-year programs: two years of general education requirements and one year of specialization. There is also another group of institutions of higher education that is not part of the previous two subsystems; some of these are under the SEP and other government ministries. One percent of those pursuing bachelor's degrees and 7.5 percent of those pursuing graduate degrees attend them. Most of the students (two third) attend a public university. However, studying at a private university has become popular in the last decades: there are some high quality private universities that tend to offer what the market demands and therefore often focus on popular fields like business and engineering. Public universities generally offer a wider range of programs. Also research is mainly conducted at public universities, especially when it involves high investments like laboratories. Public universities and technological institutes of higher education offer affordable education to all Mexicans. In some of the state public universities, semester fees are even lower. Tuition is free although there are fees for some administrative tasks. By contrast, in some of the technological institutes, for example, where the demand for education is high, a semester of fees amounts to nearly $150 dollars. Private universities, however, vary in the admission process and tuition prices.

Academic year:

Classes from: Aug. to: Jun.

Long vacation from: Jul. to: 5 Aug.


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11


In Bachillerato Tecnológico courses, students are trained for the higher level and for work in different technological branches: Agriculture, Forestry, Industry, Services and Marine Sciences. Studies last for three years. The Colegio Nacional de Educación Profesional Técnica (CONALEP) is a consortium of institutions which trains professional technicians. Studies are propedeutic and terminal. They last for three years.


The usual entrance qualification is the Bachillerato. In addition, students normally have to take an entrance examination. Courses leading to the Licenciatura normally last for four years, but five years for certain professional qualifications (e.g. Engineer, Dentist, Architect) and six years for Medicine. To obtain the title, students must obtain all the credits in the course, participate in the social service, prepare a thesis and sit for a professional examination. Sometimes, other academic requirements are to be met. In some universities, they do not need to sit for the examination to obtain the title. Technological universities offer two-year full-time courses. They confer the title of Técnico Superior Universitario. To obtain the title, students must be successful in all subjects, participate in the social service and follow a traineeship in the production sector of 13 to 15 weeks.


To have access to the postgraduate level students must hold a Licenciatura. Studies leading to the title of Maestro last for two years. In order to enter at PhD level students must hold a Licenciatura or a Maestría. Studies last for three years after the Maestría and five years after the Licenciatura and the title of Doctor is conferred on those who have fulfilled the corresponding requirements. Grading System

Grading scale in Mexican Institutions normally range from 0 to 10. Since decimal fractions are common, a scale from 0 to 100 is often used to remove the decimal point. Then, 100 becomes the highest score, and 60 the minimum passing score. Depending on the school, the official certificate may use the range 0–100, or these may be converted back to the range 0–10, allowing for some rounding and truncation. Although the grades are normally given in class or tests, they are not reported as such in certificates. When failed subjects are reported in written, they normally have a score of NA or N/A, standing for No Acreditada (Not Accredited) or No Aprobada (Not Approved). Major works, such as a written thesis or doctoral dissertation, may not have a grade, but appear in certificates simply as AC, standing for Acreditada (Accredited). Occasionally, institutions, specially private schools, may use their own grading system, but there must exist conversion rules to convert those grades to their equivalent in the decimal system. Grades are often absolute and not class-specific. It may be the case that the top of the class gets a final grade of 69. Curve-adjustment is rare. Grad-level students are usually expected to have grades of 80 or above to graduate. Students in honor roll are usually those with an overall GPA of 90 or more upon graduation, and some private universities will award them a "With Honors" diploma. Students who fail a subject have the option of taking an extraordinary test (examen extraordinario, often shortened to extra) that evaluates the contents of the entire period. Once the test is finished and the score is assessed, this score become the entire subject's score, thus giving slacking students a chance to pass their subjects. Those who fail the extraordinary test have 2 more chances to take it; if the last test is failed, the subject is marked as failed and pending, and depending on the school, the student might fail the entire year. As a result, the extraordinary tests often cause a lot of stress among students, because they have to study for the entire period often in a couple of weeks. Highest on scale: 10

Pass/fail level: 6

Lowest on scale: 0

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Grading Scale


Equiv.

10 or 100 Excelente (Excellent) A First Class Honours

9.0-9.9 or 90-99 Muy Bien (Very Good) A- Second Class Honours,

Upper Division

8.0-8.9 or 80-89 Bien (Good) B+ Second Class Honours,

Lower Division

7.0-7.9 or 70-79* Regular (Average) B Third Class Honours

6.0-6.9 or 60-69 Suficiente (Sufficient) C Pass

0-5.9 or 0-59 Reprobado/No

Suficiente (Fail/Not Sufficient)

F Fail

* 7 and 70 are the minimum passing grades at selected universities.

Top Mexican Institutions*

Rank Institution

1 Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)

2 Tecnológico de Monterrey (ITESM)

3 Universidad Iberoamericana (UIA)

4 Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon (UANL)

5 Universidad de Guadalajara (UAG)

6 Instituto Tecnologico Autonomo de Mexico (ITAM)

7 Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM)

8 Instituto Politécnico Nacional

9 Universidad Autónoma de Puebla

10 Universidad de Colima

* according to Shanghai Jiao tong World Universities Ranking, Times-Qs World Universities Rankings and Webometrics Ranking of World Universities (see web references).

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NEPAL



Age of entry: 6

Age of exit: 18

Total: 12 years

Primary



Lower Secondary

Type of school providing this education: Lower Secondary School


Secondary



Certificate/diploma awarded: School Leaving Certificate (SLC)

Higher Secondary Type of school providing this education: Higher Secondary School


Certificate/diploma awarded: Proficiency Certificate Level (PCL)

Higher Education

Prior to the ten-plus-two (or the higher secondary education) system, students would continue their studies at the Proficiency Certificate Level (PCL) at the Tribhuvan University in Nepal and its affiliated colleges after passing the SLC examination. The PCL program is still being run in 2001, but is slated to be phased out because all students were going through the ten-plus-two system of post secondary education. Universities in Nepal are not directly managed by the Ministry of Education but are closely associated to it. Additionally, they are substantially funded by the national government. The first institution of higher education to be established in Nepal was the Tribhuvan Chandra Intermediate College (later renamed Tri-Chandra College).In 2003/04 there were sixty constituent campuses and 278 affiliated campuses throughout the country. Bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programmes are offered in four different faculties, five technical institutes and four research centers. The Mahendra Sanskrit University, established in 1986, offers degrees at the intermediate (Uttar Madhyama), bachelor’s (Sastri) and master’s (Acharya) levels. This university also manages two Sanskrit secondary schools and is specialized in teaching Vedic and Buddhist philosophies and practices. In 2003/04 there were 13 constituent campuses and 12 affiliated campuses throughout the country.

