The National Universities Commission (NUC) has upgraded some medical-related programmes in Nigerian universities from Bachelor’s degree to doctoral status.

The upgraded programmes, according to a statement signed by Franca Elochi Chukwuonwo , Acting Director of Public Affairs of the commission are: Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm D), Doctor of Physiotherapy (DPT) and Optometry (O.D Doctor of Optometry).

Consequently, the duration of the affected programmes has been extended from five to six years to accommodate additional courses and clinical training.

The Commission explained that the decision was driven by the need to incorporate more clinical and practical sessions, improve foundational course coverage, enhance clinical skills, and address all specialty areas comprehensively.

The statement, titled ‘Clarification on Nomenclature Change and Upgraded Programmes from Bachelor’s Degree to Doctor Status in Nigerian Universities,’ however, revealed that the Doctor of Medical Laboratory Science (DMLS) programme is not approved in any university in the country.

The statement reads in full: “The National Universities Commission, cognizant of the need to keep abreast with global perspectives on programmes and course delivery in the university education space, had carried out some nomenclature change and upgraded Programmes from Bachelor’s Degree to Doctor (Bachelor’s Degree with clinical sessions) Status in Nigerian Universities.

“This quest to upgrade the status of some medical-related programmes from Bachelor’s Degree to Doctor (Bachelor’s Degree with clinical sessions) was borne out of the desire to incorporate more clinical/ practical sessions, provide sufficient coverage of foundation courses, improve on clinical skills and cover all specialty areas.

“The trend seeks to also align with global best practices applicable in the training of professionals in these medical related programmes. Furthermore, the certificates obtained from the Nigerian University System can be at par with those obtained in similar programmes from other climes. This will ensure the requisite harmonization, mutuality and global competitiveness of Nigerian graduates in terms of Certificates evaluation, employability and further studies in the relevant disciplines.”

While disclosing that the upgraded programmes upgraded were found in NUC’s Benchmark Minimum Academic Standards (BMAS) and Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS), the NUC however noted that the Doctor of Medical Laboratory Science (DMLS) programme was not approved by the commission.

“The general public and all stakeholders are hereby informed that the Doctor of Medical Laboratory Science (DMLS) programme does not exist in the NUC’s BMAS or CCMAS and thus has not been captured as an upgraded programme. Consequently, MLSD is not an approved programme in the offerings of any Nigerian university. “