Editing Academic degree (section)

=== Asia ===

==== Bangladesh, India and Pakistan ====
Bangladesh and India mostly follow the [[Colonial India|colonial era]] [[United Kingdom|British]] system for the classification of degrees,<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Roy |first1=Sudipta |last2=Huq |first2=Samia |last3=Rob |first3=Aisha Binte Abdur |date=1 November 2020 |title=Faith and education in Bangladesh: A review of the contemporary landscape and challenges |journal=International Journal of Educational Development |language=en |volume=79 |pages=102290 |doi=10.1016/j.ijedudev.2020.102290 |issn=0738-0593|doi-access=free |hdl=10822/1086347 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> however, Pakistan has recently switched{{when|date=October 2023}} to the US model of a two-year associate degree and a four-year bachelor's degree program. The arts, referring to the performing arts and literature, may confer a Bachelor of Arts (BA) and a Master of Arts (MA). Management degrees are also classified under 'arts' but are nowadays considered a separate stream, with degrees of Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) and Master of Business Administration (MBA). Science refers to the basic sciences and natural science ([[Biology]], [[Physics]], [[Chemistry]], etc.); the corresponding degrees are Bachelor of Science (BSc) and Master of Science (MSc).

[[Information technology|Information Technology]] degrees are conferred specially in the field of [[computer science]], and include Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (B.Sc.IT.) and Master of Science in Information Technology (M.Sc.IT.). The engineering degree in India follows two nomenclatures, [[Bachelor of Engineering]] (B.Eng.) and [[Bachelor of Technology]] (B.Tech.). Both represent bachelor's degree in [[engineering]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Earnest|first1=Joshua|last2=Gupta|first2=S.K.|last3=Sthuthi|first3=Rachel|date=2018 |title=Need of Two Distinct Baccalaureate Engineering Programmes in India |journal=University News—A Weekly Journal of Higher Education, Pub: Association of Indian Universities. 12–18.}}</ref> In Pakistan, engineering degrees are [[Bachelor of Engineering]] (B.E.) and [[Bachelor of Science in Engineering]] (B.S./B.Sc. Engineering). Both are the same in [[curriculum]], duration and pattern, and differ only in nomenclature. The engineering degree in Bangladesh is a [[Bachelor of Science in Engineering]] (B.Sc. Engineering). Other degrees include the medical degree ([[Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery]] (MBBS)), dental degree ([[Bachelor of Dental Surgery]] (BDS)) and computer application degrees ([[Bachelor of Computer Application]] (BCA)) and [[Master of Computer Application]] (MCA).

==== Indonesia ====
Indonesia follows a higher education system that originated from the Dutch colonial period. However, over the years, Indonesia has transitioned from the Dutch degree classification system and developed its own academic distinctions by translating and adapting its degree structure.

All degrees in Indonesia follow standardized regulations. The duration of each program is specified by Regulation of the Minister of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia Number 3 of 2020 on National Standards of Higher Education.<ref>https://peraturan.go.id/id/permendikbud-no-3-tahun-2020</ref> The regulation outlines the maximum duration and minimum credit requirements (Semester Credit Units or SKS) for each level of study without counting academic leave.
* Diploma 1 (D1): Usually and fastest 1 academic year, maximum 2 academic years, with a minimum of 36 SKS.
* Diploma 2 (D2): Usually 2 academic years, fastest 1.5 years, maximum 3 academic years, with a minimum of 72 SKS. Similar to US Associate degree.
* Diploma 3 (D3): Usually 3 academic years, fastest 2.5 years, maximum 5 academic years, with a minimum of 108 SKS. According to the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology,<ref>https://piln.kemdikbud.go.id/faq</ref> only a Bachelor (Hons)'s degree is considered equivalent to an Indonesian bachelor's degree (S1). A standard bachelor's degree without an internship, final project, or thesis is recognized as equivalent to an Indonesian senior associate degree (D3) instead.
* Bachelor's degree (Sarjana) & Applied bachelor's degree (Sarjana Terapan) usually denoted as Diploma 4 (D4): Usually 4 academic years, fastest 3.5 years, maximum 7 academic years, with a minimum of 144 SKS.
* Professional degree (Profesi): Usually 1–2 academic years, fastest 1 year, maximum 3 academic years after completing a bachelor's or applied bachelor's degree, with a minimum of 24 SKS.
* Master's degree (Magister), Applied master's degree (Magister Terapan), or Medical Specialist program (Spesialis): Usually 2 academic years, fastest 1.5 years, maximum 4 academic years for non-Medical Specialist after completing a bachelor's or applied bachelor's degree, with a minimum of 36 SKS.
* Doctorate (Doktor), Applied Doctorate (Doktor Terapan), or Subspecialist program (Subspesialis): Usually 3–4 academic years, fastest 2 years, maximum 7 academic years for non-Medical Subspecialist after completing a master's, applied master's, or specialist program, with a minimum of 42 SKS.

