JAMB, WAEC, and admissions guides for Nigerian students
Subjects Required to Study Nursing in Nigeria
To study Nursing in Nigeria, you need five O Level credits at C6 or above in English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Your JAMB UTME subjects are Use of English, Biology, Chemistry and Physics. The JAMB score needed is 220 to 240 at federal universities, with working cut-offs of 240 at UI, UNILAG, OAU, UNN, UNIBEN. Nursing is a five-year B.Sc Nursing programme leading to registration as a Registered Nurse (RN) by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN).
Last updated: May 2026 Nursing in Nigeria has grown rapidly in competitiveness over the past five years, driven by international career opportunities (UK NHS, US healthcare, Canadian nursing). Working cut-offs have risen from 200 to 240 over the same period. The B.Sc Nursing differs from the older RN (Registered Nurse) diploma route at hospitals; the B.Sc is the academic degree, while the diploma is the older hospital-based qualification. This guide covers both routes, the requirements, the universities offering Nursing, the curriculum, and career outcomes including international opportunities.
At a glance
Detail
Value
JAMB compulsory subjects
Use of English, Biology, Chemistry, Physics
O Level credits required
5 at C6 or above
O Level subjects
English, Maths, Biology, Chemistry, Physics
JAMB minimum (federal)
220 (working floor 240)
JAMB minimum (state)
210-230
JAMB minimum (private)
200-220
Years of study (B.Sc Nursing)
5 years
Hospital RN route
3 years diploma at School of Nursing
Professional body
Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN)
Licensing
NMCN Council exam + 1 year housemanship
O Level requirements in detail
Five credits at C6 or above in English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics, in not more than two sittings. All five are required at credit level; a D7 in any is a hard stop. Mathematics is required because Nursing has substantial drug-calculation components in the curriculum. Biology is heavily weighted (the foundation of anatomy, physiology, pathology). Chemistry is required for pharmacology basics.
Physics is required at most federal Nursing schools though a few state schools and a smaller number of private schools accept a credit in Health Science as a substitute. Check each school’s admission notice.
Some Nursing schools also weight Health Education at SS3 as a useful credit. It is not always required for the five-credit threshold but is a good signal for the screening committee.
Plan strong credits in Biology and Chemistry above all. The Nursing curriculum builds heavily on these two subjects through the foundation years.
JAMB UTME requirements in detail
The JAMB combination for Nursing is Use of English, Biology, Chemistry and Physics. This is the same nationally for every Nigerian Nursing programme.
JAMB scores: 240 working cut-off at top federal universities (UI, UNILAG, OAU, UNN, UNIBEN), 220 to 230 working at state universities (LASU, OOU, LAUTECH), 200 to 220 at private universities. The rise in Nursing demand internationally has pushed up the cut-offs over the past five years.
Aim for 250+ JAMB to feel safe at federal Nursing. A 230 JAMB candidate has real options at state and private Nursing schools but should target a strong Post-UTME to be in real contention at federal schools.
Note: there is a separate JAMB combination if you go via the older Schools of Nursing diploma route (three years, hospital-based), which uses NABTEB or specific entrance exams instead of UTME. This guide focuses on the B.Sc Nursing path.
Universities offering B.Sc Nursing in Nigeria
Federal: UI, UNILAG, OAU, UNIBEN, UNN, UNILORIN, ABU, University of Port Harcourt, University of Jos, University of Calabar, Bayero University Kano.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) accredits Nursing programmes. Check NMCN accreditation before committing; unaccredited Nursing programmes do not lead to NMCN registration. The list updates on the NMCN website.
Nursing is also offered at the older School of Nursing route (three years, diploma-based) at federal medical centres and large teaching hospitals (LUTH, UCH, ABUTH, UNTH, OAUTH and others). The diploma graduates qualify as RN through NMCN but at a different professional tier than B.Sc graduates.
The B.Sc Nursing curriculum
The B.Sc Nursing runs five years. Year 1 covers foundation sciences and general studies. Years 2 and 3 cover Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology, Pharmacology, Pathophysiology, Nursing Theory, Mental Health Nursing, Maternal Health, Paediatric Nursing.
Years 4 and 5 cover Advanced Clinical Practice (Medical-Surgical Nursing, Critical Care, Community Health, Public Health Nursing, Nursing Management). Clinical placements at teaching hospitals run throughout the senior years.
After graduation, every B.Sc Nursing graduate sits the NMCN Council Examination (the licensing exam) and serves a one-year housemanship at an accredited hospital. Successful candidates are registered as Registered Nurses (RN) plus Registered Midwives (RM) if the school’s programme includes midwifery training. The NYSC year follows for graduates under 30.