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The Kathmandu University (2 constituent campuses and 11 affiliated campuses in 2003/04) was conceived in 1991 through private initiatives. It has five different schools, each with its own degree programmes. The School of Science offers three- to four-year bachelor’s/honours degree courses in physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics and pharmaceuticals. A master’s degree can be achieved in one or two years. The School of Management offers the MBA degree course and a one-year preparatory course. The School of Engineering offers a four-year bachelor’s degree programme in electrical/electronic engineering, mechanical engineering and computer engineering. At the School of Arts, three- to four-year bachelor’s/honours degree courses in literature, economics, urban and cultural studies, Nepalese studies and music are offered. On December 11, 1991, Kathmandu University was established as a private university. In 1993, the School of Management was established at its campus in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Management in Calcutta (IIMC) and the first batch of Master of Business Administration (MBA) students were enrolled. The school of Engineering and School of Science opened in 1994 and offered several undergraduate programs. The School of Education and Arts was established in 1996. In 1997, the Master of Philosophy (M.Phil) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) were launched. In the late 1980s and 1990s, Mahendra Sanskrit University, Purbanchal University, Siddhartha University, and Pokhra University were also established. Many of these are private ventures. In 1998, Tribhuvan University was the largest university with 150,000 students and 62 constituent and 132 affiliated campuses. The costs of tertiary education are very low at Tribhuvan University, while they are very high at the private Kathmandu University. At the tertiary level, in the 1960s, all programs of vocational education were brought under the umbrella of Tribhuvan University and five technical institutes were formed. They initially offered programs at the PCL level. These institutes were: the Institute of Engineering that focused on civil engineering related training such as road building, drafting, surveying, electrical engineering related training, and mechanical engineering related training; the Institute of Medicine that focused on Ayurvedic related training, nursing, and laboratory technician courses; the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science; the Institute of Forestry; and the Institute of Applied Science and Technology. The Institute of Applied Science and Technology has since been turned into a research center. The other four institutes that started their programs at certificate level now offer Diploma (Bachelor of Technology) and Degree (Master of Technology) and are gradually moving toward autonomous status. Academic year:

Classes from: Jul./Aug

Languages of instruction: Nepali


The Bachelor's level of university education after PCL is a three-year duration with yearly examinations. The Bachelor's Degree courses in technical institutes like Engineering and Medicine take four years to complete.


The Master's Degree follows the Bachelor's Degree and takes two years with yearly examinations. In the technical arena, only the Institute of Science and Technology and, in some selected fields, the Institute of Engineering offers Master's level programs. The university education also includes a Doctor of Philosophy degree in some disciplines and subject areas.

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Grading Scale

Scale Degree Classification U.S. Grade Equiv. Hong Kong Grade

Equiv.

‐ Division I Distinction A/A-

First Class Honours/Second Class

Honours, Upper Division

‐ Division II Merit B/B- Second Class Honours,

Lower Division/Third Class Honours

‐ Division III C Pass

Please refer to transcript for individual numerical percentage.

Top Nepalese Institutions*

Rank Institution

1 Kathmandu University

2 Nepal Medical College Teaching Hospital

3 Tribhuvan University Institute of Engineering

4 Tribhuvan University

5 Kathmandu University Centre for Buddhist Studies

6 Nepal Engineering College

7 Pokhara University


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NIGERIA



Age of entry: 6

Age of exit: 18

Total: 12 years

Primary



Junior Secondary

Type of school providing this education: Junior School


Certificate/diploma awarded: Junior School Certificate (JSSC)

Senior Secondary

Type of school providing this education: Senior Secondary School


Certificate/diploma awarded: Senior School Certificate (SSSC)

Technical

Type of school providing this education: Technical Secondary School

Length of program in years:

Certificate/diploma awarded: Senior School Certificate (SSSC)

Higher education

To enter university, students have to pass the University Matriculation examination (UME). Higher education is provided by universities, polytechnics, institutions of technology, colleges of education (which form part of the universities and polytechnic colleges or are affiliated to these) and professional institutions. Universities can be established either by federal or state governments. Each university is administered by a Council and a Senate. Within the universities, the institutes and colleges are more or less autonomous.

Academic year

Classes from: Oct. to: Jul.

Long vacation from: 15 Jul. to: 30 Sep.


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Higher technical education is offered in technical colleges, polytechnics and colleges of education. They offer two-stage National Diplomas and Higher National Diplomas of two years' duration. The colleges also offer various Certificates in technology which may be obtained after one, two or three years. Students are expected to have at least one year industrial attachment after obtaining the National Diploma to proceed to the Higher National Diploma course. The Colleges of Education in this sector train technical teachers. Entry to colleges and polytechnics is based on JAMB-administered entrance examinations combined with results from secondary and vocational schools.


First degree (Bachelor) courses in Arts, Social Sciences and Pure Sciences are usually of four years' duration (three years for students holding good GCE "A" levels), whilst professional degrees tend to last for five years. Degree courses in Medicine and Dentistry last for six years. The Bachelor's Degree may be awarded as an Honours degree: students take either a single subject Honours degree course or combined Honours.


Master's Degree courses usually last for one year after the Bachelor's Degree but, increasingly, where the qualification depends on research, it becomes a two-year course. A Postgraduate Diploma is awarded after the completion of one year of graduate study beyond the bachelor degree. PGD programs are generally offered in education and public administration. The Doctorate Degree is usually conferred two to three years after the Master's Degree. Some first generation universities require students to complete a Master of Philosophy degree before being admitted to the PhD programme.

Grading System

A letter A-F scale is used as a default when a grade scale is not provided on the transcript. Variations in grading exist between and within universities. Official transcripts usually provide information on grading procedures. If a grade scale is provided on a transcript, that scale is used in determining the GPA.


Pass/fail level: 40

Lowest on scale: 0

Grading Scale


Equiv.

A/AB 70-100 A First Class Honours

B/BC 60-69 B+ Second Class Honours,

Upper Division

C/CD 50-59 B Second Class Honours,

Lower Division

D 45-49 C+ Third Class Honours

E 40-44 C Pass

F 0-39 F Fail

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Top Nigerian Institutions*

Rank Institution

1 University of Ilorin

2 Obafemi Awolowo University

3 University of Jos

4 University of Lagos

5 University of Benin

6 University of Ibadan

7 University of Nigeria Nsukka

8 Ahmadu Bello University

9 National Open University of Nigeria

10 Covenant University

* according to Shanghai Webometrics Ranking of World Universities (see web references).

