Quick Answer: WES (World Education Services) is a non-profit that converts your Indian degree into a US or Canadian format by translating your CGPA or percentage to a 4.0 GPA scale. Indian students applying to US or Canada universities for a master’s or PhD may need to submit a WES evaluation with their application. 2026 fees: Document-by-Document Basic $118 (~Rs 9,912); Course-by-Course Basic $168 (~Rs 14,112); Course-by-Course ICAP $214 (~Rs 17,976). Standard processing: 7 business days after documents are accepted. Total end-to-end timeline for Indian students: 4-7 weeks.
If you are getting ready to apply for a master’s program to study abroad, then you have heard of WES evaluation. Maybe you read it on the program application requirements list, or heard it from another student. Either way, you have probably got a dozen questions buzzing around your head. We are here to give you all the details you need to know about WES evaluation for your master’s abroad.
What is WES Evaluation?
WES is a non-profit organisation that was established in 1974. It provides a recognised and accepted evaluation of your college academic transcripts for American and Canadian institutions. The WES full form is World Education Services.
WES has provided more than 3 million evaluations to international students and professionals in the past few decades. Every year, it continues to prepare credit evaluations for 50,000+ people who are looking to study or work abroad. (Source: WES official website – wes.org)
So if you have done your undergraduate studies in India and want to apply to universities in the USA or Canada for a master’s or PhD program, you might be required to submit a WES evaluation report along with your application.
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Why Do You Need a WES Evaluation Report?
As you probably know, the education and grading systems in the USA and Canada are very different from the Indian grading system. In India, colleges grade students on either a percentage (0-100%) or a CGPA scale (0-10). In the USA and Canada, students are graded on a scale of 0 to 4 with 0.1 point increments.
Apart from this, with close to 1,050 universities in India, it is hard for American and Canadian universities to get an understanding of the quality of coursework and education that each of them offers. So these universities often ask for a WES evaluation of your college transcripts to get an understanding of how your scores compare in the US or Canadian education system.
Where is the WES Evaluation Commonly Used?
WES evaluation reports are recognised and trusted by universities, licensing boards, government agencies, and employers across both the USA and Canada.
Keep in mind that a WES evaluation done for a USA university cannot be used for a Canadian university, and vice versa. So if you are applying to both Canadian and USA universities, you will need to apply for 2 different sets of reports specific to each country, plus additional fees for each university that needs to be sent a report.
To save yourself money, be sure to shortlist a specific set of universities that are the best fit for your education and career requirements. Use a smart tool like SelectRight to ensure that you are making the best college choices and maximising the value of every dollar spent in the application process.
When is the WES Evaluation Report Useful?
A credential evaluation by WES gives a stamp of validity to your international education degree from non-American universities. Apart from being used for master’s and PhD admissions, the WES evaluation is also sometimes useful for:
- International job seekers in USA or Canada – some employers request standardised college scores for job applications
- Professional licensing for foreign-trained professionals in fields like nursing, engineering, teaching, law, and healthcare
- Visa applications – for H-1B visa categories, US immigration agencies accept WES credential evaluations to verify educational equivalency
- Canada Express Entry – WES provides the Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) required to earn education points in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS)
- Volunteer positions and other immigration processes
Also Read: Deadline for University Applications in USA, UK and Australia
Do All USA and Canadian Colleges Need a WES Evaluation Report?
No, not all USA or Canadian colleges need their international applicants to send in a WES evaluation report. Around 2,500+ institutions work with WES in the USA and Canada to vet international applicants based on their standardised college scores. But even among those institutions, only some specific courses and colleges require a WES evaluation report. Check your college and program admission requirements to confirm if they require you to send a WES evaluation report.
Which Indian Universities are Recognised by WES?
WES recognises more than 48,000 global higher education institutions from more than 200 countries. With regards to Indian universities, WES clearly states on its website:
“WES refers to official authorities in India, such as the University Grants Commission (UGC), All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), and other government entities as sources for accreditation.”
So if you have graduated from a nationally accredited university in India, you do not have to worry. But if you want to be sure, you can use the free WES Degree Equivalency Tool on wes.org to check if your university is recognised. If you do not find your university in the list, you can mail WES to confirm.
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Types of WES Evaluation: Which One Should You Choose?
