Applications
WES evaluation of an Indian degree, document by document
In short
WES requires academic documents to come from the institution that awarded them, sent in a sealed envelope or electronically where a digital partnership exists. Once all required documents arrive, verification typically takes about two weeks and an educational credential assessment about one, with course-by-course reports taking longer.
A credential evaluation is a verification exercise rather than an academic judgement, and almost every delay in one comes from the same place: the university, not WES.
The requirements vary by institution and are generated inside your own WES account, so treat the list below as the shape of the process rather than a substitute for yours.
What WES asks for
WES accepts consolidated transcripts and yearly mark sheets issued by the degree-granting institution, sent to WES in a sealed envelope, or electronically where the institution has a digital partnership with WES.
Where an institution will not send documents directly, applicants may be able to send the sealed envelopes themselves. The Required Documents list inside your WES account is the authority on what your specific university must provide.
Some documents, such as degree certificates and translations, can be uploaded by the applicant through the account.
The master's rule worth knowing
For several Indian master's degrees, including MEd, ME, MPhil, MTech, MNursing and MPharm, WES does not require bachelor's documents. For other Indian master's degrees, bachelor's documents are required as well.
That single rule is the difference between chasing one university and chasing two, which matters when one of them is an affiliating university with a slow records office.
How long it takes
WES publishes approximate processing times: about two weeks for document verification, about one week for an educational credential assessment used for Canadian immigration, about one week for a document-by-document report, and about two weeks for a course-by-course report, with complex cases taking longer.
The clock starts only once WES holds all required official documents. The weeks that actually hurt are the ones before that, spent waiting on a university to post an envelope.
| Stage | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Document verification | About 2 weeks |
| ECA for immigration | About 1 week |
| Document-by-document report | About 1 week |
| Course-by-course report | About 2 weeks, up to 4 if complex |
Working backwards from the deadline
Request documents with your WES reference number quoted, in writing, and keep the request. Follow up weekly rather than monthly. Where a digital route exists through a verification partner, it is usually faster than post.
Build the university's own turnaround into your plan, not WES's. The glossary entry on WES evaluation and our transcript entry cover what each document is, and the timeline piece shows where this sits against application deadlines.
Related questions
Can I send my own transcripts to WES?
In some cases, where the institution will not send them directly, sealed envelopes may be forwarded by the applicant. Your account's Required Documents list states what is acceptable for your institution.
Do I need a bachelor's transcript for a master's evaluation?
Not for certain Indian master's degrees, including MEd, ME, MPhil, MTech, MNursing and MPharm. Other Indian master's degrees require bachelor's documents as well.
Is WES the only evaluator?
No. Several organisations are designated for different purposes, and the receiving institution or immigration authority decides which it accepts. Check their list before paying for a report.