COUNTRY HIGHER EDUCATION PROFILE: PAKISTAN This information has been prepared by and is the property of the Institute of International Education.

COUNTRY HIGHER EDUCATION PROFILE: PAKISTAN Description of Education System: Structure of Education System Primary education in Pakistan lasts for five years. Secondary education is divided into three cycles: three years' middle school, two years' secondary and two years' higher secondary. On completion of the second cycle, pupils take the Secondary School Certificate. Pupils may then study for a further two years or three years in the case of technical education, specializing in Science, Arts or in technical and vocational studies. At the end of this period, pupils take the examinations for the Intermediate Certificate/Higher Secondary School Certificate/Diploma of Associate Engineering. Vocational secondary courses lead to the Higher Secondary School Certificate or a Diploma in technical/vocational subjects.

University Higher Education

Stage I: A Bachelor’s Pass Degree is usually awarded after a two-year program. The Honour’s Bachelor’s Degree is awarded after three years of full-time study in arts and humanities, sciences and commerce. Bachelor’s degrees in engineering, pharmacy and computer science take four years of study, and medicine requires five.

Stage II: The Master’s degree requires two years of study after the Pass degree and one year after the honour’s bachelor’s degree.

Stage III: A doctoral degree normally requires a minimum of three years of study beyond the master’s degree. However, the Doctor of Literature (Dlitt), Doctor of Science ((DSc) and Doctor of Law (LLD) are awarded after five-to-seven years of study.

Language of Instruction English, Urdu Higher Education Admission Requirements & Competitiveness

Admission to university-level studies

The Higher Secondary School Certificate is the general admission requirement for university study.

Minimum score/requirement: 45%

For entry to: Bachelors' degree (Pass/Hons)

Alternatives to credentials: Shahadatul Sanvia Khasa

Entrance exams required: A National Test is required for entry to engineering, medicine and architecture. Some universities also conduct their own admission tests.

Competition to enter into a course depends on the type of course and the Institution where the course is offered.

For an MBA course at the very competitive Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) there are approximately 1800 applications per seat.

Similarly entry to professional courses specially engineering and technology courses is highly competitive. The national level entry exam has about 1800 applications per seat.


Overview of local Universities: Overview According to Higher Education Commission of Pakistan there are 124 universities in Pakistan of which 68 are public universities and 56 are private universities. The top universities listed below are highly competitive in Pakistan. Academic exchanges at and visitors to Pakistan’s universities are limited but much of the faculty is internationally trained and working at very high levels. A full ranking can be found on the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan’s website: http://www.hec.gov.pk Top Universities Quaid-i-azam University Ranked 501-600 worldwide in 2009 QS Top Universities ranking Ranked 1st in “general/overall” by the HEC of Pakistan Strengths: Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, Biological Sciences, and Medical Sciences. Note: Quaid-i-Azam University is a public university in Islamabad, Pakistan. It is the top university in Pakistan in terms of publications in peer-reviewed journals, with 544 publications in 2008 and 409 publications in 2007. Aga Khan University Ranking: Ranked 1st in Health Sciences by the HEC of Pakistan Strengths: Health Sciences, Education Note: Aga Khan University was the only private university in the top five universities on the basis of research publications, coming third with 311 publications in 2008 and 186 publications in 2007. Its medical college has ties with Harvard University (US) and McGill University (Canada). Institutional partners for its Education programme include the University of Oxford (UK) and the University of Toronto (Canada). A UK-based center for Muslim studies offering master’s programmes and other activities was established in 2002. University of Lahore Ranked 501- 600 worldwide in 2009 QS Top Universities ranking Strengths: management, banking and finance, electronics and communications, electrical engineering, information technology, and pharmaceuticals Note: a private university fully recognized by the Higher Education Commission, Pakistan. The University of Lahore is one of the first universities in Pakistan to conduct bilateral exchange programs for undergraduate students. National University of Sciences And Technology (NUST) Ranked 350 worldwide in 2009 QS Top Universities ranking Strengths: sciences and technology Note: Pakistan’s No.1 sciences & technology university. Internationally accredited curriculum. It has many linkages with top universities around the world, such as Harvard University (US) and Imperial College London (UK). Other Universities University of Engineering & Technology (UET) Lahore Ranked 501-600 worldwide in 2009 QS Top Universities ranking Strengths: Computer Science, Environmental Engineering, Bio Medical Engineering Note: Oldest engineering educational institution of Pakistan, established in 1921 f Pakistan, established 1921 University of Karachi Ranked 501-600 worldwide in 2009 QS Top Universities ranking Strengths: Marine Biology, Molecular Genetics, Chemistry, Computer Science Note: Karachi University is the biggest university in the country today. It is ranked 3rd nationally by the HEC of Pakistan


Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology (GIK) is one of the top three engineering schools in Pakistan (as ranked by the HEC of Pakistan) Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) is the top business and economic school in the country and should be rated highly, in the Institute of International Education’s view. An engineering program was recently introduced. Comparison of local academic grading system: Grading Scale The most common grade scale is based on 0-100% with 35% as minimum passing grade and on British system of Division/Class I, II, and III:

First Division or Class 60-100% 4.00 A Second Division or Class

55-59% 3.33 B+

Second Division or Class

50-54% 2.67 B-

Third Division or Class 35-49% 2.00 C Fail Below 35% 0.00 F

Keep in mind the GPA and grading system used in Pakistan varies from university to university and should be checked.

COUNTRY HIGHER EDUCATION PROFILE: PHILIPPINES This information has been prepared by and is the property of the Institute of International Education.

COUNTRY HIGHER EDUCATION PROFILE: PHILIPPINES Description of Education System: Structure of education system Education in the Philippines is based on the American system, as instituted in 1901 by US President William McKinley and the 1,000-plus American teachers who established an English-based system across the country. The development of English as the medium of instruction has shaped the educational system of the country over the last century. The primary education system in the Philippines consists of six years of elementary education, while the secondary system consists of four years of high-school education. The tertiary or university education system in the Philippines is somewhat more developed than both primary and secondary, though there are still some complaints of a sustained decline in quality. Most universities and colleges offer four-year degree courses consisting of two semesters a year. There are some universities that offer 3-4 semesters a year. Language of Instruction English remains the primary language used in schools and universities. Majority of educational materials and references are printed in English. A lot of these technical resources do not have a counterpart version in Filipino because of the complexities of the said language. Higher Education Admission Requirements & Competitiveness Entrance to universities and other institutions of higher education is dependent on the possession of a high school Certificate of Graduation and in some cases on the results of the National Secondary Achievement Test (NSAT), or in many colleges and universities the results of their own entrance examinations. The Philippine Education Placement Test (PEPT) is a national examination designed to evaluate the grade level of students returning to the school system or seeking admission to college based on knowledge and skills gained through formal and non-formal methods. The percentage of high school students enrolling in higher education in Philippines is about 31.2%. From IIE’s first-hand experience in handling scholarships for students from the Philippines, we found that in general the strength of Filipino students is in English language proficiency. However, as is the case in Indonesia, students tend to have weakness in quantitative skills e.g. math, statistics, economics which can cause them to be less competitive in pursuing higher education or stop them from being considered for the scholarships abroad.


