I discovered IELTS while researching how to study in Canada from Nigeria. Here is how it became part of my Durham College application journey and what applicants should check today.
How IELTS Became Part of My Canada Study Journey From Nigeria
IELTS was not something an agent suddenly introduced to me.
I discovered it while doing my own research.
At that stage, I was trying to understand how to study in Canada from Nigeria and what I would need before applying to a Canadian school.
I had already started looking at schools, requirements and different parts of the process when I came across information about English language proficiency.
Then, when I looked more closely at Durham College, I also saw that English language requirements were something I needed to pay attention to for my application at the time.
That was how IELTS became part of my journey.
I did not wake up one morning and just decide, “Let me go and write IELTS.”
It was connected to a bigger plan.
I wanted to study in Canada.
I was researching the process myself.
And one thing I quickly learned was that when you are applying to study abroad, you cannot depend only on what somebody tells you.
You need to know what your own school is asking for.
I Found Out About IELTS Before I Applied
One thing I am happy about is that I started researching early.
Before submitting my school application, I was already checking what I might need.
That was when I discovered IELTS.
After finding Durham College, I also checked the school’s requirements.
For me, this was important because I did not want to submit an application first and then start discovering things I could have prepared for earlier.
That is something I would still advise somebody planning to study in Canada from Nigeria to do today.
Before you pay application fees, check the admission requirements for the exact school and exact program you are interested in.
Do not assume every Canadian college asks for exactly the same thing.
Do not assume your friend’s requirements will automatically be your requirements.
And do not book an English test simply because someone on WhatsApp, TikTok or YouTube said every international student needs one.
Check your own case.
IELTS Was One Step in a Much Bigger Process
At that time, IELTS felt like one of the important things standing between me and the next stage of my journey.
But looking back now, I can see that it was only one step.
There was the school research.
There was the application.
There were documents.
There was admission.
There was the Canadian visa process.
There were medicals and biometrics.
There was waiting.
My visa later came too late for my original September intake, which meant I had to defer.
Then there was pregnancy.
Packing.
Preparing to travel.
And eventually leaving Nigeria.
This is why I sometimes smile when people talk about relocation as though it is one big action.
It is usually many smaller actions joined together.
For me, IELTS was one of those actions.
I Did Not Use an Agent to Discover What I Needed
This part of my story is important because I was doing a lot of the early research myself.
I had not handed everything over to an education agent.
I was reading.
I was checking school information.
I was using ChatGPT to help me understand things when I needed assistance.
I was trying to know the process for myself.
Both the school research and application stage were different.
I think that distinction matters.
Even if you eventually use an education consultant or immigration professional, it is still useful to understand the basics yourself.
Ask:
What school am I applying to?
What program?
What are the admission requirements?
Do I need an English language test?
What documents do they want?
What are the current fees?
If somebody is helping you, you should still know what is being submitted in your name.
Then IELTS Took Me to Port Harcourt
After IELTS became part of my plan, I eventually travelled to Port Harcourt to write the test.
It was my first time visiting Port Harcourt.
I did not know the city.
But I found my way.
I asked for directions, used my phone, booked an Uber, located where I needed to go and stayed in a hotel close to the test location.
The trip itself did not make me nervous.
Test day did.
It was my first time writing IELTS, and I knew this test was connected to something much bigger I was trying to achieve.
I have shared that full experience separately because I do not want every JapaHive article to repeat the same story.
The important point here is simply that once I understood what I needed, I acted on it.
Research moved into preparation.
Preparation moved into action.
Do You Need IELTS to Study in Canada From Nigeria Today?
This is where I need to separate my experience from the current rules.
I wrote IELTS as part of my own journey.
That does not mean every Nigerian applying to study in Canada today automatically needs to write IELTS.
For Durham College specifically, the current international admission information says applicants who have completed at least three years of high school or post secondary education in Nigeria may be considered for an exemption from IELTS, TOEFL or PTE requirements when they provide a full transcript and meet the qualifying English grade requirement. Durham College also says exceptions can apply and that the decision is ultimately subject to its admission rules.
Nigeria is currently included on Durham College’s list of countries whose applicants may qualify for this English language test exemption.
That is very important because somebody may read my story and think:
“Sandra wrote IELTS, so I must write IELTS too.”
Not necessarily.
My experience tells you what I did.
The college’s current rules tell you what you need now.
What IELTS Score Does Durham College Require?
The answer depends on the program.
