AIU Evaluates and Recognizes Foreign Degrees in India: For thousands of students returning to India with foreign qualifications, securing an equivalence certificate from the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) is often the key to realizing their academic and professional dreams. Whether the goal is employment through UPSC, banking jobs, university admissions, or advanced research, understanding AIU Foreign Degree Evaluation and Recognition Process in India is critical for seamless reintegration into India’s education and employment landscape. With sweeping reforms now in place including new regulations from India’s University Grants Commission (UGC) that streamline and standardize foreign degree recognition the journey has never been so transparent or important.
For decades, the AIU, India’s most trusted agency for academic equivalence, managed the process for students wishing to use their global qualifications for higher education, government jobs, and professional pursuits in India. Now, updated regulations standardize, digitize, and streamline the process, ensuring both speed and accountability for every applicant. Imagine years of hard work in a foreign classroom, and a simple bureaucratic requirement standing between you and your chosen profession in India. The equivalence certificate bridges this gap, transforming international credentials into recognized Indian qualifications. As India aims to become a global talent and education hub, the processes of AIU and UGC are under the spotlight for a new generation of returnees.
What is the AIU?
The Association of Indian Universities (AIU) is an established organization representing over 1,000 Indian universities, acting as the main authority for equating foreign and Indian academic credentials. An equivalence certificate from the AIU enabled foreign-qualified students to pursue postgraduate degrees, take government exams (like UPSC), and apply for jobs in the banking and educational sectors. Without this AIU Foreign Degree Evaluation and Recognition Process in India, international degrees could not be accepted in Indian institutions or by major employers.
Who Needs an AIU Equivalence Certificate?
Any student seeking employment in Indian public service, banking, academics, or professional vocations, and all those seeking further study in India after earning a foreign qualification, needs official equivalence from AIU or now UGC. This is essential for Indian Public Service careers (e.g. UPSC, state PSCs), Admission into Indian universities (for Bachelors, Masters, PhD), Indian banks and government departments, Eligibility for jobs, higher education, and professional registrations
UGC Equivalence Regulations 2025
In a major policy shift, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has begun issuing its own automatic equivalence certificates for foreign qualifications, making the process faster, more technology-driven, and transparent. AIU remains a crucial body, but UGC regulations now detail standardized, statutory pathways for degree evaluation, automatic recognition in select cases, and reduced processing time.
UGC portal enables online applications and tracking. The Standing Committee reviews applications within 10 days. Certificates are issued digitally for academic and professional use. Rejection cases are reviewed by an expert panel. Automatic equivalence for select global MoU, twinning, joint degree, and recognized campus arrangements.
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UGC Regulations Latest News
In April 2025, as part of the National Education Policy (NEP) drive to internationalize Indian higher education, the UGC notified new regulations, officially assuming responsibility for foreign degree recognition. This statutory, technology-driven process brings several key improvements :
- Statutory Authority: The UGC as a government regulator has legal teeth, unlike the AIU, which is a registered society.
- Digital Efficiency: All applications, tracking, and certificates now operate through a seamless online portal.
- Time-Bound Decisions: Decisions on equivalence must be made within 15 working days.
- Appeal Process: Students can appeal rejections, prompting a review by an expert committee.
- Automatic Equivalence: Students holding degrees from partner global universities or via officially approved twinning/double-degree arrangements may get automatic recognition.
AIU’s Advisory: Eligibility & Criteria for Equivalence
The AIU and UGC both specify that only qualifications meeting strict eligibility criteria can receive equivalence. Students must ensure foreign study programs conform to these rules.
