JAMB, WAEC, and admissions guides for Nigerian students
Subjects Required to Study Education in Nigeria
To study Education in Nigeria, you need five O Level credits at C6 or above in English Language, Mathematics, plus three subjects relevant to the teaching subject you intend to specialise in. Your JAMB UTME combination matches the teaching subject: Education and Biology takes Use of English, Biology, Chemistry, Physics; Education and Mathematics takes Use of English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry; Education and English takes Use of English, Literature in English, plus two arts subjects. The JAMB score needed is 180 to 200 across most Nigerian Education programmes, which makes Education one of the more accessible federal university routes for candidates with mid-range JAMB scores.
Last updated: May 2026 Education in Nigeria is a four-year B.Sc Ed or B.A. Ed programme, depending on whether the teaching subject is in the sciences or the arts. Graduates are qualified to teach in secondary schools, and many go on to pursue master’s and doctoral degrees in Education for university teaching, curriculum development, or educational administration. The course also opens paths into the broader social impact sector: NGO education work, UNESCO and UNICEF programmes, and the growing edtech start-up sector.
At a glance
Detail
Value
JAMB compulsory subjects
Use of English plus the combination for the teaching subject
O Level credits required
5 at C6 or above (including English and Maths)
JAMB minimum (federal)
180 (working floor 190-210)
JAMB minimum (state)
160-200
JAMB minimum (private)
160-180
Years of study
4 years (B.Ed or B.Sc Ed or B.A. Ed)
Professional body
Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN)
How Education combinations work
Education courses in Nigeria pair “Education” with a teaching subject. The structure is “B.A. Ed English”, “B.Sc Ed Biology”, “B.Sc Ed Mathematics”, etc. The JAMB combination matches the subject side: Education and English takes the English combination (Use of English, Literature in English, plus two arts); Education and Mathematics takes the Mathematics combination (Use of English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry); and so on.
Common Education tracks: Education and English, Education and Mathematics, Education and Biology, Education and Chemistry, Education and Physics, Education and Economics, Education and Geography, Education and History, Education and Religious Studies, Education and Yoruba/Igbo/Hausa, Education and French, Education and Music, Education and Fine Arts.
There are also generalist Education programmes: Adult and Non-formal Education, Educational Foundations, Educational Administration, Guidance and Counselling, Educational Psychology, Early Childhood Education, Special Education. These have flexible JAMB combinations centred on English plus social science subjects.
Pick the teaching subject based on (a) your O Level strengths, (b) your JAMB subject combination, and (c) the secondary school subject you genuinely enjoy and want to teach for the next 30+ years. The choice locks you into that subject domain for your degree and likely your career.
JAMB UTME requirements by track
Education and Biology: Use of English, Biology, Chemistry, Physics. JAMB cut-off 190-210 working.
Education and Mathematics: Use of English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry. JAMB 190-210.
Education and Chemistry / Physics: Use of English plus the three core sciences. JAMB 190-210.
Education and English / Literature: Use of English, Literature in English, plus two arts subjects. JAMB 180-200.
Education and Economics: Use of English, Mathematics, Economics, plus one of Government, Commerce. JAMB 200-215.
Education and Geography / History: Use of English, Geography or History, plus two arts/social science subjects. JAMB 180-200.
Education and Yoruba / Igbo / Hausa / French: Use of English, Literature in English, the language, plus one arts subject. JAMB 180-200.
Generalist Education tracks: Use of English plus three social science subjects. JAMB 180-200.
Universities offering Education in Nigeria
Every Nigerian federal and state university offers Education through a Faculty of Education or College of Education. The teaching subject tracks vary by school; UI, UNILAG, OAU, UNN, ABU, UNIBEN, UNILORIN all have broad Faculties of Education covering most teaching subjects. Specialist Colleges of Education (federal and state) also run NCE programmes which are equivalent to associate degrees and lead to teaching qualifications at the basic and senior secondary levels.
Private universities (Babcock, Covenant, Bowen, ABUAD, Pan-Atlantic, Madonna, Bingham) also run Education programmes alongside their main course offerings.
Tai Solarin University of Education (Ogun State) is a specialist Education university. The Federal College of Education programmes (NCE) are at colleges in Lagos, Akoka, Zaria, Kano, Owerri, Enugu and many other locations.
The B.Ed curriculum
Four years for B.Ed/B.Sc Ed/B.A. Ed at universities; three years for NCE at Colleges of Education.
Year 1 covers Introduction to Education, Philosophy of Education, History of Education, plus the foundation courses in the teaching subject (e.g., Year 1 Mathematics for Education and Mathematics candidates).
Year 2 covers Educational Psychology, Educational Methods, Curriculum Studies, plus second-year courses in the teaching subject.
