Professional courses give additional training that is specifically designed to prepare graduates to be the best match for the jobs that are now accessible in the real world.
In this piece, we’ll go over some of the professional degrees that you may pursue in Nigeria, as well as the entrance criteria for each of them.
There are two main routes into the B.Sc. program:
1. The Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) is a standardized examination for secondary school students (UTME).
2. Direct Entry (also known as direct entry) (DE)
Applicants to the university must submit an application through the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board in order to pursue a degree.
Candidates must meet the minimal university and departmental entry criteria as outlined in the university senate-approved entry requirements before being considered for admission.
Candidates for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and the Post-UTME should also ensure that they write the subjects necessary for their preferred degree of study. Candidates seeking DE positions should also be prepared to participate in an interview with the institution or department (this is a requirement for some schools, not all).
The following is a list of professional courses offered by Nigerian universities that meet the requirements.
1. BANKING AND FINANCE
In spite of the fact that banks seek to hire graduates from a wide range of disciplines, banking and finance graduates have a distinct advantage when applying for bank positions.
For graduates who want to pursue a career in the banking business, enrolling in the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) is a good first step toward achieving that goal. In the industry, earning this certification might increase your prospects of moving up the corporate ladder in a short period of time.
2. ACCOUNTING AND BOOKKEEPING
Studying accounting at a university is one of the most effective ways to obtain the professional designation of chartered accountant.
Accounting is a four-year subject that may be completed at any Nigerian institution. In addition, as previously noted, the course is an excellent approach to studying for the professional certification exam to become a chartered accountant.
With an ICAN degree, you may accelerate your career as an accountant, and you will have a plethora of work choices available to you in the job market.
While still an undergraduate, you can register for the ICAN test, and if you are successful in passing each step of the exam on your first attempt, you will very certainly be chartered by the time you graduate from the university.
3. ESTATE MANAGEMENT
Despite the fact that many people work as estate surveyors and valuers without having the right degree or certificate, having a professional degree in estate management can give you a big advantage over these other people.
After you finish your degree in estate management, you can apply to become a member of the Nigeria Institute of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, which is a professional group for people who work with real estate.
Your degree in estate management, together with your membership in the NIESV, can help you expand your network and increase your career chances in the field.
It is necessary to have five credit passes in English Language, Mathematics, Geography, and any two of the following subjects: physics, biology, chemistry, economics, and fine arts/technical drawing to be eligible for the UTME. The UTME subjects are: English Language, Mathematics, Geography/Economic Studies, and any one of the following: Chemistry, Physics, Biology, and Fine Arts/Technical Drawing.
4. MEDICINE
A scientific student in any of Nigeria’s secondary schools will most likely respond, “I want to be a medical doctor,” if you inquire what s/he plans to study at the university level in that subject.
The study of medicine in Nigeria is considered the pinnacle of professionalism in many Nigerian households. Having one of their children work as a medical doctor is something that many parents are immensely proud of.
A medical degree requires six years of university education. But that’s not all there is to it. Certification from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria is required before you can begin practicing medicine. You must complete one year of housemanship before you can be certified as a medical doctor.
After that, you might pursue further education in any medical course of your choosing. In medicine, there are a variety of specialties, including dermatology and emergency medicine, as well as general medicine and geriatric medicine. Other specialties include medical research and education, oncology, pediatrics, psychiatry, and pathology. Radiology is one of the specialties in medicine.
The entrance criteria for medicine are either two A-level courses from Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Zoology, or Botany, or two A-level subjects from any of the other topics listed above, plus the UME requirement. Or 5 O ‘Level credits in English Language, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
5. PHARMACEUTICALS
Pharmacists are another professional degree that requires 5 years of education at a university level to complete. Following graduation, the pharmacy graduate will be required to complete a one-year internship in one of the centers accredited by the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) (PCN).
In order to practice as a pharmacist in any part of the nation, the intern must complete an internship year and be certified by the Pharmacy Council of North America (PCN).
To be considered for admission, students must have A-Level passes in Chemistry, Biology, Physics, or Mathematics, as well as UME prerequisites, or a B.Sc degree in a relevant discipline. Additionally, 5 O’Level Credit Passes in English Language, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology in a single sitting can be obtained as an alternative option to the UTME criteria.
6) LAW
Lawyers are highly regarded professions in the Nigeria though they are not as highly paid as in developed countries like the USA.
The process of becoming a lawyer begins with the enrollment in a school that offers the subject.
Obtaining a law degree takes five years from start to finish. After that, the law graduate would spend an additional year at one of the Nigerian Law School’s regional centers around the country.
After that, she/he is admitted to the bar and is permitted to practice law.
The following are the measures to take in order to become a lawyer in Nigeria:
In order to be admitted, students must complete two Advanced Level papers as well as credit in five or six other “O” level topics, which must include English Language and Literature in English. As an alternative, you might get an excellent first degree with credit in the English language at ‘O’ Level English Language and any three disciplines from the arts (including English), social sciences (including social science), and/or science (including science).
In addition to the UTME criteria, students can take 5 “O” level courses in one sitting or 6 “O” level subjects in two sittings, which should contain English Language and Literature in English, as well as any other subjects from the Arts, Social Sciences, or Science disciplines.
7. ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
In addition to medicine, engineering is also a popular choice for high school graduates who want to go to a four-year college or university.
This is due to the fact that becoming an engineer is seen as a prominent career with several employment options. As an engineer, you can work for oil and gas companies, telecommunications companies, information technology companies, or any of the country’s top manufacturing companies.
An engineering student will spend five years at university, following which he will be able to enroll in professional courses to improve his chances of becoming a successful engineer.
The following are the admission requirements that must be met
A five-year program that requires candidates to have completed either the West African School Certificate or the General Certificate of Education (Ordinary Level) may be offered admission through an entrance examination to candidates who have passed either of these exams.
Applicants who desire to be accepted into the engineering department must also meet the additional criteria specified below, which are in addition to the university’s entrance standards. People who want to go to college in Nigeria must get the West African School Certificate, the Senior Secondary School Certificate, or its equivalent in one or two sittings.
They also need to get at least five papers in the General Certificate of Education (Ordinary Level) in no more than two sittings, as well.
Author
Abbey Johnson has a Masters degree as an engineer and has over 3 years of teaching and research experience. He is happiest when on a bike and is also interested in electric energy and computer Science.