On Wednesday morning, Pramod Sah arrived at the University Grants Commission office in Sanothimi, Bhaktapur, carrying a bag of documents. He had hoped to return with an equivalency certificate for his MD (postgraduate) degree, which he earned from a university in Chandigarh, India.

However, despite spending the entire day making rounds of the office, he did not receive the certificate he was seeking. Instead, he was told that he would have to wait a little longer.

“The UGC officials asked me to wait until the necessary legal procedures are completed and staff arrangements made,” Sah said.

The UGC advised him to submit an online application and wait for the time being. Sah, who is originally from Biratnagar, has recently been living in India.

“I came to Nepal specifically for this work, but nothing happened,” he said.

Like Sah, 26-year-old Bishal Bhujel, who completed his optometry studies in Bengaluru, faced a similar problem. Since an equivalency certificate is required to participate in Nepal’s licensing examination, he had gone to the UGC. However, instead of a permanent certificate, he was provided only with a temporary letter.

“Our licensing exam applications are opening soon. They prepared a temporary document so that we could take the exam,” he said. “They told us to return later for the permanent certificate because the regulations and other procedures have not yet been completed.”

Although Bhujel hopes the temporary letter will fulfil his immediate need, it is not a permanent solution. As a result, many students who have returned after completing their studies abroad are currently uncertain about their future.

More than a week has passed since the service began after the responsibility for issuing equivalency certificates for academic qualifications was transferred from the Tribhuvan University to the commission. However, not a single permanent equivalency certificate has been issued so far.

The commission started accepting applications on July 22, and more than 1,000 students have applied for equivalency certificates so far. According to the commission, around 200 students visit daily to apply for equivalency. However, no student has yet received a permanent certificate, leaving them uncertain about further studies, licensing examinations, and other academic procedures.

An equivalency certificate is mandatory for recognition of academic degrees obtained from foreign universities in Nepal. Based on this certificate, students can pursue further studies at Nepali universities, apply for scholarships, and participate in professional activities. Students in health-related fields have been particularly affected by the UGC’s delays. Those returning after studying medicine, physiotherapy, optometry, and other health sciences abroad require equivalency certificates to complete licensing procedures.

After amendments were made to the University Grants Commission Act in August last year, the authority to issue equivalency certificates, previously handled by the Tribhuvan University for decades, was transferred to the commission. Under this arrangement, the commission announced that it would begin providing equivalency services from July 22.

However, even a year after the transfer of responsibility, the commission has not been able to fully establish the required structures and decision-making procedures, causing difficulties for students.

The main reason for the delay is that the necessary regulations have not been issued even a year after the Act was amended. Although the regulations must be approved by the Council of Ministers based on a proposal from the Ministry of Education, the process has not moved forward.

Dularaj Chimariya, deputy director at the commission, said delays in issuing the regulations were caused by insufficient administrative preparation, a lack of leadership, and other procedural issues.

“Currently, the commission does not have a chairperson, secretary, or board members. The secretary is supposed to coordinate the equivalency determination committee. The decision-making process has been affected by the absence of a secretary,” he said.

Chimariya said that once the regulations are approved and the board is formed, the process of issuing equivalency certificates will operate normally.

According to him, an online system has been introduced to eliminate the need for students to repeatedly visit the office for equivalency certificates. Once online applications are received, the approval process will begin, and the foreign degree holders will receive notifications for updates. After the documents are verified, students will be informed to pay the required fee. Once all procedures are completed, they will be notified that the certificate is ready and will be able to print it online.

However, when this system will be fully implemented depends on when the regulations are issued and when the board is formed.

Under the temporary arrangement, students with urgent needs are being provided temporary letters, but these have not been able to replace permanent equivalency certificates. According to commission data, only around 40 students have so far received temporary letters stating that their equivalency process is ongoing.

Sajina Koju, who completed her physiotherapy studies at Shree Devi College in Bangalore, has also received a similar temporary letter.

“I do not know whether it will actually work,” she said. “Now we have to come back again later for the same work.”