Overview of local Universities: Overview In academic year 2002/03 there were 1,479 institutions of higher education (CHED, 2003) registered in the Philippines, of which 1,305 (88 percent) were in the private sector. There are quite a number of prestigious universities in Philippines including those of public as well as private universities. However, there are also small universities which have not met the standard of government higher education. Top Universities Ateneo De Manila University Ranked 234th worldwide in 2009 QS Top Universities ranking Strengths: Science, Social Sciences, Humanities, and Business Note: Founded in 1859 and received its university charter in 1959. Along with the University of The Philippines, it is one of the top two institutions in the country. University of The Philippines Ranked 262nd worldwide in 2009 QS Top Universities ranking Strengths: UP Diliman is the main campus and offers many qualified degree programs in various disciplines (social sciences, arts and sciences/engineering). For the UP Manila campus, strengths are based in the Health Sciences (Nursing, Pharmacy and Medicine), Note its a collaboration with Boston University (US) - School of Public Health. Note: UP Diliman is the flagship university of the UP System, which is the national university of the Philippines. It is the administrative seat of the system as well as an autonomous university in its own right. UP Diliman is not only the home of diverse colleges, offering 94 graduate and undergraduate courses, it also runs several centers of research, many of which have been declared by the Commission on Higher Education as National Centers of Excellence. UP is the only institution in the Philippines to be a member of the Association of Pacific Rim Universities. De La Salle University Ranked 401-500th worldwide in 2009 QS Top Universities ranking Strengths: Social Science, Economics and Engineering Note: De La Salle University - Manila is an internationally recognized private Catholic university established by the Brothers of the Christian Schools in 1911. Other Universities University of the City of Manila-- a city government-funded, tuition-free, university within the district of Intramuros in Manila, the Philippines. Mindanao State University, Marawi-- Founded in 1961, Mindanao State University is a bona fide public institution of tertiary education.


Comparison of local Academic Grading System: Universities in the Philippines do not have standard grade equivalence. Different universities have varied equivalence range, while passing grades are subject to imposed academic quality of an institution. The grading and honours systems for the top three universities (see previous discussion) in the Philippines are listed:

University of the Philippines

Grade Point System:

GPA scale Equivalence 1.00 95% - 100% 1.25 91% - <95% 1.50 86% - <91% 1.75 69% - 76% 2.00 76% - <81% 2.25 72% - <76% 2.50 68% - <72% 2.75 64% - <68% 3.00 60% - <64% 4.00 Conditional Pass or Fail 5.00 below 60%

Honors System:

Classification Grade Point Equivalence Range

Summa Cum Laude 1.00 - 1.20 Magna Cum Laude 1.21 - 1.45 Cum Laude 1.46 - 1.75

Ateneo de Manila University

Grading Scale: Letter Grade 4.0 GPA scale Equivalence A 4 92% - 100% B+ 3.5 86% - 91% B 3 77% - 85% C+ 2.5 69% - 76% C 2 60% - 69% D 1 50% - 59% F 0 below 50%

Honors System:




De La Salle University Grade Point System:

GPA scale Description Equivalence 4.0 Excellent 97% - 100% 3.5 Superior 93% - 96% 3.0 Very Good 89% - 92% 2.0 Good 85% - 88% 2.00 Fair 80% - 84% 1.5 Passed 75% - 79% 1.0 Failed 70% - 74%

Latin Honors



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POLAND


Type of school providing this education: Primary School (Szkoła Podstawowa) Length of program in years: 6 Certificate/diploma awarded: Świadectwo ukończenia szkoły podstawowej (Certificate of Completion of Primary School Education) Lower Secondary Type of school providing this education: Gymnasium (Gimnazjum) Length of program in years: 3 Certificate/diploma awarded: Świadectwo ukończenia gimnazjum (Certificate of Completion of Education in the Gymnasium) Upper Secondary Type of school providing this education: General Lyceum (Liceum Ogólnokształcące) Length of program in years: 3 Certificate/diploma awarded: Świadectwo dojrzalości liceum ogólnokształcącego (Maturity Cetificate of the General Lyceum) or Świadectwo Ukończenia Liceum Ogólnokształcącego (Certificate of Completion of Education in the General Lyceum) Technical Secondary Type of school providing this education: Technical Secondary School (Technikum) Length of program in years: 4 Certificate/diploma awarded: Świadectwo dojrzalości technikum (Maturity Certificate of the Technical Secondary School) or Świadectwo Ukończenia Technikum (Certificate of Completion of Education in the Technical Secondary School) Vocational Secondary Type of school providing this education: Specialized Lyceum (Liceum Profilowane) Length of program in years: 3