According to the same regulation, one SKS credit consists of the minimum of:
* 50 minutes of classroom study,
* 60 minutes of assignments,
* 60 minutes of independent learning,
Totaling 170 minutes per week.

Since a semester consists of 14 or 15 weeks of coursework and 1 or 2 weeks of exams, one SKS translates to an average of 40 hours of study per semester. Comparatively, one European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) credit equals 28 hours of study, meaning that one Indonesian SKS is approximately equivalent to 1.5 ECTS. Therefore, a bachelor's degree in Indonesia (minimum 144 SKS) is roughly equivalent to 216 ECTS, which surpasses the standard European requirement of 180 ECTS for a bachelor's degree.

All degrees in Indonesia grant academic titles, which are often used in formal and social settings, including on unofficial documents such as marriage invitations. The titles conferred upon graduates are regulated by:
* Decree of the Director General of Higher Education, Research, and Technology of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Number 163/E/Kpt/2022, which governs the naming of programs for academic and professional degrees (bachelor, master, doctorate, professional, and medical specialist and subspecialist degrees).<ref>https://pusatinformasi.sister.kemdikbud.go.id/hc/en-gb/article_attachments/32086493172633</ref>
* Decree of the Director General of Vocational Education of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Number 27/D/M/2022, which regulates the vocational higher education programs, including one-year to three-year associate degrees, four year associate degrees or also known as applied bachelor's degrees, applied master's degrees, and applied doctorate degrees.<ref>https://lldikti3.kemdikbud.go.id/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Kepdirjen-Diksi-No.-27-Tahun-2022-Tentang-Daftar-Nama-Profram-Studi-Jenis-Pendidikan-Tinggi-Vokasi.pdf</ref>

Indonesian academic degrees are denoted with specific abbreviations that indicate the field of study. The degree structure follows a standardized pattern, where XX represents the specific field of study:
* Diploma 1 (D1): Graduates receive the title A.P.XX (Ahli Pratama) or Junior/first Expert
* Diploma 2 (D2): Graduates receive the title A.Ma.XX (Ahli Muda) or Junior Expert
* Diploma 3 (D3): Graduates are awarded A.Md.XX (Ahli Madya) or Associate Expert
* Bachelor's Degree (S1/Sarjana): Denoted as S.XX (e.g., S.T. for Sarjana Teknik (Bachelor in engineering), and S.H. for Sarjana Hukum (Bachelor in Law).
* Applied bachelor's degree (D4/Sarjana Terapan): Uses the S.Tr.XX (Sarjana Terapan) designation.
* Master's Degree (S2/Magister): Uses M.XX (Magister) to represent the field of study, such as M.T. for Magister Teknik (Master of Engineering) and M.Hum. for Magister Humaniora (Master of Humanities).
* Applied master's degree (S2 Terapan/Magister Terapan): Uses M.Tr.XX (Magister Terapan) to represent the field of study, such as M.Tr.T. for Magister Terapan Teknik (Master of Applied Engineering).
* Doctorate (S3/Doktor): The title Dr. is used, making it the only current Indonesian academic degree with a pre-nominal title instead of post-nominal letters.
* Professional Degrees (Profesi): Various titles are used depending on the profession, such as Ir. (for engineers), Drs. (for social sciences before the 1990s), Ak. (for accountants), Apt. (for pharmacists), Sp.XX for medical specialists, and Subsp.XX for medical subspecialist.
Due to the numerous fields of study, there are hundreds of different academic degree abbreviations in Indonesia. By understanding these abbreviations, one can determine the graduate's field of expertise and their educational background.

