Nigerian Degree to Canadian Level Tool
Select your Nigerian credential and institution type. See what Canadian education level it typically maps to and how many CRS points it earns.
IRCC awards additional CRS points if you hold two or more credentials, at least one being a 3-year post-secondary degree or more.
What Nigerian Applicants Get Wrong About ECA
- ✗ Assuming an HND automatically equals a bachelor’s degree in Canada. It often does not without a WES evaluation, and the outcome varies by program and institution.
- ✗ Using a non-designated ECA body. IRCC only accepts assessments from its approved list. WES is the safest choice for most Nigerian credentials.
- ✗ Sending unofficial transcripts. WES and most ECA bodies require official transcripts sent directly from the institution, not copies you provide.
- ✗ Getting an ECA for employment or study purposes and then trying to use it for Express Entry. Different ECA products serve different purposes; you may need separate applications.
- ✗ Waiting for the ECA before creating an Express Entry profile. You can create and submit a profile while your ECA is in progress; just do not claim points you have not yet verified.
How the ECA Mapping Works
An Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) is a formal evaluation by a designated organization that tells IRCC what level your foreign credential corresponds to in Canada’s education system. For Express Entry, IRCC uses the result to assign CRS education points.
The mapping logic is:
→ Expected Canadian Level (via ECA)
→ CRS Education Points (single or with spouse)
→ Recommended ECA body for that credential type
The CRS points for education are fixed by IRCC’s scoring table. Once you know your Canadian equivalent level, the points are deterministic. The uncertainty is in the mapping itself: the same Nigerian credential can map to different Canadian levels depending on the program, institution, and ECA body.
Nigerian Credentials and Typical Canadian Equivalents
| Nigerian Credential | Typical Canadian Level | CRS Pts (Single) | Certainty |
|---|---|---|---|
| PhD / Doctorate | Doctoral degree | 140 | High |
| MSc / MA / MBA / MEng | Master’s degree | 126 | High |
| MBBS / BDS / BPharm | Bachelor’s degree (3+ years) or higher | 112 to 126 | High (professional degree assessed individually) |
| LLB (5-year law) | Bachelor’s degree (3+ years) | 112 | High |
| BSc / BA / BEng (4 years) | Bachelor’s degree (3+ years) | 112 | High |
| BSc / BA (3 years) | Bachelor’s degree (3+ years) | 112 | Moderate (some 3-year programs assessed as 2-year) |
| PGD (Postgraduate Diploma) | Post-secondary diploma or certificate | 91 to 112 | Moderate (varies by program) |
| HND (Higher National Diploma) | 2-year or 3-year post-secondary diploma | 91 to 112 | Variable (institution and program matter) |
| HND + PGD (combined) | Two credentials, possibly bachelor’s equivalent | 112 to 119 | Moderate (two-credential bonus may apply) |
| OND (Ordinary National Diploma) | 1-year post-secondary diploma | 84 | Moderate |
| NCE (Nigeria Certificate in Education) | 2-year post-secondary diploma | 91 | Moderate |
| WAEC / SSCE / NECO only | Secondary school diploma | 28 | High |
The HND Question: The Most Common Nigerian Uncertainty
The HND is the credential most Nigerian applicants worry about, and with reason. WES (World Education Services), the most commonly used ECA body, assesses HND credentials on a case-by-case basis. The outcome depends on the specific institution, the program, and whether the curriculum is documented and verifiable.
Some HNDs from accredited federal polytechnics have been assessed as equivalent to a Canadian bachelor’s degree. Others, particularly from newer or less-documented institutions, have been assessed as a 2-year Canadian diploma. There is no universal rule, and WES does not publish a predictive table for Nigerian institutions.