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Certificate/diploma awarded: Świadectwo dojrzałości liceum profilowanego (Maturity Certificate of the Specialized Lyceum) or świadectwo ukończenia liceum profilowanego (Certificate of Completion of Education in the Specialized Lyceum) University level studies Academic year: Classes from: Oct. to: Jun. Long vacation from: 1 Jul. to: 30 Sep. Languages of instruction: Polish University level first stage: Undergraduate studies: First level studies are organized both by university-type higher education institutions and the institutions of higher professional education (wyższe szkoły zawodowe). The graduates are awarded the professional title of Licencjat (after 3 years of study) or Inżynier (after 3.4 or 5 years of study) following a thesis or diploma project. Until 2004, they obtained the dyplom ukończenia studiów wyższych (diploma of completion of higher studies). Since 2005 the name of the qualification awarded is dyplom ukończenia wyższych studiów zawodowych (diploma of completion of higher professional studies). The graduates can continue their education at university-type institutions and non-university-type institutions in complementary courses of the second level and obtain the title of magister or equivalent. The professional title of licencjat has been awarded since 1992. Additionally, since 2005 the title of licencjat położnictwa is awarded to graduates of higher professional studies in midwifery and the title of licencjat pielęgniarstwa in nursing. The graduates of higher professional studies in architecture are awarded the title of inżynier architekt. Military schools and the School of Police award the title of oficer dyplomowany to the graduates of first level studies. The Main School of Fire Service grants them the title of inżynier pożarnictwa. University level second stage: Postgraduate studies: The studies of the second stage are organized in the university-type and non-university-type higher education institutions as uniform studies lasting for 5-6 years or as complementary studies lasting for 1.5 - 2 years. They are offered to holders of the professional titles of licencjat or inżynier or equivalent. The graduates are awarded the title of Magister or one of its equivalents after submitting and defending a thesis or a diploma project (with the exception of studies in medicine). Until 2004, the graduates of magister-level courses obtained the dyplom ukończenia studiów wyższych (diploma of completion of higher studies). Since 2005, the graduates of uniform magister-level studies obtain the dyplom jednolitych studiów magisterskich (diploma of completion of uniform master-level studies) and the graduates of complementary magister-level courses obtain the dyplom ukończenia uzupełniających studiów magisterskich (diploma of completion of complementary magister-level studies). The holders of the title of magister or its equivalent may continue their education at postgraduate level. The professional titles that are equivalent to the title of magister are awarded by different kinds of second level higher education after studies usually lasting for 5 years. The academic degree of Doktor can be obtained in two ways: by students of third level (postgraduate) studies that usually last for 3-4 years, or by persons who combine their professional work with academic research and the elaboration of a dissertation. All candidates must hold the professional title of magister or equivalent. To be awarded the degree of Doktor, the candidate must submit and successfully defend a doctoral dissertation that is assessed positively by two supervisors and pass doctorate examinations. The degree of Doktor can be conferred either by higher education institutions or by research institutes entitled to award it. Since March 2003, the name of the qualification awarded as an equivalent to the degree of Doktor in artistic disciplines is doktor sztuki (former name: kwalifikacje pierwszego stopnia). The degree of Doktor Habilitowany is awarded to candidates who already hold the degree of doktor. It can be obtained either by academic staff of higher education institutions and research units, or by persons who combine their research work with other professional activities. To be awarded the academic degree of Doktor Habilitowany the candidate must: have remarkable scientific or artistic achievements; submit a habilitation dissertation which contributes to the development of a given scientific discipline; receive a favourable assessment of his/her dissertation from three supervisors; pass a habilitation examination and deliver a favourably

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assessed habilitation lecture. Since March 2003, the name of the qualification awarded in artistic disciplines as an equivalent to the degree of doktor habilitowany is doktor habilitowany sztuki (former name: kwalifikacje drugiego stopnia).The holders of the doktor habilitowany degree are eligible for the academic post of professor at higher education institutions and can be awarded the academic title of professor conferred by the President of the Republic of Poland. Grading system University-level education uses numeric grades from 2 to 5 with half-point intervals. 2.0 is a failing grade, the lowest passing grade is 3.0, and the highest mark achievable is 5.0. There is no 2.5 grade. 5.5 is sometimes given as an "exceeds expectation" grade but for all official purposes is equivalent to 5.0. Grading is done every semester (twice a year). Depending upon the subject, the final grade may be based upon a single exam or upon the student's performance during the whole semester. Wroclaw University uses the ECTS Credit System. Students have their own student booklet (indeks), with all classes and marks they gained (marks come from the professors). Highest on scale: 5 Pass/fail level: 3 Lowest on scale: 2

Grading Scale



Equiv.

4.6 - 5 Bardzo Dobry (Very

Good) A First Class Honours

4.1 - 4.5 - A- Second Class Honours,

Upper Division

3.6 - 4 Dobry (Good) B+ Second Class Honours,

Lower Division

3.1 - 3.5 - B Third Class Honours

3 Dostateczny (Satisfactory)

C Pass

2 Niedostateczny

(Failure) F Fail

Top Polish Institutions* Rank Institution 1 Jagiellonian University 2 Warsaw University 3 Warsaw University of Technology 4 Lodz University 5 AGH University of Science & Technology 6 Wroclaw University of Technology 7 Adam Mickiewicz University Poznan 8 Gdansk University of Technology 9 Wroclaw University 10 Nicolaus Copernicus University * according with Shanghai Jiao tong World Universities Ranking, Times-Qs World Universities Rankings and Webometrics Ranking of World Universities (see web references).

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RUSSIAN FEDERATION

STRUCTURE OF EDUCATION SYSTEM Pre-higher education: Age of entry: 6 Age of exit: 15 Total: 10/11 years Primary

Type of school providing this education: Primary General School Length of program in years: 4 Lower Secondary Type of school providing this education: Basic General Secondary School Length of program in years: 5 Upper Secondary Type of school providing this education: Secondary (Complete) General School, Upper-Secondary School Length of program in years: 2 Certificate/diploma awarded: Attestat o Srednem (Polnom) Obshchem Obrazovanii (Certificate of Secondary Complete General Education, School Leaving Certificate) Vocational Secondary Type of school providing this education: Technikum, Kolledz, Uchilishe (non-university level higher education) Length of program in years: 4 Certificate/diploma awarded: Diplom University level studies Academic year: Classes from: Sep. to: Jun. Long vacation from: 1 Jul. to: 31 Aug. Languages of instruction: Russian University level first stage: Undergraduate studies The first stage consists of at least two years of a higher education study programme. On leaving the university, students may ask for the Diploma O Nepolnom Vysshem Obrazovanii (Diploma of Incomplete Higher Education) which entitles them to obtain jobs that require some HE training but not a degree and to continue their studies.

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Bakalavr (Bachelor's) degree programmes last for at least 4 years of full-time university-level study. The programmes are elaborated in accordance with the State Educational Standards which regulate 50% of the content, the other 50% being developed by the university. The programmes include professional and special courses in Science, the Humanities and Socioeconomic disciplines, professional training, completion of final research paper/project and sitting for State final exams. Having obtained the Bakalavr degree, students may apply to enter the Magistr programmes or continue their studies in the framework of the Specialist Diploma programmes. The Bakalavr degree is awarded in all fields except Medicine after defending a Diploma project prepared under the guidance of a supervisor and sitting for final exams. In Medicine, the first stage lasts for six years. University level second stage: Postgraduate studies Holders of the Bakalavr are admitted to enter the Specialist Diploma and Magistr programmes. Access to these programmes is competitive. The Magistr degree is awarded after successful completion of two years of full-time studies. Students must complete advanced studies, prepare and defend a thesis and sit for final examinations. The Specialist Diploma can be earned in two ways: upon completion of at least 1 year's study after the Bakalavr programme or upon completion of five to six years' continuous study beyond the Attestat o Srednem (Polnom) Obshchem Obrazovanii. The Specialist Diploma is a professional qualification that gives the right to exercise professional activities and to apply for doctoral programmes. It is conferred after the students have completed advanced studies, prepared and defended a thesis and sat for final examinations. Access to the Aspirantura is competitive. Applicants must hold a Specialist Diploma or a Magistr degree. Studies last for 3 years. The Aspirantura programmes train for research and teaching activities. Students must learn research and teaching methods, ICTs, and pass qualifying (Kandidat Nauk) exams in certain fields of study. After carrying out independent research, preparing and defending a dissertation in public, they are awarded the Kandidat Nauk scientific degree. The Doctor Nauk programme duration is not fixed (from 5 to 15 years). It follows the Kandidat Nauk degree; The Doctor Nauk scientific degree is awarded after the public defence of a dissertation. It does not always have an equivalent in other countries. Highest on scale: 5 Pass/fail level: 3 Lowest on scale: 2

