US agency recognises India’s bachelor’s degree

MUMBAI: You no longer have to plod through an extra year of academics after graduation to apply for post-graduate studies in American universities.

So far, students from India needed to complete 16 years of academics to be eligible for admission to US universities. But that is set to change with a graduation degree from India being put at a par with American graduate degrees.

In the first step in this direction, World Education Services (WES), one of the biggest foreign credential evaluators for US and Canadian universities, has revised its assessment of the three-year bachelor’s degrees awarded by Indian universities. But only those students passing with at least a second class from colleges rated ‘A’ or higher by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) will qualify.
“This will help students gain full credit for their Indian education and save them an extra year of coursework, which some students undertake to meet the requirement of 16 years of education for admission to US universities,” said Dr Rahul Choudaha, WES associate director.

Several US universities such as Carnegie-Mellon and the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth are now prepared to consider applications from candidates who hold bachelor’s degrees and have passed out from approved colleges.

Students, naturally, are cheering the new norms. “I am glad they have finally recognised our degrees,” said Shruti Jalota, a student at Mithibai College, Vile Parle. “After graduation, I was planning to take up MA through correspondence to be eligible for admission in the US. Now I just have to score well in my finals.”

Varun Purohit is relieved that he will not have to waste a year before applying for post-graduation in the US.  

 “I was planning on applying for a master’s degree in communication and journalism to be eligible for American universities after my BMM. But if this is implemented everywhere, I can concentrate on preparing for my GRE,” he said.

But education counsellor Anjali Vanage has a word of caution. “WES is an independent evaluator of academic credentials,” she said. “Though it is a positive signal for Indian graduates, it will take some time for all American and Canadian universities to recognise our degrees.”

The recognition of Indian degrees is significant as students from here constitute the largest chunk of foreign students on US campuses. According to the annual Open Doors report published by the Institute of International Education, 94,563 Indian students are enrolled in universities across America. “If the three-year Indian degree is accepted widely across universities, there would be more students flocking to US shores,” Vanage said. “Within India, NAAC-accredited colleges will be in demand among students.”