Applications
AIU equivalence, and when it actually applies
In short
An Association of Indian Universities equivalence certificate recognises a foreign qualification for higher study or employment in India. It is not required to apply abroad with an Indian degree. Degrees earned by distance, open, online or private modes are not currently granted equivalence, which is the exclusion that catches people out.
Half the people who ask us about AIU equivalence do not need it, and the other half need it two years before they think they do.
The distinction is simple: it is about bringing a foreign qualification back into India, not about taking an Indian one out.
What it is for
AIU issues equivalence for qualifications awarded by foreign boards and universities, so that they can be used for higher study or employment in India. If you are an Indian graduate applying to a university abroad, this is not a document in your file.
Where it does matter is afterwards: a master's from abroad that you intend to use for a PhD admission or a government job in India, or a school qualification from a foreign board used for admission to an Indian university.
The eligibility rules, including the exclusion
AIU's published criteria require that the awarding university is approved, recognised or accredited in its home country, that the student studied full time on the home campus or an approved offshore campus, and that the programme duration and admission requirements are at least equivalent to the Indian counterpart.
Degrees obtained through distance, open, online, virtual, home-study or private modes are not currently accorded equivalence. This is the rule that turns a cheap online master's into a qualification that cannot be used for its intended purpose back home.
It is also a reason to read the delivery mode of a programme carefully at the application stage, not the marketing description of it.
How to apply
Applications are made online through AIU's evaluation portal: register, complete the profile, upload self-attested scans, pay the fee and submit. The certificate is issued into the applicant's profile.
AIU also issues a separate letter on the accreditation status of a foreign university for education loan purposes, which banks sometimes ask for. That needs the bank's letter, the offer letter and the fee payment receipt.
Fees vary by the type of application and AIU does not publish a single figure for individual degree equivalence, so take the amount from the portal rather than from any third-party page.
The decision this should inform
If there is any chance you will return to India to study further or to work in a role requiring recognised qualifications, check the delivery mode and the home-country recognition of the programme before you accept the offer.
That check belongs with the others you make when reading a programme page, and it is one more reason to be sceptical of programmes that are easy to get into and impossible to explain afterwards.
Related questions
Do I need AIU equivalence to apply for a master's abroad?
No. It recognises foreign qualifications for use in India. Universities abroad assess your Indian degree themselves, sometimes with a credential evaluation such as WES.
Will an online degree from a good foreign university get equivalence?
AIU's criteria exclude distance, open, online, virtual, home-study and private modes, regardless of the reputation of the institution. Confirm the current position on the AIU portal before enrolling.
How long does it take?
AIU publishes a processing time for school-level applications of ten to fifteen working days. It does not publish a figure for foreign degree equivalence, so ask when you apply.