Grading Scale



Equiv.

5 Otlichno (Excellent) A First Class Honours

4,5 - A- Second Class Honours,

Upper Division

4 Khorosho (Good) B+ Second Class Honours,

Lower Division

3,5 - B Third Class Honours

3 Udovletvoritel'no

(Satisfactory) C Pass

2 Neudovletvoritel'no

(Fail) F Fail

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Top Russian Institutions* Rank Institution 1 Lomonosov Moscow State University 2 St. Petersburg University 3 Novosibirsk State University 4 Tomsk State University 5 State University Higher School of Economics (HSE) 6 Kazan State University 7 Ural State University 8 Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO-University) 9 Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology 10 Saint Petersburg State Institute of Fine Mechanics and Optics * according with Shanghai Jiao tong World Universities Ranking, Times-Qs World Universities Rankings and Webometrics Ranking of World Universities (see web references).

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SOUTH AFRICA



Age of entry: 6

Age of exit: 18

Total: 12 years

Primary



Junior Secondary

Type of school providing this education: Junior Secondary School (first year still placed under primary school)


Certificate/diploma awarded: General Education and Training Certificate

Senior Secondary

Type of school providing this education: Senior Secondary School


Certificate/diploma awarded: Senior Certificate

Technical Secondary

Type of school providing this education: Technical Level Secondary School


Certificate/diploma awarded: Senior Certificate 1-3 years (depending on programmes followed)

Higher Education

The higher education system consists of Public Universities, Universities of Technology and a College sector. The Higher Education Act (December 1997) provides for the appointment of a Registrar of Private Higher Education Institutions and a number of private institutions have registered or are in the process of registering in terms of these provisions. The South African universities offer Bachelor, Bachelor Honours, Master and Doctorate Degrees, as well as Undergraduate and Postgraduate Diplomas. Course work is structured in modules, with students registering in a unit/credit system. Universities and Universities of Technology, as autonomous institutions, are subsidized by the Department of Education, and provide training at the post senior certificate level. University of Technology courses lead to National Diplomas and Certificates and, as from 1995, to Degrees with a minimum duration of four years. The Certification Council for Technikons (SERTEC) is responsible for conferring Universities of Technology Diplomas. The Higher Education Act stipulates that higher education at Universities, Universities of Technology and Colleges comes directly under the responsibility of the national government, whilst further education colleges report to the nine provincial governments. There are 23 public higher education institutions in South Africa.

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Academic year

Classes from: Jan. to: Dec.

Languages of instruction: Afrikaans, English

Non-university level (technical/vocational type)

Higher technical/vocational studies are provided by Technical Colleges and Universities of Technology. Apprenticeship training for technicians is offered by Technical Colleges. Apprentices study for the National (Technical) Certificate (N training). N-3 courses can also be taken as credits for the Senior Certificate. The programme consists of three parts (N-1, N-2, N-3), each lasting for four months, six months or a year, depending on the course concerned. The N-training is a pre-senior Certificate level and the N-3 credits are considered for the Senior Certificate (with pass in English and Afrikaans) for entry to Universities of Technology and National Certificate studies, but not for university studies. Most tertiary-level vocational programmes lead to a three-year National Diploma as basic qualification. Universities of Technology also provide vocationally oriented education and training in a variety of disciplines leading to, amongst other Diplomas, first and advanced Degrees. Diplomas at technical-vocational level lead to BTech, MTech and Dtech Degrees. There are other types of specialist colleges, such as Nursing Colleges and Agricultural Colleges, which do not offer Degree studies unless offered in cooperation with Universities or Universities of Technology. In such cases, the Degree-awarding institution/authority's name will appear on the Certificate.


The Bachelor Degree is awarded both by Universities and Universities of Technology. Universities award the Bachelor Degree after three to six years of study: Humanities, Commerce, Science - 3 years; Agriculture, Law, Engineering, Pharmacy and Education, four years; Veterinary Medicine and Architecture, five years; Dentistry, five-and-a-half years; Medicine and Theology, six years. Students in Humanities, Commerce and Science wishing to proceed to a Master Degree are required to take a Bachelor Honours Degree, which is awarded after a further year's study. Universities of Technology award the Bachelor Degree of Technology (BTech), which is a four-year Degree which includes one year of experiential training. Universities also confer a Professional Bachelor Degree after four years.


The Master Degree is awarded by both Universities and Universities of Technology. This Degree requires a minimum of one to two years' research after the award of an Honours Degree in the case of universities, and a Bachelor Degree in the case of Universities of Technology. The Master Degree in Technology (MTech) may be obtained at least one year after the BTech. This is an advanced qualification comprising taught subjects and research, or only research. The thesis must relate to an industry specific problem. Some university Master Degrees, e.g. the Master Degree in Business Leadership (MBusAdministration), are partly taught and partly research Degrees, where the thesis must relate to an industry or subject specific problem Doctorates and research Degrees are also awarded by both Universities and Universities of Technology. They are conferred to holders of Master Degrees after a minimum of two years' study. A Doctor in Technology (DTech) is awarded after successful completion of a thesis at Universities of Technology. This degree is research-based and studies last for at least two years. It comprises an advanced research project. Grading System

Grading is done through a percentage system and students obtain academic credits for the courses that they pass. It is each student’s responsibility to finalize credit transfer arrangements from Stellenbosch University with their home institution. The South African grading system is far more stringent than the U.S. system. It is extremely difficult for a South African student, either on the high school or tertiary level, to obtain an "A" aggregate. Main grading system used

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by higher education institutions goes from 0 to 100 as described on the table below, other universities only distinguish: Distinction (75-100%); Pass (50-74%).


