WANT TO STUDY MEDICINE IN NIGERIA

WANT TO STUDY MEDICINE IN NIGERIA

Medicine and surgery is one of the most sought courses in the Nigerian tertiary institutions. Most of the institutions offering the course usually record high number of applicants in their pre-admission screening tests.

Most universities in Nigeria offer the undergraduate program under the department of medicine and surgery and in the faculty of health sciences. Notable ones are the first generation universities e.g. University of Lagos, University of Ibadan et al.

  Medicine and surgery is currently the most competitive course in the Nigerian universities. The Nigerian universities commission, (NUC) is saddled with the responsibility of accrediting the country’s university degree programs, including medicine (MBBS).

 It is however, paramount that prospective medical applicants check their preferred institution’s accreditation status before processing their application.

Read categories of health science courses

  In Nigeria, federal, state and private universities are empowered to offer medicine degrees. The medical education, regulation and licensing is overseen by the Medical And Dental Council Of Nigeria (MDCN).

It is very crucial for the applicants of medicine and dentistry to be familiar with this council, as they have within their website, list of recognized and approved medical and dental training institutions including their respective quota and other relevant information.

   The first faculty of medicine was established in 1948 as part of the University London college at Ibadan. This was followed by the establishment of University of Lagos College of medicine.

 There are specific requirements needed to study medicine and surgery in Nigeria. Before we go into this, let’s see what medicine and surgery is all about, usually shortened as 'medsurg' in most Nigerian campuses.

  Medicine being derived from the Latin “medicus” meaning a physician is the science and practice of prevention, diagnosis, treatment and management of health conditions.

A physician is a person who had trained in the field of medicine and gotten the required license to practice medicine and offers medical service to the society.

syringe       source: wikipedia

The divisions of medical knowledge/expertise cum practice are referred to as specialties and the process of acquiring the knowledge/expertise, assigning roles and duties and carrying out such tasks is referred to as medical specialization.

 First year students of medicine and surgery are taught; chemistry, mathematics, physics and general biology with other general studies courses(GSTs) e.g. Use of English, philosophy, public health, citizenship study etc. They undertake studies in human anatomy, human physiology and medical biochemistry in their second year. Note they may also take other relevant courses combined with the above three major basic medical sciences (BMS) in 2^nd year and first semester of 3^rd year. Year one to first semester of 300 level (3^rd year) is called pre-clinical training. The duration of the clinical training is not less than 46 months, hence making medicine and surgery a 6-year/6-year+ undergraduate degree program. We can now understand that medical school is a 4-year program in which period, students start their clinical rotations in different fields of medicine e.g pathology, psychiatry, pediatrics, community medicine, hematology, geriatrics, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, internal medicine, orthopedics,ophthalmology, anesthesiology, general medicine, otorhinolaryngology, radiology, cardiology, etc.

  The MBBS degree is awarded upon graduation from medical school. It is also the same with MB.Ch.B, BM.BS, etc., according to the region and institution awarding the degree.  

  Medical students are bound to undergo a period of internship in an accredited health facility as part of the requisites for license and residency.

  Residency in medicine is a form of post-graduate training in the medical field, in which a medical graduate with either M.D, MBChB or MBBS practices medicine in a clinic under the supervision of an attending physician or medical consultant. Upon completion of the program, one obtains unrestricted license to practice medicine especially the license to practice his or her chosen specialty. A medical graduate undergoing residency program is called a resident. The residency program is followed by another program called fellowship, which is a sub-specialty training of which one can become a consultant in his field.

View  list of professional medical courses in Nigerian Istitutions

MEDICINE IN NIGERIA 

In Nigeria, to become a physician, you must be a science student and must have taken physics, chemistry, mathematics, biology and English language in your high school(senior secondary school) and must have written 9 subjects in your SSCE/GCE with at least 5 credits and above in physics, chemistry, biology, maths and English.

  It is the dream of many Nigerian science students to become medical doctors, but only few makes it at the end. Admission into medical programs is strict and fierce. You need to be above average in biology and chemistry and not less than average in physics and mathematics to become a successful and good medical student.

  There are two modes of admission into medicine and surgery in Nigerian tertiary institutions;

·     UTME mode of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board(JAMB)using SSCE

·     Direct Entry mode (for candidates with higher qualifications  other than SSCE)

UTME: Candidates are expected to write; Physics

Chemistry

Biology  & Use of English;

Use of English in the JAMB UTME examination and making a very good score, usually 260+ points for most institutions and must prepare also for the school’s post-UTME exam. You are also required to score very high in order to meet your preferred school departmental cut-off mark for medicine and surgery (80+ points to be on the safe side).

 Schools have variable departmental cut-off points for their medical programs, usually between 250 and 300 marks. It is usually lower in some state and private institutions. But note earnestly, the higher your score, the higher your chances.

Most popular and major high ranking school of medicine in Nigeria includes;

  1. University of Ibadan

.  2. Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria

   3. University of Lagos

   4. University of Jos

   5. University of Maiduguri

   6. University of Nigeria

   7. Bayero university Kano

   8.  University of Benin

   9.  Obafemi Awolowo university                                                                 10.  University of Illorin

   11.    University of Calabar

.       12.   Lagos state university

   13.      Usman Danfodio university, Sokoto
   14. Delta State university, Abraka.

   Others are; ATBU,FUD, ABSU, IMSU, GOMSU, KASU, COOU, BSU, UNIPORT, NDU, FUNAI, KSU, AAU, UNIZIK,EBSU, ESUT, UNIUYO, GREGORY, OOU, UNIMED, EKSU, BOWEN, LAUTECH,IUO, FULAFIAUNIOSUN, BABCOCK, UNIABUJA, ABUAD, YSU, MADONNA, BINGHAM.............

 For the approved quota for medical and dental schools in Nigeria visit this  PAGE HERE

What should I do to get admission into medicine and surgery in Nigeria?

·     Read and prepare for JAMB UTME exam seriously

·     Score 290+ in both JAMB exam and post-UTME exam

·     Have good grades in your O level results especially in physics, chemistry, mathematics, biology and English language.

·     Look for less competitive schools

·     Have all your documents ready

·     Apply for schools in your catchment area.

What other courses can I study that are related to medicine and surgery?

Ans: pharmacy, Medical Laboratory Science, optometry, dentistry and dental surgery, nursing and midwifery, physiotherapy, veterinary medicine, medical radiography and radiological science, pharmacology and therapeutics, nutrition and dietetics, biomedical engineering,public health etc.

  Still in doubt whether medicine and surgery is the right choice for you or you want to explore other areas, click below

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