A guide to the Peru education system and how your credentials compare to US standards for immigration, university admissions, and employment.
Need your Peru credentials evaluated? Fast, USCIS-accepted reports from $85.
Apply Now →Peru follows an 11-year system of basic education regulated by the Ministry of Education (MINEDU). Spanish is the official language of instruction, though Quechua and Aymara are also recognized official languages and used in some bilingual intercultural education programs. The academic year runs from March to December in most of the country (April to January on the coast). Peru has been expanding access to education significantly in recent decades.
Compulsory. Covers Spanish, Mathematics, Science and Technology, Social Studies, Personal Social Development, Arts and Culture, and Physical Education.
Compulsory. Students study a broad curriculum. Upon completing Grade 5 (the final year), students receive the Certificate of Secondary Education Completion (Certificado de Educación Secundaria Completa). University admission is through individual university entrance examinations or pre-university academies.
Pontificia Universidad Católica del Peru (PUCP) and Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos are flagship institutions. Under Peru's 2014 University Law, Bachelor's degrees require a minimum of 5 years and a thesis or professional work. Master's degrees are 2 years.
| Grade Scale | Description | US Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 18–20 | Excellent (Excelente) | A |
| 15–17 | Good (Bueno) | B |
| 11–14 | Pass (Aprobado) | C |
| 0–10 | Fail (Reprobado) | F |
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.
All Peru academic documents must be accompanied by certified English translations. Evaluation World offers Spanish-to-English translation services combined with your evaluation order.