UK ENIC Statement of Comparability: Cost, Timing, How to Apply

What is UK ENIC?

£69.60 · 15 working days

UK ENIC (formerly UK NARIC) is the national agency for recognising overseas qualifications in the United Kingdom. If you hold a school certificate or a degree from outside the UK, universities and employers may ask you to get a Statement of Comparability. This document shows which UK qualification your certificate is most similar to.

Cost: £69.60 for a standard Statement of Comparability.

Turnaround: 15 working days once you have sent all documents and payment.

Website: enic.org.uk

Source: UK ENIC cost page, confirmed correct on 8 May 2026.

When do you need a Statement of Comparability?

five common cases

Postgraduate applications where a 2:1 or above is required.
RPL / APEL (credit transfer) applications at a UK university.
ITT (Initial Teacher Training) bursary eligibility — the funding scheme for trainee teachers.
Employers in regulated professions (medicine, architecture, law, engineering).
Some universities also ask for it for direct undergraduate entry — check the website of each university.

What individual regulators ask for is on the Regulated professions page.

Per-country ENIC comparability table

11 countries

The typical UK ENIC assessment for secondary school certificates and first degrees from 11 countries (as of 8 May 2026). Rows where the banding is marked in orange need individual confirmation through a paid Statement of Comparability.

Country	Secondary school certificate	Typical UK ENIC banding (school)	Bachelor's / Specialist degree
Russia	Attestat o Srednem Obshchem Obrazovanii	GCSE standard	= UK Bachelor's degree standard
Ukraine	Atestat pro Povnu Zagalnu Seredniu Osvitu	GCSE standard	= UK Bachelor's degree standard
Belarus	Atestat ab agulnai syarednyai adukatsyi	GCSE standard	= UK Bachelor's degree standard
Kazakhstan	Attestat ob obshchem srednem obrazovanii	GCSE standard	= UK Bachelor's degree standard
Uzbekistan	Attestat ob okonchanii srednei shkoly	GCSE standard (2017 reform — see note)	= UK Bachelor's degree standard
Kyrgyzstan	Attestat	GCSE standard or below — depends on the school. Individual Statement required.	= UK Bachelor's degree standard
Tajikistan	Attestat	GCSE standard or below — depends on the school. Individual Statement required.	= UK Bachelor's degree standard
Armenia	Mijnakarg Yndhanur Krtoutian Attestat	GCSE standard (12-year system — confirm via ENIC)	= UK Bachelor's degree standard
Georgia	Sashualo Skolis Atestati	GCSE standard	= UK Bachelor's degree standard
Azerbaijan	Orta Tahsil Haqqinda Shahadatname	GCSE standard	= UK Bachelor's degree standard
Moldova	Diploma de Bacalaureat (BAC)	Historically treated as A-Level by some universities. ONLY after an individual ENIC Statement.	= UK Bachelor's degree standard

📌 The Russian and Ukrainian Attestat is GCSE standard (Level 2), not A-level (Level 3). That is why most applicants with a CIS school certificate need a Foundation Year or A-levels before Year 1 of a degree.

The table is a guide, not an ENIC decision. Only an individual Statement of Comparability gives you the official answer for your own document.

Notes on specific countries

where surprises happen

Uzbekistan

A 2017 reform moved the system back from 9 years (plus compulsory vocational college) to 11 years. If you hold a pre-reform 9-year certificate, your ENIC assessment may be significantly different. Apply for an individual Statement of Comparability.

⚠️ Kyrgyzstan / Tajikistan

ENIC assessments can differ by school type and curriculum. A "below GCSE" outcome is possible in some cases. Do not assume — apply for an individual ENIC assessment.

⚠️ Armenia

Despite the 12-year secondary system, the Armenian certificate is usually assessed at GCSE standard rather than A-level. ENIC banding reflects curriculum content and examination format, not the number of years alone. Confirm through an individual ENIC Statement.

🚩 Moldova — critical note

The Moldovan BAC (12-year system, external examinations) has historically been treated as comparable to A-level standard by some UK universities — which could allow direct Year 1 entry without a foundation year. However, this cannot be confirmed from publicly accessible sources. Moldovan applicants must get an individual UK ENIC Statement of Comparability before relying on A-level equivalency. Do not skip the Foundation Year on the basis of this table alone.

After you receive your Statement of Comparability

what to do with it

Include it with every university application. Do not rely on verbal claims about the level of your qualification. Universities will ask for the official ENIC document, especially for:

ITT (Initial Teacher Training) bursary eligibility
Postgraduate applications where a 2:1 or above is required
RPL (credit transfer) applications at any university

⏳ Do not delay your application

The 15 working-day turnaround means that if you apply close to the UCAS deadline (13 January for 2027 entry), your statement may not arrive in time.

Red flags

common mistakes

Relying on uncertified translators — ENIC documents need notarised translations.
Using a Statement of Comparability issued for someone else's diploma (a sibling's certificate, for example).
Assuming that a Soviet-era Specialist diploma automatically counts as a Master's — ENIC assesses it individually.
Leaving it to the last minute — 15 working days can stretch to three weeks with weekends.

Where to go next

neighbouring pages

Cohort A — CIS school certificateWhat to do when all you have is a school certificate: four routes to a BA/BSc degree. Cohort D — overseas degreeYou already hold a Bachelor's or Specialist diploma — where it takes you and what is recognised. Foundation Year in detailHow an integrated foundation year differs from a private course, and what SFE will fund. Regulated professionsMedicine, law, engineering, architecture: where ENIC is compulsory and what the regulators ask for. Qualification recognition — overviewAll the ways to have your qualification recognised in the UK, including professional bodies. All routes into universityThe University hub: decision tree, UCAS, money and the other cohorts.

Frequently asked questions

What is UK ENIC and why do I need a Statement of Comparability?

UK ENIC is the national agency for recognising overseas qualifications in the United Kingdom. A Statement of Comparability is an official document showing what UK qualification level your certificate is most similar to. Cost is £69.60 and turnaround is 15 working days.

Is a Statement of Comparability always required?

Not always, but it is strongly recommended. Universities will formally ask for it for RPL (credit transfer) applications, ITT (Initial Teacher Training) bursary eligibility, and postgraduate applications. For direct undergraduate entry via UCAS, check each university's requirements individually.

Why is a Russian Attestat rated as GCSE rather than A-level?

UK ENIC assesses qualifications based on curriculum content and examination format, not only years of study. The Russian and Ukrainian Attestat (11-year system) maps to GCSE standard (Level 2) rather than A-level (Level 3) by those criteria.

Is the Moldovan BAC equivalent to A-level?

Some UK universities have historically treated the Moldovan BAC as comparable to A-level standard, potentially allowing direct Year 1 entry without a foundation year. However, this cannot be confirmed from publicly accessible sources. Moldovan applicants must apply for an individual UK ENIC Statement of Comparability before relying on A-level equivalency claims.

Sources: UK ENIC · recognition of overseas qualifications GOV.UK · what qualification levels mean (GCSE, A-level)UCAS · applications and deadlines Updated 8 May 2026 — ENIC fee and turnaround checked

Last updated: 8 May 2026. Sources: UK ENIC, GOV.UK — qualification levels, UCAS. The ENIC fee, processing times and university requirements change — check them on the official websites before you apply.

UK ENIC: recognition of an overseas qualification