Many Nigerian-trained nurses then pursue international qualifications: UK NMC (Nursing and Midwifery Council) registration, US NCLEX-RN, Canadian RN registration. The international NMC pathway involves OSCE testing in the UK plus English proficiency (IELTS or OET); many Nigerian nurses transition to UK NHS practice through this route.
The Direct Entry and post-RN route
Direct Entry into B.Sc Nursing is available for candidates with A Level, IJMB, JUPEB in Biology, Chemistry and Physics, or for Registered Nurses with a diploma seeking to upgrade to a B.Sc. The diploma-to-degree upgrade (post-RN B.Sc Nursing) is common; RNs with the older hospital diploma can complete a two to three-year top-up programme at universities like UI, UNILAG, OAU.
The post-RN route is particularly important because Nigeria still has a large cohort of diploma-RNs from earlier hospital-based training. Many of these RNs are now upgrading through the post-RN B.Sc Nursing route to access international markets where a B.Sc is required for registration.
Career outlook and cost
B.Sc Nursing graduates work in federal teaching hospitals, federal medical centres, state hospitals, private hospitals, NGOs (UNICEF, WHO, MSF), and the international markets through UK NMC registration. Nigerian junior nurse salaries run ₦150,000 to ₦350,000 a month in the federal sector and ₦200,000 to ₦500,000 in private hospitals. International salaries: UK NHS staff nurse starts at £28,000+ a year; US registered nurse starts at $70,000+ a year. The international gap is the main driver of the Nigerian nurse migration trend.
Tuition cost: Federal universities run free tuition with first-year fees of ₦150,000 to ₦250,000. State universities for indigenes: ₦80,000 to ₦200,000 per session; non-indigenes ₦200,000 to ₦400,000. Private universities for Nursing: ₦1.2 million to ₦2 million per session. Total B.Sc Nursing cost: ₦500,000 to ₦1.5 million at federal, ₦1 million to ₦2.5 million at state, ₦8 million to ₦12 million at private.
Frequently asked questions
Is Nursing B.Sc better than the hospital diploma route?
For Nigerian practice, both lead to RN registration with NMCN. For international practice (UK NMC, US NCLEX-RN), the B.Sc is the standard; the diploma route requires additional bridging through post-RN B.Sc. For career progression in Nigeria (Nursing Management, Public Health, Academia), the B.Sc opens more doors. Most candidates today pursue the B.Sc directly because of the international market and career progression advantages.
What is post-RN B.Sc Nursing?
Post-RN B.Sc Nursing is a top-up programme for Registered Nurses with the older diploma qualification. Candidates with NMCN diploma RN credentials enter a B.Sc Nursing programme at 200 or 300 level (depending on the university) and complete the remaining academic content in two to three years. This is the route through which many Nigerian RNs upgrade to access international markets requiring B.Sc-level qualification. UI, UNILAG, OAU, UNN all run post-RN B.Sc programmes.
Can I study Nursing without Mathematics credit?
At most accredited Nigerian B.Sc Nursing programmes, no. Mathematics is required because the curriculum has substantial drug-calculation, fluid balance, and pharmacology components. A D7 in Mathematics is a hard stop. The older hospital diploma route sometimes accepted a pass in Mathematics, but the B.Sc requires the credit. Retake Mathematics (WAEC GCE or NECO) before applying if your first credit is missing.
How competitive is Nursing now compared to five years ago?
Substantially more competitive. Working cut-offs at federal Nursing programmes have moved from 200 to 240 over five years, driven by international career opportunities (UK NMC, US NCLEX). The applicant pool now includes candidates who five years ago would have targeted other health programmes; many high-scoring Medicine aspirants who narrowly missed Medicine now choose Nursing as a real Plan B because of the international portability of the qualification.
Is Nursing offered at polytechnics?
Polytechnics in Nigeria do not offer B.Sc Nursing. The polytechnic route is Nursing Technology (ND and HND) at a few accredited polytechnics, plus Community Health (a related but separate qualification). The B.Sc Nursing path is exclusive to universities and a few specialised colleges. The older School of Nursing diploma route at teaching hospitals is the third path, separate from both polytechnics and universities.
How long until I am a registered nurse?
Five years for B.Sc Nursing plus one year housemanship plus NYSC for graduates under 30. So seven years from JAMB admission to full RN registration. The older hospital diploma route takes three years for the diploma plus internship, but the diploma RN is at a different professional tier. Plan family support around the seven-year baseline for the B.Sc path.
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.
