Where to study
Admission standards worldwide
Every country sets its own admission rules, but they sit on shared international standards. Start with the global picture, then check your country.
One scale for every education system
The International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED 2011), adopted by UNESCO in November 2011, places every national programme on nine levels so qualifications can be compared across countries. Tertiary education covers levels 5 to 8.
Entry to tertiary programmes usually follows completion of upper secondary education (level 3), with each country setting its own subject and grade requirements.
Source: ISCED 2011 Operational Manual, UNESCO Institute for Statistics, OECD and Eurostat.
- 0Early childhood education
- 1Primary education
- 2Lower secondary education
- 3Upper secondary education
- 4Post-secondary non-tertiary education
- 5Short-cycle tertiary educationTertiary: levels 5 to 8
- 6Bachelor's or equivalent level
- 7Master's or equivalent level
- 8Doctoral or equivalent level
Recognition across borders
The Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education was adopted by UNESCO in November 2019 and entered into force on 5 March 2023. It had 42 States Parties as of July 2026. It sets principles for fair, transparent and non-discriminatory recognition of qualifications, including recognition of refugees' qualifications when documents are missing. Five UNESCO regional conventions complement it.
Source: UNESCO, Global Convention on Higher Education.
Studied Cambridge, Pearson Edexcel, the IB or AP? See school curricula for how each is graded and how Uganda, Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria and the UK recognise foreign results.
Country by country
Choose a country for its official entry requirements. Regulators and quality-assurance agencies are as listed by AfriQAN and INQAAHE (membership is not government recognition). Upper-secondary durations and tertiary gross enrolment ratios come from UNESCO; institution counts from the Research Organization Registry (CC0).
Showing 250 of 250
| Country | Higher-education regulator | School-leaving qualification | Upper secondary | Tertiary enrolment | Admission tools | Institutions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | Not yet recorded | Grade 12 Certificate UNESCO | 3 years from age 16 | 10.9% (2020) | Minimum requirements | 59 |
| Åland Islands | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded | No data | No data | Minimum requirements | 1 |
| Albania | Albanian Quality Assurance Agency in Higher Education (ASCAL) | Maturity Diploma UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | 84.1% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 35 |
| Algeria | Not yet recorded | Baccalauréat de l'enseignement secondaire UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | 54.4% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 125 |
| American Samoa | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded | 2 years from age 16 | No data | Minimum requirements | 2 |
| Andorra | Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education of Andorra (AQUA) | Diplôme de Baccalauréat UNESCO | 2 years from age 16 | 67.7% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 2 |
| Angola | Not yet recorded | Diplôme du IIiº cycle de l´enseignement secondaire général UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | 10% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 34 |
| Anguilla | Not yet recorded | CXC CSEC UNESCO | 2 years from age 15 | No data | Minimum requirements | 1 |
| Antarctica | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded | No data | No data | Minimum requirements | 0 |
| Antigua & Barbuda | Antigua and Barbuda National Accreditation Board (ABNAB) | Caribbean secondary education certificate (CSEC) UNESCO | 2 years from age 15 | No data | Minimum requirements | 3 |
| Argentina | Not yet recorded | High school diploma UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | 107.8% (2023) | Minimum requirements | 172 |
| Armenia | National Center for Professional Education Quality Assurance (ANQA) | Certificate of general secondary education UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | 52.8% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 22 |
| Aruba | Not yet recorded | High school Diploma,; Pre-university education 4-6 diploma; High school Diploma ( not vocational diploma); Collequium doctum (for English , Spanisch, Dutch and History) UNESCO | 3 years from age 14 | 14.1% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 1 |
| Australia | International Centre of Excellence in Tourism and Hospitality Education (THE-ICE)Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) | Certificate of Education; No qualification UNESCO | 2 years from age 16 | 108.4% (2024) | Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) | 144 |
| Austria | Agency for Quality Assurance and Accreditation Austria (AQ Austria) | matriculation examination UNESCO | 4 years from age 14 | 92.6% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 104 |
| Azerbaijan | Education Quality Assurance Agency (TKTA) | Certificate of complete secondary education UNESCO | 2 years from age 15 | 41.3% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 54 |
| Bahamas | The National Accreditation and Equivalency Council of The Bahamas (NAECOB) | Bahamas Certificate of General Education (BGCSEs) UNESCO | 3 years from age 14 | No data | Minimum requirements | 4 |
| Bahrain | Education & Training Quality Authority (BQA) | General secondary certificate; Religious secondary certificate UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | 58.4% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 14 |
| Bangladesh | Not yet recorded | Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC); Alim certificate UNESCO | 4 years from age 14 | 23.7% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 218 |
| Barbados | Barbados Accreditation Council (BAC) | Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC); CSEC UNESCO | 2 years from age 14 | 50.8% (2025) | Minimum requirements | 6 |
| Belarus | Not yet recorded | Certificate of general secondary education UNESCO | 2 years from age 15 | 70.1% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 54 |
| Belgium | Agency for Higher Education Quality Evaluation (AEQES) | Diploma of secondary education UNESCO | 4 years from age 14 | 82.1% (2023) | Minimum requirements | 92 |
| Belize | Not yet recorded | High school diploma / CSEC UNESCO | 2 years from age 15 | 24.8% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 3 |
| Benin | Not yet recorded | Baccalauréat (BAC) UNESCO | 3 years from age 16 | 10.2% (2022) | Minimum requirements | 23 |
| Bermuda | Not yet recorded | High School Diploma or equivalent UNESCO | 4 years from age 14 | 17.3% (2023) | Minimum requirements | 1 |
| Bhutan | Higher Education Quality Council (HEQC) | Bhutan Higher Secondary Education Certificate (BHSEC) UNESCO | 2 years from age 16 | 13% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 5 |
