Identify the title of the academic credential and the status of the relevant program

Locate information on the relevant academic program and the title of the academic credential offered by the institution and establish whether the program legally operates within the education system of the issuing country.

For internal procedures:
  • Identify the exact:
    • title of the academic credential, as written on the document;
    • name of the academic program.
  • Consult the Web site of the educational institution. You may locate information on its:
    • academic program calendars. This information may be archived, based on the year of study;
    • quality-assurance practices and the competent authority responsible for overseeing the delivery of academic programs;
    • right to issue the academic credential within the education system of the issuing country.

If the academic credential is part of a joint program or transnational education, you may need to obtain information from two or more educational institutions.

Throughout this process, it is important to consider that the name of the academic program and/or the specific academic credential may have changed since the documents were issued. In some cases, it may no longer be offered by the educational institution. This highlights the importance of locating historical data, when needed.

For more information, you may contact the admissions office of the educational institution.

Comply with the Pan-Canadian Quality Assurance Framework for the Assessment of International Academic Credentials (QAF)

This step complies with guiding principles 15, 28, 29, 30, and 39 of QAF.

Consult QAF to get more information.



Consult additional resources

You may find useful information in other resources, such as:
  1. BRIDGE Consortium (ENIC-NARIC Italy, ENIC-NARIC Portugal, ENIC-NARIC Spain, ENIC-NARIC Estonia, ENIC-NARIC Malta); (2012). BRIDGE Handbook: Joint Programmes and Recognition of Joint Degrees;
  2. EAR Consortium (EP-Nuffic, UK NARIC, ENIC-NARIC France, and ENIC-NARIC Poland). (2012). European Area of Recognition (EAR) Manual, chapter 13, 14, and 15;
  3. EAR-HEI Consortium (EP-Nuffic, ENIC-NARIC France, ENIC-NARIC Latvia, ENIC-NARIC Ireland, European University Association (EUA), ENIC-NARIC Lithuania, ENIC-NARIC Denmark, ENIC-NARIC Poland and Tuning Educational Structures in Europe). (2016). European Recognition Manual for Higher Education Institutions (EAR-HEI), part II, item 3 and part V, items 18 and 19;
  4. Joiman Network (Joint Degree Management and Administration Network);
  5. European Consortium for Accreditation (ECA). Joint programmes portal;
  6. World Education Services – Canada. (2012). Best Practices: Strategies and Processes to Obtain Authentic International Educational Credentials, chapter 8.