WES outcome - Dual Bacherlor's Degree (4 yrs) NOT Two Bachelor's Degrees (4 yrs)

[Stroggie86]

Hi all,

Have trawled and searched extensively through this site and others - can't find an answer to my question, so am hoping there may be others out there that find themselves in a similarly grey area.

I completed a double degree in Australia over 4 years, for which I was credited with separate degree certificates. These were sent to WES, and I received the following:

CANADIAN EQUIVALENCY SUMMARY: Dual Bachelor's Degree (4 years)

I've noticed that others on this forum have received 'Two Bachelor's Degree's (4 years)' as the outcome for their WES, and I'm wondering if these two outcomes are the same?

Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks in advance

 

[legalfalcon]

The WES credentialing is different for different degrees. It depends on the institution from where you graduated, the number of credits with which you graduated and many other factors. You cannot compare your degree with someone else's unless you know of someone who pursued the same degree as your, from the same institution, but got a different Canadian equivalency than yours.

However, you can write a letter to WES challenging the result. In your letter, you can raise points such as two-degree certificates, the number of credits required to graduate for each degree, the ranking of the institution, the nature of the course work done, and other relevant factors. When you compare your WES evaluation to someone else's, who has different degrees from different institutions, it's like comparing apple to oranges. No matter what other people say, there is no absolute answer to this, except writing a letter to WES and clarifying the issue. They will let you know on what parameters they reached the evaluation result.

Hope this is helpful.

 

[Stroggie86]

The WES credentialing is different for different degrees. It depends on the institution from where you graduated, the number of credits with which you graduated and many other factors. You cannot compare your degree with someone else's unless you know of someone who pursued the same degree as your, from the same institution, but got a different Canadian equivalency than yours.

However, you can write a letter to WES challenging the result. In your letter, you can raise points such as two-degree certificates, the number of credits required to graduate for each degree, the ranking of the institution, the nature of the course work done, and other relevant factors. When you compare your WES evaluation to someone else's, who has different degrees from different institutions, it's like comparing apple to oranges. No matter what other people say, there is no absolute answer to this, except writing a letter to WES and clarifying the issue. They will let you know on what parameters they reached the evaluation result.

Hope this is helpful.

Thanks for commenting, legalfalcon.

For the purpose of my EE profile, though - in your opinion (or that of any other people on this forum) could I file under 'two or more degrees....'?

 

[legalfalcon]

Thanks for commenting, legalfalcon.

For the purpose of my EE profile, though - in your opinion (or that of any other people on this forum) could I file under 'two or more degrees....'?

You need to put exactly what you got from WES. If you put anything different than what they have given in their evaluation, your application could be rejected. There is a recent case where an applicant who has a Bachelors and a Masters degree from India. His WES evaluation mentioned his Bachelors as a Canadian 4 years bachelors and his Masters also as a 4 years bachelors. He, however stated in his application that he has a Bachelors and a Masters and his application was rejected on this ground after 5 months.

See page 139 of this thread http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/reasons-for-rejection-t306713.2070.html and check the user Gabbana and follow it on next two pages.

Your WES report should look like this:

Credential Authentication: Official transcripts were sent directly by the institution
Country: [NAME OF THE COUNTRY]
Credential: [NAME OF YOUR DEGREES - XXXXXX,XXXXXX]
Year: [YEAR]
Awarded by: [NAME OF THE EDUCATION INSTITUTION]
Institution Status: [RECOGNIZED]
Major/Specialization: [SPECIALIZATION]
Canadian Equivalency: BACHELOR'S DEGREE (four years)

If this is what is says, then you cannot write two degrees because WES only sees it as one degree. However, wait for other forum users. The above is what I received, however, I have a master's and a Doctorate, so it did not matter to me. Lets wait and see what others have done and has anyone been successful.

Hope this helps and answers your question.

 

[Asivad Anac]

Prima facie, it appears that you'll have to choose Bachelors. Copy paste your ECA here for more accurate advice.

 

[Stroggie86]

Prima facie, it appears that you'll have to choose Bachelors. Copy paste your ECA here for more accurate advice.

Thank you both for such quick responses, super helpful.

I have cut and pasted my exact response from the paperwork:

CANADIAN EQUIVALENCY SUMMARY: Dual Bachelor's Degree (four years)

CREDENTIAL ANALYSIS

Credential Authentication: Official Transcripts were sent directly by the institution
Country: Australia
Credential: Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Arts
Year: 2010
Awarded by: Charles Sturt University
Institution Status: Recognized
Major/Specialization: Communication, Advertising and marketing
Canadian Equivalency: Dual Bachelor's degree (four years)

Look forward to your thoughts, guys!

