Your European Doctorate.
Fully Recognisable in North America.
A clear guide to credential evaluation, equivalency, and how to use your IHRI DHS in the United States and Canada.
Is the IHRI DHS recognised in the USA and Canada?
Yes — through the formal credential evaluation process used for all international doctoral degrees.
The IHRI Doctor of Health Science is accredited at MQF/EQF Level 8 by the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA) — Malta’s government-authorised higher education body, listed in the CHEA International Directory.
When evaluated by a NACES-member agency such as WES (World Education Services), an MQF/EQF Level 8 qualification is assessed as equivalent to a doctoral-level degree in the United States and Canada.
EQF Level 8 = Doctoral Level
The European Qualifications Framework Level 8 is the EU’s highest academic credential level, equivalent to a PhD, Professional Doctorate, or DPhil. This is defined by the European Commission and applies uniformly across all 49 European Higher Education Area countries.
How your IHRI DHS is recognised
Recognition for international degrees in North America follows a clear, established pathway. Here is exactly how it works for the IHRI Doctor of Health Science:
MFHEA accredits your degree at MQF/EQF Level 8
The Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA) is Malta’s government body for higher education licensing and accreditation. IHRI holds MFHEA Licence No. 2025-004. Your DHS award carries the official MQF/EQF Level 8 designation — the EU’s doctoral-level credential standard.
MFHEA is listed in the CHEA Directory
CHEA (Council for Higher Education Accreditation) is the United States’ authoritative oversight body for academic accreditation. Its International Directory lists over 550 government-authorised accreditation bodies from more than 170 countries. MFHEA is listed. This is the first reference point used to confirm an international accreditor is legitimate.
Credential evaluation by a NACES member
NACES is the US standard-setting body for credential evaluation. We recommend WES (World Education Services) — accepted by 2,500+ institutions in the US and Canada — or ECE. WES is also a founding member of Canada’s ACESC, making its reports the Canadian standard as well.
The evaluator confirms doctoral equivalency
The NACES evaluator verifies your IHRI transcripts, confirms MFHEA’s status via the CHEA International Directory, and issues a formal report stating that your DHS is equivalent to a doctoral-level degree under the US educational system.
Present the evaluation report
Your WES or NACES report is the formal document you present to US or Canadian employers, graduate schools, licensing bodies, or immigration authorities (USCIS / IRCC). Most senior healthcare leadership roles accept this evaluation as confirmation of your doctoral qualification.
Verify IHRI’s accreditation independently
We believe in complete transparency. You can verify every element of IHRI’s accreditation chain through primary, government-issued and authoritative sources — no intermediaries required.
| What to verify | Where to look |
|---|---|
| IHRI institutional licence | mfhea.mt/list-of-licensed-providers-and-accredited-programmes |
| MFHEA in the CHEA Directory | chea.org/international-directory/malta-further-and-higher-education-authority |
| EQF Level 8 definition | europass.europa.eu/en/european-qualifications-framework-eqf |
| WES credential evaluation | wes.org |
| ECE credential evaluation | ece.org |
| NACES member directory | naces.org/members |
What you can do with your IHRI DHS
Senior leadership roles
C-suite and director-level positions in healthcare systems, hospital networks, and public health organisations increasingly require or prefer a terminal doctorate. Present your WES evaluation report when applying for CMO, CNO, VP Clinical Operations, or equivalent roles.
Academic appointments
Many US and Canadian health science faculties accept international doctoral credentials for lecturer, assistant professor, and research faculty positions, particularly when supported by a credential evaluation alongside your IHRI transcript.
Research & consultancy
The IHRI DHS’s emphasis on implementation science and quality improvement equips graduates for roles in health technology assessment, policy research, health system consulting, and leadership of institutional research programmes.
International governance
EQF Level 8 credentials are recognised across 49 European Higher Education Area countries — giving graduates a qualification portable to WHO, PAHO, European Commission, and other international health governance roles.
Immigration & visas
A WES evaluation confirming doctoral equivalency can support H-1B, O-1A extraordinary ability, and EB-2 Advanced Degree applications in the US. (Candidates should consult an immigration attorney regarding specific circumstances).
Important Notice
The IHRI DHS is an academic qualification and does not lead to a warranted profession or regulated occupation. If you are in a regulated healthcare profession (nursing, medicine, physiotherapy, pharmacy, etc.), professional licensure requirements are determined by your state or provincial licensing board independently of this academic degree. IHRI recommends consulting your relevant licensing body before enrolment if licensure recognition is a consideration for you.
Your practical recognition checklist
Once you graduate with your IHRI DHS, here is exactly what to do to establish your credential in the US or Canada:
- Request your official IHRI transcript and degree certificate (issued in English with MQF/EQF Level 8 designation).
- Request your Europass Diploma Supplement — the EU standard document for international qualification recognition.
- Create an account at wes.org (for US/Canada) or ece.org and submit your documents for evaluation.
- IHRI will issue transcripts directly to WES/ECE electronically on your request, accelerating the process.
- Specify a ‘Course-by-Course’ evaluation if applying to graduate programmes or licensing boards.
- A ‘Document-by-Document’ evaluation is sufficient for most employment purposes.
- Once received, your WES/ECE report formally confirms your IHRI DHS as equivalent to a doctoral-level degree in the United States or Canada.
- Use this report alongside your degree certificate in all professional and academic applications.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to get a credential evaluation before I apply to IHRI?
No. The credential evaluation is something you arrange after graduation to formally establish your degree’s equivalency with US or Canadian employers or institutions. At the admissions stage, IHRI simply requires evidence of your Master’s degree (MQF/EQF Level 7 or equivalent) and professional experience.
Which credential evaluation agency should I use?
We recommend WES (World Education Services) as the most widely accepted NACES member in both the US and Canada. ECE (Educational Credential Evaluators) is also widely accepted and is often preferred by professional licensing boards. Both are NACES charter members with 40+ years of experience. Visit naces.org/members for the full list of accredited evaluators.
How long does the credential evaluation process take?
WES standard processing is approximately 7 business days after all documents are received. Rush processing is available. ECE standard processing is approximately 5 business days. IHRI can issue official transcripts directly to WES or ECE electronically, which accelerates the process significantly.
Will my degree be recognised by all US employers?
Most senior healthcare leadership employers accept international doctoral degrees supported by a NACES credential evaluation. Individual organisations may have internal policies; we recommend confirming with target employers if you have a specific role in mind. Academic institutions, research bodies, and international health organisations are generally very receptive to European EQF-credentialled doctoral graduates.
Is IHRI accredited by a US body?
No. IHRI is a European institution, licensed and accredited by MFHEA in Malta, EU. We are not subject to US regional or national accreditation. Our accreditation framework is the Malta/European Qualifications Framework (MQF/EQF), which is the appropriate and equivalent standard for EU-based higher education institutions. The CHEA International Directory listing of MFHEA is the authoritative reference point for US purposes.
Ready to lead at the highest level?
The IHRI Doctor of Health Science is a fully accredited, 100% online, EQF Level 8 doctoral programme designed for senior healthcare professionals. Join a global cohort of health leaders earning a European terminal credential — without stepping back from your career.
Have questions? Email our admissions team at info@ihri.edu.eu