Year 3 covers Teaching Methods (subject-specific pedagogy), Educational Technology, Assessment and Evaluation, Inclusive Education, plus third-year courses in the teaching subject. Teaching Practice usually starts at the end of year 3 or in year 4.
Year 4 covers Advanced Teaching Practice, Educational Research Methods, Final-Year Project (often an action research study from teaching practice), plus advanced courses in the teaching subject. Graduation requires successful Teaching Practice assessment.
After graduation, every B.Ed graduate registers with the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) to qualify as a registered teacher. NYSC follows for graduates under 30. Many Education graduates pursue Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) or Master’s in Education (M.Ed) for career advancement, especially for university teaching positions.
Career outlook and cost
B.Ed graduates work as secondary school teachers (federal unity schools, state-run schools, private schools), curriculum developers at the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), educational consultants, edtech start-up roles (uLesson, GradePotato, Foreign Language Apps), NGO programme officers (UNICEF, UNESCO, Save the Children), and academia after additional postgraduate qualification.
Secondary school teacher salaries: federal unity schools start at ₦150,000 to ₦250,000 a month plus benefits; state schools follow state government scales; private school teachers earn ₦100,000 to ₦400,000 a month at top private schools, with elite international schools (Loyola Jesuit, BIS Lagos, Greensprings) paying ₦400,000 to ₦800,000. Edtech roles pay similar to other tech-sector roles (₦400,000 to ₦1.5 million a month at mid-career level).
Tuition cost: Federal universities free tuition with first-year fees of ₦60,000 to ₦120,000. State universities for indigenes: ₦30,000 to ₦100,000 per session (Education is often the cheapest faculty at state universities given the public mission). Federal Colleges of Education tuition is minimal (₦20,000 to ₦60,000 per session). Private universities for Education: ₦600,000 to ₦1.2 million per session. Total B.Ed cost: ₦250,000 to ₦500,000 at federal, ₦400,000 to ₦800,000 at state, ₦2.5 million to ₦5 million at private.
Frequently asked questions
Is Education a good career choice in Nigeria?
Yes if you genuinely want to teach. Teaching is stable, with predictable career progression and meaningful social impact. The pay at public secondary schools is modest but pensionable. Top private schools and international schools pay substantially more. The growing edtech sector adds tech-sector salaries to the option set. Many Education graduates also pivot to non-teaching roles (corporate training, NGO work, curriculum development) where the pay can be much higher.
What is the difference between B.Ed and NCE?
B.Ed (Bachelor of Education) is the four-year university degree. NCE (Nigeria Certificate in Education) is the three-year associate-level qualification at Colleges of Education. Both qualify the holder to teach at the basic and senior secondary levels, but B.Ed is the higher qualification and is required for promotion to senior teaching grades. NCE holders can do a B.Ed top-up at universities (one to two years) to upgrade to the degree.
Can I teach without an Education degree?
Yes, through the Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE). A graduate of any subject (Mathematics, English, Biology, etc.) can take a one-year PGDE to qualify as a registered teacher. The PGDE plus the substantive degree is functionally equivalent to a B.Ed for teaching qualification purposes. The PGDE route is common among professionals who pivot to teaching mid-career and among university lecturers who need the teaching qualification.
How is Education priced compared to other degrees?
Education is among the most affordable Nigerian degree paths. Federal universities run free tuition for Education the same way as other faculties, but the additional fees and levies are often lower. State universities and Colleges of Education subsidise Education heavily because of the public-good rationale of producing teachers. The total cost of a B.Ed at a federal university is typically ₦250,000 to ₦500,000 over four years, lower than competitive courses like Medicine or Law.
Can I switch from Education to another course mid-degree?
Internal switches from Education to the related subject programme (Education and Biology to pure Biology, for example) are sometimes possible at the end of year 1 if the receiving department has capacity and the candidate meets the entry requirements. The reverse switch (from another course to Education) is often easier because Education programmes have more capacity. Discuss with your faculty officer if you want to switch.
What is the edtech opportunity for Education graduates?
Nigerian edtech start-ups (uLesson, GradePotato, PrepClass, Aximpact) hire Education graduates for content development, curriculum design, teacher training, and product roles. The combination of pedagogical knowledge plus technology aptitude is in real demand. Salaries at top edtech firms (₦500,000 to ₦1.5 million a month) substantially exceed traditional teaching salaries. The edtech sector continues to grow as e-learning becomes mainstream in Nigerian secondary and tertiary education.
JAMB 2026 brochure; Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN); National Commission for Colleges of Education; Federal Ministry of Education; university admission portals.
Lagos-based education writer covering JAMB, WAEC and NECO, and tertiary admissions across Nigeria. Chinedu tracks cut-off marks, admission lists, and school portal updates so students and parents do not have to.