| Bolivia | Not yet recorded | Certificate of Technical humanistic and middle technical high school UNESCO | 4 years from age 14 | No data | Minimum requirements | 53 |
| Bosnia & Herzegovina | Agency for Development of Higher Education and Quality Assurance of Bosnia and Herzegovina (HEA)The Agency for Higher Education of the Republic of Srpska (AHERS) | Diploma/Certificate of (Upper) Secondary general education UNESCO | 4 years from age 15 | 45.5% (2023) | Minimum requirements | 27 |
| Botswana | Tertiary Education Council (TEC) | General Certificate of Secondary (BGCSE)/ Internal General Certificate in Secondary Education (IGCSE); A-level/HIGCSE; Certificate UNESCO | 2 years from age 16 | 21.4% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 13 |
| Bouvet Island | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded | No data | No data | Minimum requirements | 0 |
| Brazil | Not yet recorded | Upper Secondary Education Diploma UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | 69.7% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 610 |
| British Indian Ocean Territory | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded | No data | No data | Minimum requirements | 0 |
| British Virgin Islands | Not yet recorded | Secondary school diploma UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | 29.6% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 1 |
| Brunei | Not yet recorded | "A" Level / IB (international baccalaureate) / Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Ugama (STPU) for religious schools UNESCO | 5 years from age 14 | 36.4% (2023) | Minimum requirements | 14 |
| Bulgaria | Not yet recorded | Upper secondary education; Upper secondary UNESCO | 5 years from age 14 | 69.5% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 58 |
| Burkina Faso | Conseil Africain et Malgache pour l'Enseignement Supérieur (CAMES) | Baccalauréat (BAC) UNESCO | 3 years from age 16 | 10% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 18 |
| Burundi | Not yet recorded | Diplôme d'état et/ou Certificat des humanités générales UNESCO | 4 years from age 15 | 6.4% (2025) | Minimum requirements | 15 |
| Cambodia | Not yet recorded | Upper secondary education diploma; Upper secondary diploma UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | 21.4% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 59 |
| Cameroon | Not yet recorded | Baccalauréat (BAC) UNESCO | 3 years from age 16 | 16.7% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 52 |
| Canada | QA+ (QA+)Ontario Universities Council on Quality Assurance (The Quality Council)QA+Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission (MPHEC)Postsecondary Education Quality Assessment Board Ministry of Training Colleges (PEQAB) | General secondary school programmes General high school programmes General Equivalency Diploma (GED) programmesfor attainment only, would not be included as a ‘program’ Adult Basic Education (ABE) programmes UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | 76.3% (2023) | Minimum requirements | 410 |
| Cape Verde | Higher Education Regulatory Agency (ARES) | Diplôme d'enseignement secondaire UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | 24.3% (2018) | Minimum requirements | 5 |
| Caribbean Netherlands | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded | No data | No data | Minimum requirements | 2 |
| Cayman Islands | Not yet recorded | GCSE, CXC, BTECs, pre-16 vocational certificates; Secondary diploma UNESCO | 3 years from age 14 | No data | Minimum requirements | 3 |
| Central African Republic | Not yet recorded | BAC UNESCO | 3 years from age 16 | No data | Minimum requirements | 3 |
| Chad | Not yet recorded | Baccalauréat de l'enseignement du 2ème degré (général) UNESCO | 3 years from age 16 | 4.4% (2020) | Minimum requirements | 9 |
| Chile | ADC Agencia Acreditadora (ADC Acreditadora)Agencia Acreditadora de Chile (Acreditadora de Chile)National Accreditation Commission (CNA)Centro Interuniversitario de Desarrollo (CINDA)Accrediting Agency AcreditAccion (AcreditAcción)Consejo Nacional de Educación (CNED) | High School Certificate UNESCO | 4 years from age 14 | 110.2% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 98 |
| China | Shanghai Education Evaluation Institute (SEEI)The Education Quality Evaluation Agency of the Ministry of Education in China (EQEA)China Academic Degrees and Graduate Education Development Center (CDGDC)Jiangsu Agency for Educational Evaluation (JAEE)Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ) | Senior secondary certificate UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | 76.9% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 3,252 |
| Christmas Island | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded | No data | No data | Minimum requirements | 0 |
| Cocos (Keeling) Islands | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded | No data | No data | Minimum requirements | 0 |
| Colombia | National Accreditation Council (CNA) | Upper secondary, academic; Upper secondary UNESCO | 2 years from age 15 | 59.3% (2022) | Minimum requirements | 225 |
| Comoros | Not yet recorded | Baccalauréat UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | 18.8% (2017) | Minimum requirements | 1 |
| Congo - Brazzaville | Not yet recorded | Baccalauréat UNESCO | 3 years from age 16 | 10.4% (2023) | Minimum requirements | 4 |
| Congo - Kinshasa | Not yet recorded | Diplôme d'état d'études secondaires du cycle long UNESCO | 4 years from age 14 | 6.4% (2020) | Minimum requirements | 69 |
| Cook Islands | Not yet recorded | National Certificate of Educational Achievement NCEA Level 3 (Year 13) - NCEA L3 UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | 12.5% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 0 |
| Costa Rica | Sistema Nacional de Acreditación de la Educación Superior (SINAES) | Upper secondary; Upper secondary - Special Education UNESCO | 2 years from age 15 | 55% (2019) | Minimum requirements | 56 |
| Côte d’Ivoire | Not yet recorded | Baccalauréat UNESCO | 3 years from age 16 | 11.4% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 18 |
| Croatia | Agency for Science and Higher Education (ASHE) | Grammar secondary school educational programs - duration 4 years; Grammar secondary school education qualification UNESCO | 4 years from age 15 | 81.2% (2023) | Minimum requirements | 62 |
| Cuba | Not yet recorded | Graduado del nivel medio superior: Título de Bachiller; Graduado del nivel medio superior: Facultad Obrero Campesina UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | 43.1% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 39 |
| Curaçao | Accreditation Agency of Curacao (AAC) | Diploma UNESCO | 2 years from age 16 | No data | Minimum requirements | 4 |
