Dhiraj Kandel
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Nepal has changed the authority responsible for determining the equivalence of higher education qualifications. From July 17, 2026, or Shrawan 1, 2083, the University Grants Commission (UGC) will handle higher education degree equivalence in Nepal.
Previously, students applied through the Curriculum Development Centre of Tribhuvan University, commonly called TU CDC. TU has stopped accepting new degree-equivalence applications because this responsibility has legally been transferred to the UGC.
However, when this article was updated, the UGC had not published a complete application procedure, document checklist, fee schedule or dedicated equivalence portal. New applicants should follow the latest official UGC updates rather than the former TU process.
This change is especially important for Nepali students who have completed a bachelor’s, master’s, PhD or another higher education qualification from a foreign university. It may also affect graduates of certain institutions in Nepal who need their qualifications formally compared with degrees from recognised Nepali universities.
A degree equivalence certificate is an official document showing how a qualification compares with a recognised academic qualification in Nepal. For example, if you completed a bachelor’s degree at a university outside Nepal, the responsible authority may review:
Based on this review, the authority decides whether the qualification is equivalent to a particular level or degree in Nepal. Students and graduates may need this certificate for further education, government employment, professional registration or another official process. The exact requirement depends on the organisation requesting it.
Before July 17, 2026, higher education degree equivalence applications were handled by the Tribhuvan University Curriculum Development Centre in Kirtipur. Applicants used TU CDC’s online service to create an account, enter their personal and academic information, upload the requested documents and pay the applicable fee. The Curriculum Development Centre then reviewed the application.
The required documents depended on the qualification and how it was completed. Applicants could be asked for:
Qualifications, universities or courses that had not already been recognized could require a more detailed review or referral to the relevant academic committee. Although the TU CDC website still displays older equivalence services and records, it carries a notice dated July 16, 2026, confirming that the centre has stopped equivalence determination work. It also warns applicants not to submit new online applications until further notice.
Degree equivalence certificates issued by TU before the transfer do not automatically become invalid. UGC Chairperson Devraj Adhikari previously explained that people who had already received an equivalence certificate from TU would not need to apply again, only because the responsibility was moving to the UGC, as reported by The Kathmandu Post.
However, the transfer does not protect a certificate that has been separately cancelled, obtained using false information or issued based on invalid documents. If you have received a cancellation or investigation notice concerning your certificate, contact TU CDC or the UGC directly to confirm its current status and the next steps you need to follow.
From July 17, 2026, the University Grants Commission is the responsible authority for higher education degree equivalence. TU CDC will no longer accept new applications for this service.
The authority changed after the University Grants Commission Act, 2050 was amended through the Some Nepal Acts Amendment Act, 2082. The amended law gives the UGC responsibility for determining the equivalence of qualifications awarded by foreign universities or other equivalent higher education institutions.
New applicants should follow announcements from the University Grants Commission Nepal. The UGC is based in Sanothimi, Bhaktapur.
At the time of writing, the UGC’s public website did not provide a complete equivalence application page containing all of the following:
For this reason, students should not assume that every part of the former TU process will remain the same. The UGC may introduce new forms, assessment standards, payment methods or verification requirements.
Students who need a new degree equivalence certificate should wait for the UGC’s official application instructions and prepare their documents in advance. Follow these steps:
TU’s notice clearly confirms that it will not accept new applications after the transfer. However, publicly available information does not yet give complete instructions for every pending case.
If you submitted and paid for an application before July 17, 2026, do not immediately create a duplicate application. Keep your application number, payment receipt and all correspondence. Contact TU CDC or the UGC to ask whether your file will:
Applicants should obtain an answer about their individual file rather than assuming that all pending applications will be treated in the same way.
This is not simply a change of office. It is a legal and administrative change intended to place degree recognition under a national higher education body.
The most immediate reason is the amendment to the University Grants Commission Act, 2050. The amended provision formally authorises the UGC to determine the equivalence of qualifications issued by foreign universities and equivalent higher education institutions.
Because the new legal provision came into effect on July 17, 2026, TU CDC stopped accepting new applications. The official TU CDC website displays the notice confirming the end of its equivalence determination work.
