UPSC with an American degree?

[Conrad]

Hey,

I'm currently a Senior in High School and I got into some pretty impressive colleges in America. I'd like to attempt the UPSC exam and become an IAS officer if I can. The UPSC requirements state the following

• A degree of any of the Universities incorporated by an Act of the Central or State Legislature in India or other educational institutions established by an Act of Parliament or declared to be a Deemed University under the UGC Act, 1956, or an equivalent qualification.

I tried to look up a list of foreign universities that are deemed equivalent under UGC, but didn't really find anything.

Is an American degree (Bachelors of course) acceptable?

[ouspenkypd]

Is an American degree (Bachelors of course) acceptable?

I am in exactly same situation. I am doing my undergrad for Uni. of Utah. I asked same question to Shubhra Saxena. She said it should not be a problem.

Where are you planning to do your undergrad from? Are you in US or India at the moment? I am sure you know that one have to be an India citizen to get into UPSC.

English as an optional, i am impressed, I like English but their ain't a lot of resources.

Keep in touch.
SK.

[mrunal]

No one will reject your prelim application (because you are not required to submit any documents @ that time) so even if you've American/any other degree still your prelims form will be accepted.

but problem = when you get in mains, they'll ask for all documents and reject you if you don't meet the requirements.
So have everything arranged in advance.

*scroll down and see Puneethg's solution*

[the_healer]

american degrees are recognised as a valid qualification...... i recently came to know abt somebody who did his grad from princeton and is now an IAS officer....

[puneetg]

Hi,
I have been through this issue. I know very limited information is available about this online as not many people who have studied abroad come back to write this exam. However, the trend is improving.

So the procedure is what has been prescribed by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) ASSOCIATION OF INDIAN UNIVERSITIES . Essentially, once you get your degree from the US or any foreign university, go to the High Commission of India in that country and get the photocopy of your US/foreign degree attested by them. Next, send this photocopy as well as your transcripts photocopies to the Foreign Degrees Evaluation Section at the AIU together with a demand draft of Rs. 5000 (that's what they hold equivalent to USD 100). Also, send photocopies of your matriculation as well as 10+2 certificates. Within a week you will receive an equivalence certificate from AIU.

Alternatively, you may directly visit AIU in New Delhi. You may meet the person-in-charge of evaluations - a very co-operative person from my own experience. Present him the originals and a set of photocopies of degree and transcripts together with your matriculation and +2 certificates. Also, attach Rs. 5000 DD. You may be able to get your certificate within a couple of days in this case.

The AIU has a big book which has a list of all the foreign universities recognised in India. If you are from a reputable US university, then undoubtedly it will be in that list. If the university is in the list, the procedure is fast. If not, then they will take more time to issue the certificate.

Unfortunately, the AIU has not displayed the list of approved foreign universities online. It seems they bank on this information asymmetry to get the ridiculously high fee of Rs. 5000 for just an equivalence certificate. But all reputable US/UK/Foreign universities are there in the list. Also, problem of equivalence is more for degrees like Medicine and Law. If it's engineering or other courses, it's easy to get the equivalence certificate.

It is difficult to say if UPSC accepts or rejects Mains forms in the absence of Equivalence Certificate. My suggestion is to just do one's homework and follow the prescribed path to avoid panic and trouble if one is close to making it.

Hope this information is helpful to all those studying overseas and hoping to appear for UPSC/Other competitive examinations in India.

Also, there are no hard and fast rules. Different organisations make different provisions for admitting candidates. For instance, recently I appeared for RBI examination for Economist Position in their Department of Economic Affairs and Policy. They required a Masters degree in Economics for that. In my case, my Bachelor's degree has an equivalence certificate. My masters degree arrived only recently from overseas. RBI was happy to just seek a photocopy of my degree and transcripts and happily established their own equivalence and issued me an admit card. So, organisations know that overseas candidates are coming back and applying for jobs as well. They are making room for allowing candidates to appear for these exams.

[ouspenkypd]

Hi,
I have been through this issue. I know very limited information is available about this online as not many people who have studied abroad come back to write this exam. However, the trend is improving.

