UK ENIC Statement of Comparability: When You Need One for UK Study
TL;DR: A UK ENIC Statement of Comparability is a certificate showing how an overseas qualification compares to UK levels. It costs £69.60 with an e-Statement and takes 15 working days, or 1 to 2 working days on Fast Track at a higher price. It does not cover grades, subjects or English. To use an English-taught degree as proof of English for a UK Student visa, GOV.UK points you to a different service: an Ecctis assessment, which costs £210 and aims for an outcome within 20 working days.
Students preparing a UK application often hear "get your ENIC" and pay for a document they did not need, or the wrong one. There are two services with similar names, and they answer different questions.
This guide explains what a Statement of Comparability does and does not show, how it differs from the Ecctis English assessment, what each costs and how long it takes, and how to decide whether you need either. If you are applying from Sri Lanka, the local points are near the end.
Not sure your qualifications meet UK entry rules? Check your eligibility with Prosper.
What is a UK ENIC Statement of Comparability?
UK ENIC describes it as "a certificate that shows how international qualifications compare to the UK education systems." It is used for jobs, further study and professional registration.
What it leaves out matters just as much. In UK ENIC's words, the Statement "does not comment on grades, grade comparisons, specific subjects or English proficiency." UK ENIC also says it is not suitable for "proving English language skills for applications to the Home Office."
What does it cost and how long does it take?
| Service | Price | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Statement of Comparability (standard) | £69.60, including an e-Statement | 15 working days |
| Fast Track, 2 working days | £223.20 | 2 working days |
| Fast Track, 1 working day | £284.40 | 1 working day |
| Paper copy (optional) | £12.60 UK delivery, £75.60 international | Request within 3 months of the e-Statement |
The clock starts only once UK ENIC has every document and full payment. You must choose Fast Track when you order: "You will not be able to upgrade to the Fast Track Service later." Refunds are available only if you cancel before the evaluation team starts checking your qualifications.
Which documents do you upload?
- Final certificates from your completed qualifications (up to 4)
- Official transcripts "showing all subjects and grades, signed and dated by the awarding institution"
- Certified translations if your documents are not in English
- Proof of identity, and evidence of any change of name
Files must be JPEG, PDF or bitmap, up to 5 MB each. For some languages UK ENIC offers a Translation Waiver Service instead of a translation, with its own fee rules.
Want to know whether your UK application needs either document?
How is this different from the Ecctis English assessment?
For a Student visa, GOV.UK lists four ways to prove your English: a UK school qualification, a degree from a UK institution, a degree from an institution outside the UK that was taught in English, or an English test from an approved provider.
For the third route, GOV.UK says: "If your degree was taught in English and was not awarded by a UK institution, you'll need to apply for an assessment from Ecctis." Ecctis then gives you a code confirming the qualification is equivalent to a UK bachelor's degree or higher and was taught in English.
That Ecctis service, called English Proficiency and Qualification Comparison, is run "on behalf of the Home Office." It costs £210, aims for an outcome "within 20 working days", and Ecctis says it "cannot guarantee a faster turnaround time." The code it issues is shared with the Home Office.
There is one more route that often makes both unnecessary. GOV.UK says that if you are studying at degree level or above, your university "can assess your level of English themselves", provided the result is equivalent to CEFR level B2. Many universities set their own English rules this way, including accepting some English-medium degrees. Our guide to studying in the UK without IELTS explains how those routes work.
Do you need either one?
| Your situation | What usually applies |
|---|---|
| Applying to a UK university for a degree | The university assesses your qualifications against its own country entry rules; ask before paying for a Statement |
| Using an English-taught overseas degree as proof of English for the visa | Ecctis assessment, as GOV.UK directs |
| Your university assesses your English itself | Neither, if its decision meets CEFR B2 and it confirms this on your CAS |
| A UK employer or professional body asks how your qualification compares | Statement of Comparability |
| You want proof of your English for the Home Office | Not the Statement of Comparability; UK ENIC says it is unsuitable |
Your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) shows how your university assessed your English, so read it before you order anything. Our checklist of documents required for a master's in the UK covers what universities ask for at each stage.
Applying from Sri Lanka
- Sri Lanka is not on GOV.UK's list of majority English-speaking countries, so Sri Lankan nationals prove English through one of the four routes above.
- Many Sri Lankan degrees are taught in English, but the visa route counts only with an Ecctis code, or with your university's own English assessment. Ask your university which it will use before you pay for either service.
- Ask your university's registrar early for transcripts that are signed and dated. That is the form UK ENIC asks for, and it is what UK universities expect too.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a UK ENIC certificate to apply to a UK university?
Usually not. UK universities assess overseas qualifications against their own entry rules. Ask the admissions team before ordering a Statement of Comparability.
Is UK ENIC the same as Ecctis?
They are separate services. The Statement of Comparability compares levels and does not cover English. The Ecctis English assessment is the one GOV.UK names for using an English-taught overseas degree on a Student visa.
How much does UK ENIC cost?
A standard Statement of Comparability costs £69.60 with an e-Statement. Fast Track costs £223.20 for 2 working days or £284.40 for 1 working day.
PS: Before paying for any certificate, ask your university one question: how will you assess my English for the CAS? The answer often settles it. Check your eligibility with Prosper and we will help you check.
Sandeepani Wickramasinghe
References
- Statement of Comparability, UK ENIC. https://www.enic.org.uk/qualifications/soc (accessed 21 October 2026)
- Statement of Comparability: cost, UK ENIC. https://www.enic.org.uk/individuals/statement-of-comparability/cost (accessed 21 October 2026)
- Statement of Comparability: Fast Track Service, UK ENIC. https://www.enic.org.uk/individuals/statement-of-comparability/fast-track-service (accessed 21 October 2026)
- Statement of Comparability: documents you need, UK ENIC. https://www.enic.org.uk/individuals/statement-of-comparability/documents-you-need (accessed 21 October 2026)
- Translation Waiver Service, UK ENIC. https://www.enic.org.uk/individuals/statement-of-comparability/translation-waiver-service (accessed 21 October 2026)
- Student visa: knowledge of English, GOV.UK. https://www.gov.uk/student-visa/knowledge-of-english (accessed 21 October 2026)
- English Proficiency and Qualification Comparison, Ecctis. https://qls.ecctis.com/english-qualification-comparison (accessed 21 October 2026)
- English Proficiency and Qualification Comparison: price and timeframe, Ecctis. https://qls.ecctis.com/english-qualification-comparison/price-and-timeframe (accessed 21 October 2026)