CRS Education Points Table
| Canadian Level | Single Applicant | With Accompanying Spouse |
|---|---|---|
| Doctoral (PhD) | 140 | 119 |
| Master’s degree or professional degree | 126 | 103 |
| Two or more post-secondary (one 3+ yrs) | 119 | 97 |
| Bachelor’s degree (3+ years) | 112 | 91 |
| Two-year post-secondary diploma | 91 | 74 |
| One-year post-secondary diploma | 84 | 68 |
| Secondary school diploma | 28 | 25 |
IRCC-Designated ECA Bodies for Nigerian Applicants
For Express Entry, you must use one of IRCC’s designated organizations. The most commonly used by Nigerian applicants are:
| Body | Best For | Approx. Processing | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| WES (World Education Services) | Most Nigerian university and polytechnic credentials | 7 to 15 business days (standard) | wes.org |
| ICAS (International Credential Assessment Service of Canada) | University degrees, particularly education credentials | 15 to 20 business days | icascanada.ca |
| Comparative Education Service (CES) | University of Toronto-affiliated; general credentials | 15 business days | learn.utoronto.ca/ces |
| Medical Council of Canada | MBBS, BDS, and medical degrees only | Variable | mcc.ca |
| National Nursery Examination Board (NNEB) | Not commonly used for Nigerian credentials | – | – |
WES is by far the most commonly used body for Nigerian university and polytechnic credentials. It has the most experience with Nigerian transcripts and maintains relationships with major Nigerian institutions for direct verification.
What Documents Nigerian Applicants Need for WES
The typical WES document package for a Nigerian university degree includes: an official transcript sent directly from your institution to WES (not to you), a copy of your degree certificate or statement of results, and your WES reference number included in the envelope. For polytechnic HNDs, WES also requires the OND transcript if applicable.
Scenarios: How ECA Outcomes Affect Real CRS Scores
Scenario 1: BSc Chemical Engineering (Federal University, 5 years), No Second Degree
A 5-year engineering degree from a federal university like OAU or UNILAG maps consistently to a Canadian bachelor’s degree (3+ years) at WES. CRS education points: 112 for a single applicant. This is the cleanest outcome; no uncertainty. The NYSC discharge certificate is required for the WES application.
Scenario 2: HND Mechanical Engineering (Federal Polytechnic), No Further Degree
This is the most variable scenario. WES may assess this as a 2-year Canadian diploma (91 CRS points) or, in some cases where the program and institution are well-documented, as a 3-year bachelor’s equivalent (112 CRS points). The conservative planning assumption is 91 points. If the WES assessment comes back as 112, that is a 21-point gain that immediately improves the CRS score.
Scenario 3: HND (Polytechnic) + MSc (State University), Both Credentials
When applying for ECA with both credentials, IRCC scores you on your highest credential. The MSc maps to a Canadian master’s degree (126 CRS points for a single applicant). The HND is secondary and does not reduce the score. If the applicant also holds an accompanying spouse, the points drop to 103, but the master’s still dominates the calculation. Applying for ECA on both credentials may also trigger the “two or more credentials” category (119 points) if the ECA assesses the HND as at least a diploma and the MSc as a master’s, but this is secondary to simply claiming the master’s.
Common Questions
Is an ECA mandatory for Express Entry?
Yes, if you want to claim education points for a foreign credential. Without an ECA, you can still apply, but your education score defaults to secondary school level (28 points), which significantly reduces your CRS score. The ECA is not optional if you want full credit for your Nigerian degree.
Can I start my Express Entry profile before my ECA is done?
Yes. You can create a profile and submit it to the pool without an ECA. Your profile will show a lower education score until the ECA is complete. Once you receive the ECA, you update your profile and the score adjusts. However, do not claim education points you have not yet verified; IRCC requires documentation for everything you claim.
Does WES assess my OND or HND as part of one application?
You can include multiple credentials in one WES application if they are from different institutions. Each institution typically charges a separate transcript fee. WES charges a single evaluation fee but you pay transcript retrieval per institution.
My institution says they will not send transcripts directly to WES. What do I do?
This is a known issue with some Nigerian institutions, particularly older polytechnics. WES has a process for handling institutions that cannot send directly; check the WES website for their Nigeria-specific guidance. Some institutions have local WES representatives. If your institution genuinely cannot comply, WES may offer an alternative verification pathway.
Will my ICAN, CIBN, or professional body membership count?
Professional memberships and certifications are not assessed as educational credentials for CRS education points. They may support adaptability points or skill transferability calculations, but they do not replace an academic ECA. ICAN, for instance, is recognized for employment purposes in Canada’s accounting profession, but the CRS education score is based on your academic degree, not the professional designation.
How long does a WES assessment take for Nigerian applicants?
Standard WES processing is 7 business days from the point when all documents are received and verified. The slower part is usually getting your institution to send transcripts, which can take 2 to 8 weeks depending on the institution’s internal process. Budget 6 to 12 weeks total from initiating the WES application to receiving the result.
