About two decades ago, having a university degree in Nigeria was considered good enough to land a good job. While a university degree will always be important, we live in a time in which a university degree might not be good enough to get you the job you need. Due to this, lots of people in Nigeria opt for a Master’s degree after graduating from the university. Some go for a Master’s degree after their NYSC program. Others work a bit before deciding to get a Master’s degree.
Requirements for Master’s Degree in Nigeria
Regardless of when you decide to get a master’s degree, there are certain requirements for getting one.
In this article, I will be walking you through some of the requirements for a Master’s degree in Nigeria.
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What Do You Need for a Master’s Degree?
Before going ahead to pursue a Master’s degree in Nigeria, there is a lot you will need to put in place. In the absence of these things, it will be impossible to have a Master’s degree in Nigeria.
Some of them are;
A Statement of Purpose:
This letter will be considered your application letter. In this letter, you should put down important details about you and your reason for picking the school as a venue for your Master’s degree. It is okay if you attach your CV to this letter.
Attach your Transcript
This might not be very easy for you if you are not running your Master’s in the school you had your first degree in.
However, if you are having your Master’s in the same school you had your first degree, it will be a lot easier.
NYSC is Non-negotiable
The Nigerian educational system requires that you go through one compulsory year of national service just after your first degree. In the absence of this one year of national service, you will be unable to get a Master’s degree in Nigeria.
You Must have a Bachelor’s Degree
This is very obvious. Before going ahead to get a Master’s degree in Nigeria, you must have obtained a bachelor’s degree and must have at least a second-class upper. In as much as a second-class upper is a benchmark for applying for a Master’s degree in Nigeria, some universities make room for candidates with a second-class lower so long the degree is from a recognized university.
If you must apply with a second-class lower degree, then, you must have a CGPA of at least 3.0.
Not Less than 5 Credits in Your O’Level: In as much as your CGPA in your first degree is an important requirement for getting admitted into a university in Nigeria for your Master’s degree, it is not the only thing that is required of you so log results are concerned. You need to have the right result in your O’Levels. Everyone that is looking to have their Master’s in Nigeria must have five credits in five relevant courses. These must include English and Mathematics.
Can I Pursue a Master’s Degree in Nigeria with a Second-Class Lower?
There are lots of questions about the possibility of getting a Master’s degree with a second-class lower. While this is generally regarded as impossible by some folks, it is very possible. Sometimes, you need more than just your result to get admitted into a university in Nigeria to do your Master’s. You will need to go for screening. So, if you do not get the right result from your first degree, you can rely on the screening to help you get a space to do your Master’s in a university in Nigeria.
Can I Go for a Master’s Degree in Nigeria After Graduating with A Third Class?
Not everyone in Nigeria gets to graduate with the right result or simply put; the result that they anticipated. In as much as the average Nigerian student hopes to graduate with a second-class upper, a lot of people fall below this. Many have to settle for a second-class lower. While settling for a second class lower does not feel good, even worse is the fact that some end up with a third class.
Now, getting a job with a third-class degree in Nigeria is an uphill task and something a lot of people assume is impossible. Well, getting a job in Nigeria with a third-class is not the only difficult thing. The average Nigerian graduate will struggle to get a place to do their Master’s if they have a third-class degree. Although this might seem difficult, it is not impossible.
In Nigeria, there are some universities that make room for students that graduated with a third-class degree and are looking to do their Master’s.
Some universities in Nigeria where people that graduated with third-class can do their Master’s are; the University of Ibadan, Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma, University of Jos, Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), University of Benin (UNIBEN), Lagos State University (LASU), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (ABU Zaria), Tai Solarin University of Education, Kaduna State University, Taraba State University, University of Calabar (UNICAL).
Although there are some other universities in Nigeria that people with a third-class degree can do their Master’s, the above-named universities are some of the most popular that make room for this.
If you must go on to get a Master’s degree after graduating with a third class, you will have to first get a postgraduate diploma. In addition to a postgraduate diploma, the right work experience can also come in handy.
Why You Need a Master’s Degree
To some people, a Master’s degree is more or less like the icing on a cake. While this might be all it is to some folks, a Master’s degree is a lot more. Beyond just giving you a new social status, a Master’s degree can go a long way in giving you a more fulfilling career. With a Master’s degree, you are sure of an increase in job opportunities. If this were all, it would be great. However, there is more. With a Master’s degree, you are more likely to be chosen over someone that applied for a job with just a Bachelor’s degree even if you both performed well in an interview.
Generally, Master’s degrees are not as long as Bachelor’s degrees. They are usually done between 1 to 3 years.
When getting a Master’s degree in Nigeria, you can opt for a professional or academic Master’s degree. In as much as these two are relevant, most people in Nigeria prefer going for an academic Master’s degree. Perhaps, the reason for this is the ease with which one can apply for a Ph.D. after their Master’s. Generally, people that are interested in academics go for this type of Master’s degree.
Professional Master’s degree on the other hand is suitable for people that are looking to become more knowledgeable about the industry they are in. While this is great for people in non-academic fields, it will be impossible for a holder of a professional Master’s degree to get a Ph.D. unless they get an academic Master’s first.
Master’s degrees are obviously senior to Bachelor’s degrees. Due to this, they are generally more expensive. So, if you are looking at getting a Master’s degree in Nigeria, you will need to count the cost.
What School is Considered the Fastest for Masters in Nigeria
The speed at which one completes their Master’s program in Nigeria is dependent on various factors. Some of these factors are the course being studied, the school in which one is studying, the supervisors, and the lecturers.
When the various factors that affect the rate at which one can complete their Master’s degree in Nigeria are considered in detail, the University of Ibadan is considered the school with the fastest running Master’s in Nigeria. To give credence to this, over 60% of students in the University of Ibadan are post-graduate students. This gives you an idea of how well this school operates so long as a Master’s degree is concerned.
Cost of Getting a Master’s Degree in Nigeria
It is common knowledge that a Master’s degree is a lot more expensive than Bachelor’s degree in Nigeria. However, beyond just being aware that a Master’s degree is not very cheap, having an idea of how much it will cost to get a Master’s degree in Nigeria will go a long way in helping you prepare for one.
The amount to be spent on a Master’s degree is dependent on the school. Private schools are more expensive than public schools.In a public university, you will have to pay about N300,000 per annum. However, in a private university, you might need to pay as much as 2 million naira per annum.
Steps in Applying for a Master’s Degree in Nigeria
1. When you make up your mind to get a Master’s degree in Nigeria, the steps below will help you make the best put of this decision.
2. The first thing you should do when looking to get a Master’s degree in Nigeria is make up your mind about the school you want to attend. This could be the school in which you got your first degree or another school. Regardless of what the reason is for picking a school, ensure you pick a school that you are comfortable with.
3. The next thing you should do is make up your mind on either studying full time or part-time. If you already have a job, then, the part-time study will be better. However, in the absence of a job, you might simply go neck deep into your studies. Well, regardless of what condition you find yourself in, choose a method of study that is best suitable for you at the time of application.
4. Consider the Cost. Just like starting a business or building a house. When looking to go for your Master’s degree, you should consider the cost of tuition before getting started. This can be done easily by checking the school’s website or going to the campus in person.
5. How Long will the course run? You will need to know this before you go on with a Master’s degree. A knowledge of this will help you plan properly. This is very important if you already have a family or have a job
