NUC Upgrades Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Optometry to Doctoral Programmes

Kehinde Fajobi

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has announced the elevation of certain medical-related courses in Nigerian universities from Bachelor’s degree programmes to doctoral levels.

In a statement released on Wednesday, Franca Chukwuonwo, the NUC’s Acting Director of Public Affairs, shared that this move was prompted by the need to enhance clinical training, broaden foundational course content, and comprehensively address specialised areas.

She noted, “This upgrade reflects international standards in training professionals in these disciplines.”

The commission revealed that the duration of the affected programmes has been extended from five to six years.

This adjustment allows for the inclusion of additional courses and advanced clinical sessions aimed at improving students’ practical skills and overall expertise.

The courses upgraded to doctoral status, as detailed in the NUC’s Benchmark Minimum Academic Standards (BMAS) and Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS), include Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm D), Doctor of Physiotherapy (DPT), and Doctor of Optometry (O.D.).

According to the NUC, these updates are critical to producing graduates with the skills necessary to meet modern professional standards in the health sector.