WES ECA Nigerian University Equivalency Calculator
For Canadian immigration and Express Entry. Estimates only. Verify with WES directly.
All institutions are NUC or NBTE recognized
Year you completed, not convocation
WES requires NYSC documents for Nigerian applicants
ECA is enough for Express Entry. ICAP is needed for schools or employers.
Estimated WES Equivalency
WES Fee (CAD)
Payable to WES directly
Approx. in NGN
Based on est. exchange rate
Processing Time
After all docs received by WES
Estimated Total Cost Breakdown
Required Documents for WES Nigeria
Express Entry CRS Score Impact
Approximate CRS points your credential may contribute (education factor only)
Common Mistakes Nigerian Applicants Make
How the WES ECA Equivalency System Works for Nigerian Degrees
WES (World Education Services) is a non-profit organization designated by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to assess foreign credentials. When you apply for Express Entry, a Provincial Nominee Program, or certain Canadian work permits, you will need a valid ECA from an IRCC-designated body. WES is the most widely used.
The assessment is not a translation. WES does not assess your skills or employability. It maps your credential to the closest equivalent in the Canadian education system. That result, combined with official transcripts and supporting documents, is what IRCC uses to assign your education points in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).
Canadian Equivalency = f(Institution Type, Program Duration, NUC Accreditation Status, Degree Level)
WES does not use your grades to determine equivalency. Your class of degree (First Class, 2:1, etc.) does not change what your degree maps to. However, it can affect how Canadian employers view your transcript separately from the ECA result.
What Nigerian Degrees Actually Get From WES
Here is how WES typically maps Nigerian credentials to Canadian equivalents. These are common outcomes, not guarantees. Individual assessments can vary.
| Nigerian Credential | Typical WES Canadian Equivalent | CRS Education Points (single) |
|---|---|---|
| 4-year B.Sc from NUC-accredited federal/state university | Canadian Bachelor’s Degree (4 years) | 120 points |
| 5-year B.Eng / B.Arch / B.Tech | Canadian Bachelor’s Degree (4-5 years) | 120 points |
| MBBS / BDS (5-6 year medical) | Canadian First Professional Degree (Medicine/Dentistry) | 128+ points |
| M.Sc / MBA from accredited university | Canadian Master’s Degree | 135 points |
| Ph.D from accredited Nigerian university | Canadian Doctoral Degree | 150 points |
| HND from federal or state polytechnic (3 years) | Canadian 3-year College Diploma (not a Bachelor’s) | 98 points |
| OND (Ordinary National Diploma) | Canadian 2-year College Diploma | 90 points |
| PGD (Postgraduate Diploma) | Canadian Postgraduate Certificate / Diploma | Varies |
Documents WES Requires from Nigerian Applicants
Getting your documents together is where most Nigerian applicants spend the most time. WES requires specific documents depending on your credential and institution type. Here is a general checklist for a standard university degree.
- Official transcripts sent directly from your institution to WES (in a sealed, stamped envelope)
- Original degree certificate or diploma (sent by applicant or institution, depending on type)
- NYSC Discharge Certificate or Exemption Certificate
- NYSC Calling-Up Letter (some assessors request this)
- Government-issued photo ID (international passport most accepted)
How Much Does WES ECA Cost in 2025
WES fees are charged in Canadian dollars. As of 2025, the base WES ECA report costs CAD 239 for a single credential. The ICAP (course-by-course evaluation) costs CAD 329. These are the WES fees only and do not include additional costs you will pay separately.
On top of the WES fee, most Nigerian applicants spend between CAD 50 and CAD 150 on transcript delivery and document processing through their institution’s registry. Courier fees from Nigeria to Canada (via DHL, FedEx, or similar) typically run between USD 30 and USD 60 per shipment. Some universities charge separate transcript fees.
| Cost Item | Estimated Amount (CAD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| WES ECA Basic Report | CAD 239 | Single credential, immigration use |
| WES ICAP (course-by-course) | CAD 329 | Used for employment or further studies |
| University transcript processing fee | CAD 10 to CAD 80 (est.) | Varies by Nigerian institution |
| International courier (Nigeria to Canada) | CAD 40 to CAD 110 | DHL, FedEx, or EMS |
| NYSC document retrieval (if lost) | CAD 15 to CAD 40 (est.) | NYSC liaison officer fees vary |
| Notarization (if required) | CAD 20 to CAD 50 (est.) | Some documents may need notarization |
How Long Does WES Take for Nigerian Applications in 2025
The WES evaluation itself is fast once your documents arrive and are verified. Standard WES processing is 7 business days from the date WES marks your application complete. That sounds simple, but the real timeline is driven by how quickly Nigerian institutions respond.
