After studying for an undergraduate or even a master's degree in China, when I arrived in the UK, I was put back to my original state by HR saying "We can't understand your school" - this is a wall that many Chinese have hit when applying for jobs, changing visas, or studying for graduate school. Your academic qualifications are genuine, but British employers, universities, and UKVI (Visa Bureau) need an "official translation" to tell them: What level of your degree is equivalent to the British level. This document comes from UK ENIC.
Why should I look for ENIC (NARIC has been renamed) for British academic qualification certification?
Let’s solve the most common confusion first: Many people are still searching for "UK NARIC" but cannot find the correct official website. The name NARIC has been discontinued from March 2021 as and the official body has now been renamed UK ENIC (UK National Information Centre), operated by Ecctis. So the "NARIC certification" and "NARIC level" you see refer to the current ENIC. Just look for the official website enic.org.uk and don't be wrongly charged by the copycat agency website.
What ENIC does is very pure: benchmark your overseas academic qualifications to the level of the British education system (for example, tell the other person "equivalent to the British Bachelor's degree / Master's degree level"). It is not a notarization of academic qualifications or an authentication of authenticity, but a "Grade Conversion Instruction" to help people in the UK understand your qualifications.
ENIC Don’t choose the wrong three services: job hunting vs. visa purposes
This is the most common pitfall for Chinese people - if you buy the wrong service, UKVI will not recognize it, and your money will be wasted. Three common categories:
🟢 Statement of Comparability (education comparison statement) : the most basic one, used for job hunting, applying to British universities, and professional registration. Prove that your degree is equivalent to a UK grade level.
🟢 Qualification and Language Service (QLS, formerly Visa & Nationality Visa and Naturalization Service) : This category is specifically for UKVI visa/naturalization with . Provided by Ecctis on behalf of Home Office, it simultaneously confirms the tier of your overseas degree and (if applicable) demonstrates your English proficiency with your degree.
🟢 English Language Assessment (English Proficiency Assessment) : People from non-English-speaking countries need this assessment if they want to use an "overseas degree taught entirely in English" instead of IELTS to meet the English requirements for visas.
Key points: is the basic version of Statement for job hunting, and QLS is for visa/naturalization. If you are applying for visas such as Skilled Worker and Global Talent, or applying for British permanent residence (ILR) subsequent naturalization, be sure to go through the dedicated visa channel and don’t buy cheaply.
ENIC 3-step application for academic qualification certification: materials, fees, and timeliness
The first step · Prepare all the materials. The core of is three things: degree certificate and transcript. If you want to use your degree to prove your English proficiency, you also need an MOI letter (Medium of Instruction, proof of teaching language) issued by the school, indicating that you are taught entirely in English. Chinese materials usually need to be accompanied by official translations, and ENIC also provides a paid option for translation waiver.
Step 2 · Place an order on the official website. Submit online at enic.org.uk and upload the scanned copy. A basic Statement of Comparability costs approximately £49.50 + VAT (approximately £59.40 including tax), plus postal/electronic delivery options. For urgent needs, expedited services are available: the 48-hour and 24-hour rates will be several times higher (subject to the real-time quotation on the official website).
Step 3: Wait for the letter to be issued. The target for ordinary processing and ENIC is to complete the assessment within 15 working days and , and it will take longer for complex cases. The timeliness and price of the visa-specific QLS service are calculated separately, and it is usually more expensive - but it issues a format directly accepted by UKVI, so the money should be spent.
⏰ Reminder: All fees and timeliness will be adjusted. Before placing an order, be sure to check the latest quotation on the enic.org.uk official website. The numbers in this article are for reference only.
What is the relationship between ENIC and British permanent residence ILR?
Let’s get straight to the conclusion: applying for British permanent residence (ILR) itself does not require ENIC certification for most people - the English test for permanent residence usually relies on Life in the UK Test plus a recognized English test, or an overseas English degree (only then can the ENIC English assessment be used).
ENIC is more about paving the way for you on the road from to permanent residence: when applying for Skilled Worker, the employer or UKVI wants to confirm your degree level; use Global Talent to evaluate academic qualifications; or you want to save one IELTS and directly use a domestic degree taught in English to pass the English test. If every step is connected smoothly, the 5 (or 10) years of permanent residence will not be wasted because of material jams.
As for how many days are left before your permanent residence and whether the number of days you have left the country exceeds the 180-day red line, for this kind of "actual calculation on a daily basis", you can use 永居计算器 APP to sort out the timeline. Make up the required materials early. Don't wait until the week before submission to find out that the academic certificate has not been issued.
📌 This article of is for reference only. For specific certification and visa issues, please consult a licensed lawyer or refer to the official information of GOV.UK and enic.org.uk.
[Data source] UK ENIC official website enic.org.uk/individuals/statement-of-comparability; Ecctis QLS service qls.ecctis.com
💬 Have you ever had your academic qualifications questioned when applying for a job or applying for a visa in the UK? Let’s talk in the comment area whether you use ENIC, IELTS or MOI degree-certified English level , so as to avoid a pitfall for future generations.
If you find it useful, please forward to your friends who are also applying for permanent residence in the UK. - Don't let an academic certification slow down your pace of getting ILR.