Check how your African degree compares internationally. Find out if your qualification meets requirements for work, study, or immigration in the UK, USA, Canada, or Australia.
Millions of Africans hold university degrees that they need recognised internationally — whether for further study abroad, skilled worker visas, professional registration, or employment. The process of credential evaluation varies by destination country, but understanding the general equivalency of your degree is the first step.
Most destination countries have official bodies that evaluate foreign qualifications. The UK uses ENIC-NARIC (now ECCTIS), the USA relies on WES (World Education Services) and other NACES-approved agencies, Canada uses WES for immigration purposes, and Australia uses evaluation bodies like VETASSESS. These agencies compare your qualification against their national framework to determine its equivalent level.
Nigerian Bachelor's degrees from NUC-accredited universities are generally recognised as comparable to a Bachelor's degree in the UK, USA, Canada, and Australia. A First Class or Second Class Upper is typically considered competitive for postgraduate admission. HND holders may face additional requirements in some countries, though the equivalency has improved significantly in recent years with Nigeria's adoption of the NQF.
Several factors influence how your degree is evaluated: the accreditation status of your university (NUC, CUE, NAB, CHE), the specific programme or field of study, the duration of the programme, and your classification or GPA. Professional degrees (medicine, law, engineering) often have additional requirements including professional licensing examinations in the destination country.
No. This tool provides general guidance on how African degrees are typically evaluated internationally. For official recognition, you must apply through the designated credential evaluation agency in your target country (ECCTIS for UK, WES for USA/Canada, etc.). Their assessment is the one that employers and institutions accept.
Processing times vary. WES typically takes 7-20 business days. ECCTIS (UK ENIC) takes 10-15 working days for standard service. Express options are available at additional cost. Plan ahead — don't wait until your application deadline to start the evaluation process.
Many evaluation agencies require apostilled or notarised copies of your academic documents. Nigeria uses the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs for apostille services. Kenya uses the Attorney General's office. Check your target agency's specific requirements.
It depends on the destination country. In the UK, a Nigerian HND is generally considered comparable to a Foundation Degree or Diploma of Higher Education — below a full Bachelor's. WES (USA/Canada) evaluates it similarly. Some employers accept HND as equivalent to a Bachelor's, while others don't. A top-up degree can bridge the gap.