In this guide
Identify the awarding institution
Copy the legal university name from the offer and programme page. A learning platform, admission partner or marketing brand may not be the institution awarding the degree. Similar names can describe different universities. Keep a record of the course title, level, study mode and intended admission session.
Use the UGC-DEB records
For an online or open-and-distance-learning degree, examine UGC-DEB information for the institution, exact programme, mode and admission session. An institution’s general recognition does not establish that every degree it advertises is entitled in every mode. Where records are unclear, ask the university to provide the applicable official listing before you pay.
Separate accreditation from entitlement
Institutional accreditation is an assessment of quality; it is not a substitute for checking the permission or entitlement to offer a particular online programme. Professional programmes may involve additional regulators and conditions. A logo on a brochure is a starting point for verification, not the final evidence.
Inspect the payment and application route
Use the university’s official admission portal and obtain a receipt identifying the university and programme. Read the cancellation and refund conditions before payment. Avoid relying on verbal assurances about recognition, guaranteed outcomes or a later refund. Keep copies of the offer, payment schedule and correspondence.
Check your intended use
If you plan to apply for a particular job, licence, postgraduate course or overseas evaluation, examine that receiving organisation’s current eligibility rules too. Academic recognition does not remove every employer, professional regulator or foreign institution’s additional requirements.
Keep a verification folder
Save the applicable regulator listing, prospectus, fee schedule, eligibility page, refund terms and admission acknowledgement. Note the date you checked each item. A small evidence folder makes it much easier to resolve discrepancies later.
Your next step
Write down what you know, what remains unconfirmed and the next person or official source to consult. Save the printable version below and use it during conversations with institutions.