| Cyprus | Cyprus Agency of Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education (CYQAA)Higher Education Planning Evaluation Accreditation and Coordination Council (YODAK) | Lyceum leaving certificate UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | 120.9% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 50 |
| Czechia | National Accreditation Bureau for Higher Education (NAB) | upper secondary education with maturita examination UNESCO | 4 years from age 15 | 66.7% (2023) | Minimum requirements | 108 |
| Denmark | Not yet recorded | Higher prepatory examination, single subject education; Upper secondary school leaving examination; Admittance diploma for engineering programmes UNESCO | 3 years from age 16 | 79% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 57 |
| Djibouti | Not yet recorded | Baccalauréat (BAC Général) UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | No data | Minimum requirements | 1 |
| Dominica | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded | 2 years from age 15 | No data | Minimum requirements | 5 |
| Dominican Republic | Not yet recorded | Certificate of high school UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | 57.7% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 38 |
| Ecuador | Not yet recorded | High school degree UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | 67.9% (2023) | Minimum requirements | 111 |
| Egypt | The Egyptian TVET Quality Assurance and Accreditation Authority (ETQAAN)National Authority for Quality Assurance and Accreditation of Education (NAQAAE) | General secondary certificate UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | 38% (2025) | Minimum requirements | 125 |
| El Salvador | Higher Education Quality Accreditation Commission (CdA) | Upper secondary UNESCO | 3 years from age 16 | 32.8% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 28 |
| Equatorial Guinea | Not yet recorded | Baccalauréat UNESCO | 2 years from age 17 | No data | Minimum requirements | 2 |
| Eritrea | Not yet recorded | Eritrean secondary education certificate exam (ESECE) UNESCO | 4 years from age 14 | 3.2% (2016) | Minimum requirements | 1 |
| Estonia | Estonian Quality Agency for Education (HAKA) | Upper Secondary general Leaving Certificate UNESCO | 3 years from age 16 | 65.7% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 27 |
| Eswatini | Eswatini Higher Education Council | Senior Secondary Certificate; Advanced Subsidiary Certficate; International Bacalaureate; A' Levels Certificate UNESCO | 2 years from age 16 | No data | Minimum requirements | 2 |
| Ethiopia | Not yet recorded | Ethiopian Higher Education Entrance Certificate UNESCO | 2 years from age 17 | No data | Minimum requirements | 68 |
| Falkland Islands | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded | No data | No data | Minimum requirements | 0 |
| Faroe Islands | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded | No data | No data | Minimum requirements | 1 |
| Fiji | Higher Education Commission Fiji (HECF) | Fiji Seventh Form Certificate (Form 7) UNESCO | 3 years from age 16 | 75% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 4 |
| Finland | Finnish Education Evaluation Centre (FINEEC) | Matriculation examination UNESCO | 3 years from age 16 | 110.3% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 50 |
| France | High Council for the Evaluation of Research and Higher Education (HCERES) | General and technological baccalaureat UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | 71.5% (2024) | Parcoursup | 503 |
| French Guiana | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded | 3 years from age 15 | No data | Minimum requirements | 1 |
| French Polynesia | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded | 3 years from age 15 | No data | Minimum requirements | 1 |
| French Southern Territories | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded | No data | No data | Minimum requirements | 0 |
| Gabon | Not yet recorded | Baccalauréat UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | No data | Minimum requirements | 4 |
| Gambia | Not yet recorded | West African senior secondary certificate (WASSC) UNESCO | 3 years from age 16 | 13.5% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 7 |
| Georgia | LEPL National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement (NCEQE) | Complete general education diploma UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | 89.5% (2025) | Minimum requirements | 67 |
| Germany | Foundation for International Business Administration Accreditation (FIBAA)Foundation for the Accreditation of Study Programmes in Germany (German Accreditation Council)International Accreditation Council for Global Development Studies and Research (IAC/EADI)Evaluation Agency Baden-Wuerttemberg (EVALAG)Accreditation, Certification and Quality Assurance Institute (ACQUIN)Accreditation Agency for Study Programs in Health and Social Sciences (AHPGS)European Quality Assurance Agency (EQAA)Akkreditierungsagentur für Studiengänge der Ingenieurwissenschaften der Informatik der Naturwissenschaften und der Mathematik (ASIIN e.V.)Agency for Quality Assurance Through Accreditation of Study Programmes (AQAS)European Council for Theological Education (ECTE)Central Evaluation and Accreditation Agency Hanover (ZEvA) | University entrance qualification; diverse/ several; Fachhochschule entrance qualification; Fachhochschule entrance qualification, University entrance qualification UNESCO | 3 years from age 16 | 76.7% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 618 |
| Ghana | Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) | Senior secondary certificate / West African senior secondary school certificate examination (WASCE) UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | 21.3% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 127 |
| Gibraltar | Not yet recorded | Completion of A Level UNESCO | 4 years from age 14 | No data | Minimum requirements | 1 |
| Greece | Hellenic Authority for Higher Education (HAHE) | 344 UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | 165.1% (2023) | Minimum requirements | 64 |
| Greenland | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded | No data | No data | Minimum requirements | 2 |
| Grenada | Grenada Medical and Dental Council (GMDC)Grenada National Accreditation Board (GNAB) | Caribbean secondary education certificate (CSEC) UNESCO | 2 years from age 15 | 100% (2018) | Minimum requirements | 1 |
| Guadeloupe | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded | 3 years from age 15 | No data | Minimum requirements | 3 |
| Guam | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded | No data | No data | Minimum requirements | 3 |
| Guatemala | Not yet recorded | High school degree UNESCO | 3 years from age 16 | 27.3% (2023) | Minimum requirements | 14 |
| Guernsey | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded | No data | No data | Minimum requirements | 0 |
| Guinea | Not yet recorded | Baccalauréat (BAC) UNESCO | 3 years from age 17 | No data | Minimum requirements | 12 |