Thanks

 

[Asivad Anac]

Thank you both for such quick responses, super helpful.

I have cut and pasted my exact response from the paperwork:

CANADIAN EQUIVALENCY SUMMARY: Dual Bachelor's Degree (four years)

CREDENTIAL ANALYSIS

Credential Authentication: Official Transcripts were sent directly by the institution
Country: Australia
Credential: Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Arts
Year: 2010
Awarded by: Charles Sturt University
Institution Status: Recognized
Major/Specialization: Communication, Advertising and marketing
Canadian Equivalency: Dual Bachelor's degree (four years)

Look forward to your thoughts, guys!

Thanks

This is a grey area. Though it appears that you have a single degree (because even the equivalency summary uses the singular), you do have a dual degree which covers 2 distinct subject areas. With the latter logic, it appears that you can claim '2 or more..' option.

Unfortunately, the only way of knowing for sure is by applying with '2 or more...' option and awaiting CIC's (or province's if you're applying for a PN) response.

 

[Stroggie86]

This is a grey area. Though it appears that you have a single degree (because even the equivalency summary uses the singular), you do have a dual degree which covers 2 distinct subject areas. With the latter logic, it appears that you can claim '2 or more..' option.

Unfortunately, the only way of knowing for sure is by applying with '2 or more...' option and awaiting CIC's (or province's if you're applying for a PN) response.

Thanks Asivad.

At the behest of my consultant (he also conceded it was a grey area), I have managed to secure official documentation from my university that clearly states my double degree is in fact be treated as two standalone degrees for the purpose of official standing. This means that I have effectively completed two full degrees (although complementary), tantamount to two separate 3-year degrees.

I have sent a formal request to WES to see if there is something in writing they can provide to validate this (or simply change assessment to reflect) so will await the outcome of that.

I'm in a pickle - because IMO it's a big risk applying under the circumstances and risking rejection a few months down the track and much like others on this forum, if the assessment does not weigh in my favour, well... you get the idea...

I will qualify for enough points in July of this year owing to a full years work under my NOC code here in Canada - if you were in my shoes, would you change education status back to one degree and wait until then? My current IEC is up in October, so if I have everything locked and loaded for application and get an ITA in say August - could I apply for a bridging visa so there will be no shortfall in between?

I welcome open opinions to this situation.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Asivad Anac]

Thanks Asivad.

At the behest of my consultant (he also conceded it was a grey area), I have managed to secure official documentation from my university that clearly states my double degree is in fact be treated as two standalone degrees for the purpose of official standing. This means that I have effectively completed two full degrees (although complementary), tantamount to two separate 3-year degrees.

I have sent a formal request to WES to see if there is something in writing they can provide to validate this (or simply change assessment to reflect) so will await the outcome of that.

I'm in a pickle - because IMO it's a big risk applying under the circumstances and risking rejection a few months down the track and much like others on this forum, if the assessment does not weigh in my favour, well... you get the idea...

I will qualify for enough points in July of this year owing to a full years work under my NOC code here in Canada - if you were in my shoes, would you change education status back to one degree and wait until then? My current IEC is up in October, so if I have everything locked and loaded for application and get an ITA in say August - could I apply for a bridging visa so there will be no shortfall in between?

I welcome open opinions to this situation.

Thanks in advance!

If you're not in a hurry, avoid the possibility of a rejection. Apply in July, you'll get the e-APR immediately afterwards using which you can apply for BOWP right away.

All the best!

 

[rajkamalmohanram]

This is a grey area. Though it appears that you have a single degree (because even the equivalency summary uses the singular), you do have a dual degree which covers 2 distinct subject areas. With the latter logic, it appears that you can claim '2 or more..' option.

Unfortunately, the only way of knowing for sure is by applying with '2 or more...' option and awaiting CIC's (or province's if you're applying for a PN) response.

True. This is a problem.

