Ever wondered how international students cope with the challenges of education and courses abroad? With the world getting closer every day, it has become very common for students to pursue higher studies and specially designed courses abroad. The obvious question that arises from this trend is how students should go about securing international recognition for their academic qualifications. Evaluation by WES is, therefore, the most crucial and foremost step towards studying abroad for any Indian student. This journey shall definitely be helped by understanding the WES credential evaluation process and what has led to it.
What is WES?
World Education Services is a non-profit class Public Benefit Organization evaluation organization. It provides credential evaluations to international students and immigrants planning for further studies or to work in the United States and Canada, respectively. Founded in 1974, WES has grown into an organization that enjoys recognition and trust from over 2,500 educational, business, and governmental institutions.
What is WES Credential Evaluation?
A credential evaluation by WES is an assessment and conversion of academic achievement from any country into its U.S. or Canadian equivalent. At the core, what it does for universities and employers is evaluate exactly the degree and value of somebody’s education from abroad in comparison to their local standards of education.
There are two types of evaluations offered by WES, basically:
- Document-by-Document Evaluation: This is a listing of your academic qualifications and their U.S. or Canadian equivalents. It costs a bit less because it contains only a basic overview without a detailed breakdown of each course.
- Course-by-Course Evaluation: This would be a more detailed report that contains the titles of courses taken, the grades obtained, and the equivalent credits with grades in the U.S. or Canada. It may be asked for by the universities very often for admission purposes.
Why is WES Credential Evaluation Important?
For Indian students, the WES credential evaluation comes into prominence in the application process for a foreign education for the following reasons:
- Standardizing academic credentials: A candidate from India can have qualifications that are not directly equivalent in the U.S. or Canada. WES evaluation will help standardize these credentials so that it would then be easy and quick for admissions officers to understand your academic background.
- Better admission chances: Many educational institutions in the U.S. and Canada require WES evaluations for foreign students. If your credentials are evaluated by WES, this will help not only smoothen your process but also give a clear record of academics, recognized by all, and therefore improve your admission chances. Some of the universities include:
- Ease of credit transfer: If you plan to transfer credits from earlier studies to another institution, then this course-by-course evaluation carried out by WES will be very useful. It details every course undertaken in your earlier study or studies, thus enabling the admitting institution to know exactly the transfer credit that should be awarded.
How to Apply for WES Evaluation Process
Understanding the WES evaluation process helps you be better prepared and avoid common pitfalls. The steps are as follows:
- Create an account at WES: This way, you have a portal to check up on the application, get updates about the processing, and obtain your WES reference number.
- Type of evaluation: Depending on the requirement, whether university admission or job application, one may opt for a document-by-document or course-by-course evaluation.
- Submit all documents required: There will be some documents that WES requires for them to process the evaluation. In most cases, students from India need to provide academic transcripts, degree certificates, and in some highly exceptional cases, syllabi or course descriptions. These documents should always be sent directly from your institution to WES for convenience. Your WES reference number must be included on the envelope.
- Pay for the Evaluation: The WES evaluation price varies depending on the type and level of urgency. Make sure you log onto the WES website for current fees and payment details.
- Track Your Evaluation: After you have submitted all documents accompanied by the necessary fee, there will be an opportunity provided to track the progress of your evaluation from in your WES account. Normally, the evaluation process could take up to 7 working days once all the documents have been received.
- Get an Evaluation Report: WES will later mail an official report of your evaluation.
Cost of WES Evaluation for Indian Applicants
The cost of the WES evaluation depends on the type of evaluation, mode of payment, and the country from which you are applying. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the WES evaluation fee:
- Document-by-Document WES Evaluation cost is $111 USD for WES basic and $160 USD for WES ICAP
- Course-by-Course WES Evaluation cost is $176 USD for WES basic and $225 USD for WES ICAP
Additional Services and Fees
Delivery charges:
- Standard delivery: $12 USD
- International Courier Services: $81 USD
- 1-day shipping (U.S only): $39 USD
- 2-day shipping (U.S only): $27 USD
- 3–5-day shipping (U.S only): $17 USD
- Sealed envelope WES costs: $7 USD/ 12 CAD
Other services:
- Duplicate reports ordered at the time of application: $33 USD
- Update a completed evaluation report: $87 USD
Duplicate reports ordered after the completion of evaluation:
- First WES basic report: $54 USD
- First WES ICAP report: $33 USD
Note: Costs may vary slightly over time, so it’s best to check WES’s official website for the up-to-date fee structure.
Validity of WES evaluation
A standard credential WES evaluation report does not have an expiration date and can be used as a permanent reference for academic and professional purposes. However, some institutions may require you to submit a more recent WES evaluation report. Check with your organizations or institutions to learn about their WES evaluation requirements.
Tips for a Seamless WES Credential Evaluation
- Start early: The process may take several weeks, especially if document submission gets delayed. Begin as soon as you have decided to study abroad.
- Check document requirements: Be sure to clearly understand each requirement in terms of documents, depending on your country and educational background. Missing or incorrect documents delay the process.
- Contact your institution: Ensure that your institution of study clearly understands the WES requirements and sends documents in the required format. Lack of communication may delay the process.
Conclusion
WES evaluation for Indian students is hence one of the most important steps to be undertaken before any Indian student decides to study abroad. This makes sure that foreign universities and institutions properly interpret and assess your academic qualifications, helping in admissions, scholarship provisions, and job prospects. Knowing the WES process is, therefore, to be better placed and equipped to handle this very important step with confidence and ease, setting you up for success in abroad studies.
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FAQs
Q: Is WES Evaluation free?
Ans: No, WES evaluations are not free. WES charges a fee to evaluate your international academic credentials and provide a report. The cost depends on the type of evaluation and where you are applying from.
Q: How long is the WES Evaluation valid?
Ans: A WES evaluation report has no expiry date. However, some universities or organizations may have different requirements and ask for a recent evaluation.
Q: What documents do I need for a WES Evaluation?
Ans: For a WES evaluation, you require academic transcripts, degree or diploma certificates, translated copies of non-English documents, and additional documents based on the type of evaluation.
Q: How long does a WES Evaluation take?
Ans: A WES evaluation typically takes about 7 business days to complete after all necessary documents are received and verified. However, the time taken can vary based on the type of evaluation, like course-by-course evaluation may take a longer time.
