Explanatory note
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations set out the charges payable in connection with services regarding the recognition of qualifications provided in pursuance of international obligations.
These Regulations extend to Scotland only. The Recognition of Overseas Qualifications (Charges) (England and Wales and Northern Ireland) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/256) (“the 2025 Regulations”) make equivalent provision and extend to England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Regulations 3 to 6 introduce the applications and services for which charges may be charged. Regulation 7 states the payment arrangements. Regulation 8 makes provision on refunds. Regulation 9 contains revocation provision. The schedules summarise each application and service and state the corresponding charge.
The tables below provide a comparison of the charges for services and applications under the Recognition of Overseas Qualifications (Charges) Regulations 2024 (“the 2024 Regulations”) and under these Regulations:
Statement of Comparability
| Type of application | Charge under the 2024 Regulations | Charge under these Regulations |
| Statement of Comparability (standard service of 15-working days) | £49.50 | £58.00 |
| Statement of Comparability (Priority Service 48-hours on working days) | £173.50 | £186.00 |
| Statement of Comparability (Super Priority service 24-hours on working days) | £223.50 | £237.00 |
| Qualification Reference Statement | £49.50 | £58.00 |
Standard Bundle Service
| Number of Statements of Comparability | Charge under the 2024 Regulations | Charge under these Regulations |
| 5 | £400.00 | £412.00 |
| 10 | £750.00 | £773.00 |
| 20 | £1,400.00 | £1,442.00 |
| 30 | £1,950.00 | £2,009.00 |
| 40 | £2,400.00 | £2,472.00 |
| 50 | £3,000.00 | £3,091.00 |
Refugee Bundle Service
| Number of Statements of Comparability | Charge under the 2024 Regulations | Charge under these Regulations |
| 5 | £125.00 | £128.00 |
| 10 | £250.00 | £256.00 |
| 15 | £375.00 | £384.00 |
| 20 | £500.00 | £513.00 |
| 25 | £625.00 | £641.00 |
| 30 | £750.00 | £769.00 |
| 40 | £1,000.00 | £1,025.00 |
| 50 | £1,250.00 | £1,281.00 |
| 60 | £1,500.00 | £1,538.00 |
Qualification Reference Statement Bundle Service
| Number of Qualification Reference Statements | Charge under the 2024 Regulations | Charge under these Regulations |
| 5 | £400.00 | £410.00 |
| 10 | £750.00 | £769.00 |
| 20 | £1,400.00 | £1,435.00 |
| 30 | £1,950.00 | £1,999.00 |
| 40 | £2,400.00 | £2,460.00 |
| 50 | £3,000.00 | £3,075.00 |
Subscription Package
| Description | Charge under the 2024 Regulations | Charge under these Regulations |
| Maximum of 5 individuals, each of whom are given access to 1 database | £925.00 | £953.00 |
| Maximum of 5 individuals, each of whom are given access to 5 databases | £1,300.00 | £1,339.00 |
| Maximum of 10 individuals, each of whom are given access to 5 databases | £2,150.00 | £2,215.00 |
| Maximum of 30 individuals, each of whom are given access to 5 databases | £3,200.00 | £3,296.00 |
| Unlimited number of individuals, each of whom are given access to 5 databases | £4,800.00 | £4,944.00 |
Ancillary services
| Type of Service | Charge under the 2024 Regulations | Charge under these Regulations | ||
| Charge | Charge to a Subscriber | Charge | Charge to a Subscriber | |
| The delivery of a statement of comparability or qualification reference statement in electronic format containing an electronically verifiable signature. | £7.50 | £7.50 | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| The dispensation of any need for a certified translation into English of any documents that evidence an overseas qualification as part of an application for a statement of comparability. | £40.00 | £40.00 | £41.00 | £41.00 |
| The 2024 Regulations: Provision of a half day of training regarding education, qualifications and the services. These Regulations: Provision of half a day of training regarding education, qualifications and the recognition of overseas qualifications. | £255.00 | £210.00 | £263.00 | £216.00 |
| The 2024 Regulations: Provision of a full day of training regarding education, qualifications. These Regulations: Provision of a full day of training regarding education, qualifications and the recognition of overseas qualifications. | £355.00 | £310.00 | £366.00 | £319.00 |
| The 2024 Regulations: Booking for an individual to attend as a delegate at a conference regarding education or qualifications. These Regulations: Booking for an individual to attend as a delegate at a two day conference regarding education or qualifications and further to obligations deriving from a relevant international agreement. | £545.00 per delegate | £495.00 per delegate | £558.00 per delegate | £507.00 per delegate |
| Booking for an individual to attend as a delegate at a one day conference regarding education or qualifications and further to obligations deriving from a relevant international agreement. | Not available | Not available | £355.00 per delegate | £310.00 per delegate. |
| Support to the subscriber from the provider of the service (within five working days) for up to 300 additional queries. | Not applicable | Not available | Not applicable | £900.00 |
| Support to the subscriber from the provider of the service (within two working days) for up to 300 additional queries. | Not applicable | Not available | Not applicable | £2,000.00 |
The international obligations are principally set out in two international agreements, namely: the Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education, signed by the United Kingdom at Paris on 25 November 2019, and the Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European Region, signed by the United Kingdom at Strasbourg on 7 November 1997.
To note that provision on charges in this area was previously contained in the 2024 Regulations. The 2024 Regulations are revoked and remade by these Regulations, in so far as they extend to Scotland, and by the 2025 Regulations, in so far as they extend to England and Wales and Northern Ireland, following discussions between the Scottish Government and the UK Government in relation to matters of competence.
In re-making provision contained in the 2024 Regulations, this instrument also corrects previous drafting errors with respect to definitions relating to services intended for refugee organisations and priority services.
These Regulations accordingly are being issued free of charge to all known recipients of the 2024 Regulations.