Check this link out - http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/eca-conversion.asp

It says in the link - Under 2 or more degrees -

ECA assessment results:

A three-year or more certificate, diploma, or degree

PLUS any of the results in the sections below (not including secondary/high school), or:

Post-Bachelor's Certificate
Post-undergraduate certificate
Post-Bachelor's Diploma
Post-undergraduate diploma
Graduate Certificate
Graduate Certificate with a focus in [area of concentration]
Postgraduate certificate
Postgraduate Diploma
Graduate Diploma with a focus in [area of concentration]
Graduate diploma
two-year Postgraduate Diploma, specializing in [name of discipline]
two-year Bachelor’s after degree with a focus in [area of concentration]
one-year Postgraduate Certificate in [name of discipline]
one-year of graduate study with a focus in [area of concentration]
Study Toward a Master's Degree

Since two degrees are mentioned in the ECA report, I am inclined to believe that it is indeed okay to select 2 or more degrees. But, until we receive a response from CIC, we cannot tell for sure.

 

[Stroggie86]

True. This is a problem.

Check this link out -

It says in the link - Under 2 or more degrees -

Since two degrees are mentioned in the ECA report, I am inclined to believe that it is indeed okay to select 2 or more degrees. But, until we receive a response from CIC, we cannot tell for sure.

I have received a notification that WES are putting together a 'formal response' to my question regarding this/possible reassessment and updated wording on a new report.

Will let you guys know - this may well be setting a valuable precedent for others (regardless of whether the outcome is positive). My consultant has actually recommended I try my luck if I receive an ITA in the coming weeks - if the outcome is not good, then I will likely receive a no before July 13th anyway and then I can reapply with extra points from 1 years work in my NOC occupation.

Final question - I would assume I'd need to repay the processing fee, but the 'Right of Permanent Residence' Fee: would I need to pay that again if I'd already pre-paid it before approval of my PR application?

Thanks guys!

 

[hiren_25]

Hello Guys,
I have the ECA report from the WES. The summary says bachelor degree four years and Bachelor degree three years. So for the level of education can i select " TWO OR MORE DEGREE CERTIFICATE, DEGREE , DIPLOMA OPTION?

Thank you

 

[rajkamalmohanram]

Hello Guys,
I have the ECA report from the WES. The summary says bachelor degree four years and Bachelor degree three years. So for the level of education can i select " TWO OR MORE DEGREE CERTIFICATE, DEGREE , DIPLOMA OPTION?

Thank you

You can choose 2 or more degrees. Check this link for clarity -

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/express-entry-in-a-nutshell-t394158.0.html;msg4938429#msg4938429

 

[bp1221]

Not anymore (as of november 2016 changes). There is no longer an option to select two or more degrees .... in EE profile. oh well.

 

[shinyrust]

Hi Stroggie86,

I know this thread is a little old, but how did you fare with your WES ECA that states "Dual Bachelors Degree (four years)"? Did you receive any feedback from WES or CIC? What did you end up putting on your PR application (1 three-year degree?)

I also have a double-degree completed over 5 years from an Australian university (Bachelor of Engineering / Bachelor of Commerce - 2 degree certificates, 1 academic transcript), and WES evaluated it as a single line item.

I put a single "3-year bachelor's" entry on my Express Entry profile (as I read this thread a few months ago) and was accepted into the pool in March. I have everything ready for my PR application submission (medical, police clearance, etc), but now I'm really unsure how to proceed here for the final application. I don't really need the points (even 91pts for a 2-year degree would be fine), but I want to make sure CIC doesn't bounce it back as I only have 6 weeks left on my IEC work permit.

In the Post-ITA education history section, the drop down doesn't have "Dual Bachelor's Degree (four years)" available as a choice. This means that technically the WES result doesn't fit into any category...

The CIC website states that "Dual Bachelor's Degree (four years)" qualifies for "Two or more degrees", but it also states that you need "A three-year or more certificate, diploma, or degree PLUS any of the results in the sections below". My WES ECA doesn't have this, so I am confused...

ECA assessment results:

A three-year or more certificate, diploma, or degree

PLUS any of the results in the sections below (not including secondary/high school), or:

Post-Bachelor's Certificate
Post-undergraduate certificate
Post-Bachelor's Diploma
Post-undergraduate diploma
Graduate Certificate
Graduate Certificate with a focus in [area of concentration]
Postgraduate certificate
Postgraduate Diploma
Graduate Diploma with a focus in [area of concentration]
Graduate diploma
two-year Postgraduate Diploma, specializing in [name of discipline]
two-year Bachelor’s after degree with a focus in [area of concentration]
one-year Postgraduate Certificate in [name of discipline]
one-year of graduate study with a focus in [area of concentration]
Dual Bachelor’s degree (four years)

Any thoughts on my options here?