Equivalence
Students (Lebanese or non-Lebanese) relocating from a school abroad or from a school in Lebanon should have school grade level equivalence equating their grade level to the Lebanese Program giving them permission to follow their chosen program. This equivalence is obtained from the Equivalence Committee of the Lebanese Ministry of Education on production of a certified transcript.
Parents are responsible to obtain this equivalence and are advised to start this process early since it may take up to one month. Please note that students entering the American Program or coming from a school abroad cannot be officially registered with the Ministry of Education until this equivalence has been obtained.
Students coming from Saudi Arabia should have the transcript certificates certified by:
The Ministry of Education in Saudi Arabia
The Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Lebanon
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Lebanon
The Ministry of Education in Lebanon
Students coming from a school abroad (G1-G12) (except Saudi Arabia) should have the transcript certificates certified by:
The Ministry of Education of the country in which the school abroad is situated
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country in which the school abroad is situated
The Lebanese Embassy in that country
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Lebanon
The Ministry of Education in Lebanon
The American Program
Registration as a non-Lebanese Student
A student may register in the American Program as a non-Lebanese student if s/he has non-Lebanese nationality and permission from the Equivalence Committee of the Lebanese Ministry of Education to follow a foreign program as a non-Lebanese. Equivalence of any degrees in the future will also be as a non-Lebanese. Please note that the Lebanese professional syndicates in engineering, medicine, and pharmacy will not accept members if their equivalence is on the basis of a non-Lebanese nationality (even if they also have Lebanese nationality).
Registration as a Lebanese Student
A student may register in the American Program as a Lebanese student if s/he has Lebanese nationality and permission from the Equivalence Committee of the Lebanese Ministry of Education to follow a foreign program as a Lebanese. The Lebanese Ministry of Education will only give this permission if the student has studied abroad (due to the legal guardian’s work and residence abroad):
For a minimum of 3 years between Grade 1 and Grade 6
Or 2 consecutive years at the Intermediate level (Grades 7-9)
Or 2 consecutive years at the Secondary level (Grades 10-12)
Lebanese Baccalaureate Equivalence
Students who register as Lebanese in the American Program and later wish to become members of the Lebanese professional syndicates in engineering, medicine, or pharmacy must obtain equivalence to the Lebanese Baccalaureate from the Equivalence Committee of the Lebanese Ministry of Education. To qualify for equivalence to the Lebanese Baccalaureate students should take the SAT Reasoning Test and Subject Tests prior to enrolment at university. The SAT Reasoning Test is composed of three parts: Critical Reading, Mathematics, and Writing. The SAT Subject Tests must be taken in three subjects as follows:
For the sciences track: Mathematics Level 2C and any two sciences from biology, chemistry, or physics.
For the arts track: Mathematics Level 1C and any two tests from subjects of the applicant’s choice.
The total score for the SAT Reasoning Test together with the three SAT Subject Tests must be at least 2,750 for the science track and at least 2,600 for the arts track.
