Official statutory evaluation certificate issued by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) certifying that a foreign qualification, international school board curriculum (IB, Cambridge A-Levels), or foreign university degree is formally recognized as equivalent to a corresponding degree or senior secondary certificate awarded by accredited Indian institutions
Under AIU Evaluation Division Regulations, degrees obtained through distance education, virtual/online learning, off-campus study centers, or private franchise institutes without physical campus residence in the parent country are NOT eligible for Indian academic equivalence.
💡 An AIU Equivalence Certificate is an official document issued exclusively by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), New Delhi, that legally accords parity to a foreign degree, diploma, or school certificate with the corresponding qualification awarded by recognized Indian boards or universities. Without this certificate, holders of foreign university degrees cannot register for higher studies in Indian public universities or appear for Central/State Government recruitment exams (such as UPSC, SSC, or PSU employment).
Understanding the distinct statutory authorities and legal scopes of foreign degree evaluation instruments.
| Evaluation Document | Issuing Authority | Primary Purpose & Jurisdiction | Key Caveats & Limitations |
|---|---|---|---|
| AIU Equivalence Certificate | Association of Indian Universities Parity Certificate | Statutory recognition of foreign school and university degrees for admission to Indian universities and Central/State government employment | Only covers full-time regular campus programs; does not grant automatic license to practice medicine, law, or architecture in India. |
| Indian Embassy Attestation / Apostille | Consular Authentication / Hague Apostille | Verifies the physical authenticity and signature of the university registrar or notary public in the issuing country | Authenticates document genuineness only; does not assess academic syllabus, duration parity, or educational equivalence. |
| WES / ECE Evaluation Report | World Education Services Credential Evaluation | Converts Indian or global academic credits into US/Canadian GPA equivalents for North American immigration and study | Valid in North America only; has zero legal validity for admissions or government employment within India. |
15 to 30 working days from the date of physical receipt and verification of original certified documents at AIU House, New Delhi (urgent fast-track within 10 working days).
School level (Grade 12 / IB / Cambridge): ₹12,000 + 18% GST (approx ₹14,160); Higher Education (Bachelor's / Master's / Ph.D.): ₹20,000 + 18% GST (approx ₹23,600); Fast-track fee: Additional ₹5,000.
Candidates who have completed a formal, regular full-time course of study from a foreign university or board accredited by the national accrediting agency of the country where the institution is situated. AIU does not grant equivalence to foreign degrees obtained through distance learning, online modes, franchise centers, or degrees of duration shorter than Indian regulatory norms (e.g., 2-year general bachelor's degrees).
Indian students returning with foreign degrees (Bachelor's, Master's, Ph.D. from UK, US, Canada, Australia, Europe, etc.) seeking admission to Indian universities or employment in Central/State Government, PSUs, and UPSC; students from international school boards (International Baccalaureate - IB, Cambridge Assessment International Education - CAIE, American High School Diploma) applying for undergraduate admissions (NEET, JEE, CUET); foreign nationals joining Indian higher education institutions.
Access the official AIU portal at https://evaluation.aiu.ac.in/ and register with your email ID, mobile number, and passport details.
Enter the foreign institution name, country, degree title, program duration, and upload clear PDF copies of the apostilled degree, complete transcripts, passport visa stamps, and school certificates.
Pay the prescribed non-refundable evaluation fee (₹14,160 for school level, ₹23,600 for university degree) via credit card, net banking, or NEFT/RTGS gateway.
Send one set of photocopies duly notarized or apostilled along with the system-generated application printout via Speed Post or Courier to AIU House, 16 Comrade Indrajit Gupta Marg, New Delhi 110002.
AIU's Standing Committee evaluates course duration, credits, and accreditation status. Once approved, the digitally signed Equivalence Certificate is available for download, and a hardcopy with holographic seal is dispatched by registered post.
If there is a typographical error in the candidate's name or foreign degree title, log into the portal and raise a 'Correction Request' ticket within 30 days of issuance.
Upload the matching official passport or university transcript highlighting the correct spelling.
The AIU Evaluation Division verifies the correction and issues an amended certificate with a revised reference number.
Visit https://evaluation.aiu.ac.in/ and sign in using your registered email and password.
Click on 'Track Application Status' to verify that the evaluation committee has approved the parity.
Click 'Download Equivalence Certificate' to obtain the tamper-evident PDF featuring the official QR code and digital seal.
Actionable solutions for frequent verification bottlenecks at the AIU Evaluation Division.
| Issue / Rejection Reason | Root Cause | Actionable Remedy |
|---|---|---|
| Application marked pending for 'Verification of Accreditation Status' | Accreditation status of foreign university with national agency (e.g., regional accreditor in US, QAA in UK) | Download the official accreditation listing from the host country's Ministry of Education portal and submit it via the query response tab. |
| Fast-track 3-year US Bachelor's Degree rejected for Master's equivalence | Total credit hours completed versus standard 4-year US BS/BA degree requirement | Indian regulations require 12+4 or 12+3+2 education structures; if you completed a 3-year US degree with fewer than 120 semester credits, you may need to complete a bridge course. |
| Physical hardcopy dispatch delayed or lost in transit | India Post Speed Post tracking number submitted in the application dossier | Email evaluation@aiu.ac.in with your Application Reference ID, tracking receipt, and upload digital copies for desk evaluation. |
While foreign medical graduates must pass the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) / NExT conducted by the National Board of Examinations (NBEMS) to practice, AIU equivalence is mandatory if the graduate intends to pursue postgraduate degrees (MD/MS) in Indian universities or apply for academic faculty positions.
Yes. Indian university admission portals (including Delhi University, Mumbai University, CUET, NEET, and JEE counseling boards) require candidates completing IB (International Baccalaureate) Diploma or Cambridge A-Levels to submit an AIU Equivalence Certificate confirming 10+2 parity.
AIU grants equivalence to 1-year full-time Master's degrees from accredited UK universities provided the candidate completed a full-time 3-year or 4-year undergraduate degree prior to joining the Master's program and the program had physical campus residency.
No. AIU regulations strictly bar degrees obtained entirely through distance education, virtual classrooms, or online study from receiving equivalence, irrespective of the foreign university's global ranking.
Statutory rules, eligibility criteria, fee structure, and FAQs for foreign academic equivalence.
Government of India policy framework on foreign degree validation and educational parity.
Official certified, tamper-evident consolidated academic transcript issued by the Controller of Examinations or Registrar of a UGC/AICTE-recognized university, documenting semester-wise course codes, credits earned, grade point averages (CGPA/SGPA), and degree conferral details for foreign university admissions and credential evaluations (WES, IQAS)
Official institutional certificate issued by the Registrar, Controller of Examinations, or College Principal of a UGC-recognized university, certifying that a student completed their entire degree curriculum, lectures, laboratory coursework, and examinations exclusively in the English language
Who issues a migration certificate (board or university), when colleges ask for it, how to get it from CBSE via DigiLocker/DADS, and how it differs from a TC
Mandatory statutory pre-appointment verification dossier governed under DoPT guidelines and the landmark Supreme Court Avtar Singh ruling, filled in triplicate by selected candidates for Central (UPSC, SSC) and State Civil Services, detailing past 5-year residential history, educational background, and declaration of criminal antecedents or arrests
Official security clearance certificate issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) through Passport Seva Kendras confirming zero criminal records in India for overseas employment, immigration, and long-term visas
Official online portal of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), New Delhi, for foreign academic equivalence verification.
AIU International Evaluation Portal →