=====Old System=====
Before Indonesia adopted its modern degree classification, the country used a system copied from the Dutch colonial academic structure, which in Netherlands remained extant to 2002. In this system, university students typically studied for five years before graduating. This structure was different from the modern four-year bachelor's (S1) degree, as it allowed graduates to proceed directly to a doctorate (S3) program without first obtaining a master's (S2) degree. This system included pre-nominal academic titles that have largely been phased out but are still recognized, for those who graduated before 1992. Some of these titles are still in limited use today.
* Ir. (Ingenieur, later Insinyur) – Originally awarded to graduates of engineering, agriculture, environment, and technical fields, equivalent to today's Master of Engineering (M.T.). While the title is still in use today, it now signifies a professional engineer rather than an academic degree. As a result, newer graduates who obtain this title typically hold both Ir. [Name], M.T.
* Drs. (Doctorandus, later Doktorandus) - Awarded to male graduates of natural and social sciences and humanities, equivalent to today's master's degree (S2).
* Dra. (Doctoranda, later Doktoranda) - The female equivalent of Drs., awarded in same fields.
* Dr. (Doctor, later Doktor) - A title for doctorate holders, which remains in use today as the only Indonesian academic title placed before a name.
* Mr. (Shortening of Meester in de Rechten) - A title for law graduates. It was the first academic title to be abolished and the only one required to be converted to another title (S.H. or Bachelor of Law) as it was in Dutch rather than Latin, under Presidential Decree No. 265 of 1962, as part of President Soekarno's broader efforts to eliminate the Dutch linguistic legacy in Indonesia.

Doktorandus (Drs.) and Doktoranda (Dra.) originated from Latin, meaning "one who is to become a doctor." These titles indicated that the degree holder only needed to complete a dissertation to obtain a doctorate. Until the 1960s, diplomas from Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) explicitly stated that holders were entitled to pursue a doctorate upon defending a thesis. However, during the 1950s–1960s, Indonesia shortened undergraduate programs from 5–5.5 years to 4–4.5 years due to the need to increase the number of graduates, and differences in international education structures, with Indonesia later choosing to align with the Anglo-American education system due to U.S. influence.

After the 1970s, for example ITB replaced Doktorandus and Insinyur (Engineer) titles with Sarjana (Bachelor) degrees. However, these titles remained granted and used until 1992 in other universities or institutes. By aligning with Anglo education standards, Indonesia transitioned to the B.Sc. - M.Sc. - Ph.D. model, similar to the Bologna Process. Unlike the previous system, where five-year graduates could proceed directly to a Ph.D., students must now complete an S1 (Bachelor's) and S2 (Master's) before pursuing S3 (Doctorate).

Despite this transition, many pre-1992 graduates retained the use of their original titles granted upon their graduation, making formats such as Prof. Dr. Drs. [Name] common among senior academics and professionals.

==== Sri Lanka ====
[[Sri Lanka]], like many other commonwealth countries, follows the British system, but with its own distinctions. Degrees are approved by the [[University Grants Commission (Sri Lanka)|University Grants Commission]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Nishath |first1=S. Shabnam |last2=Somaratna |first2=Sajeewanie D. |date=29 June 2021 |title=Application of Marketing Techniques in Library Services and Challenges Faced by University Librarians in Sri Lanka |journal=Journal of the University Librarians Association of Sri Lanka |language=en |volume=24 |issue=2 |pages=120–137 |doi=10.4038/jula.v24i2.8049 |issn=2579-2253|doi-access=free }}</ref>