ADENIYI Adebayo, 31, moved from Nigeria to Europe to obtain an international master’s degree in Dance and Choreography after winning an Erasmus Mundus Scholarship in 2016.

The scholarship programme allowed him to get a joint master’s degree from four universities in four different countries within two years.

The 31-year-old graduate of Theatre Arts from the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) wrote the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) in 2017 to prove that he could speak English as a part of the eligibility criteria for admission into his preferred schools.

At the time, the IELTS exams cost him 236 euros. Adeniyi got an overall band score of 7.5 in writing, listening, speaking and reading which was valid for two years.

The IELTS is an English language proficiency test for non-native English speakers. The IELTS is jointly managed by the British Council, IDP Education Limited, and Cambridge Assessment English.

By September 15, 2018, Adeniyi had earned his master’s degree from the University of Roehampton in London, the University of Szeged in Hungary, Université Clermont Auvergne in France and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Norway.

He had also written several peer-reviewed research articles published in globally recognised journals when submitting his dissertations for his master’s degree.

While completing a second master’s degree in Dance Anthropology from NTNU in 2021, Adeniyi followed up with a joint application for a PhD at Coventry University, London, in the UK, and Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia.

His application was rejected in both schools because the IELTS test he took in 2017 was considered ‘too old’ and both graduate schools required him to take another IELTS test.

In an email, Coventry University said his graduation from Roehampton University, London, was more than two years old, which meant he had to take a new IELTS test or get his PhD application withdrawn.

Adeniyi asked for a waiver from the tests since he had a master’s degree from a UK university, proving he was taught in English. He attached letters of support from his professors at NTNU and the University of Roehampton, London, to help convince the admissions board.

Professors Stefan Greuter and Luke Heemsbergen at Deakin University wrote to Adeniyi saying they didn’t make the rules on application procedures to exempt him “no matter his background or experience” if he could not take a new IELTS examination.

In February, Coventry and Deakin universities dismissed his PhD application when he could not provide a new IELTS test.

Deakin University is a joint shareholder with majority stake, alongside 37 Australian universities in IDP Education Limited, which offers IELTS tests to applicants across the world.

The UK Home office in October 2021 had mandated UK schools and organisations to evaluate international students without IELTS if they could provide evidence of higher qualification in English from an education in a UK school or had met the requirement at the required level in a previous successful application.

On its website, Coventry University says it accepts alternative requirements like WAEC certificates for undergraduate and postgraduate students from Africa without IELTS. However, they still asked Adeniyi for an English language test.

Deakin University offers a five-week course called Deakin University English Language Institute (DUELI) for international students who are not proficient in English but did not offer Adeniyi the chance to take the course.

Despite Adeniyi’s proof of the English requirement of higher education from a UK university, both universities denied him admission.

READ MORE HERE: https://www.icirnigeria.org/company-formed-by-38-australian-universities-rakes-in-millions-from-ielts-as-nigerians-groan/

Bro... We have signed petitions supporting the removal of this draconian colonial law that is enforced on us by the West to no avail.

Imagine, if we can get 20 to 50 celebrities take part in this process... Do you see the impact but what do we have..?

Our celebrities are busy chasing after the biggest bumbums and the tightest veejay..

The misbehavior of African leaders kept everyone losing out to the colonialists...

Haba mana!!!!?

Someone that finished masters degree from the UK must still apply and write another IELTS to continue to a PHD program in the same UK

Mago mago don enter this matter.