| Guinea-Bissau | Not yet recorded | Certificat d'enseignement secondaire UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | No data | Minimum requirements | 2 |
| Guyana | The National Accreditation Council - Guyana (NAC) | Caribbean secondary education certificate (CSEC) UNESCO | 2 years from age 15 | 26.4% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 4 |
| Haiti | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded | 4 years from age 15 | No data | Minimum requirements | 17 |
| Heard & McDonald Islands | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded | No data | No data | Minimum requirements | 0 |
| Honduras | Central American Agency for Postgraduate Accreditation (ACAP) | Sciences and letters high school degree UNESCO | 2 years from age 15 | 23.3% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 13 |
| Hong Kong SAR China | Federation for Self-financing Tertiary Education (FSTE)University Grants Committee Hong Kong (UGC) | Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) / Completion of Secondary 6; General Certificate of Education Advanced Level (A Level) / International Baccalaureate (Diploma Programme) (IBDP); Diploma Yi Jin UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | 120.1% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 28 |
| Hungary | Not yet recorded | Maturity Examination UNESCO | 4 years from age 15 | 60.5% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 74 |
| Iceland | Not yet recorded | Matriculation examination (granting access to university) UNESCO | 4 years from age 16 | 76.5% (2023) | Minimum requirements | 10 |
| India | National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) | Senior secondary / Higher secondary school leaving certificate UNESCO | 4 years from age 14 | 34.4% (2025) | National entrance examinations | 2,283 |
| Indonesia | Independent Accreditation Agency (LAM INFOKOM)The AsTEN Teacher Education Quality Assurance Agency (ATQA)Accreditation Council for Education ( LAMDIK/ACE)National Accreditation Agency for Higher Education (BAN-PT/NAAHE)Indonesian Accreditation Agency for Higher Education in Natural and Formal Sciences (LAMSAMA)Indonesian Accreditation Agency for Higher Education in Health (LAM-PTKes / IAAHEH)Institute of Accreditation for Economics, Management, Business and Accounting Programs (LAMEMBA) | Senior secondary school certificate UNESCO | 3 years from age 16 | 44.9% (2023) | Minimum requirements | 2,224 |
| Iran | Not yet recorded | Certification of upper secondary education UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | 58.7% (2022) | Minimum requirements | 370 |
| Iraq | The National Council for Accreditation of Education Group Colleges Programs (NCAECP) | Preparatory education certificate UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | No data | Minimum requirements | 130 |
| Ireland | Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) | Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme; Leaving Certificate (Established) UNESCO | 2 years from age 16 | 77.6% (2022) | Minimum requirements | 43 |
| Isle of Man | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded | No data | No data | Minimum requirements | 0 |
| Israel | The Council for Higher Education (CHE) | Matriculation certificate UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | 56.3% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 67 |
| Italy | Not yet recorded | Diploma of upper secondary education UNESCO | 5 years from age 14 | 75.9% (2023) | Minimum requirements | 261 |
| Jamaica | The University Council of Jamaica (UCJ)Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions (CAAM-HP) | Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC); General Certificate Examination (GCE) Ordinary Level (O-level) UNESCO | 2 years from age 15 | 26.2% (2015) | Minimum requirements | 9 |
| Japan | Japan University Accreditation Association (JUAA)Accreditation Council for Practical Abilities (ACPA)Japan Institution for Higher Education Evaluation (JIHEE)National Institution for Academic Degrees and Quality Enhancement of Higher Education (NIAD-QE) | Certificate of graduation UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | 64.5% (2023) | Minimum requirements | 1,681 |
| Jersey | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded | No data | No data | Minimum requirements | 0 |
| Jordan | Not yet recorded | Secondary education certificate UNESCO | 2 years from age 16 | 35.9% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 31 |
| Kazakhstan | Astana Accreditation Agency (AAA)Independent Agency for Accreditation and Rating (IAAR)Independent Agency for Quality Assurance in Education (IQAA)Eurasian Сentre for Accreditation and Quality Assurance in Higher Education and Health Care (ECAQA)Agency for Recognition and Quality Assurance in Education (ARQA)Independent Kazakhstani Center of Accreditation (NKCA) | Certificate of upper secondary general education UNESCO | 2 years from age 15 | 52.9% (2025) | Minimum requirements | 97 |
| Kenya | Commission for University Education (CUE)Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) | Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) UNESCO | 4 years from age 14 | 10.4% (2024) | Kenya: KCSE and KUCCPS placement | 91 |
| Kiribati | Not yet recorded | South Pacific Form 7 Certificate; USP Foundation Certificate UNESCO | 4 years from age 15 | 5% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 0 |
| Kosovo | Kosovo Accreditation Agency (KAA) | Not yet recorded | No data | No data | Minimum requirements | 12 |
| Kuwait | National Bureau for Academic Accreditation and Education Quality Assurance (NBAQ) | Secondary general certificate; Secondary general certificate (adult education) UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | 51.9% (2021) | Minimum requirements | 16 |
| Kyrgyzstan | Agency for Quality Assurance in the field of Education (EdNet) (EdNet)Agency for Accreditation of Educational Programs and Organizations (AAEPO)Public Foundation Independent Accreditation Agency “BILIM-STANDART” (BS)Agency for accreditation of educational organizations and programms “Sapattuu bilim” (SB)Independent Institute for Accreditation, Rating and Certification (IARC) | Certificate of general secondary education UNESCO | 2 years from age 16 | 53.9% (2025) | Minimum requirements | 38 |
| Laos | Not yet recorded | Certificate of "Baccalauréat" UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | 14.9% (2023) | Minimum requirements | 10 |
| Latvia | Academic Information Centre (AIC) | Certificate of general secondary education; Certificate of General Secondary education UNESCO | 3 years from age 16 | 82.9% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 45 |
| Lebanon | Not yet recorded | Baccalauréat général UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | 54.4% (2023) | Minimum requirements | 38 |
