UGC Equivalence Nepal: How to Apply Now That TU Has Stopped

What Is UGC Equivalence in Nepal, and Who Needs It?

UGC equivalence is a letter from Nepal’s University Grants Commission (UGC) that says what your foreign degree equals here.

You need it when you come home with a degree from abroad. The UGC Equivalence portal says you generally need it to study more, get a job or join a professional council in Nepal.

So UGC Nepal equivalence is mostly for people who studied in India, Australia, the USA or another country. If you still plan to study in Canada from Nepal or study in Australia, it matters later, when you bring that degree home.

Why Did Degree Equivalence Move from TU to UGC?

The law changed, so UGC has decided foreign degree equivalence since Shrawan 1, 2083 BS (17 July 2026).

For years, students applied to the Curriculum Development Centre of Tribhuvan University, known as TU CDC. Then the Some Nepal Acts Amendment Act, 2082 added this work to section 6 of the University Grants Commission Act, 2050. TU CDC’s closing notice explains the change and says it stopped taking applications on that date.

Later, TU CDC said it had finished this work for degrees from outside TU from Asoj 23, 2083 BS. So you should not apply to TU for a new letter. Notices in Nepal use BS dates, and our Nepali date converter changes them to AD.

How Do You Apply for UGC Equivalence Online?

You apply for UGC equivalence on the official portal, ugcequivalence.edu.np, where you make an account, fill the form, upload documents and pay.

UGC’s own notice gave this as the online route, starting from Shrawan 6, 2083 BS (22 July 2026). The steps are:

1. Open the portal and choose Sign Up.
2. Verify your email, then log in.
3. Go to the Application menu and fill the equivalence form.
4. Complete your profile and upload the required documents.
5. Submit the application, then pay in the payment tab.

You can do this from anywhere in Nepal or abroad, as the portal says most requests no longer need a visit to the office. Type the address yourself so that you reach the real site. If the form gives you trouble, write to equivalence@ugcnepal.edu.np.

Which Documents Do You Need for UGC Equivalence?

You need your degree certificate and transcript, plus the certificate and transcript from the level just below it.

The portal’s FAQ lists these for a degree earned outside Nepal:

• Degree certificate and transcript
• Certificate and transcript of the level just below
• Passport and visa or residence permit, if you studied outside Nepal and India
• Internship or clinical practice records, where your subject has them
• Any other document that fits your degree and subject

The level below works like this. A bachelor’s degree needs your +2 certificate, a master’s needs your bachelor’s, and an M.Phil. or PhD needs your master’s. You generally don’t need your SLC or SEE certificate, unless your lower level came before the +2 system.

M.Phil. and PhD applicants add more proof, where it applies. This means enrolment or registration proof, research progress reports, thesis defence and approval papers, supervisor letters and viva papers.

Keep your passport and old visas safe while you study abroad, because they can be needed here. UGC hasn’t said how to scan your papers. Under TU, the old FAQ asked for clear scans of originals, English translations and no notary stamp, so that is a sensible way to prepare.

What Is the Difference Between Regular and Procedural Equivalence?

Regular is for degrees checked before, and procedural is for degrees being checked for the first time.

You can’t always tell which type you are before you apply. So leave extra time if few people in Nepal have studied at your university.

How Long Does a UGC Equivalence Certificate Take?

A UGC equivalence certificate usually takes a few working days for regular cases and about 1 month for procedural cases.

These are the portal’s own usual times, not a promise. The clock for a regular case really starts when all your documents are verified as complete, so a missing paper can slow you down. If you have a job or admission deadline, apply well before it.

UGC hasn’t published a fixed time for each subject, and the portal only says “usually”. So don’t promise a date to an employer or a college in Nepal until you have the letter in your hand. If your case is taking longer than this, write to UGC and give your application details.

How Much Does UGC Equivalence Cost?

UGC doesn’t list the fee on its public pages, so you see the amount at the payment step.

The portal says that fees, once paid, are non-refundable, except where the Commission’s decision or the law allows it. So check your documents before you pay. You pay inside the portal, so you don’t need to hand cash to anyone.

You may see older figures online. Those came from TU, whose FAQ listed Rs 1,000 for regular and Rs 4,000 for procedural cases. They were TU’s fees, so don’t take them as what UGC charges in Nepal now.

Is Your Old TU Equivalence Certificate Still Valid?

Nothing in the TU or UGC notices asks holders of old TU certificates to apply again.

The notices move future work to UGC. TU CDC must also hand UGC its records of the degrees and universities it has dealt with, within 3 months of the date set by law.

There is one exception to know about. TU CDC published a notice cancelling certain certificates from 4 universities in India, after a review committee’s advice. If you have received a cancellation notice, or an employer in Nepal doubts your letter, ask UGC to confirm where you stand.

What If You Applied to TU Before the Change?

If you applied to TU CDC by the end of Asar 2083 BS, TU says a decision has been made, so go and collect your letter.

TU CDC’s collection notice asks you, or a relative with an ID card, to come to window number 4 during office hours. If you paid through eSewa after the deadline, your application will not be processed. The refund notice says the fee goes back to the same eSewa account.

If you aren’t sure about your file, call TU CDC in Kirtipur, Nepal, before you apply again. That way you avoid paying twice.

Do You Need UGC Equivalence to Study Abroad from Nepal?

Usually no, because you use UGC equivalence in Nepal, and universities abroad set their own entry rules.

A college abroad checks your +2 or bachelor’s marks against its own rules. One example is this guide from Federation University. So most students can leave this step until they come home.

You will more often need your transcripts from Nepal, a character certificate and a migration certificate. Our study abroad resources cover the rest.

It can come up once before you leave. If you passed your last course abroad, the NOC portal asks for this letter. Our guide on how to apply for NOC online shows that step.

Visa papers are a separate list. See the Canada student visa requirements or the Australia student visa requirements.

How Can You Make Equivalence Easier Before You Go Abroad?

Choose a recognised institution, keep your papers safe, and ask UGC first if your course is unusual.

Think about this while you pick a college, especially if you may want a government job in Nepal later. The same goes if you plan a master’s degree in Canada and then want to work back home. In Canada, start with the DLI list. For Australia, see our list of universities in Australia.

The portal doesn’t explain how it treats online or distance degrees. So if you plan one, email UGC before you pay any fees. A counselor can also help you compare colleges, and our pages on the best consultancy for Canada and the best consultancy for Australia explain what to look for.

How Do You Contact UGC or TU CDC About Equivalence?

For new applications contact UGC at Sanothimi, Bhaktapur, and for old TU files contact TU CDC at Kirtipur.

The UGC contact page lists office hours of 9 to 5 in summer and 9 to 4 in winter, Monday to Friday.

Goreto can’t give you this letter, because only UGC does that. We can help you plan your study abroad documents at our branches in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Chitwan, Itahari and Pokhara. To talk to a counselor, book a free consultation.