How Many Years is Required to Study Medicine in Nigeria?

Keep reading to find out how many years it takes to study Medicine in Nigeria.

Medicine and Surgery, otherwise known as Medicine, is a prestigious course in Nigeria. Many people who want to study the course are, as expected, asking the question: how many years does it take to study Medicine in Nigeria?

We carried out our research and will be sharing with you everything we discovered regarding the course duration.

Physicians have been in existent since time immemorial. Even before the coming of the British Colonial Masters in the late 19th century, which inevitably led to the introduction of degree courses in Medicine and Surgery, various settlements had native doctors and herbalists.

Those people needed the endorsement of a predecessor and, most importantly, the trust of the people they serve.

Nowadays, things don’t happen that way. Before you’ll be allowed to practice on people, there’s a need to complete your degree course and horsemanship.

But how long all of that takes remains a mystery to so many, maybe as a result of so many confusing figures out there.

How long does it take to study Medicine in Nigeria?

It takes six years to study Medicine and Surgery in Nigeria. However, that isn’t all. Even after obtaining your Degree in Medicine, you need to go for your housemanship. The internship program is a one-year period in most hospitals in Nigeria.

Thereafter, you’ll have to go for the compulsory one year of National Youth Service Corps.

To put it simply, it takes 6 years to study, but nearly two years extra to be able to practice.

NYSC is optional, however, if you’re above the age of 30 (thirty).

Which university should you choose?

Aspiring medical doctors always face a dilemma when trying to decide upon which university to choose.

The universities that offer Medicine and Surgery are:

1. Abia State University, Uturu
2. Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti
3. Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
4. Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma
5. Babcock University
6. Bayero University, Kano
7. Benue State University, Makurdi
8. Bowen University, Iwo
9. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli
10. Delta State University, Abraka
11. Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki
12. ECWA Bingham University, New Karu
13. Ekiti State University
14. Enugu State University of Science and Technology
15. Gombe State University, Gombe
16. Gregory University, Uturu
17. Imo State University, Owerri
18. Kogi State University Anyigba
19. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology
20. Lagos State University
21. Madonna University, Okija
22. Niger Delta University Yenagoa
23. Nile University of Nigeria, Abuja
24. Nnamdi Azikiwe University
25. Obafemi Awolowo University
26. Olabisi Onabanjo University
27. Ondo State University of Medical Sciences
28. Osun State University
29. University of Abuja
30. University of Benin
31. University of Calabar
32. University of Ibadan
33. Igbinedion University Okada
34. University of Ilorin
35. University of Jos
36. University of Lagos
37. University of Maiduguri
38. University of Nigeria, Nsukka
39. University of Port-Harcourt
40. University of Uyo.
41. Usmanu Danfodiyo University

Among the list above, you’ll find several top universities.

Some of them are:

1. University of Ilorin
2. University of Lagos
3. The University of Nigeria, Nsukka
4. University of Port-Harcourt
5. Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
6. University of Benin
7. University of Ibadan

You must also know that the more popular a university is, the harder it becomes to secure admission into it. The reason is, the competition at the top universities is higher. In other words, the number of applicants those universities get is tons higher than they can possibly admit.

Therefore, decide wisely, and make sure you perform at your best in order to stand a good chance.

Requirements for the Medicine

‘O’ level

To be qualified to study Medicine and Surgery, you must score at least 5 credit passes in ‘O’ level, which must include Chemistry, English Language, Biology, Mathematics, and Physics.

JAMB UTME

The JAMB subject combination for Medicine and Surgery is Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. And, of course, Use of English is always compulsory during registration.

Direct entry

Direct entry applicants for Medicine and Surgery need ‘A’ level passes or equivalent in Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Zoology, in addition to the UTME requirements.

But that’s not all. Some of the Universities above have waivers and special considerations. To know the full requirement, read: Full Jamb and Waec Requirements/Subject combination for Medicine and Surgery