USC Office of Degree Progress
Prior Degree from An International Institution
All graduate students must supply verification that they have been awarded a bachelor’s level degree from an accredited institution in the United States or an equivalent degree from an institution outside of the United States.
IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED A DEGREE FROM AN INSTITUTION OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES AND ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE DEGREE VERIFICATION, PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS:
- Students whose admission is conditional on having their previous degree(s) verified will have an “Activity Restriction,” identified as an ADM40 or RNR40, placed on their records. Failure to complete the verification process in the allotted time may result in delayed or canceled registration and late fees. Your previous degree(s) must be verified before your graduate degree can be awarded.
- Most students will have to satisfy this requirement before the end of their first semester at USC.
- Students from institutions in India who completed their bachelor’s degrees in the term immediately preceeding their matriculation at USC, must submit their final degree certificate(s) for inspection as soon as they are available in the following spring.
The verification requirement may be satisfied by doing one of the following:
ON-CAMPUS DEGREE VERIFICATION:- Bring the documents specified in your admission letter with you to the International Student Orientation program which is held on the main campus. You may also submit your documents at the Degree Progress office (located in John Hubbard Hall, Room 010).
You must present official documents to verify your degree. Transcripts and English translations must be enclosed in a sealed envelope from the originating institution with all tamper evident marks intact. Transcripts and translations that are not enclosed in tamper evident envelopes from the sending institution are not considered official. If you cannot secure transcripts and translations enclosed in tamper evident envelopes, you must use the “Off-Campus Degree Verification” option described in the section below. - Please make photocopies of your original degree certificate(s), marksheets and diploma(s), before submitting these types of documents for inspection by the Degree Progress Office. The copies will be retained, and the originals will be returned to you once the process is complete.
- If your final degree certificate(s) will be conferred by your institution after you enroll at USC, you may submit required credentials as soon as they are issued, or follow the “Off-Campus” instructions outlined below.
- The university has authorized World Education Services (WES) to provide degree verifications. Information about this service, including authorization forms and a list of required documents, is available at: http://www.wes.org/usc. There is a charge for this service.*
*GEMBA program students: Please contact the program coordinator at uscgemba@sjtu.edu.cn for more information regarding verification of your previous degree(s) before contacting WES.
If you are enrolled in an off-campus program, or cannot provide the required documents in “official” condition (see above), you must initiate the verification process with WES. - You may still engage the WES option if you are enrolled in an on-campus program, but are uneasy about transporting your documents to USC.
- Your previous school(s) will have to send documents directly to WES. Please start this process as soon as possible to avoid registration delays.
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