UGC introduces 15-day timeline for recognising foreign academic qualifications

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has unveiled a new set of regulations to streamline the process of recognising foreign academic degrees in India, introducing a 15-day decision window to address long-standing delays experienced by returning students.

Titled the University Grants Commission (Recognition and Grant of Equivalence to Qualifications obtained from Foreign Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2025, the new framework was officially notified in the Gazette of India. It aims to simplify and expedite the equivalence process through a dedicated online portal, significantly reducing the months-long waiting period previously faced by applicants.

This initiative replaces the nearly 100-year-old system traditionally overseen by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), which has been responsible for equivalence decisions since 1925. On average, the AIU processes about 2,000 applications annually, with over 1,000 Indian universities currently part of its network.

Under the revised guidelines, students holding foreign degrees—except those in regulated professional disciplines like medicine, law, and architecture—can now apply directly through the UGC’s online platform. Degrees obtained via franchise or twinning arrangements with foreign institutions, however, will not be eligible for recognition under the new policy.

Applicants are required to upload supporting documents and pay the stipulated fee on the portal. A standing committee will then evaluate the qualifications within 10 working days based on criteria such as course duration, credit structure (allowing a 10% variation), curriculum, and academic components.

UGC Chairperson Prof. M. Jagadesh Kumar emphasized that the move addresses a persistent challenge for students returning from abroad who wish to pursue further studies or employment in India. “With this technology-driven, transparent system, we aim to ensure timely recognition of foreign qualifications. This is a crucial step not only for returning Indian students but also for building global trust in our academic systems,” he stated.

Currently, more than 1.33 million Indian students are enrolled in international institutions, and many eventually return home to integrate into India’s educational or professional landscape.