As a beginner or fresh admission seeker, you may want to know the differences among these terms or acronyms.
It’s important to know these, really not only for conversation reason but also for you to get the real meaning of each, what they stand for, what forms their admissions take, the statutory purpose behind each, and most importantly for you to know – which one to go for.
BSc, BSc (Ed), BSN, B. Tech, MB, LLB, B. Agric, B. Pharm
In full, BSC is a Bachelor of Science. This term is used for a degree or university award. You earn Bsc after completing a 4-year or 5-year course in any university.
Moreso, terms like B. Tech, and BSC (Ed) are the equivalence to BSC. They are also degree awards – just a difference in courses or disciplines. While B. Tech is for graduates of engineering and technology-related courses, BSc (ED) or B. Ed is for graduates of education courses.
Graduates of Law are awarded LLB and Medical graduates MB. Others include BSN for nursing graduates and recently also ND/HND nursing, B. Pharm for pharmacy graduates, B. Agric for Agriculture, and related courses.
Read also: Can I Use NCE to Seek HND Admission?
Gaining Admission to Nigeria University to be awarded BSc, BSc (Ed), BSN, B. Tech, MB, LLB, B. Agric, B. Pharm
Generally, to gain admission into any Nigerian university, you’ll have to make your way through JAMB UTME which is a major requirement to gain admission to any course of your interest together with the right SSCE grades.
After passing UTME, you may be subjected to Post UTME or admission screening before you can be given admission by JAMB and the proposed institution.
Your years or duration of studies depends on the prospective award. Majority of degree courses last 4 years, Agric courses – 5 years, Nursing – 5 years, Medicine – 6 years, education – 4 years, Law – 6 years (with one year Law school), Pharmacy – 6 years (with one-year internship), Engineering and technology – 5 years and so on.
Note that, gaining admission to any of the courses listed and more, may also be preceded with a year pre-degree course or sometimes A’level Advanced courses like IJMB, JUPEB, and Cambridge A’level.
After completing these advanced programmes, you can then take UTME (if pre-degree) or Direct Entry form (if IJMB, JUPEB or Cambridge A’level). Through this, you are offered admission to any university course of your choice.
NCE – Nigeria Certificate In Education
NCE is the award given to graduates of colleges of education. Generally, after a three-year course at a college, its graduate is awarded NCE.
Gaining Admission to Nigerian Colleges of Education to be Awarded NCE
Admission procedures to colleges are the same as for the universities. You write your UTME and take part in the post UTME or admission screening. Then, you’re offered admission for your proposed course by JAMB and the college.
A graduate of college can end up spending 4 years on his course if he has undertaken a year pre-NCE course before 100 level admission.
Using NCE to Proceed to University to be Awarded B. Ed, B. Edu, BSc (Ed)
After completing your NCE, you may continue to a University of your choice through the JAMB Direct Entry admission exercise.
Here, you obtain DE form and choose one or two universities you’re interested in. If you meet up with the required grade from your NCE programme, JAMB, and the school will offer you admission.
Consider checking the JAMB brochure for the specific requirements by universities.
Generally, it will be easier to gain admission to only education courses.
OND Programmes – Ordinary National Diploma
What is the meaning of OND? OND or ND is a polytechnic award for a two-year course with which the holder can be employed or be offered admission into Higher National Diploma (HND) and where through Direct entry admission, be admitted to 200 level course in a university.
Gaining Admission to Polytechnic to be Awarded ND
To gain admission for the ND award, you must obtain the JAMB UTME form and take part in the post UTME or admission screening exercise of the school. If you pass, you’ll be offered admission to ND 1 of your proposed course by JAMB and the school.
Another means to gain ND admission is through school-administered daily part-time programmes. This course is usually run as full-time, perhaps, with cost difference. Some may also opt-in for the 3-year programme called a regular part-time course.
When you complete your 2-year or 3-year ND course at any polytechnic, you’re awarded ND. This serves as the prerequisite to further your education at a university through JAMB direct entry admission (as earlier explained).
You can also further to another level at your polytechnic or any other. This level is called HND. HND is also run for two years as well.
Whereas, it’s being proposed that Nigerian polytechnics will henceforth be limited to the award of ND only. Hence, candidates who wish to study further can obtain the JAMB Direct Entry form and cross to universities – where they continue from the 200 level. See How to Cross From Polytechnic/College to University.
HND – Higher National Diploma
HND is the award given to a polytechnic graduate after completing a 2-year National Diploma, 1 or
2 years Industrial Training (IT), and 2-year Higher National Diploma course.
Note that the HND course doesn’t require writing UTME again or obtaining the JAMB direct entry form. Applicants are only to take part in the school’s organized entrance test and interview or screening.
This programme is about to be scraped (if not by the time you’re reading this post). Yet, the award will be forever recognized by the government and private establishments that may need the services of an HND holder.
A’level Courses – IJMB, JUPEB, NABTEB A’level, and Cambridge Advanced
Several posts had been written on this category of qualifications. To learn more about each, consider reading the post, “IJMB, JUPEB and Cambridge A’level: Opportunity to Gain Admission directly to 200 Level”
The summary of this is that completing any of the above equates you with ND or NCE. Hence, you’re qualified to obtain the JAMB Direct Entry form in order to proceed to any of the universities accepting them.
Conclusion
Nigerian education is rich in awards like any other country. There are more postgraduate and professional awards too – including MSC, MA, ICAN, NIM, etc.
Going to school requires you to know the end from the very beginning and here you have it all.