WES offers 2 types of credential evaluation reports:
Type | What It Contains | Best Used For |
Document-by-Document | Name of credential; entry requirements; program length; US/Canadian equivalency – a verified description of all your credentials | Employment, immigration (including Canada Express Entry ECA), community college admissions |
Course-by-Course | Everything in Document-by-Document PLUS: list of all courses completed; US/Canadian semester credit and grade equivalent for each course; GPA on 4.0 scale; designation of level (upper or lower) of each undergraduate course | University admissions (master’s, PhD), professional licensing – this is what most Indian students need for a master’s abroad |
For most Indian students applying to MS or MBA programs abroad, the Course-by-Course evaluation is what you need. It gives universities a detailed analysis of all the courses you took and converts them to a 4.0 GPA scale.
WES Fees 2026: How Much Does a WES Evaluation Cost?
WES increased all fees by 3% effective January 1, 2026. There are 2 package levels for each evaluation type:
Evaluation Type | WES Basic | WES ICAP |
Document-by-Document | $118 (~Rs 9,912) | $171 (~Rs 14,364) |
Course-by-Course | $168 (~Rs 14,112) | $214 (~Rs 17,976) |
Source: WES official pricing page – wes.org/evaluations-and-fees/. INR conversions at approximately Rs 84/USD (mid-2026 rate). Fees do not include report delivery charges (~$14 standard delivery) or additional recipient fees. Fees are subject to change – verify at wes.org before applying.
WES Basic vs WES ICAP: What is the Difference?
The basic report gives you a total evaluation report of all your documents (either Document-by-Document or Course-by-Course based on your choice).
The WES ICAP report gives you the evaluation report plus delivers your verified transcripts to any recognised educational institution. With ICAP, WES securely stores your verified documents after your credential evaluation is completed. This means you can request additional reports to new institutions in the future without going through the full document submission process again.
ICAP also now includes a WES digital badge you can display on LinkedIn to verify your credentials. If you are applying to multiple universities or may need your evaluation again in the future, ICAP is worth the extra cost.
If you selected WES Basic, you can upgrade to ICAP for $53 USD if your evaluation is still in progress.
What Documents Do You Need for a WES Evaluation?
The required documents for each WES evaluation are specific to your country, degree, and more. You can find the specific documents required on the WES Required Documents page (wes.org/required-documents/). The two commonly asked for documents for Indian students are:
- Degree certificate (final or provisional)
- Statement of marks / all semester mark sheets (attested)
Please note that all your documents must be: issued by recognised educational institutions; issued in English (or translated into English); signed and sealed (or sent digitally) by the appropriate authorised authority.
How to Apply for a WES Evaluation Report: 3 Steps
Step | What to Do |
Step 1: Create WES account | Go to wes.org and create an account. Fill in all necessary information. Note: You will need to create a separate account for USA and Canada if you are applying to universities in both countries. |
Step 2: Send required documents | Send your required documents physically or digitally to WES. If mailing, remember to add your WES reference number to the sealed envelope. |
Step 3: WES verifies and sends report | WES will verify your documents and create your report. It will automatically send the report to your chosen recipients (colleges of your choice) along with a copy to you. |
Important timing note: WES takes around 7 business days to evaluate after they have received, reviewed, and accepted all your required documents and fees. But add: time for your university to send attested documents (1-4 weeks by post); WES document review (2-10 days); WES sending report to universities (1-5 days). Total end-to-end for Indian students: 4-7 weeks. Start at least 2-3 months before your application deadline.
Is WES Evaluation Mandatory in the USA and Canada?
A WES credential evaluation is not a universal requirement in the USA and Canada. However, some institutions from both countries request this document because it:
- Gives verifiable proof of your educational and professional background
- Helps schools, employers, and licensing and immigration officials understand your background
- Verifies that your educational credentials are authentic
- Allows organisations to gauge your qualifications against American or Canadian educational standards
For H-1B visa categories in the USA, US immigration agencies accept WES credential evaluations to verify educational equivalency.
In Canada, for Express Entry (the immigration system for skilled workers), if you have foreign education credentials you are required to get a WES evaluation for an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA). This ECA determines if your foreign degree is equivalent to a Canadian credential and is necessary to earn education points in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).
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Also Read: Education Loan Eligibility Criteria Guide for Indian Students
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