New Rules for Foreign Degree Equivalence

On 5th April 2025, the University Grants Commission (UGC) notified the UGC (Recognition and Grant of Equivalence to Qualifications Obtained from Foreign Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2025 to streamline the recognition of foreign academic qualifications.

Key Points

Foreign Degree Equivalence: The regulation enables UGC to grant equivalence to academic degrees earned from foreign institutions, easing admission and job challenges for returning Indian students.
Exclusions: Professional degrees in disciplines like Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing, Law and Architecture are excluded and will still follow norms set by their respective statutory councils.
Eligibility Parameters: Recognition will depend on factors like legitimacy of the foreign institution, qualification level, course duration, and comparability to Indian programs.
Institution’s Recognition: Only degrees from institutions legally recognized in their home countries and with entry requirements similar to Indian standards will be considered.
No Equivalence for Unrecognised Entities: Degrees from unrecognised institutions or unaccredited programmes will not be eligible for equivalence.