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Sample letter: Aline Uwase asks her university registrar to confirm her master’s degree to HEC Rwanda. Sample letter: Aline Uwase asks her university registrar to confirm her master’s degree to HEC Rwanda.

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The letter is written. Add your degree, your dates and your Irembo application.

Then. Email it to the registrar before you apply, and use the contact they give you.

HEC equivalence certificate — your letter to the university is ready

If you studied outside Rwanda, you apply to the Higher Education Council through IremboGov with a notarized copy of your final degree and of your transcripts. The fee is 60,000 RWF for Rwandans. HEC checks directly with your university, and the certificate comes within 10 working days once everything is in, including that confirmation. The letter below asks your university to answer HEC.

Updated: · Next check: 2027-02-06

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  • Certificate due (HEC: within 10 working days)type the date

Working days: Monday to Friday; public holidays are not deducted. Check your own case.

The 10 working days run once everything is in, including the university’s confirmation.

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Ask the registrar which address handles verification requests, and put that one in your application.

Provisional certificates are not accepted: wait for the final one.

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Request to confirm my qualification to the Higher Education Council of Rwanda

[FULL NAME AS ON THE DEGREE]
Student number: [NUMBER]
[ADDRESS] · [PHONE] · [EMAIL]

To: The Registrar
[NAME OF UNIVERSITY], [COUNTRY]

[DATE]

Subject: Verification of my qualification for the Higher Education Council of Rwanda

I completed the following qualification at your institution:

ItemDetails
Qualification[DEGREE, DIPLOMA OR CERTIFICATE]
Field of study[FIELD]
Years of study[FROM – TO]
Date awarded[DATE]
Mode of study[IN PERSON / ONLINE / BLENDED / DISTANCE]

I am applying for an Equivalence Certificate from the Higher Education Council (HEC) of Rwanda through IremboGov. HEC verifies qualifications directly with the awarding institution, and it can issue the certificate only once it has your confirmation.

Please:

  1. tell me which email address handles verification requests, so that I give HEC the right contact;
  2. answer HEC’s request when it arrives.

Application number: [IREMBO NUMBER, ONCE YOU HAVE IT]

I authorise you to share my academic records with HEC for this verification.

Thank you for your help.

Yours faithfully,

[FULL NAME]
Signature: ____________________

For me: before I apply

  • ☐ Notarized copy of my final certificate, diploma or degree
  • ☐ Notarized copy of my transcripts for each level studied
  • ☐ Copy of my passport, if I am not Rwandan
  • ☐ Certified translation, if the papers are not in English or French
  • ☐ Irembo account ready; National ID or passport number to hand
  • ☐ Registrar’s contact confirmed on [DATE]: [EMAIL]
  • ☐ Applied on [DATE], fee paid
  • ☐ University confirmed to HEC on [DATE]

Deadlines

The rules, with the source

WhatDeadlineSource
Who appliesAnyone with a foreign degree, diploma or certificate from a recognized institution, or from an institution in Rwanda offering international programsHEC, Key FAQs on the digital equivalence system
Where to applyOnline on IremboGov. You need an Irembo accountHEC, Key FAQs on the digital equivalence system
IdentificationRwandans: National ID. Foreigners: passportIremboGov, FAQ on equating foreign qualifications
Required attachmentsNotarized copy of the final certificate, diploma or degree; notarized transcripts for each level studied; copy of passport for foreignersHEC, Apply for equivalence
PhDBy research: a link to at least one published paper. By coursework: notarized PhD transcript for each yearHEC, Apply for equivalence
Not acceptedProvisional certificates, attestations, “To whom it may concern” lettersIremboGov, FAQ on equating foreign qualifications
Other languagesPapers not in English or French must be translated and certified by a competent authorityHEC, Apply for equivalence
Fee, non-refundableRwandans 60,000 RWF. Non-Rwandans outside Rwanda 120 USD. Non-Rwandans in Rwanda the RWF equivalent of 120 USD at the BNR daily rateHEC, Apply for equivalence
Time10 working days once all documents and the awarding institution’s confirmation are inHEC, Apply for equivalence
If you disagreeAppeal within 30 working days to appeal@hec.gov.rwHEC, Key FAQs on the digital equivalence system

The fee covers the full verification and processing, and no extra payment is required. The usual delays are slow answers from the university and wrong or inactive contact details.

Step by step

What to do, in order

  1. 1

    Get notarized copies

    Degree and every transcript.

  2. 2

    Find the right contact

    The registrar’s active email.

  3. 3

    Send the letter

    Your university expects HEC.

  4. 4

    Apply on IremboGov

    Attach the copies, pay the fee.

  5. 5

    Track each stage

    In your Irembo account.

  6. 6

    Download the certificate

    After the SMS or email.

Questions

How do I apply for an equivalence certificate from HEC?

Create an Irembo account, apply on IremboGov, attach notarized copies of your degree and transcripts and pay the fee. You follow each stage in your Irembo account.

How much does equivalence cost?

60,000 RWF for Rwandans. 120 USD for non-Rwandans living outside Rwanda, and the RWF equivalent at the BNR daily rate for non-Rwandans living in Rwanda. The fee is non-refundable.

How long does it take?

10 working days from the moment everything is complete, including the confirmation from your university. Until it answers, those days do not start.

Why is my application delayed?

HEC names three usual reasons: the university responds slowly or not at all, the contact details are wrong or inactive, or extra accreditation checks are needed.

Do I need this for a degree from a university in Rwanda?

The service is for qualifications from abroad, and for institutions in Rwanda offering international programs.

Who can help me?

HEC: 0786823101, equivalenceoffice@hec.gov.rw. Irembo: 9099, support@irembo.com.

Official sources

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This is a ready letter and general information, not legal advice. HEC decides on the equivalence.