How to List a Foreign Degree on a U.S. Resume Truthfully

Start with general resume basics

General U.S. resume guidance, such as Harvard's Office of Career Services, recommends a concise and factual resume tailored to the role, with consistent formatting and education listed in reverse chronological order. That guidance is not specific to foreign credentials, but the same principles apply to how you describe them.

Sources: [1] Harvard University, Office of Career Services (FAS)

What to include for each degree

A reader should be able to tell exactly what you earned and where, without having to guess.

• The original degree title as it appears on your diploma.
• An understandable English translation of that title, marked as a translation where helpful.
• The institution's official name, and an English translation if the name is not in English.
• The city and country of the institution.
• Your completion year, or the honest status if not completed.

What to avoid

Employers may verify education, and some ask for an evaluation to understand foreign degrees. Statements you cannot support create risk.

Sources: [2] World Education Services (WES)

Do not

• Write a U.S. equivalency yourself, such as "equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree", without an evaluation that says so.
• Convert your grades into a U.S. GPA on your own. If you list grades, use the original scale, for example "18/20".
• Name an evaluation provider or report you do not actually hold.
• Rename your degree to a U.S. title that does not match your diploma.
• List ongoing study in a way that suggests it is finished.

If you already hold an evaluation

If you have a completed report, you may add a line that quotes its wording and names the provider exactly as written on the report. Do not paraphrase it upward. If you do not have one, leave this line out entirely; you can say you are willing to provide an evaluation on request.

Study in progress

If you have not finished a program, say so explicitly. Use wording such as "in progress" with an expected completion date, or "coursework completed, degree not awarded" if that is accurate. Never list only a year that could be read as a graduation date.

Illustrative resume templates

These are formatting examples with placeholder details in brackets. They are not real people, not user results, and not wording endorsed by any cited source. Replace every bracket with your own true information.

[Original degree title] ([English translation of the title])
[Institution official name] ([English translation, if needed]) — [City], [Country]
Completed [Year] · Grades: [result on original scale, e.g. 16/20]

[Original degree title] ([English translation of the title])
[Institution official name] — [City], [Country] · Completed [Year]
Credential evaluation by [provider name exactly as on report]: "[exact equivalency wording quoted from your report]"

[Original degree title] ([English translation]) — in progress, not yet completed
[Institution official name] — [City], [Country]
Expected completion: [Month Year]

Sources

Sources were reviewed for the specific points cited. Each note describes what the source does and does not cover.

1. Harvard University, Office of Career Services (FAS). Create a Strong Resume. General resume guidance: keep it concise and factual, tailor it to the role, use consistent formatting, and list education in reverse chronological order. It does not specifically address foreign credentials or endorse any phrasing shown in this guide.
2. World Education Services (WES). Why Is My Employer Asking for a Credential Evaluation?. Explains that employers may request an evaluation to understand a degree earned outside the U.S. WES is a commercial evaluation provider; this article reflects its perspective and is not a universal legal requirement.