Woolf provides European-accredited degrees to students around the world, many of whom live in India. Woolf’s Indian alumni have already derived various benefits from their Woolf degrees, including improved status with employers and access to further study with Woolf and other institutions. They’re also used for immigration purposes in Europe, the United States, Canada, and elsewhere. However, there are important specifics about how the Indian education system relates to foreign online degrees which are important to bear in mind, as well as a number of misconceptions around the role of Association of Indian Universities (AIU) and University Grants Commission (UGC), two important institutions in the Indian context.
Recognition by UGC
The UGC is the regulatory authority overseeing higher education in India, covering Indian institutions and foreign universities that operate campuses in India and award Indian degrees. Woolf, however, is a global higher education institution that issues European-accredited degrees regulated by relevant European accreditation bodies. As such, Woolf operates outside the jurisdiction of the UGC, just as Indian institutions fall outside the scope of European accreditation authorities.
Recognition by AIU
Foreign institutions which do not fall under the scope of UGC can still have their qualifications evaluated by the AIU. However, online foreign degrees are not considered for equivalence by the AIU, meaning an AIU equivalence certificate cannot be issued for such degrees. Note that this does not prevent recognition by Indian employers or in any way impact the regular recognition and equivalence of Woolf degrees by higher education institutions in North America and Europe. However, Woolf students who are pursuing their degree online may encounter complications with Indian higher education institutions (as may the students of any foreign institution offering online programs such as Stanford Online, Harvard Online Education, Oxford Continuing Education, etc.).
Degree Mobility and Immigration
Woolf degrees have been evaluated in multiple countries in Europe as well as the United States and Canada. More information about ECAs (Education Credential Assessments) obtained by Woolf students with specific information, advice, and instructions can be found in our Degree Mobility and Immigration article.