Kathmandu— Nepal’s University Grants Commission (UGC) has assumed the authority to determine the equivalence of academic degrees earned abroad, initiating the process with an assessment of 30 graduate degrees as of August 16. The shift in responsibility from Tribhuvan University (TU) follows an amendment to the ‘University Grants Commission Act, 2050’ via the ‘Act to Amend Some of Nepal Acts, 2082’, granting UGC this new function. UGC Chair Prof Dr Khadga Bahadur KC, who assumed office on August 7th, stated that equivalence determinations began on August 10th and a new set of working procedures is nearing finalization.

Transition of Authority

Previously, Tribhuvan University’s Curriculum Development Centre under the Office of the Rector handled the evaluation of foreign academic qualifications. The recent legal amendments transferred this responsibility to the UGC, marking a significant change in how Nepal recognizes international degrees. This transition began with the assessment of 30 graduate-level degrees earned from universities outside of Nepal.

New Procedures and Staffing

The UGC has initiated work on new internal procedures governing the equivalence process, which are currently in the endorsement phase. To facilitate this immediate undertaking, the UGC is temporarily utilizing personnel seconded from Tribhuvan University due to a current lack of specialized staff within the commission itself. According to Chair KC, finalizing these procedures depends on completing appointments to fill vacant positions within the UGC.

Equivalence Committee Structure

The proposed working procedures outline the formation of an Equivalence Determination Committee, which will be chaired by the UGC’s secretary. This committee will play a central role in evaluating and confirming the comparability of foreign degrees to Nepal's academic standards. The UGC began accepting online applications for degree equivalence on July 17th.

The UGC continues to refine its procedures and staffing to ensure a smooth and efficient process for assessing foreign qualifications, with full implementation expected upon completion of key appointments.

(With inputs from RN)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.