The line that matters most on a Statement of Comparability reads "Comparable UK qualifications". The NHS Scientist Training Programme accepts only a UK ENIC statement as proof of degree level, and if yours says "Bachelor (Ordinary) degree" instead of an honours degree, "the qualification is not the level required."
No translation can change that line. A badly prepared file can still cost you weeks: a transcript from an affiliate college, a diploma sent without its transcript, a photo with one corner cut off. Each one restarts ENIC's clock.
This guide takes the process in order: whether the statement is the right product, the documents, when you need a translation and when the waiver is cheaper, fees and timings, and the problems that delay a result.
What does a UK ENIC Statement of Comparability say?
It states the level of your international qualification in UK terms. UK ENIC, formerly UK NARIC and run by Ecctis for the Department for Education, calls it "a certificate that shows how international qualifications compare to the UK education systems", to be shown "with your original qualifications".
For each qualification, up to four, the statement gives the title, country, year and awarding body, then the comparison. ENIC's 2025 sample statement shows the format:
- UK framework levels: "RQF Level 6 / SCQF Level 9 / CQFW Level 6", the frameworks for England and Northern Ireland, for Scotland and for Wales.
- Comparable UK qualifications: for a bachelor's degree, for example, "Bachelor (Ordinary) degree".
- School-level lines: for a school certificate, whether it is comparable to GCSE maths and GCSE English.
What it leaves out matters as much. The statement "does not comment on grades, grade comparisons, specific subjects or English proficiency." ENIC adds that its statements "are not legal documents and should be treated as guidance": the employer or university decides. A statement has no expiry date.
Do you need a Statement of Comparability or a different service?
Check before you pay: the fee is non-refundable once ENIC has started reviewing your application, and ENIC itself says the statement is not suitable for Home Office English requirements or for early years jobs.
| Your purpose | The right service | Cost and timing |
|---|---|---|
| A job, further study or professional registration in the UK | UK ENIC Statement of Comparability | £69.60, up to 15 working days |
| Teacher training in England | Statement of Comparability, which the Department for Education asks for | £69.60 |
| Proving degree level or English in a Home Office application, such as Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, Student, Family or ILR | Ecctis Qualification and Language Service, "provided by Ecctis on behalf of the Home Office" | £210, aiming for 20 working days |
| Working with children from birth to 5 in England | UK ENIC Early Years Statement | Free |
Two users show why the statement carries weight. The Department for Education's Get Into Teaching service says you "will need a statement of comparability" to show your school and university qualifications meet England's standard, and that applications which include one "are 28% more likely to be successful". The National School of Healthcare Science goes further for the Scientist Training Programme: "No other certification will be accepted," and the statement must be in hand before applications open.
For visas, GOV.UK is explicit: if your degree was taught in English and not awarded by a UK institution, "you'll need to apply for an assessment from Ecctis", which gives you a code for the application. Ecctis must confirm with your university that the qualification is genuine. See our Skilled Worker visa documents guide.
Health regulators run their own checks. The NMC says "NARIC/ECCTIS certificates are currently not included in our English Language policy", and the GMC verifies medical degrees through ECFMG's EPIC service; see NMC registration.
How to apply for a Statement of Comparability, step by step
- Check the qualification is eligible. ENIC compares academic and vocational qualifications "recognised nationally at a specific level". Professional licences and professional-body qualifications "are typically not eligible" unless they were formally placed at an educational level when awarded.
- Collect the documents: final certificates (up to 4), official transcripts "signed and dated by the awarding institution", certified translations where needed, a passport or driving licence, and evidence of any name change, such as a marriage certificate or change of name deed. ENIC recommends including your high school qualification, because UK employers and professional bodies often ask for it.
- Use the awarding institution's documents. ENIC "will only accept documents from the awarding institution and not an affiliate college."
- Sort out translations, as explained in the next section.
- Photograph everything: "clear colour photographs" in JPEG, PDF or bitmap format, up to 5 MB each, with "all 4 corners of each document" visible on a flat surface.
- Create a UK ENIC account, choose the speed and pay. You pick standard or Fast Track when ordering and "will not be able to upgrade to the Fast Track Service later."
- Track the order in the portal's order status section. If ENIC asks for more information or documents, the 15-day timeframe restarts. ENIC says it "will never call you to ask for additional payments."
- Download the e-Statement, which employers, universities and professional bodies can verify. A paper copy must be requested within 3 months of issue: £12.60 for UK delivery, £75.60 abroad.
- Disagree with the outcome? Email ENIC within 6 months of the assessment with your 10-digit reference number and your reasons. A senior member of staff checks the assessment, but ENIC cannot guarantee a reassessment or a different result.
Does UK ENIC need certified translations?
