UGC notifies new rules for recognising foreign degrees

New Delhi: The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Saturday announced a new regulation to assess foreign qualifications from schools and higher education institutions.

The new regulation is called UGC (Recognition and Grant of Equivalence to Qualifications Obtained from Foreign Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2025 and will also allow grant of equivalence degrees to academic qualifications obtained from foreign educational institutions.

This move allows students with overseas credentials to obtain an Equivalence Certificate via an online portal, paving the way for smoother admissions to Indian universities and employment opportunities, said the UGC.

The UGC decision comes in light of a growing number of Indian students returning with international degrees. The Commission move aligns with delays, frequently faced by them in having their qualifications recognized either for admission to Indian educational institutions or for employment.

However, the provisions for granting equivalence certificates to foreign qualifications will not apply to professional degrees awarded in disciplines such as Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing, Law, Architecture, and other fields that fall under the jurisdiction of statutory regulatory councils in India.

Such qualifications will continue to be governed by the specific norms and recognition procedures laid down by the respective regulatory bodies.

Many students return with international qualifications to seamlessly integrate into India's higher education system or workforce. Such students need a structured procedure to evaluate foreign credentials without unpredictable delays and procedural ambiguity.

Acknowledging this challenge, the UGC has decided to establish a standardised equivalence framework by bringing in a new regulation, a statement from UGC said.

UGC has developed a transparent, technology-driven mechanism for recognising foreign qualifications from schools and higher education institutes. This move is crucial given the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020’s vision of transforming India into a global study destination, M Jagadesh Kumar, Chairman, UGC, said.

If Indian institutions are to attract international students, we must ensure fair recognition of degrees earned abroad. By addressing a long-standing issue, UGC has taken a decisive step through this significant reform toward making India’s higher education system more inclusive, competitive, and future-ready.