- UK ENIC describes itself as the official organisation for recognising and comparing international qualifications and skills.
- It is a partnership between the Department for Education and Ecctis, and Ecctis manages it.
- Its main product is the Statement of Comparability, which compares an international qualification with the UK education system.
- The homepage shows no fees, so we quote none; check the current price on the UK ENIC site before ordering.
What a Statement of Comparability does
A Statement of Comparability sets a qualification you already hold against the UK education framework, so that an employer, university or other body can see roughly where it sits. It answers “what level is this?” It does not answer “is this real?” or “may I practise a profession with it?” People mix up the three questions, and sellers of fake diplomas count on it.
Three different questions, three different bodies
| Question | Who answers it | Where to start |
|---|---|---|
| What UK level is my overseas qualification? | UK ENIC, through a Statement of Comparability | The UK ENIC website |
| Is my certificate genuine? | The awarding institution, or a verification service acting for the employer | The institution that issued it |
| Can I work in a regulated profession? | The regulator for that profession, such as the NMC for nurses or the GMC for doctors | The regulator's own overseas route |
| Is this UK institution allowed to award degrees? | The register for its nation, as listed on GOV.UK | Check if a university is real |
Other services on the UK ENIC site
Besides the Statement, UK ENIC lists Early Years services for people who want to work with children from birth to five, UK Qualification Reference Statements that describe UK qualifications, and a Qualification and Language Service delivered through an outside partner. If you are not sure which applies, read the descriptions on the site rather than choosing from a third-party advert.
Getting ready to apply
- Work out why you need the statement: a job, a university place, a visa or a professional body. Ask that organisation whether it wants a Statement of Comparability or something else.
- Gather your certificates and transcripts. You can only compare qualifications you hold, so the originals need to be genuine.
- Go to UK ENIC directly and read the current price and process on its own pages.
- Keep the reference or order number the service gives you; it is what the receiving organisation will use to confirm the document.
Why buying a diploma does not fix this
A diploma from an institution that does not exist cannot be improved by a comparability statement, because the comparison starts from a real qualification. Employers and universities may still check the awarding body, and for regulated jobs the regulator makes its own decision. Anyone offering to produce a certificate and then “get it recognised” is describing two steps, and the first one is the crime. The warning signs of paper mills are on diploma mill warning signs, and nurses can read their own route at NMC registration for overseas nurses.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Statement of Comparability?
A UK ENIC document that compares an international qualification with the UK education system. It tells a reader the approximate UK level of a qualification you hold. It does not confirm the certificate is genuine, and it does not give you a right to practise a regulated profession.
Who runs UK ENIC?
UK ENIC describes itself as the official organisation for recognising and comparing international qualifications and skills. It is a partnership between the Department for Education and Ecctis, and Ecctis manages it. The Statement of Comparability is its main product, alongside early years and other services listed on its site.
How much does a Statement of Comparability cost?
The UK ENIC homepage did not show a price when we read it, so we do not quote one. Use the fee shown on the UK ENIC site at the time you apply, and be wary of resellers adding their own charge.
Does UK ENIC check that my certificate is real?
Its Statement of Comparability compares a qualification with UK levels. Confirming authenticity is a different step, done with the awarding institution or through a verification service. Employers can still ask for that check after you present a statement. Verification starts with the awarding institution, so a statement cannot repair a certificate that was never genuine.
Do nurses and doctors need a Statement of Comparability?
Regulated professions have their own routes. Nurses apply to the NMC and doctors to the GMC, and each regulator sets what evidence it needs. Ask your regulator what it requires before paying for a comparability statement you may not need.