UK Postgraduate Degree Is Not Identified In India

A UK Postgraduate Degree, for which thousands of Indian students aspire for every year, is not identified in India as a PG Degree and candidates holding such degrees may be rejected by the varsities for higher studies like Ph.D. The stand taken by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) and the British Council that guides Indian students on UK Education too seam to corroborate this view.

Many applications were rejected on the ground that the postgraduate degree pursued was of just one year duration. Realizing the problem a note was written to the British Council and in-turn reply was that recognition of overseas degrees in India is guided by Government of India regulations and AIU was the right authority. Moreover, it made clear that the British Council does not offer equivalence certificates.

On checking the AIU website, it clearly indicated that the Master Degree Programmes which are less than two years in duration of Foreign Universities will not be accorded equivalence and AIU does not issue Equivalent Certificates in such cases. But still, AIU is the only recognized body in India for granting academic equivalence of degrees and diplomas not only within the country but also to other similar bodies in Foreign Countries.

Himanshu Vyas, a who has come across these problems is now worried that his dad's money and precious time have gone down the drain. He, who had completed his M.Sc in International Business from Nottingham University Business school, University of Nottingham had recently applied for a Ph.D programme in an Indian University.

The memorandum signed by the AIU says, As per the provisions of the MoU, the degrees awarded by the accredited universities of these concerned countries (Arab republic of Egypt, Russian Federation, Australia, Germany and SriLanka), for the full time programmes offered on the campus of the country of origin are accepted for admission to higher courses by Indian Universities on the reciprocal basis.