| Lesotho | Council on Higher EducationCouncil on Higher Education Lesotho (CHE) | Cambridge Overseas School Certificate (COSC)/Lesotho General Certificate of Secondary Education (LGCSE) - 'O' level; IB "A" level UNESCO | 2 years from age 16 | 9.9% (2018) | Minimum requirements | 1 |
| Liberia | Not yet recorded | West African Examination Council Senior Secondary Certificate; Diplomas/Certificate of proficiency UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | No data | Minimum requirements | 7 |
| Libya | Not yet recorded | General secondary education certificate UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | No data | Minimum requirements | 59 |
| Liechtenstein | Not yet recorded | Baccalaureate; Voccational baccalaureate UNESCO | 3 years from age 16 | 46% (2021) | Minimum requirements | 3 |
| Lithuania | Center for Quality Assessment in Higher Education (SKVC) | Maturity Certificate UNESCO | 2 years from age 17 | 75.6% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 40 |
| Luxembourg | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded | 4 years from age 15 | 22.4% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 10 |
| Macao SAR China | Not yet recorded | Diploma of senior secondary education UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | 141.9% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 8 |
| Madagascar | Not yet recorded | Baccalauréat de l'enseignement secondaire (Lycée) UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | 6.1% (2023) | Minimum requirements | 17 |
| Malawi | Not yet recorded | Malawi school certificate of education (MSCE) UNESCO | 2 years from age 16 | 2.7% (2022) | Minimum requirements | 15 |
| Malaysia | Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) | Malaysian Higher School Certificate/ Malaysia Religious Higher School Certificate/Completion of Pre-University/Completion of Preparatory Programmes/General Certificate of Education (GCE) A-Level; Successfully completed Year 1 Diploma (Business Administration, Management) UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | 38.5% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 665 |
| Maldives | Maldives Qualifications Authority (MQA) | 'A' Level certificate from University of London Examinations Board UNESCO | 2 years from age 16 | 48.5% (2022) | Minimum requirements | 6 |
| Mali | Not yet recorded | Baccalauréat UNESCO | 3 years from age 16 | 5.1% (2015) | Minimum requirements | 11 |
| Malta | Not yet recorded | Matriculation Certificate UNESCO | 4 years from age 14 | 80.5% (2023) | Minimum requirements | 11 |
| Marshall Islands | Not yet recorded | High School Diploma; Prelim certificate of completion USP; Form 7 certificate UNESCO | 4 years from age 14 | 37.7% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 0 |
| Martinique | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded | 3 years from age 15 | No data | Minimum requirements | 1 |
| Mauritania | Mauritanian Authority for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (AMAQES) | Baccalauréat UNESCO | 3 years from age 16 | 6% (2020) | Minimum requirements | 5 |
| Mauritius | Mauritius Qualifications Authority (MQA)Higher Education Commission Mauritius (HEC)Quality Assurance Authority (QAA) | Cambridge Higher School Certificate (HSC) OR Certificate of Education (GCE) - A level UNESCO | 4 years from age 14 | 45.8% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 6 |
| Mayotte | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded | No data | No data | Minimum requirements | 1 |
| Mexico | Inter Institutional Committees for the Evaluation of Higher Education (CIEES)Federation of Mexican Private Higher Education Institutions (FIMPES)Accreditation Council for Administrative, Accounting and Related Sciences (CACECA)Accreditation in Computing and Computer AC (CONAIC)Mexican Council for the Accreditation of Medical Education (COMAEM) | Upper Secondary Education Certificate UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | 48.2% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 711 |
| Micronesia | Not yet recorded | High School Diploma UNESCO | 4 years from age 14 | No data | Minimum requirements | 2 |
| Moldova | Not yet recorded | Bachelor's diploma. (Certificate of Lyceum Education, II cycle) UNESCO | 3 years from age 16 | 74.7% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 22 |
| Monaco | Not yet recorded | Baccalauréat UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | 77.5% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 1 |
| Mongolia | The Mongolian National Council for Education Accreditation (MNCEA) | Certificate of upper secondary education UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | 69% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 28 |
| Montenegro | Not yet recorded | Certificate of completed high school and diploma of the Matura exam; Certificate of completed high school and diploma of the "Matura" exam UNESCO | 4 years from age 15 | 55.2% (2023) | Minimum requirements | 7 |
| Montserrat | Not yet recorded | Secondary education certificate UNESCO | 2 years from age 15 | No data | Minimum requirements | 1 |
| Morocco | Not yet recorded | Baccalauréat UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | 48.2% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 107 |
| Mozambique | National Accreditation and Quality Assurance Council in Higher Education (CNAQ) | Certificate for Secondary Education - 2nd Cycle (ESG 2 Certificate) UNESCO | 2 years from age 16 | 7.5% (2018) | Minimum requirements | 28 |
| Myanmar (Burma) | Myanmar Engineering Council (MEngC) | Not yet recorded | 2 years from age 14 | 20.4% (2018) | Minimum requirements | 128 |
| Namibia | National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) | National Senior Secondary Certificate (NSSC) UNESCO | 2 years from age 17 | 26.1% (2022) | Minimum requirements | 5 |
| Nauru | Not yet recorded | QLD Certificate of Education + Cert II in TVET UNESCO | 2 years from age 16 | No data | Minimum requirements | 0 |
| Nepal | University Grants Commission (UGC Nepal) | National Examination, Grade 11 and 12 UNESCO | 4 years from age 13 | 21.3% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 76 |
| Netherlands | European Association for Public Administration Accreditation (EAPAA)Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO)Accreditation Council for Entrepreneurial and Engaged Universities (ACEEU)International Board of Certified Trainers (IBCT)SNRO (SNRO) | senior general secondary education UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | 86.6% (2023) | Minimum requirements | 132 |
| New Caledonia | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded | 3 years from age 15 | No data | Minimum requirements | 3 |
| New Zealand | Academic Quality Agency for New Zealand Universities (AQA)Universities New Zealand-Te Pokai TaraNew Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) | See (24) UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | 77.2% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 42 |
