The National Universities Commission (NUC) has elevated several medical-related programmes in Nigerian universities from bachelor’s degrees to doctoral levels.
This was announced in a statement on Wednesday by Franca Chukwuonwo, NUC’s Acting Director of Public Affairs.
Chukwuonwo explained that the upgrade aims to incorporate more clinical and practical sessions, expand foundational course coverage, enhance clinical skills, and ensure comprehensive training in all speciality areas.
The NUC noted that the changes align with global best practices for training professionals in these fields.
Extended Programme Duration
The statement revealed that the duration of the affected programmes has been extended from five to six years to accommodate additional courses and clinical training.
Upgraded Programmes
Programmes now elevated to doctoral status include:
- Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm D)
- Doctor of Physiotherapy (DPT)
- Doctor of Optometry (OD)
These updates are reflected in NUC’s Benchmark Minimum Academic Standards (BMAS) and Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS).