So the procedure is what has been prescribed by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) ASSOCIATION OF INDIAN UNIVERSITIES . Essentially, once you get your degree from the US or any foreign university, go to the High Commission of India in that country and get the photocopy of your US/foreign degree attested by them. Next, send this photocopy as well as your transcripts photocopies to the Foreign Degrees Evaluation Section at the AIU together with a demand draft of Rs. 5000 (that's what they hold equivalent to USD 100). Also, send photocopies of your matriculation as well as 10+2 certificates. Within a week you will receive an equivalence certificate from AIU.

Alternatively, you may directly visit AIU in New Delhi. You may meet the person-in-charge of evaluations - a very co-operative person from my own experience. Present him the originals and a set of photocopies of degree and transcripts together with your matriculation and +2 certificates. Also, attach Rs. 5000 DD. You may be able to get your certificate within a couple of days in this case.

The AIU has a big book which has a list of all the foreign universities recognised in India. If you are from a reputable US university, then undoubtedly it will be in that list. If the university is in the list, the procedure is fast. If not, then they will take more time to issue the certificate.

Unfortunately, the AIU has not displayed the list of approved foreign universities online. It seems they bank on this information asymmetry to get the ridiculously high fee of Rs. 5000 for just an equivalence certificate. But all reputable US/UK/Foreign universities are there in the list. Also, problem of equivalence is more for degrees like Medicine and Law. If it's engineering or other courses, it's easy to get the equivalence certificate.

It is difficult to say if UPSC accepts or rejects Mains forms in the absence of Equivalence Certificate. My suggestion is to just do one's homework and follow the prescribed path to avoid panic and trouble if one is close to making it.

Hope this information is helpful to all those studying overseas and hoping to appear for UPSC/Other competitive examinations in India.

Also, there are no hard and fast rules. Different organisations make different provisions for admitting candidates. For instance, recently I appeared for RBI examination for Economist Position in their Department of Economic Affairs and Policy. They required a Masters degree in Economics for that. In my case, my Bachelor's degree has an equivalence certificate. My masters degree arrived only recently from overseas. RBI was happy to just seek a photocopy of my degree and transcripts and happily established their own equivalence and issued me an admit card. So, organisations know that overseas candidates are coming back and applying for jobs as well. They are making room for allowing candidates to appear for these exams.

Thanks for the great info. Really thank you very much.

[Conrad]

Thanks for all your replies. I really appreciate them!

ouspenkypd, I got into the University of Maryland - College Park and their Honors program for now. I haven't heard back from other colleges, but considering how competitive UMD and it's Honors College tends to be, I think I'm in good shape for some other prestigious schools as well. Yep I'm an Indian citizen though.

I don't really know anything about the application process and the Optional Tests part. Is like on the IB tests where you choose what topics you want your papers to be on?

mrunal, Thanks! Do you mean transcripts and things like that or will the actual degree certificate be enough?

the_healer, cool. Thanks!

puneetg, Thanks for the reply. UMD is consistently ranked in the Top 50 colleges and is considered a "Public Ivy" by many, so I don't think I'd have too many issues with that. Does the book also include Liberal Arts Colleges? These aren't well known but they're held to high regard in academic communities.

[mrunal]

..
mrunal, Thanks! Do you mean transcripts and things like that or will the actual degree certificate be enough?...

with prelims form you've to submit no documents,
with mains form you've to submit all photocopies of mark-sheets & certificiates from 10th to your last college.+ school leaving certi +job experience (if applies).
on interview, you're required to bring original copies of above.

[ouspenkypd]

Hi,

Thanks for all the replies.

Is their an online site or any other way to buy books pertaining to the exam like New Vishal's previous papers for English Literature?


Thanks.aa

[puneetg]

@Conrad
I am not sure if Liberal Arts Colleges are included but I hope they are as I know some of them are very good. Anyway, visit the website ASSOCIATION OF INDIAN UNIVERSITIES and download the latest information brochure. That is very helpful. It seems they have raised the fee from USD 100 to USD 200.