Document verification and transcript requests from Nigerian universities can take anywhere from 4 to 12 weeks depending on the institution, time of year, and whether the institution has direct verification agreements with WES. Federal universities generally process requests faster than state institutions. Polytechnics vary widely.
8 to 16 weeks from the day you start the process to the day you receive your WES reference number. Plan accordingly. Do not start your immigration application assuming a 2-week turnaround.
Three Realistic Scenarios
Scenario 1: Single Applicant with Federal University B.Sc
Applicant holds a 4-year B.Sc in Computer Science from the University of Lagos, completed 2020, NYSC discharged 2021. Applying for Express Entry Federal Skilled Worker.
WES likely result: Canadian Bachelor’s Degree. CRS education points: approximately 120 (single, no spouse). Total estimated cost: CAD 310 to CAD 440 including transcript fees and courier. Estimated processing time: 8 to 12 weeks from application start.
Scenario 2: Applicant with Spouse, State University Degrees
Primary applicant holds an M.Sc from Ladoke Akintola University. Spouse holds a 4-year B.Sc from Lagos State University. Both need WES ECA reports. NYSC completed by both.
Expected results: Primary applicant gets Canadian Master’s equivalency. Spouse gets Canadian Bachelor’s. Combined CRS benefit is significant, especially for the primary applicant. Total WES cost for both: approximately CAD 478 to CAD 658 plus two sets of transcript and courier costs. Timeline depends on which institution responds slower.
Scenario 3: HND Holder with Postgraduate Degree
Applicant holds an HND from Yaba College of Technology and later completed an M.Sc from the University of Lagos. This is a common profile in Nigeria.
WES typically evaluates each credential separately. The HND receives a college diploma equivalency. The M.Sc receives a Canadian Master’s equivalency. For immigration purposes, WES will assess the highest credential. The M.Sc result, assuming the M.Sc meets WES admission requirements and program quality criteria, should still yield a Master’s equivalency. This is a situation worth verifying directly with WES before assuming a clean outcome.
Edge Cases and Situations That Complicate the Process
What if my institution is on WES hold or not in their database?
WES maintains a database of Nigerian institutions. If your institution is not listed, WES may still evaluate it but will conduct additional verification. This can add weeks to your timeline. A missing institution from the WES database does not automatically mean your credential is rejected, but it does mean more scrutiny and longer processing.
What if I graduated before my school got NUC accreditation?
This is more relevant to private universities that received NUC accreditation after 2003 or 2005. If you graduated before full accreditation was granted, WES may give a different assessment than graduates from the same school after accreditation. In some cases, the equivalency is downgraded to a diploma or junior degree. This is a real concern for early graduates of certain private institutions.
What if I lost my NYSC discharge certificate?
NYSC has an online verification portal where discharged corps members can retrieve records. Lost certificates can be replaced through the NYSC state secretariat where you served. The replacement process takes 2 to 6 weeks depending on your state. Start this early.
Can I use my result slip instead of the certificate?
No. WES requires your actual degree certificate, not a statement of result, a result slip, or a letter from your institution confirming graduation. If your convocation has not happened yet, some institutions can issue a letter of completion for interim use, but you will need to submit the actual certificate when it is available.
Frequently Asked Questions
How WES Verifies Nigerian University Documents
WES verifies Nigerian academic credentials through the Nigerian Inter-University Council and direct contact with registrars. For newer private universities, they may contact the National Universities Commission (NUC). Polytechnic credentials go through the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) channel.
This verification step is what adds time to Nigerian applications more than for some other countries. Nigerian institutions do not all have digital registrar systems, and response times from registry offices vary. Some have dedicated WES liaison officers. Others process requests in batch. Federal universities are generally more responsive than state institutions, but there are exceptions.
Why Nigerians Choose Canada Over Other Countries
Canada attracts more Nigerian immigrants each year than almost any other destination outside the UK. A few factors explain this. Express Entry gives skilled workers a transparent, points-based pathway to permanent residence that is well understood and does not require a job offer to apply in many cases. Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs create additional routes for people with specific skills or regional ties.
English is the dominant language, so language barriers are lower than in Germany or France. The Nigerian community in Canada is large and established, which makes the first years easier. Canadian immigration policy has been relatively stable and predictable compared to UK or US immigration, which matters for long-term planning.
Important Disclaimer
This tool gives estimates based on publicly available WES guidelines and typical assessment patterns for Nigerian credentials. It is not affiliated with WES, IRCC, or any Canadian government body. WES ECA results are determined by WES alone, and individual assessments may differ from what this tool estimates.
Immigration requirements change. Fees change. Processing times change. Verify everything with official sources: wes.org for credential evaluation and canada.ca/immigration for IRCC guidelines. This tool does not provide immigration advice.