School-Level Equivalence
- Foreign system must provide a minimum of 12 years of regular schooling
- School must be affiliated to a recognized Board
- Certificates must be issued by approved Board/Ministry
- American High School diplomas must come from regionally accredited schools
- IB Diploma requires at least 24 credits, three HL and three SL passes
- No equivalence for open, online, or private study modes under 12 years
Undergraduate & Postgraduate Studies Abroad
- Degree issued by university recognized in its own country
- Must be a full-time student on the foreign university’s original campus
- Entry qualification and minimum duration should match Indian standards (as per UGC notifications)
- No equivalence for open, distance, online, or home study programs
Degrees Awarded in India by Foreign Universities
- Foreign university must be recognized/accredited abroad
- Indian host institution must be approved by UGC/AICTE
- Degrees must follow statutory rules of India and country of origin
- No equivalence for studies via unapproved, franchise, or online pathways
Offshore Campus & Collaborative Arrangements
- Offshore campus must be approved by country of operation AND origin
- Must comply with rules of both jurisdictions
- Degree must be earned as a full-time regular student
- No equivalence for non-accredited or virtual/franchise institutions
Exceptions
Professional degrees (Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Law, Architecture) are handled by respective professional councils, not AIU or UGC.
How Does the Evaluation Process Work?
1. Submission of Application
Applicants—whether students or, in some cases, employers—start by visiting the official UGC or AIU portal and uploading scanned copies of all relevant certificates and transcripts. Required documents typically include:
- Foreign degree/diploma, authenticated transcripts
- Proof of admission, study duration, and credits
- Accreditation proof of the awarding institution
- Passport and residence proof (for in-person attendance)
- Valid translations, if not in English or Hindi
2. Initial Scrutiny and Data Matching
The portal checks basic compliance: Is the degree from a university recognized by its country’s quality agency? Is the credential full-time and campus-based (not distance/online, unless explicitly permitted)? Does the student satisfy entry and duration requirements similar to India’s system (e.g., 10+2+3 for Bachelor’s, full-time study for Master’s)?
3. Standing Committee Decision
A panel of education experts reviews the documents. If all criteria are met, an equivalence certificate is issued, digitally for speed. Timeframe: typically 10–15 days, a huge improvement over historical waits.
4. Special Cases & Appeals
Degrees in disciplines overseen by other councils (e.g. medicine, law, pharmacy, nursing, architecture) are excluded and must be evaluated by statutory professional bodies (such as NMC, BCI, AICTE). Applicants whose degrees are denied equivalence may request a review, which will be heard within 30 days.
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Documents Needed for AIU/UGC Evaluation
Be prepared to submit:
- Copy of foreign degree/diploma
- Marksheets/transcripts, authenticated by embassy/mission
- Admission offer letter
- Valid translations if not in English/Hindi
- Passport and proof of residence abroad
- Proof of accreditation of foreign institution
- For school-level equivalence, board certificate and transcript details
Step-By-Step Application Process
Visit AIU or UGC’s online portal. Register and complete the application form. Upload required documents. Pay processing fee (approx. ₹12,000 as of 2025). Track application status. Receive digital and physical certificate. Processing takes anywhere from 10 to 30 days depending on completeness and document verification. UGC’s system aims to resolve most applications in under 15 calendar days.
From Application to Certificate
| Step | Action/Requirement | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Application Submission | Online form, document upload, payment (approx. ₹12,000) | Immediate |
| Initial Scrutiny | Data validation & recognition checks | 1–2 days |
| Committee Review | Decision by expert panel | 10–15 days |
| Certificate Issued | Digital equivalence certificate sent to applicant | 10–15 days |
| Appeals (optional) | Review by expert committee if rejected | +Up to 30 days |
How To Ensure Your Qualification is Recognized?
Choose foreign programs aligned with Indian UGC/AIU advisory. Ensure all schools and universities are accredited by official agencies . Avoid unapproved online, private, franchise, or open study pathways. Keep records of study duration, syllabi, and accreditation status. Download updated AIU information brochure from aiu.ac.in before enrolling overseas
Impact of New Regulations
UGC’s emphasis on automation, international MoUs, and academic collaboration now allows automatic equivalence in many cases, reducing bottlenecks and helping students return quickly to higher education or employment in India. Recognition is now more predictable, transparent, and aligned with best global practices.
With India’s new emphasis on education internationalization, the evaluation and recognition of foreign degrees is efficient, science-driven, and designed for rapid integration into the Indian system. For every returning student, meticulous planning, careful selection of accredited institutions, and proactive compliance with the latest AIU and UGC advisories will ensure full recognition—and unlock academic, professional, and career success in India’s vibrant future.