Studying medicine or any medical related course in Nigeria has more to do with prestige and honor than it has to do with academics.
Imagine the joy and confidence parents use in telling their friends and colleagues about their child studying or working in the medical field.
However, away from the dignifying status in the society, studying a medical course in Nigeria is highly sought after because of its high pay and job security.
However, not all medical courses are exactly the same in terms of salary and opportunities.
In this article, you will be given every information on some medical related courses in Nigeria and their ranking.
Requirements
The requirements to study a medical course is quite simple, all you need is:
- A minimum of five (5) credits in SSCE with the right subject combination.
- An excellent JAMB score or
- More than average in the JUPEB program
Top 10 Medical Related Courses to Study in Nigeria
1. Medicine and Surgery
There is absolutely no doubt that Medicine and Surgery is the foremost and most wanted Medical course in Nigeria and other parts of the world. It has to do with the studying of human health as well as the treatment procedures and mechanism involved.
As the name go, this course is separated into two parts which are :
- Medicine : involves the treatment of diseases with the use of drugs and therapies.
- Surgery : involves the treatment of diseases with the use of Surgical operations.
Degree Specification & Award
After fulfilling the necessary requirements to study Medicine in Nigeria, you will be meant to study for an minimum of seven (7) years and maximum of ten (10) years.
After completing the program, students are awarded with an MB.BS degree which means Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery.
With that certificate, they will be able to practice as medical doctors in any health facility within the shores of Nigeria.
Opportunities & Salary
Typically, a medical doctor can work anywhere human health is a priority, ranging from hospitals, local healthcare centers, companies or organizations, as well as other private or public institutions.
Also, the salary of a medical doctor is very attractive in Nigeria as they earn an average of 120,000 naira to 250,000 naira per month and this is fairly high compared to what is obtainable in other disciplines.
The unemployment rate in this field is also considered as the lowest in Nigeria today, so if you successfully become a doctor, there is a high probability that you will get a good paid employed.
2. Dentistry
Dentistry has a very close correlation with medicine and surgery only that dentistry as the name implies is specialized on dental health (the tooth and oral regions).
Mostly people usually opt for medicine but due to one reason or the other, but they end up studying dentistry which is not that bad.
Dentistry is also less competitive than medicine and has its own advantages as well as disadvantages when compared to medicine and surgery.
Degree Specification & Award
After fulfilling the basic requirements to study dentistry which is also same as that of medicine and surgery, you will be required to engage in a seven (7) years study program where you will gain basic medical knowledge with the medicine students as well as dental skills and expertise.
After completing the program, you will be awarded with a BDS degree which means Bachelor of Dental Surgery.
With that certificate, you will be capable of practicing dental health within Nigeria.
Opportunities & Salary
A dentist can work in any healthcare providing service, however, due to the low demand of dental expertise (how often do you visit a dentist), they are restrained to major hospitals and healthcare facilities.
Another downside of studying dentistry according to our research, is the feasibility of easily opening up a hospital compared to a dentist. This is because of the high cost of dental equipment as well as the extremely low demand for such expertise in Nigeria.
So a dentist will have to work for the Government in any government owned healthcare center or a mega private healthcare center to earn a good salary.
A dentist in Nigeria earn from 120,000 naira to 220,000 naira a month and this is fair too.
3. Nursing Science
After Medicine & Surgery, Nursing is the dream of every girl and sometimes boy too.
Nursing is a highly lucrative course and Nurses often easily obtain visa to go practice abroad because of the high demand.
As at today, a lot of students who want to study Nursing are bent with the vision of relocating abroad. This is because of the extremely high pay nurses receive outside the borders of Nigeria.
Degree Specification & Award
After fulfilling the necessary requirements to study Nursing in Nigeria, you will then be admitted into the school of Nursing, which can be found in major universities in Nigeria.
The duration of studying Nursing in Nigeria is five (5) years after which you become a BN.Sc holder which means Bachelor of Nursing Science.
Opportunities & Salary
Nursing is a very lucrative course in Nigeria as you can get a ton of employment in any sector of the economy. Think about it, you can virtually find nurses anywhere ranging from hospitals, schools, companies and even Non Governmental Organisations.
Also, there is a high probability of a Nurse getting employed if he or she leaves the borders of Nigeria and they are also highly paid at that.
Coming back to Nigeria, Nurses here earn about 40,000 naira to 80,000 naira a month for a start and their salary can go as high as 200,000 naira a month.
4. Medical Laboratory Science
Medical Laboratory Science popularly called MLS is one of the most lucrative medical course in Nigeria.
A medical laboratory scientist is trained to carry out various laboratory experiments ranging from pregnancy test to other pathological test.
It is highly sort although they are not as highly paid as doctors or nurses. It serve as a suitable second choice for those who could not meet up with the cut-off mark of medicine or nursing.
Degree Specification & Award
After fulfilling the basic requirements to study Medical Laboratory Science in Nigeria, you will then be considered for admission into the School of Basic Medical Studies under the department of Medical Laboratory Science.
To gain a degree in Medical Laboratory Science, you will need to study for a duration of 5 years of which some of the time will include practicals which are usually conducted in the University’s teaching hospital.
After completely the program, students will be awarded with a BMLS honors degree (Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science), which will enable them practice as Medical Laboratory scientist across Nigeria as well as opening a private Medical Laboratory.
Opportunities & Salary
Medical Laboratory Science is a very lucrative course because it can easily be privatized and practiced even outside the hospital environment.
A Medical Laboratory Scientist can work in any establishment that require lab expertise in medical aspects such as hospitals, research institutes, pharmacies and a lot more.
Typically a medical laboratory scientist who chooses to work for the government can earn anywhere from 40,000 naira to 150,000 naira while those working for private institution simply get paid according to the value they provide..
5. Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is that branch of Medical Studies that deals with the study, arrangement and fixing of human bones.
They are mostly found in the intensive care units as they help accident victims get to their right postures with the use of Operations as well as other therapies.
It is a professional course and expertise in such field is quite in demand.
Degree Specification & Award
After fulfilling the basic requirements to study physiotherapy in Nigeria, you will then be considered for admission into the School of Basic Medical Studies under the department of Physiotherapy.
Physiotherapy is a five (5) year course in Nigeria and within that study time, students will be trained with basic physiotherapy skills.
At the end of the program, successful students are given Bachelor in Physiotherapy (B.PT) honors degree and are permitted to practice in any healthcare center across Nigeria as well as setting up their private firms.
Opportunities & Salary
Physiotherapy is a very versatile course in Nigeria as a physiotherapist can work in a:
- Sport Medical unit
- Psychiatric hospitals
- Leprosrium
- Industrial Health clinics
- General hospitals
- Orthopaedic hospitals
- Private Physiotherapy practice
- Rehabilitation homes and a lot more
The average physiotherapist in Nigeria earn around 50,000 naira to 200,000 naira per month.
Although the rate of employment is not very high, if you graduate with a good grade, securing a good job should not be difficult.
Wishing to study any of the above medical courses in Nigeria, means you will have to work very hard because there are all very competitive and only qualified students get to study them.
Good luck.
