Getting Your UK Degree Recognised in Nepal — UGC Equivalence After July 2026
If you come back to Nepal with a UK degree and want a government job, Lok Sewa, or further study, you need a Nepali equivalence certificate. The authority that issues it changed in July 2026.
By Rahul Chhetri, Director, House of Admissions · Updated 20 Oct 2026
Since 17 July 2026 (Shrawan 1, 2083), degree equivalence (samakakshyata) is issued by the University Grants Commission, not Tribhuvan University’s Curriculum Development Centre. TU CDC stopped accepting new applications on that date. Applications go through UGC, with an online portal at ugcequivalence.edu.np. Any guidance telling you to go to TU Kirtipur is out of date.
This page covers getting a UK degree recognised in Nepal. For the opposite direction — how UK universities read a Nepali degree — see TU GPA equivalency.
- What it is
- Samakakshyata — official recognition of a foreign qualification in Nepal
- Authority since 17 July 2026
- University Grants Commission (UGC)
- Previously
- Tribhuvan University Curriculum Development Centre, Kirtipur
- Legal basis
- Amendment to the UGC Act 2050 via the Some Nepal Acts Amendment Act 2082
- Portal
- ugcequivalence.edu.np
- University degrees
- UGC
- School qualifications (+2, A-Levels, IB)
- MoE Curriculum Development Centre, Sanothimi — not UGC
What Changed in July 2026?
For more than three decades, equivalence certificates for foreign degrees were issued by Tribhuvan University’s Curriculum Development Centre at Kirtipur. Following an amendment to the University Grants Commission Act 2050 — made through the Some Nepal Acts Amendment Act 2082 — that authority transferred to the University Grants Commission with effect from 17 July 2026, Shrawan 1 of 2083.
TU CDC announced it would take no new equivalence applications from 17 July 2026. If you are reading older guidance — or being advised by someone working from memory — that tells you to go to Kirtipur, it is describing a process that no longer exists.
Which Body Handles Which Qualification?
This is the part that still trips people up, because the transfer covered university degrees only. Different levels go to different authorities.
| Your qualification | Authority |
|---|---|
| UK bachelor’s, master’s, MPhil, PhD | University Grants Commission (UGC) |
| A-Levels, IGCSE, IB, foreign Grade 12 | MoE Curriculum Development Centre, Sanothimi |
| Technical diplomas | CTEVT, Sanothimi |
When Do You Actually Need It?
When a Nepali institution needs to treat your foreign degree as equal to a Nepali one. In practice that means Lok Sewa and government jobs, further study at a Nepali university, and some professional registrations. A private employer in Nepal generally does not require it — they can read a UK transcript perfectly well.
If you intend to work in Nepal’s private sector or for an international organisation, you may never need an equivalence certificate at all. Do not obtain one reflexively.
What Should a UK-Bound Student Do Now?
- Keep everything. Your UK transcript, degree certificate and any transcript of records. Equivalence applications need original documentation years later.
- Do not apply before you need it. Equivalence is for a completed qualification and is only required when a Nepali body asks.
- Check the current UGC process when you need it, not now. The regulations were still being finalised as the transfer took effect, so the detail may have moved.
- Confirm which authority applies to your specific qualification level before applying — degrees go to UGC, school qualifications do not.
The transfer took effect in July 2026 with regulations reported as still going through approval. Treat everything on this page as the position at the time of writing and check ugcequivalence.edu.np and UGC directly before acting. We would rather say that than give you false precision on a process eight weeks old.
Planning to return to Nepal after your UK degree?Ask us what to keep and what you will need. Most students discard documents they need years later for equivalence — a five-minute conversation now saves that.
Free WhatsApp checkKeep reading: How to apply for a UK master’s · UCAS personal statement guide · Applying to UK universities page
Frequently Asked Questions
The University Grants Commission (UGC), since 17 July 2026. The authority transferred from Tribhuvan University’s Curriculum Development Centre, which stopped accepting new applications on that date.
Through an amendment to the University Grants Commission Act 2050, made via the Some Nepal Acts Amendment Act 2082. It implements a recommendation from a higher education committee and also gives UGC authority over credit transfer and quality assurance.
Only when a Nepali institution needs to treat it as equal to a Nepali qualification — Lok Sewa and government jobs, further study at a Nepali university, and some professional registrations. Private employers generally do not require it.
No. The transfer covered university degrees. School-level qualifications — A-Levels, IGCSE, IB, foreign Grade 12 — go to the Ministry of Education Curriculum Development Centre at Sanothimi. Technical diplomas go to CTEVT.
Through UGC, with an online portal at ugcequivalence.edu.np. Because the transfer is recent and regulations were still being finalised, check the current process directly with UGC before applying.
No — equivalence is for a completed foreign qualification. What you should do now is keep every document: transcript, degree certificate and transcript of records. Applications years later need original documentation.
No. TU CDC stopped accepting equivalence applications on 17 July 2026. Guidance pointing you to Kirtipur — including from consultancies working from memory — describes a process that no longer exists.
Processing times vary. Apply as soon as you have your final degree documents, and check the UGC portal for current timings.
Get this checked before you submit — free
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Where Does This Information Come From?
- University Grants Commission Nepal
- UGC equivalence portal
- The Himalayan Times — UGC to take over degree equivalency from July 17 (16 July 2026)
- British Council — Change in Nepal’s degree equivalency
Last updated 20 Oct 2026. Nepali foreign-exchange rules and MoEST procedure change by circular and are not always announced in English — confirm current figures with your bank or at noc.moest.gov.np before you rely on them. Nothing here is immigration or financial advice; for a decision on your own case, consult a regulated adviser.