Is providing the English transcript from your school sufficient for studying abroad? If the GPA of the school you're applying to is 4.0, would a GPA of 4.3 seem like gibberish? Actually, there's no need to worry. Many universities in the US and Canada require students to provide an additional "credential evaluation" verified by a designated agency to avoid discrepancies in grading systems. This evaluation converts international transcripts into a standardized format recognized by US and Canadian universities, and ECE is one of those agencies.
What is ECE Credential Evaluation?
ECE, or Educational Credential Evaluators, is a third-party document evaluation agency based in the United States. It helps foreign students or immigrants convert their academic credentials into a standardized format recognized in the United States and Canada, making their educational or career paths smoother.
ECE evaluations include credential evaluation and transcript evaluation. The credential evaluation refers to the certification of the graduation certificate, which converts the original academic level into one applicable in the US. The transcript evaluation converts course grades into the grading system used by US and Canadian universities, and it is usually required when applying to graduate programs.
Do I need ECE evaluation?
ECE evaluations can be used for education, employment, and other fields. Common applicants include international students and immigrants. Whether an international student needs to apply for an ECE evaluation depends entirely on whether the school requires it. If the school mandates the submission of an ECE evaluation, it must be provided. If the school doesn't specify, there is no need to provide it proactively.
As for whether schools will accept ECE evaluations, you can check with the international student application guidelines. For example, the University of Chicago not only requires students to provide their graduation certificates and transcripts but also asks for third-party document evaluations, listing accepted agencies, including ECE. Similarly, New York University specifically accepts only ECE or WES evaluations.