Pass/fail level: 50

Lowest on scale: 0

Grading Scale


Equiv.

75-100 First Class Division A First Class Honours

70-74 Second Class Division A- Second Class Honours,

Upper Division

60-69 Third Class Division B+/B Second Class Honours,

Lower Division/Third Class Honours Pass

50-59 Pass C Pass

0-49 Fail F Fail

Top South African Institutions*

Rank Institution

1 University of Cape Town

2 University of The Witwatersrand

3 University of Pretoria

4 University of Kwazulu-natal

5 Stellenbosch University

6 Rhodes University

7 University of the Western Cape

8 University of South Africa

9 University of Johannesburg

10 University of the Free State

* according with Shanghai Jiao tong World Universities Ranking, Times-Qs World Universities Rankings and Webometrics Ranking of World Universities (see web references).

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TANZANIA



Age of entry: 6

Age of exit: 19

Total: 13 years

Primary



Lower Secondary



Certificate/diploma awarded: Certificate of Secondary School (CSE)

Uppper Secondary



Certificate/diploma awarded: Advanced Certificate of Secondary Education (ACSE)

Higher Education

Finalists of the Upper Secondary who pass the Advanced Certificate of Secondary Education Examination (ACSEE) and obtain principal passes or subsidiary level passes will find admission into tertiary or higher learning institutions. Since 12 February 2008, the Department of Higher Education and the Department of Technical Education were moved to the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training (MoEVT). Higher education is provided by universities, university colleges and several training colleges and institutes. All public universities are under the supervision of the MoEVT. The public universities are semi autonomous and manage their own affaires under the Vice Chancellor, who is appointed in accordance to the Charter establishing a particular university or university college. The president of Tanzania appoints the Chancellor for public universities. Their running costs are subsidized by the government. Private universities are also established under charters and are privately funded. The government supports private universities by sponsoring some students in accredited private medical universities for MD courses and through the Higher Education Students Loans Board (HESLB) for other course program. Universities and all higher learning institutions in Tanzania are eligible for material or financial assistance from the Tanzania Education Authority (TEA). Other higher learning institutions are supervised by the National Council for Technical Education (NACTE) and other relevant Ministries. All universities are supervised by the Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU). Academic year:

Classes from: Sept. to: Jul.


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In the last decade, the number of technical, vocational and professional schools has increased substantially. They are the responsibility of the relevant Government Ministry under which they fall. The schools which award Certificates, Diplomas, Advanced Diplomas and Postgraduate Diplomas are categorized according to the type of programmes offered.


The first phase leads to a Bachelor’s Degree. It usually lasts for three years, except in Pharmacy, Nursing, Veterinary Science and Engineering, which take four years while Medicine takes five years. At the Open University courses generally last for six years.


A further one to two years’ study leads to a Master’s Degree. Postgraduate Diplomas require a Bachelor’s Degree for admission and generally one year of study. A minimum of further three years’ original research and submission of a thesis lead to a Ph.D. Grading System

Highest on scale: 1st Class Honours

Pass/fail level: Pass

Lowest on scale: Fail

Grading Scale


Equiv.

First Class Honours - A First Class Honours


- A- / B+

Second Class Honours, Upper Division/Second Class Honours, Lower

Division

Second Class Honours, Lower Division

- B Third Class Honours

Pass - C Pass

Fail - F Fail

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Top Tanzanian Institutions*

Rank Institution

1 The University of Dar es Salaam

2 Sokoine University of Agriculture at Morogoro

3 Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences

4 Open University of Tanzania

5 Institute of Finance Management

6 Kilimanjaro Christian Medical College

7 Mzumbe University

8 Makumira University College


COUNTRY HIGHER EDUCATION PROFILE: THAILAND This information has been prepared by and is the property of the Institute of International Education.

COUNTRY HIGHER EDUCATION PROFILE: THAILAND Description of Education System: Structure of Education System The modern Thai education system stems from the reforms set in place by the 1999 Education Act. It follows a 6-3-3 structure where six-year primary and three-year lower secondary education are compulsory. At the upper secondary level, schools are divided into 2 major tracks: general (academic), and vocational. Students in the general or academic track follow the comprehensive curriculum that includes 30 units of compulsory subjects, and at least 45 units of elective subjects plus extra-curricula activities. Language of Instruction The language of instruction is Thai, but English is taught as a second language in most secondary schools. In 1995, the government made English language study compulsory beginning at the primary school level. The language of instruction at most state-run universities is Thai, with the exception of the economics and engineering major courses at Chulalongkorn University, Mahidol University and Thammasat University, which are conducted in English. Special courses are taught in English at the discretion of a university. Higher Education Admission Requirements & Competitiveness

Admission to an institution of higher education requires the Certificate of Secondary Education (Matayom VI). Most public universities also require applicants to take the Joint Higher Education Entrance Examination (JHEEE), which is held each year in April. Students who have successfully completed the Certificate of Vocational Education are also eligible to take the JHEEE.

Recent reforms have increased importance placed on Grade Point Averages in final university entry. The minimum GPA requirement is 2.0. At present, state-run universities screen 70% of their students directly, with the remaining 30% coming from the central admission system. The new system gives 20% weight to cumulative grade point average, which varies upon a school's standard.

Some institutions hold their own entrance exams while the country’s two open universities, Ramkhamhaeng University and Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, do not require applicants to take and entrance exam. Private institutions have their own admissions process, which includes a joint entrance examination similar to the JHEEE.

The JHEE is a highly competitive exam. Only about 30% of those who take the examination succeed in securing a place at a public university.


Overview of local Universities: Overview There are a total of 780 public and private institutions in Thailand offering courses and programs in higher education. The Ministry of University Affairs sets educational standards, approves curriculum, and is the main institutional and professional accrediting body. The following is a list of highly selective universities in Thailand. Thailand is considered the educational hub among the Greater-Mekong sub region. Not only Thai students but students from neighboring countries such as Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam also come to study higher education in Thailand. As of 2009, Ministry of Education in Thailand is aiming to establish the National Research University comprising of major universities in all over Thailand which are Chulalongkorn, Thammasart, Kasetsart, Khon Kaen, Chiang Mai, King Mongkut University of Technology, Thonburi, Suranaree Institute of Technology, Mahidol and Prince of Songkla University with the goal to be ASEAN Education Hub. Top Universities Chulalongkorn University Ranked 138 worldwide in 2009 QS Top Universities ranking. Strengths: Accounting and Finance, Business management, engineering, science and liberal arts Note: Regarded as the best and most selective university of Thailand, it normally attracts top students around the country. Mahidol University Ranked 220 worldwide in 2009 QS Top Universities ranking. Strengths: Medicine, Dentistry, Medical Technology, Nursing and Pharmacy Note: one of the most prestigious universities in Thailand. The university motto: Do unto others as you would have others do unto you'.

