Lebanon Education System & Credential Evaluation

A guide to the Lebanon education system and how your credentials compare to US standards for immigration, university admissions, and employment.

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Overview of the Lebanon Education System

Lebanon follows an 11-year general education system regulated by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education. Arabic is the official language of instruction, with French and English widely used as secondary languages of instruction depending on the school. Lebanon has both public schools and a large private school sector following French, English, or American curricula. The academic year runs from October to June.

Structure of the Education System

Primary Education — 6 Years (Ages 6–12, Grades 1–6)

Covers Arabic, French or English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and Civic Education.

Intermediate Education — 3 Years (Ages 12–15, Grades 7–9)

Students sit the Brevet (Brevet d'Études Secondaires) examination at Grade 9, administered by the Lebanese National Examinations Center.

Secondary Education — 2–3 Years (Ages 15–18, Grades 10–11 or 10–12)

Students choose between three tracks: Sciences, Literature and Humanities, or Sociology and Economics. Culminates in the Lebanese Baccalaureate (Baccalauréat Libanais), administered by the Lebanese National Examinations Center. Private schools may award French Baccalaureate or International Baccalaureate instead.

University Education

Bachelor's degrees take 3–4 years. Lebanon is home to highly regarded institutions including the American University of Beirut (AUB) and Lebanese American University (LAU). Master's degrees are 2 years and PhD programs 3–5 years.

Grade Conversion Scale for Lebanon

Grade Scale	Description	US Equivalent
16–20	Excellent (Mumtaz)	A
14–15.9	Very Good (Jayyid Jiddan)	B
12–13.9	Good (Jayyid)	C
10–11.9	Pass (Maqboul)	D
0–9.9	Fail	F

Key Credentials

Brevet d'Études Secondaires — Grade 9 intermediate certificate
Lebanese Baccalaureate (Baccalauréat Libanais) — secondary leaving certificate; equivalent to a US high school diploma
Bachelor's Degree (Licence/BS/BA) — 3–4 years
Master's Degree — 2 years

US Equivalency of Lebanon Credentials

The Lebanese Baccalaureate is equivalent to a US high school diploma
A Lebanese 4-year Bachelor's degree is equivalent to a US Bachelor's degree
A Lebanese Master's degree is equivalent to a US Master's degree

Why You Need a Credential Evaluation

A formal credential evaluation is required for US university admissions, employment-based immigration petitions (H-1B, EB-1A, EB2-NIW, O-1, L-1), and professional licensing.

If your documents are in Arabic

All Lebanon academic documents must be accompanied by certified English translations. Evaluation World offers Arabic-to-English translation services combined with your evaluation order.

Documents from schools following French or American curricula may be in French or English and may not require translation. Arabic documents require certified English translation.