Now that you’ve completed your Bachelor’s, you’re probably thinking, “What’s next?”
Most people jump straight into business ventures. Some look for jobs, while others delve deeper into their education. Some do this to satisfy their academic curiosity, and others do this to pave the way for high-paying white-collar jobs.
There are various postgraduate programs you can consider, one of which is the Master’s degree program. The level of your result when you complete your undergraduate program might hinder your chances of getting admission into a Master’s degree program.
Can a Second-class Lower Student do a Masters in Nigeria?
Yes, you can apply for a master’s degree with your second class lower first degree. This option is only available in a select number of universities in Nigeria, which will be discussed in this article.
Normally, in most Nigerian institutions, to apply for a Master’s degree, you must complete your bachelor’s degree with a minimum of a second-class upper.
However, all hope isn’t lost. Some universities in Nigeria allow students with Second-class lower diplomas to apply for their Master’s degree programs. To qualify for the program, you must complete your degree with a CGPA of 3.0-3.5.
Read on to see the list of some universities that accept Second-class lower students in their master’s programs.
Why Consider Applying for a Master’s Degree Program?
The benefits of undergoing a Master’s degree program are numerous; I’ll point out a few of these benefits below:
In the past, a bachelor’s degree was the only academic level of education required for getting high-paying jobs in Nigeria. Nowadays, the job pool is full, and the competition is fierce. Therefore, a master’s degree has become a requirement to stand out from the crowd giving you an edge over your peers and increasing your chances of winning the race for a high-paying job.
In addition, a master’s degree helps you understand your field better because it is much more in-depth and concentrated than a bachelor’s program. It helps expand your knowledge of your field of study.
You can also use this opportunity to change your field of study. To do this, you apply and undergo a post-graduate diploma or a Pre Master’s diploma in your new field, then apply for the Master’s degree program.
Also, having a Master’s degree in the bag increase the amount of money you’ll earn compared to others with only a Bachelor’s degree.
The Master’s degree program also allows you to meet other people of similar inclinations and make meaningful connections.
The master’s degree program is a postgraduate program that usually lasts between 18 months and 4 years, depending on the institution and course. You can study full-time or part-time but be reminded that the cost of studying in the part-time program costs more than that of the full-time program.
Some of the requirements for applying for a Master’s degree program are:
- A letter of intent, similar to the letter of application submitted during admissions for the Bachelor’s degree program. In some cases, you may be invited for a physical screening interview.
- You must have completed your NYSC (National Youth Service Corps) program; this is non-negotiable. To apply for a master’s degree, you must provide your passing-out certificate as proof that you have completed your one-year NYSC program
- You must have at least 5 O’level credits in Mathematics, English and other courses related to your course of study.
- Some institutions require you to pass an English ability test
- Transcripts for the first degree should be sent directly to the university applied for.
Below is a list of Universities in Nigeria that accept Second-class Lower Students in their Master’s Degree Programs.
- Ambrose Alli University (AAU)
- Lagos State University (LASU)
- Covenant University (CU)
- Osun State University
- Taraba State University
- Cross River Technical University
- Kaduna State University
- University of Benin (Uniben)
- Enugu State University of Science and Technology
- Cross River University of Technology
- University of Calabar (Unical)
- University of Ibadan (UI)
- Ahmadu Bello University
- Delta State University (Delsu)