University admission in Nigeria

Official entry requirements

As classified by the country with UNESCO (ISCED 2011), reference year 2014. Universities may set higher requirements.

School-leaving qualification (upper secondary)

• Senior secondary3 years, from age 15

  Minimum entry: Junior secondary school certificate

  Awards: West African senior school certificate (WASSC) or National examinations council (NECO) certificate

• Interim joint matriculation board (IJMB) A - level course2 years, from age 18

  Minimum entry: West African Senior School Cerfificate (WASSC), National examination council (NECO) certificate, National business certificate (NBC) or National technical certificate (NTC)

  Awards: Interim joint matriculation board (IJMB) certificate

Bachelor's or equivalent (first degree)

• Bachelor's in Nursing2 years, from age 21

  Minimum entry: Registered nursing certificate

  Awards: Bachelor's in Nursing

• Bachelor's programme4 years, from age 18

  Minimum entry: West African Senior School Cerfificate (WASSC), National examination council (NECO) certificate, National business certificate (NBC) or National technical certificate (NTC) or Interim Joint Matriculation Board (IJMB) + Unified tertiary matriculation examination (UTME)

  Awards: Bachelor's degree

Short-cycle tertiary (diplomas)

• Nigerian certificate in education (NCE)3 years, from age 18

  Minimum entry: West African Senior School Cerfificate (WASSC), National examination council (NECO) certificate, Teacher certificate grade 2 , National business certificate (NBC) or National technical certificate (NTC) + Unified tertiary matriculation examination (UTME)

  Awards: Nigerian certificate in education

• National diploma (ND) programme2 years, from age 18

  Minimum entry: West African Senior School Cerfificate (WASSC), National examination council (NECO) certificate, National business certificate (NBC) or National technical certificate (NTC) + Unified tertiary matriculation examination (UTME)

  Awards: National diploma

• Higher national diploma (HND) programme2 years, from age 20

  Minimum entry: National diploma

  Awards: Higher national diploma

• School of Nursing3 years, from age 18

  Minimum entry: West African Senior School Cerfificate (WASSC), National examination council (NECO) certificate

  Awards: Registered nursing certificate