Studying Medicine in Nigeria is discussed and explained in this article. We hope you find it informative and helpful for your research.
Studying Medicine in Nigeria
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Finishing secondary school is a big deal but it is underrated because we do know that it is the first step towards what might be a lifelong career.
Sadly, there are very few schools with a functional Guidance and Counselling Unit and qualified counselors to guide these teenagers.
This article will be found resourceful and informative for those who are about resume to SSS3 or have just completed their secondary education and are looking to study medicine at a Nigerian University.
If you or your kids are in any of these two categories, this post is for you because it will come in handy as you take these important decisions.
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Studying Medicine in Nigeria
Below are the Requirements to Study Medicine in Nigeria:
1. Genuine interest and passion for it
It is no news that the training for medical students is a strenuous one, which takes at least 6 years. We say at least 6 years because, it could be more, considering the seemingly endless strike actions in our public universities.
So pause and have a rethink. Can you take physical pressure and still function well mentally? If your answer is not in the affirmative, you should look somewhere else.
2. O’ Level Result
O’ Level Result with a minimum of credit in Mathematics, English Language, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. It is important to note that most schools are strict about the number of sittings.
Some schools insist that it must be at one sitting while others take two sittings. You have to make sure to know which one your school of choice takes before you register.
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3. UTME
This is what we commonly call JAMB exams. It is the nationwide exam taken by potential university entrants across Nigeria.
The subjects to take at UTME are English, Chemistry, Physics, and Biology. It is advisable for a person who wants to be admitted for the medicine to score 250 or at least 200. Some universities take 180 UTME scores while the ones with the best facilities always insist on 200.
It does not end at UTME, most universities, if not all, do what is called the Post UTME screening Exercise. This is what used to be referred to as aptitude tests.
The screening is to ensure that the best minds are picked and placed in their deserving departments. Some schools grade post UTME over 400, while others grade theirs over 100. But in each case, a person who wants to study medicine must score very high, say 70-75%.
4. Through Direct Entry
The applicant, in this case, must have done a diploma or a degree in a course that’s related to medicine e.g. biochemistry, anatomy and physiology, human nutrition and dietetics, and the likes.
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The person must have made an average or excellent grade to be considered because they do not begin from year one. They go straight to 200Level.
Finally, ensure that the university of your choice has met the accreditation criteria of the National Universities Commission before getting trapped in a system that cannot keep you but does not let you go. We wish you the best!
