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The National Universities Commission (NUC) announced on Wednesday that students pursuing pharmacy, physiotherapy, and optometry at universities will now take six years to graduate instead of the previous five.
It further stated that graduates will receive a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm D), Doctor of Physiotherapy (DPT), and Doctor of Optometry (O.D.), respectively, instead of a Bachelor’s degree.
This update was shared in a statement by the NUC’s acting Director of Public Affairs, Franca Chukwuonwo. The commission clarified that additional courses have been integrated into these three programs to meet international standards.
The NUC noted: “Recognizing the importance of staying updated with global perspectives on program and course delivery in higher education, the commission has implemented nomenclature changes and upgraded certain programs from Bachelor’s degree to Doctor (Bachelor’s degree with clinical sessions) status in Nigerian universities.
This initiative to elevate the status of some medical-related programs from Bachelor’s degree to doctorate (bachelor’s degree with clinical sessions) stems from the need to include more clinical/practical sessions, ensure comprehensive coverage of foundational courses, enhance clinical skills, and address all specialty areas.
This trend also aims to align with global best practices in training professionals in these medical-related fields. Moreover, the certificates awarded by the Nigerian university system will be comparable to those from similar programs abroad, ensuring the necessary harmonization, mutual recognition, and global competitiveness of Nigerian graduates regarding certificate evaluation, employability, and further studies in relevant disciplines.
“Below is the list of programs upgraded from Bachelor’s degree to Doctor status, as outlined in NUC’s Benchmark Minimum Academic Standards and Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards: Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm D); Doctor of Physiotherapy (DPT); and Optometry (O.D. Doctor of Optometry). As a result, the duration of these programs has been extended from five to six years to accommodate the additional courses and clinical components added to the curriculum.”
Additionally, the NUC cautioned prospective students against applying for the Doctor of Medical Laboratory Science program at any university in the country, stating that this program has not received approval.
The commission stressed that DMLS is not included in its Benchmark Minimum Academic Standards or Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards.
It stated, “The general public and all stakeholders are hereby informed that the Doctor of Medical Laboratory Science program does not exist in the NUC’s BMAS or CCMAS and has not been recognized as an upgraded program. Consequently, MLSD has not approved this program in any Nigerian university.”