Thammasat University

Ranked 401-500 worldwide in 2009 QS Top Universities ranking. Strengths: Social Sciences (law, political science, liberal arts), Note: Thailand's second oldest university. Kasetsart University Ranked 401-500 worldwide in 2009 QS Top Universities ranking. Strengths: Agriculture, forestry and fishery Note: Kasetsart is the third oldest university in Thailand

Asian Institute of Technology Ranked 401-500 worldwide in 2009 QS Top Universities ranking. Strengths: Electric Power System Management (EPSM); Energy Economics and Planning (EEP); and Energy Technology (ET). Note: The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), formerly the SEATO Graduate School of Engineering, is the only university that is not supervised by the Ministry of University Affairs. Other Universities The following universities are nationally competitive. They tend to specialize in certain disciplines although some are comprehensive.

Silpakorn University: (Fine Arts). Thailand’s prestigious university of fine arts and archeology

King Mongkut Institute of Technology: Three campuses established in 1959, 1960 and 1971. The King Mongkut Institute of Technology has been Thailand’s premier institution in Engineering-related subjects and Technology.


Chiang Mai University: Founded in 1964. Most prestigious university in the North of Thailand with the strength in Medicine, Science and Agriculture

Khon Kaen University: Founded in 1964 and enrolls 17,938. Most prestigious university in the Northeastern part of Thailand with students from Thailand and in the greater Mekong sub-regions enrolling. Strengths are Medicine and Science.

National Institute of Development Administration: Founded in 1966. One of the best graduate universities in Thailand in Business and Public Administration Comparison of local Academic Grading System:

Grading Scales

Grading at all universities is based on credit points system. Evaluation for each subject is done by grade and grade points for the course's credit hours as follows:

Excellent A 4.0

Very Good B+ 3.5

Good B 3.0

Fairly Good C+ 2.5

Fair C 2.0

Poor D+ 1.5

Very Poor D 1.0

Fail F 0

The status and the reputation of the university are the key factors in assessing the grade system given by each university. Public universities tend to have more reliability than private universities. However, some private universities are also considered competitive with public universities such as Assumption University which teaches all programs except Law in English. Honours System:

Classification GPA First Class Honours 3.5 -4.0 Second Class Honours Division I 3.25 – 3.49

Thai educational system does not divide second class honours into divisions, nor does it have third-class honours.


Attachment 1: Thai Education System

Source: http://www.bic.moe.go.th/fileadmin/BIC_Document/book/MOEleaflet/Thai-ed-system.pdf

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VENEZUELA



Age of entry: 6

Age of exit: 17/18

Total: 11/12 years

Primary

Type of school providing this education: Educación preescolar


Diversified Secondary

Type of school providing this education: Educación Media Diversificada


Certificate/diploma awarded: Título de Bachiller

Vocational Secondary

Type of school providing this education: Educación Media Profesional


Certificate/diploma awarded: Técnico Medio

Higher Education

Higher education is provided by public and private universities and public and private university institutes and colleges (providing pedagogical, polytechnic, technological, ecclesiastical or military instruction). Public universities (national) are of two types: a) autonomous institutions and b) experimental institutions. All these institutions are grouped in two sub-systems: 1) Institutes and University Colleges, mainly for short courses of study (two-and-a-half to three years) leading to the award of the title of "Técnico superior"; 2) Universities, mainly for long courses of study (five or six years), leading to the award of the "Licenciado" or an equivalent professional title (e.g. Ingeniero). Courses of study are in the following areas: Basic Sciences, Engineering and Technology, Agricultural and Marine Sciences, Health Sciences, Social Sciences, Educational Science, Humanities, Fine Arts and Letters and Military Sciences. Access to higher education is organized by the Oficina de Planificación del Sector Universitario (OPSU) and includes three stages: Prueba de Aptitud Académica; Preinscripción Nacional y Asignación de Aspirantes to higher education institutions. Most institutions submit candidates to their own selection procedures. In some institutions, preparatory, general or basic courses form part of the admission process.

Academic year:

Classes from: Sep. to: Jul

Long vacation from: 1 Aug. to: 15 Sep.


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Studies at university institutes (pedagogical, polytechnical, technological, ecclesiastical or military) or university colleges lead to the diploma of Técnico Superior, or to an equivalent title, after two-and-a-half to three years.


The Licenciatura or Título profesional are usually awarded, according to the subject, at the end of long-term studies (four to five years - six in Medicine). The title of Técnico superior is awarded after three years.


The Magister is awarded after the Licenciatura or an equivalent qualification at the end of two to three years of specialization mainly devoted to the theoretical and methodological bases of research. Studies comprise courses followed by examinations and/or the submission of a thesis. Courses leading to the title of Especialista last for a minimum of two years. The Doctorado is the highest degree awarded by certain universities after the Magister or a specialization (higher professional level). It is conferred at the end of studies which lay emphasis on the theoretical and methodological bases of research and of continuing education. It requires a minimum of 45 créditos, the passing of examinations and the submission of a thesis. This course usually lasts for at least three years.

Grading System

Examinations are graded on a 20 maximum with 10 as the minimum pass mark. Two or more partial examinations are taken during each period. The average of all yields 40% of the final grade and must be 10 or above to take the final examination.


Pass/fail level: 10

Lowest on scale: 0

Grading Scale


Equiv.

19-20 Excellent A First Class Honours

17-18 Outstanding A- Second Class Honours,

Upper Division

16 Very Good B+ Second Class Honours,

Lower Division

13-15 Good B Third Class Honours

10-12 Average C Pass

0-9 Failure F Fail

Other main grading systems

9-1 scale: 9: excellent; 8: outstanding; 7: very good; 6: good; 5: average; 4-0: failure.

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Top Venezuelan Institutions*

Rank Institution

1 Universidad Central de Venezuela

2 Universidad Catolica Andres Bello

3 Universidad Simón Bolívar

4 Universidad de los Andes Mérida

5 Universidad de Carabobo

6 Universidad Centroccidental Lisandro Alvarado

7 Universidad del Zulia

8 Universidad Metropolitana Caracas

9 Universidad Nacional Experimental del Táchira

10 Universidad Nacional Experimental Francisco de Miranda

* according to Times-Qs World Universities Rankings and Webometrics Ranking of World Universities (see web references).

country higher education profile bangladesh

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