| Nicaragua | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded | 2 years from age 15 | 30.4% (2023) | Minimum requirements | 43 |
| Niger | Not yet recorded | Baccalauréat UNESCO | 3 years from age 17 | 4.2% (2019) | Minimum requirements | 10 |
| Nigeria | National Universities Commission (NUC) | West African senior school certificate (WASSC) or National examinations council (NECO) certificate; Interim joint matriculation board (IJMB) certificate UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | No data | Minimum requirements | 342 |
| Niue | Not yet recorded | NCEA Level 3 Certificate; USP Certificate UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | No data | Minimum requirements | 1 |
| Norfolk Island | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded | No data | No data | Minimum requirements | 0 |
| North Korea | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded | 3 years from age 15 | 26.7% (2018) | Minimum requirements | 12 |
| North Macedonia | Not yet recorded | Upper secondary education-regular general UNESCO | 4 years from age 15 | 55% (2023) | Minimum requirements | 22 |
| Northern Mariana Islands | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded | No data | No data | Minimum requirements | 3 |
| Norway | Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education (NOKUT) | General university and college admissions certification UNESCO | 3 years from age 16 | 95.5% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 69 |
| Oman | Oman Authority for Quality Assurance of Education (OAQA) | General education certificate UNESCO | 2 years from age 16 | 42.2% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 37 |
| Pakistan | Not yet recorded | Higher secondary school certificate (HSSC) or Intermediate certificate UNESCO | 4 years from age 13 | 10.9% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 273 |
| Palau | Not yet recorded | High School Diploma UNESCO | 4 years from age 14 | 71.8% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 1 |
| Palestinian Territories | Not yet recorded | General secondary certificate UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | 44.5% (2023) | Minimum requirements | 25 |
| Panama | Central American Accreditation Agency for Architecture and Engineering Programs (ACAAI)Consejo Nacional de Evaluación y Acreditación Universitaria de Panamá (CONEAUPA) | Upper secondary, academic orientation UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | 53.7% (2023) | Minimum requirements | 33 |
| Papua New Guinea | Not yet recorded | High School Certificate Grade 12 UNESCO | 2 years from age 17 | No data | Minimum requirements | 8 |
| Paraguay | National Agency for Accreditation of Higher Education (ANEAES) | Not yet recorded | 3 years from age 15 | No data | Minimum requirements | 41 |
| Peru | Education Quality Accreditation Agency (EQUAA)National System of Evaluation, Accreditation and Certification of Educational Quality (SINEACE)Institute of Quality and Accreditation of Computing, Engineering and Engineering Technology Programs (ICACIT) | Upper secondary certificate UNESCO | 2 years from age 15 | 71.2% (2017) | Minimum requirements | 137 |
| Philippines | Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation (PACUCOA)Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities of the Philippines (AACCUP)Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools Colleges and Universities (PAASCU) | Senior HS leaving certificate UNESCO | 2 years from age 16 | 47.4% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 880 |
| Pitcairn Islands | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded | No data | No data | Minimum requirements | 0 |
| Poland | The Polish Accreditation Committee (PKA) | General upper-secondary school leaving certificate (upper secondary education), matriculation certificate; General secondary school leaving certificate, matriculation certificate UNESCO | 4 years from age 15 | 80.9% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 325 |
| Portugal | Not yet recorded | Diploma and school qualification certificate (upper secondary education) Level 3 of the National Qualification Framework; Diploma and school qualification certificate (upper secondary education) .Professional qualification certificate Level 3 of the National Qualification Framework UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | 77.7% (2023) | Minimum requirements | 415 |
| Puerto Rico | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded | 3 years from age 15 | 77.9% (2023) | Minimum requirements | 41 |
| Qatar | Not yet recorded | Secondary stage certificate UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | 43% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 33 |
| Réunion | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded | 3 years from age 15 | No data | Minimum requirements | 3 |
| Romania | The Romanian Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ARACIS) | 10th grade graduation certificate; Baccalaureate diploma (Gen) UNESCO | 4 years from age 15 | 55.2% (2023) | Minimum requirements | 109 |
| Russia | National Centre for Public Accreditation (NCPA)Certification Association “Russian Register” (RR) | Certificate of Completed Secondary Education UNESCO | 2 years from age 16 | 60.4% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 834 |
| Rwanda | Not yet recorded | A2 or Advanced General Certificate of Secondary Education UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | 9.4% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 23 |
| Samoa | Samoa Qualifications Authority (SQA) | Samoa Secondary Leaving Certificate UNESCO | 5 years from age 13 | 16% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 3 |
| San Marino | Not yet recorded | Diploma of upper secondary education (Liceo) UNESCO | 5 years from age 14 | 57.5% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 1 |
| São Tomé & Príncipe | Not yet recorded | Certificat de conclusion de la 12ème année; Année de préparation (sans certificat) UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | 12.8% (2015) | Minimum requirements | 1 |
| Saudi Arabia | National Center for Training Evaluation and Accreditation (ETEC/MASAR)Education and Training Evaluation Commission/ National Centre for Academic Accreditation and Evaluation (ETEC / NCAAA) | General secondary education certificate UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | 83.9% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 69 |
| Senegal | Autorité Nationale d'Assurance Qualité de l'Enseignement Supérieur, de la Recherche et de l'Innovation (ANAQ-Sup)Autorité Nationale d'Assurance Qualité de l'Enseignement Supérieur (ANAQ-SUP) | Baccalauréat UNESCO | 3 years from age 16 | 15.3% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 28 |
| Serbia | National Entity for Accreditation and Quality Assurance in Higher Education (NEAQA) | Certificate of completion of High school programme (4 years) UNESCO | 4 years from age 15 | 70.6% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 48 |