As of October 2026, Durham College’s international admission information lists Academic IELTS 6.0 overall with no band below 5.5 for many one year certificates, two year diplomas and three year advanced diploma programs.
Graduate certificates and bachelor’s degree programs generally have higher English language score requirements, and some programs have their own specific requirements.
That is why I would never tell somebody:
“Just get this score and you are fine.”
Look at your exact program page.
Requirements can differ.
And they can change.
Do Not Write IELTS Just Somebody Else Did
This is probably one of the most useful lessons I can give someone searching Google or asking ChatGPT:
“Do I need IELTS to study in Canada from Nigeria?”
Start with the school.
Not with Sandra.
Not with your cousin.
Not with somebody who travelled five years ago.
Not with a random TikTok video.
And not even with an AI answer by itself.
Go to the official school website.
Find your program.
Check the admission requirements.
Check the country’s requirements.
Check the current English language policy.
If something is unclear, contact the school’s international admissions office.
Then make your decision.
You could save yourself money, time and stress by checking first.
IELTS Was Useful Beyond Just the Application
Even though my main reason for writing IELTS was connected to my Canada study journey, preparing for an English test also forced me to take the process seriously.
Relocation can stay in your imagination for a long time.
You can say:
“I want to travel.”
“I want to study abroad.”
“I want to move to Canada.”
But then there comes a point when you start doing things that cost time, effort and money.
Researching a school was one step.
Preparing for IELTS was another.
Travelling to Port Harcourt was another.
Submitting the school application was another.
Little by little, what had been an idea started becoming real.
One Thing I Would Still Do the Same Way
I would still research before applying.
That is one of the parts of my journey I am glad about.
I did not wait until somebody gave me a complete checklist.
I started looking for information myself.
That habit became useful again and again during relocation because no single person had every answer I needed.
Sometimes I found information from official websites.
Sometimes from social media.
Sometimes from YouTube.
Sometimes from ChatGPT.
The important lesson I eventually learned was that these sources do different jobs.
Social media can help you discover something.
ChatGPT can help you understand something.
Another person’s story can help you prepare emotionally.
But official sources are where you should confirm requirements that can affect your application or your money.
What I Would Tell Someone Preparing for IELTS for Canada
If your school confirms that you need an English language test, then prepare for the test you actually need.
Do not become overwhelmed because everybody online has a different strategy.
Understand the format.
Give yourself time to practice.
Know your test date and location.
If you are travelling to another city, plan your transportation and accommodation early.
And remember that nervousness does not automatically mean you are not prepared.
I was nervous on my own test day.
I still went inside and did what I came to do.
Questions People Ask About IELTS and Studying in Canada
Do Nigerians need IELTS to study in Canada?
There is no single answer for every school and program. English language admission requirements are set by the institution and can vary. Some applicants may qualify for exemptions depending on their education and the school’s policy.
For Durham College specifically, Nigerian applicants with sufficient prior education in English and qualifying transcripts may currently be considered for an IELTS, TOEFL or PTE exemption. Exceptions can apply.
Did I write IELTS before applying to Durham College?
I discovered the English requirement while researching before my application, and IELTS became part of my own preparation for the Canada study journey.
Did an agent tell me to write IELTS?
No. I first discovered the requirement during my own research and also checked Durham College’s requirements for my situation at the time.
Where did I write IELTS?
I travelled to Port Harcourt, Nigeria. It was my first time visiting the city.
Was I nervous about IELTS?
I was not nervous about travelling to Port Harcourt, but I was nervous on test day because it was my first time taking IELTS.
Do I have to travel to Port Harcourt to write IELTS?
No. Port Harcourt was simply where I took my own test. Anyone booking an English language test today should check current official test locations and choose the location that makes sense for them.
Should I book IELTS before applying to a Canadian college?
Check your chosen school’s current admission requirements first. Depending on your education, country, program and institution, you may need an English language test or you may qualify for an exemption.
What I Want You to Remember
If you are researching IELTS for Canada from Nigeria, do not start by asking:
“What did everybody else write?”
Start with:
“What does my school actually require from me?”
That one question can save you from following someone else’s journey blindly.
IELTS was part of my path.
I researched it.
I prepared.
I travelled to Port Harcourt.
I wrote the test.
Then I moved on to the next stage.
But if I have learned anything from relocating, it is that yesterday’s requirement for one person should never automatically become today’s instruction for another.
Research your own situation.
Verify it.
Then take the next step.
Last verified for current Durham College English language requirements: October 2026.
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