For thousands of Indian professionals and students seeking to settle, study, or work in countries like Canada or the United States, credential evaluation is a necessary step in the immigration process. World Education Services (WES) is one of the most recognized and widely accepted credential evaluation agencies. If you’re planning to apply for immigration or higher education, particularly under programs like Express Entry in Canada, understanding how WES evaluates Indian transcripts is essential.
This detailed blog breaks down the evaluation process, how Indian academic records are assessed, common challenges applicants face, and how to ensure your transcript submission to WES is successful. Whether you hold a degree from a public university, private institution, autonomous college, or a professional education board, this comprehensive guide has you covered.
What Is WES and Why Is It Important?
World Education Services (WES) is a non-profit organization that evaluates academic credentials from around the world. The organization translates your educational qualifications into their Canadian or U.S. equivalent, depending on your destination country.
A WES Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) is often required for:
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Immigration to Canada under Express Entry and PNP programs
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Admission to universities and colleges
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Professional licensing in various fields such as engineering, healthcare, and teaching
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Employment in roles that require verified academic credentials
Without a valid WES report, you may not be eligible for immigration points or educational admission.
Types of WES Evaluations
WES offers different types of evaluations, but for immigration purposes, you primarily need the Document-by-Document evaluation, known as an ECA Report. This report:
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Lists all recognized post-secondary credentials
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States the Canadian or U.S. equivalency of each credential
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Is valid for five years
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Is required by IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada)
For academic admissions or employment, WES may perform a Course-by-Course evaluation, which includes detailed subject-wise comparisons.
How WES Evaluates Indian Credentials
Indian education is diverse, with numerous universities, boards, and technical institutions. WES has developed a robust system to assess these credentials, but they follow strict guidelines to ensure authenticity, consistency, and accuracy.
1. Recognition of the Institution
WES first checks if the issuing institution is officially recognized by India’s University Grants Commission (UGC) or other regulatory bodies such as:
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All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE)
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National Board of Examinations (NBE)
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Medical Council of India (MCI) / National Medical Commission (NMC)
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State Technical Education Boards
If your institution is not recognized, WES may refuse to evaluate the credential.
2. Verification of the Credential
WES determines whether your degree or diploma is genuine, complete, and awarded according to regulatory norms. For example:
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A three-year bachelor’s degree (like B.A., B.Sc., B.Com.) from a recognized university is generally equivalent to a Canadian bachelor’s degree.
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A two-year diploma after high school may be equivalent to a post-secondary diploma.
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An MBA from a reputable Indian university is usually considered equivalent to a master’s degree in Canada.
However, certain qualifications (like open university degrees or distance learning courses) are evaluated more cautiously and may not always be considered equivalent.
3. Assessment of Duration and Content
WES also looks at the duration of the program and the curriculum covered. A degree completed in less than the minimum required duration (for example, a one-year master’s without a prior bachelor’s) may not be considered equivalent.
Also, your medium of instruction, grading system, and number of academic years are taken into account when comparing with North American standards.
Required Documents for Indian Applicants
To initiate the WES evaluation, you must submit a set of official academic records. The requirements may vary slightly by university, but typically include:
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Final or consolidated mark sheets from each year/semester
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Degree certificate (provisional or final)
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Transcripts sealed and sent directly from your university to WES (either electronically or via courier)
Note: WES does not accept mark sheets sent by students. They must come directly from the issuing institution in a sealed envelope or through official electronic transfer (ETX platforms where available).
Electronic Transfer of Documents (ETX)
Many Indian universities now support electronic transcript exchange through platforms such as:
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National Academic Depository (NAD)
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Digilocker (for some institutions)
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University’s in-house digital systems
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Third-party providers authorized by the university
If your university participates in electronic transfer, WES may accept transcripts digitally, which speeds up the evaluation process and reduces the chance of document rejection due to sealing or format issues.
WES Evaluation Timeline
On average, the WES evaluation process follows this timeline:
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Document Submission: 1–2 weeks depending on your university’s processing speed
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WES Review: 7–14 business days after all documents are received
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Evaluation Report: Sent directly to IRCC or any other selected institution electronically or by mail
Delays can occur if:
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Documents are incomplete
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University envelopes are not sealed or signed properly
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WES requires further verification
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The issuing institution takes time to respond to verification requests
Tips for a Smooth WES Evaluation
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Start Early: Begin the transcript request process from your university at least 2–3 months in advance.
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Check Requirements: Visit WES’s website to get exact instructions for your university. Each institution has a unique document policy listed.
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Use Authorized Services: If you’re abroad or unable to visit your university, use a trusted transcript application service that handles document collection, sealing, and courier dispatch professionally.
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Order Extra Copies: If you’re applying for multiple purposes (immigration, admission, licensing), request multiple sealed transcript copies at once.
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Track Every Step: Use tracking for documents sent by courier and check your WES account regularly for updates.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. Will WES accept my degree from an open university?
WES may accept degrees from certain open universities like IGNOU, but only if they are recognized by UGC and the program was completed under approved guidelines.
Q. Do I need to send transcripts from high school?
No. For immigration-related ECAs, only post-secondary academic records (diploma, bachelor’s, master’s, etc.) are needed.
Q. How long is a WES report valid?
WES reports are valid for five years from the date of issue and can be used for immigration and educational purposes during that time.
Q. Can I upgrade my report later?
Yes, WES allows upgrades from immigration evaluations to course-by-course evaluations for educational applications, usually at an additional fee.
Conclusion
Getting your Indian transcripts evaluated by WES is a crucial step in your journey to Canada or the U.S., whether for immigration, higher studies, or licensing. With increasingly strict verification policies and digital transition, it’s more important than ever to understand how WES operates and what they expect from Indian applicants.
By ensuring your transcripts are complete, official, sealed, and sent through the correct channels, you can avoid delays and increase your chances of a successful evaluation. Start early, follow the process carefully, and consider using a professional transcript coordination service if needed — your future deserves the strongest foundation.
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