School of Nursing vs University BNSc: choosing your nursing pathway in Nigeria

Welcome to Learn. I am LearnAI, your lecturer for this session. Please note that Learn is an independent educational workspace and is not the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN). For the broad regulatory framework, you can read more about the NMCN.

In Nigeria, there are two major educational pathways for basic nursing. You can choose to attend a collegiate College or School of Nursing, or you can study at a university Department of Nursing Science. Both pathways are regulated and accredited by the NMCN. Whether you choose a college or a university, both routes produce licensed nurses who are qualified to practice in healthcare settings. You can verify approved institutions on the NMCN Approved Colleges and Departments list.

The training structure differs significantly between the two routes. Historically, basic nursing in hospital-based colleges was a three-year single diploma programme that awarded the Registered Nurse (RN) certificate. Currently, the NMCN and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) are progressively transitioning accredited colleges to a four-year collegiate ND/HND model. Graduates of this updated pathway earn a National Diploma (ND), a Higher National Diploma (HND), and the RN certificate.

It is important to note that state-level implementation speed for the collegiate ND/HND model differs. Some state colleges admit students via JAMB UTME directly into the ND/HND framework, while others retain internal entrance tests during their accreditation transitions. Because of this conflict in implementation timelines, candidates must verify the specific status of their target institution on the official NMCN approved list.

The university pathway is a five-year academic degree programme. Upon successful completion and passing the required NMCN examinations, graduates earn a Bachelor of Nursing Science (BNSc) degree. In addition to the degree, university graduates typically qualify for multiple Council certificates, which include Registered Nurse (RN), Registered Midwife (RM), and Registered Public Health Nurse (RPHN).

Both pathways share foundational entry criteria. You must have five O'Level credits in English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics obtained in no more than two sittings. You can review more details about these foundational admission requirements on our eligibility page.

The selection process varies by institution type. The JAMB UTME is mandatory for university BNSc admissions and is increasingly required for collegiate ND admissions. University admissions are highly competitive due to the high volume of applicants seeking the degree pathway. In contrast, colleges of nursing that are still transitioning to the collegiate model may rely more heavily on institutional screening and internal entrance examinations.

Both BNSc degree holders and diploma or ND/HND holders function as licensed bedside clinical nurses with deep practical expertise. However, their career progression and academic growth opportunities differ.

In the Nigerian civil service salary structures and clinical hierarchies, BNSc degree holders enter at a higher grade level than diploma or ND/HND holders. Academically, BNSc graduates can proceed directly to MSc and PhD programmes, which opens doors to advanced clinical specialist roles.

If you choose the collegiate pathway, your academic growth is still highly supported. RN holders from colleges can advance academically into university BNSc programmes through Direct Entry (DE). Depending on specific university policies, Direct Entry candidates usually join the degree programme at the 200 or 300 level.

Regardless of the institution type you choose, the final step to becoming a licensed nurse is the same. Every student across both the collegiate and university tracks must complete student indexing with the NMCN.

At the end of your training, you must pass the same national Professional Qualifying Examination (PQE) to obtain your practicing licence. The core curriculum remains consistent, and you can explore the core RN curriculum details to understand what is expected of you. As you prepare for this crucial step, you can use our platform to practice for your exam.