Yes, unless your language is covered by the Translation Waiver Service, which "lets you submit international qualifications in their original language":
| Language of your documents | Waiver | Total for a standard Statement |
|---|---|---|
| Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish | Free | £69.60 |
| Catalan, German, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Romanian, Ukrainian | £49.20, or free with Fast Track | £118.80 |
| Any other language, from Portuguese and Turkish to Farsi and Hindi | Not available | £69.60 plus certified translations |
For every other language, "UK ENIC accepts certified translations from professional translators." ENIC points readers to the Chartered Institute of Linguists and the Institute of Translation and Interpreting to find one, without making membership a condition. GOV.UK's definition of a certified translation is the safe standard: the translator confirms it is a "true and accurate translation of the original document", with the date, their full name and contact details.
Three points people miss:
- ENIC does not translate. "We do not provide you with translations as part of this Service."
- The waiver depends on each document's language. If your degree is in Spanish but your name-change evidence is a Brazilian marriage certificate in Portuguese, that certificate still needs a certified translation.
- The waiver serves ENIC only. ENIC itself warns that "You may still need to show your transcripts and other original documents to potential employers or admitting institutions."
A transcript translation for ENIC should keep every module, credit and grade as printed, the grading key and every stamp, with your name as in your passport. Our academic transcript translation guide covers grades and degree titles in detail.
How long does UK ENIC take, and what does it cost?
| Option | Price | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Statement, e-Statement included | £69.60 | Can take 15 working days once ENIC has all documents and full payment |
| Standard, with the waiver for the seven paid languages | £118.80 | As standard |
| Fast Track, 2 working days | £223.20, waiver included | 2 working days |
| Fast Track, 1 working day | £284.40, waiver included | 1 working day |
| Paper copy of a standard Statement | £12.60 UK, £75.60 abroad | Request within 3 months |
Working days run Monday to Friday, excluding UK public holidays, and end at 5pm UK time. Fast Track statements also arrive by tracked post that needs a signature. Refunds are only available if you cancel before the evaluation team starts checking your qualifications.
In practice the clock is longer than it looks. It starts only when ENIC has everything, and it restarts each time ENIC asks for more. Order translations before you apply: Official Translations delivers most single-page documents within 24 hours and longer ones in 1 to 3 business days.
Why Statement of Comparability applications are delayed
- A transcript from an affiliate college rather than the awarding university.
- A diploma without its transcript, or a transcript that is not signed and dated.
- A front-page-only translation, with the grading key or the stamps on the back left out.
- A name mismatch between qualification and passport, with no marriage certificate or deed.
- Unusable photos: a corner cut off, glare, or a file over 5 MB.
- A standard order when the deadline needed Fast Track, which cannot be added later.
- The wrong product: a statement bought for a visa that needed an Ecctis code.
- Expecting a grade conversion that the statement never gives.
Checklist: before you apply to UK ENIC
Questions people ask
How much does a UK ENIC Statement of Comparability cost?
£69.60, including the downloadable e-Statement. If your documents are in Catalan, German, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Romanian or Ukrainian and you use the Translation Waiver, the total is £118.80. Fast Track costs £223.20 for 2 working days or £284.40 for 1, waiver included, and a paper copy of a standard Statement is £12.60 in the UK or £75.60 abroad.
How long does UK ENIC take?
It can take 15 working days from the point ENIC has all required documents and full payment, or 1 to 2 working days with Fast Track. The timeframe restarts if ENIC asks you for more information or documents, so send complete, legible files the first time.
Does UK ENIC accept documents that are not translated?
Only in the 12 waiver languages: free for Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish, and £49.20, or free with Fast Track, for Catalan, German, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Romanian and Ukrainian. For every other language, ENIC accepts certified translations from professional translators.
Can I use a Statement of Comparability for a UK visa?
Not for the Home Office's qualification or English checks. Those go through Ecctis's Qualification and Language Service, which costs £210, needs your awarding institution to confirm the degree and gives you a code for your visa application. ENIC's own page says the statement is not suitable for proving English to the Home Office.
Does a Statement of Comparability expire?
No. ENIC says there is no expiry date on a Statement of Comparability. An employer or university may still ask to see your original certificates and transcripts alongside it, because the statement supports your documents rather than replacing them.
Will the statement convert my grades or give me a UK degree class?
No. The statement does not comment on grades, grade comparisons or specific subjects. It gives the UK framework levels and the comparable UK qualification, and universities and employers judge your grades themselves, usually from the transcript.
What if I disagree with the result?
Email UK ENIC within 6 months of the assessment with your 10-digit reference number, your reasons and any relevant documents. A senior member of staff checks the quality of the assessment, but ENIC cannot guarantee that it will reassess the application or that the outcome will change.
How much does translating documents for UK ENIC cost?
Official Translations charges £29.95 per page, a page being up to 300 words. Every translation is complete and comes with a signed certificate of accuracy, and most single-page documents are delivered as a signed PDF by email within 24 hours.