| Seychelles | Seychelles Qualifications Authority (SQA) | Cambridge General Certificate in Education (GCE) A-level UNESCO | 4 years from age 15 | 14.5% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 1 |
| Sierra Leone | Not yet recorded | West African Senior School Examination Certificate (WASSCE); Diplomas; Licenses UNESCO | 4 years from age 15 | No data | Minimum requirements | 6 |
| Singapore | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded | 2 years from age 14 | 97.3% (2023) | Minimum requirements | 120 |
| Sint Maarten | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded | 3 years from age 14 | 7.7% (2023) | Minimum requirements | 2 |
| Slovakia | Slovak Accreditation Agency for Higher Education (SAAHE) | Certificate of maturita examination UNESCO | 4 years from age 15 | 54.5% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 48 |
| Slovenia | Slovenian Quality Assurance Agency (SQAA NAKVIS) | Certificate of general matura; Certificate of completion of a matura course and Certificate of general matura UNESCO | 4 years from age 15 | 80.1% (2023) | Minimum requirements | 67 |
| Solomon Islands | Not yet recorded | School certificated for completion of Form 7 exams; Equivalent to certificate from Form 7 exams UNESCO | 4 years from age 15 | No data | Minimum requirements | 2 |
| Somalia | Not yet recorded | Secondary Certificate UNESCO | 4 years from age 14 | No data | Minimum requirements | 48 |
| South Africa | Not yet recorded | National senior certificate (NSC) and Senior Certificate Amended for AET centres UNESCO | 3 years from age 16 | 23.5% (2023) | Minimum requirements | 71 |
| South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded | No data | No data | Minimum requirements | 0 |
| South Korea | Korean Council for University Education (KCUE)Korean Accreditation Board of Nursing Education (KABONE)Korean Council For University College Education (KCCE)Korean Accreditation Board for Health and Medical Information Management Education (KABHIME)Institute of Korean Medicine Education and Evaluation (IKMEE) | Diploma UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | 111.9% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 376 |
| South Sudan | Not yet recorded | Secondary school certificate UNESCO | 4 years from age 14 | No data | Minimum requirements | 10 |
| Spain | The Canarian Agency for Quality Assessment and Accreditation (ACCUEE)testFoundation for Knowledge madri+d (madri+d)Agency for Scientific and University Quality of Andalusia (ACCUA)Agency for Quality Assurance in the Catalan University System (AQU Catalunya)Agencia Nacional para la Evaluación de la Calidad y Acreditación (ANECA)Agency for the Quality of the Basque University System (Unibasq)Aragon Agency for Quality Assurance and Strategic Foresight (ACPUA)Agency for Quality Assurance in the Galician University System (ACSUG)Balearic Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (AQUIB)Valencian Agency for Assessment and Forecasting (AVAP) | General upper secondary Certificate and Diploma UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | 93.8% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 223 |
| Sri Lanka | Quality Assurance and Accreditation Council of the University Grants Commission | GCE Advanced-level (GCE A-level) UNESCO | 4 years from age 14 | 20.7% (2023) | Minimum requirements | 41 |
| St. Barthélemy | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded | No data | No data | Minimum requirements | 0 |
| St. Helena | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded | 3 years from age 14 | No data | Minimum requirements | 0 |
| St. Kitts & Nevis | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded | 2 years from age 15 | 93.9% (2015) | Minimum requirements | 4 |
| St. Lucia | Not yet recorded | Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) UNESCO | 2 years from age 15 | 15% (2023) | Minimum requirements | 5 |
| St. Martin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded | No data | No data | Minimum requirements | 0 |
| St. Pierre & Miquelon | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded | 3 years from age 15 | No data | Minimum requirements | 0 |
| St. Vincent & Grenadines | Not yet recorded | Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate in the area of study. UNESCO | 2 years from age 15 | 41.5% (2022) | Minimum requirements | 2 |
| Sudan | Not yet recorded | Academic secondary certificate UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | 15.9% (2015) | Minimum requirements | 59 |
| Suriname | Not yet recorded | Diploma UNESCO | 3 years from age 16 | 2.6% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 2 |
| Svalbard & Jan Mayen | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded | No data | No data | Minimum requirements | 1 |
| Sweden | Swedish Higher Education Autority (UKÄ) | Can provide qualification to tertiary education; Upper secondary diploma UNESCO | 3 years from age 16 | 84% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 67 |
| Switzerland | Swiss Agency of Accreditation and Quality Assurance (AAQ) | upper-secondary specialised school certificate; Specialised Baccalaureate; Vocational baccalaureate; Baccalaureate; Baccalauréat international UNESCO | 4 years from age 15 | 73.5% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 166 |
| Syria | Not yet recorded | General secondary education certificate UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | 43.8% (2016) | Minimum requirements | 38 |
| Taiwan | Higher Education Evaluation and Accreditation Council of Taiwan (HEEACT)Taiwan Assessment and Evaluation Association (TWAEA) | Not yet recorded | No data | No data | Minimum requirements | 151 |
| Tajikistan | Not yet recorded | Certificate of general secondary education UNESCO | 2 years from age 16 | 35.6% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 23 |
| Tanzania | Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU) | A-Level: Advanced Certificate of Secondary Education (ACSE) UNESCO | 2 years from age 18 | 4% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 61 |
| Thailand | The Office for National Education Standards and Quality Assessment (ONESQA)ASEAN University Network – Quality Assurance (AUN-QA) | Grade 12 certificate; Adult Basic Education Certificate for Upper Secondary UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | 49.1% (2025) | Minimum requirements | 228 |
| Timor-Leste | Not yet recorded | Secondary General Diploma UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | 31% (2023) | Minimum requirements | 12 |
| Togo | Not yet recorded | Baccalauréat (BAC) UNESCO | 3 years from age 16 | 14.9% (2020) | Minimum requirements | 7 |
| Tokelau | Not yet recorded | National Y13 Qualification Certificate (Kaukumete) and/or USP Foundation Certificate UNESCO | 2 years from age 16 | No data | Minimum requirements | 0 |
