Image Source: Tony Wu, Pexels.com
In Myanmar, Bachelor degree programs are offered in a variety of lengths and with varied entry requirements. Historically, Bachelor degrees lasted for three years and were followed by a 1-year Qualifying program, or Qualifying year, which granted access to the 2-year Masters. This was known as the 3-1-2 structure.
Since education reforms in 2011, most contemporary Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degrees have required four years of full-time study. Engineering, Technology, and Law degrees may differ.
In addition to the 4-year Bachelor program, however, many fields also have a 3-year Bachelor (Honours) program. However, unlike the previous 3-year program, the contemporary Honours Bachelor requires completion of the first two years of the regular Bachelor program with high grades for a total of five years of higher education. Alternately, some institutions offer a 1-year “top up” or qualifying year for holders of a contemporary 4-year Bachelor. This new system is known as 4-1-3, for those who complete a Research Masters, or 4-1-2, for those who complete a 2-year Master’s degree.
Most fields require an average of 4 out of 5 for admissions to the Honours Bachelor program after completing the first two years of a standard Bachelor program. Students in the Honours Bachelor program typically must pass each course with a grade of 4 or 5 on the 5-point scale.
Upon completion of the program, students are awarded a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) or Bachelor of Science (Honours) after completion of five years of higher education. The Honours Bachelor grants access to aMaster's degrees and is considered comparable to a Bachelor's degree in the US.
Resources:
Ministry of Education, Department of Higher Education: https://web.archive.org/web/20150402104136/http://www.myanmar-education.edu.mm/dhel/education-system-in-myanmar/education-structure/
An Investigation into Tertiary Level Educational Reforms in Myanmar towards Inclusive and Accessible Quality Higher Education through Analytical Approach. Myanmar Education Research and Learning/MERAL Portal. https://meral.edu.mm/record/3208/files/An%20Investigation%20into%20Tertiary%20Level%20Education%20Reform%20in.pdf
Technical and Vocational Education and Training in Myanmar. Vocational Education and Training in ASEAM Member States, 2019. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/332405165_Technical_and_Vocational_Education_and_Training_in_Myanmar
Dagon University: https://www.dagonuniversity.edu.mm/degree-offered/#:~:text=Bachelor's%20study%20courses.-,Honours%20Bachelor's%20Degree,classes%20for%20three%20more%20years.
Mandalar University: https://www.mdl.edu.mm/undergraduate/
Meiktila University: http://www.mtluniversity.edu.mm/?page_id=2311&lang=en
National Qualifications Framework: https://www.moe.gov.mm/sites/default/files/NQF%20English%20Version%20%287-2-2023%29.pdf
University of Information Technology: https://www.uit.edu.mm/academic-credits/
Yadanabon University: https://ydnbu.edu.mm/degree-offered/
Yangon University of Economics: https://yueco.edu.mm/?page_id=87