Confused whether your 15 years of Indian education makes you eligible for applying to a PG course in the U.S.?Read on to learn more.

The disparity between 15 and 16 years of education presents a significant consideration for international students seeking admission to the U.S. postgraduate programs. The prevalent 15-year system (12 years of primary and secondary education followed by 3 years of undergraduate studies) in countries like India may only fulfill some of the requirements of certain U.S. universities. There are two ways by which you can apply for admission for postgraduate education in the U.S.

• WES Evaluation
• Postgraduate Diploma

Postgraduate Diploma

Pursuing a one-year postgraduate diploma program can bridge this gap for applicants from such backgrounds, effectively transforming their credentials to a 12+3+1 year format. This additional year of study enhances their eligibility for a wider range of postgraduate programs in the U.S.

A postgraduate diploma is a one or two-year program that helps students to acquire an in-depth knowledge of the field that they choose. Admissions into a postgraduate program are done based on merit, on the consideration of the marks achieved in the entrance examination or qualified degree. After a PGD, you can directly start working in the specialized field or apply for admission for further studies.

You can do a full-time postgraduate degree, an online or a distance degree, as per your preferences. An online program is a short course offered by various platforms that provides knowledge on specific subjects and fields. An online course offers studying at your own pace, does not require any travel time and the fees are comparatively less, and is suitable for all.

A distance PGD degree takes place away from the source of instruction and a lot of students opt for such courses because the money spent on books and travel is less than a full-time PGD. A student can work and study at the same time and is not required to lose the source of income.

WES Evaluation

There is another way to make sure that the 15 years of education doesn’t turn out to be a hindrance in your way to pursue your education in the U.S. World Education Services evaluation is a comparison of the prospective student’s academic credentials to the U.S.A standards. WES evaluates the academic transcripts or diplomas and determines what the equivalence is according to the United States education system. Through this evaluation, it becomes easier for the applicant to understand if they are in need for another year of education to complete the 16-year requirement or if they can apply directly given that their completed years of education convert to the required 16 years of education in the U.S. equivalency.

Students can go to https://www.wes.org/ and upload their educational history and convert it to the U.S. education levels and check if the requirements are being met.

However, the good news is some universities do accept 15 years of education. Here are some universities in the U.S. that accept 15 years of education largely in many courses:

• Harvard Business School
• MIT Sloan School of Management
• Duke University Fuqua School of Business
• Dartmouth University Tuck School of Business
• Columbia Business School
• University of Chicago Booth School of Business
• Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management
• The University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business
• Carnegie Mellon University
• University of North Carolina at Charlotte
• The University of Virginia Darden School of Business
• Syracuse University Whitman School of Management
• Baruch College Zicklin School of Business
• Bentley University
• Johns Hopkins, Carey Business School
• University at Buffalo
• Texas A&M University
• University of Arizona
• University of California, Berkeley
• Santa Clara University
• Northeastern University
• Stevens Institute of Technology

While a 15-year education system may pose an initial challenge for international students seeking U.S. postgraduate programs, there are effective solutions available that are discussed above. Asmentioned, some U.S. universities do accept applicants with 15 years of education, and the list provided serves as a starting point for further research. Ultimately, with careful planning and exploration, international students with a 15-year educational background can successfully navigate the U.S. postgraduate admissions process.