| Tonga | Tonga National Qualifications and Accreditation Board (TNQAB) | Tonga National Form Seven Certificate (TNFSC); University of South Pacific Foundation Certificate or Form 7 UNESCO | 3 years from age 16 | 42.9% (2023) | Minimum requirements | 1 |
| Trinidad & Tobago | Caribbean Evangelical Theological Association (CETA)Accreditation Council of Trinidad and Tobago (ACTT) | Not yet recorded | 2 years from age 15 | 23.8% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 6 |
| Tunisia | Tunisian Agency for Evaluation and Accreditation in Higher Education and Scientific Research (ATEA) | Baccalauréat UNESCO | 4 years from age 15 | 38.1% (2023) | Minimum requirements | 71 |
| Türkiye | Turkish Higher Education Quality Council (THEQC)Association for Evaluation and Accreditation of Nursing Education Programs (HEPDAK)Association of Evaluation and Accreditation of Health Sciences Programs (SABAK) | High School Diploma; Music and Stage Arts High School Diploma UNESCO | 4 years from age 14 | 105.9% (2023) | Minimum requirements | 241 |
| Turkmenistan | Not yet recorded | Certificate of general secondary education UNESCO | 2 years from age 16 | 20.4% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 12 |
| Turks & Caicos Islands | Not yet recorded | High School Certificate/(CVQ-2015/2016) UNESCO | 2 years from age 15 | 25.3% (2023) | Minimum requirements | 1 |
| Tuvalu | Not yet recorded | South Pacific Form 7 Certificate UNESCO | 3 years from age 16 | 19.4% (2023) | Minimum requirements | 0 |
| U.S. Outlying Islands | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded | No data | No data | Minimum requirements | 0 |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded | 3 years from age 15 | No data | Minimum requirements | 1 |
| Uganda | National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) | Uganda advanced certificate of education (UACE) UNESCO | 2 years from age 17 | No data | Uganda weighted admission pointsUganda: accredited programmes and cut-off points | 60 |
| Ukraine | National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance (NAQA) | Certificate of general secondary education UNESCO | 2 years from age 15 | 87.2% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 307 |
| United Arab Emirates | Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK)Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA)University Quality Assurance International Board (UQAIB) | General secondary certificate UNESCO | 4 years from age 14 | 63.7% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 69 |
| United Kingdom | Office for Students (OfS)British Accreditation Council for Independent Further and Higher Education (BAC)The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA )Accreditation Service for International Schools, Colleges and Universities (ASIC) | Advanced Subsidiary level; AS Level (England, Wales and Northern Ireland); Higher (Scotland); Advanced Level; A Level (England, Wales and Northern Ireland); Advanced Higher (Scotland) UNESCO | 4 years from age 14 | 80.4% (2023) | UCAS Tariff points | 599 |
| United States | International Accreditation Council For Business Education (IACBE)Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS)Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC)Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE)National Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education (NCOPE)Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA)National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB)Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC)Quality Matters (QM)Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)ABET (ABET)Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) | High School Equivalency Diploma or General Educational Development (GED) Award; High School Diploma UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | 79.4% (2022) | Admission by each institution | 4,433 |
| Uruguay | Not yet recorded | High school graduate UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | 80% (2023) | Minimum requirements | 18 |
| Uzbekistan | Accreditation and Rating International Agency (ARIA)National Quality Assurance Agency for Education under the Administration of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan (NQAAE) | Certificate of general secondary education UNESCO | 2 years from age 16 | 59.8% (2025) | Minimum requirements | 133 |
| Vanuatu | Not yet recorded | Pacific Form Seven Senior Certificate (Foundation) (SPFS); DAEU (Foundation) (Diplôme d'accès aux études universitaires) UNESCO | 3 years from age 16 | No data | Minimum requirements | 1 |
| Vatican City | Holy See’s Agency for the Evaluation and Promotion of Quality in Ecclesiastical Universities and Faculties (AVEPRO) | Not yet recorded | No data | No data | Minimum requirements | 0 |
| Venezuela | Not yet recorded | High school diploma UNESCO | 2 years from age 15 | No data | Minimum requirements | 60 |
| Vietnam | Center for Education Accreditation – The University of Da Nang (Cea-UD)VNU-HCM Center for Education Accreditation (VNU-HCM CEA)Thang Long Centre for Education Accreditation (CEA-THANGLONG)Saigon Centre for Educational Quality Accreditation (CEA SAIGON)Vietnam Education Quality Management Agency (VQA)VNU Center for Education Accreditation (VNU-CEA)Centre for Education Accreditation, Association of Vietnam Universities and Colleges (CEA-AVU&C) | Upper secondary education graduation diploma UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | 37.6% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 267 |
| Wallis & Futuna | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded | No data | No data | Minimum requirements | 0 |
| Western Sahara | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded | 3 years from age 14 | No data | Minimum requirements | 1 |
| Yemen | Not yet recorded | General secondary certificate UNESCO | 3 years from age 15 | No data | Minimum requirements | 60 |
| Zambia | Not yet recorded | Grade 12 certificate (Zambian school certificate examination or General certificate of education "O" levels) UNESCO | 3 years from age 16 | No data | Minimum requirements | 30 |
| Zimbabwe | Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education (ZIMCHE) | Advanced level certificate UNESCO | 4 years from age 15 | 7.7% (2024) | Minimum requirements | 26 |
School-leaving qualifications marked UNESCO, and each country's entry requirements (200 countries), come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), ISCED 2011 mappings (CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UIS terms)). Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), https://api.uis.unesco.org/api/public, extracted 2026-11-10. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Licence.
Admission calculators
Points calculators are published only where an admissions body publishes its formula, such as the UCAS Tariff (UK, 2027 entry). Where admission has no formula, we explain how it works and link to the official portal. No calculator here predicts your chance of admission.