Tribhuvan University is one university, although it is Nepal’s largest. The UGC works across Nepal’s wider higher education sector. Under the new approach, degree equivalence will be handled by a national-level body responsible for coordinating and supporting higher education. This may provide a more suitable institutional position for comparing qualifications from different Nepali and foreign universities.
The UGC’s official website also maintains information about universities in Nepal and institutions that have received Quality Assurance and Accreditation, commonly called QAA.
The transfer did not happen without prior discussion. According to reporting by The Kathmandu Post, the High-Level Education Commission recommended transferring degree equivalence responsibility from TU to the UGC in its 2018 report.
The change was therefore planned several years before it came into effect in July 2026.
Students had raised concerns about unclear decisions, lengthy reviews and inconsistent requirements under the previous system. The move is intended to support clearer national standards for comparing degrees and institutions.
The UGC chairperson previously said that the Commission would prepare guidelines containing clear assessment standards. The amended framework also requires updated lists of recognised degrees and institutions to be published every six months.
However, students should treat these as the intended improvements of the new system. The actual applicant experience will become clearer only after the UGC publishes its complete procedure and begins processing applications.
The legal amendment does more than transfer degree equivalence. It also strengthens the UGC’s authority concerning:
Placing these related functions under one organisation may help Nepal develop more consistent national rules for higher education recognition.
It is too early to confirm whether the new UGC process will be faster because no official processing time has been published. The time required may depend on the qualification, institution and level of review needed. Students preparing for further study can collect the relevant documents required for studying abroad while waiting for the complete procedure. Additional checks may be required when:
The UGC had not published a guaranteed processing time when this article was updated. Once applications open, students should apply early, submit complete and readable documents, and respond quickly if further evidence is requested. Avoid making admission, employment, travel or registration plans that depend on receiving the certificate within an estimated period.
Applicants should use the official UGC contact page for current details.
University Grants Commission Nepal
Sanothimi, Bhaktapur, Nepal
Email: ugc@ugcnepal.edu.np
Phone: 01-6638548, 01-6638549, 01-6638550
The UGC website lists summer office hours from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday to Friday, and winter office hours from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday to Friday. Check the contact page before visiting because office hours and service counters may change.
For an application already submitted under the previous system, you can contact TU CDC:
Tribhuvan University Curriculum Development Centre
Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal
Phone: 01-4334041
Email: helpdesk.cdc@tu.edu.np
Website: tucdc.edu.np
This change mainly concerns how higher education qualifications are officially recognised in Nepal. It does not automatically change the admission or student visa requirements of Australia, Canada, the UK, the USA or other countries. Foreign universities may assess your qualifications using their own criteria or an external credential assessment service.
You may need a UGC equivalence certificate for:
Before applying, ask the university, employer, professional council or government office whether equivalence is required. Not every overseas admission or student visa application requires a UGC equivalence certificate.
Degree equivalence is only one part of the academic document process. Depending on your destination, university and course, you may also need transcripts, certificates, English translations and other supporting documents.
If you are unsure which documents apply to your situation, book a free consultation for guidance on preparing your study abroad application. For official equivalence approval, always follow the latest instructions published by the UGC.
No. TU CDC stopped accepting new applications after responsibility moved to the University Grants Commission on July 17, 2026.
New applications must be handled under the UGC. Applicants should check the official UGC Nepal website for the new application portal and procedure.
A certificate already issued by TU does not need to be replaced, even if the responsible authority has changed. A certificate may still be affected if it has been individually cancelled or found to be invalid.
Do not submit a duplicate application until your case is confirmed. Keep your application number and payment receipt, then contact TU CDC or the UGC for instructions about your pending file.
The UGC had not yet published a completely new checklist when this article was updated. Students should wait for the official procedure instead of assuming that the former TU checklist will apply without changes.
A confirmed new fee schedule was not publicly available at the time of writing. Check the official UGC portal or notice before making any payment.
No. Only the legally authorised government body can determine and issue degree equivalence. Goreto can help students understand their study-abroad document requirements, but it cannot approve or issue an equivalence certificate.
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