This article will center on the review of the number of years it takes to study medicine in Nigeria. In this write you will discover the number of years it takes to train doctors in Nigeria.
Medicine and surgery is a very highly sought after course in Nigeria among science inclined students.Many describe it as the mother of all science courses.
In Nigeria, getting admission to study medicine and surgery in the university is highly competitive and can be proving a bit difficult irrespective of achieving good grades.
Morestill, experiences from many doctors and surgeons has noted that it takes academic hard work and dedication to navigate many years of studying medicine in Nigeria successfully.
Inotherwords, it takes many years of intensive studies to be able to study medicine and surgery in Nigeria.
Also, unlike other sciences courses, Medicine and surgery is the course with highest number of years of study in Nigeria.
Unlike what obtains abroad, in Nigeria, students can move from high school to university to study medicine.
Sometimes, they are driven by passion and have little knowledge of what it takes and how long it takes to study medicine and surgery in Nigeria.
Through this post, we will be discussing the study duration for medicine and surgery in Nigeria.
By going through this article, prospective students of medicine and surgery in Nigeria would be in the know of how many years it requires to read or study medicine and surgery in Nigeria.
How Long Does It Take To Study Medicine & Surgery in Nigeria?
According to Nigeria’s education curriculum and graduate requirements, the number of years it takes to study medicine and surgery in Nigeria is 6years of academic cum clinical training, 1year internship (housemanship) plus 1 year of NYSC.
In totality, it takes 8 years to successfully study medicine and surgery in Nigeria university and be able to practice.
What Are The Easiest Universities to Study Medicine in Nigeria?
Generally, there are no universities where study of medicine and surgery is easy in Nigeria.
However, some universities in Nigeria are cheaper to study medicine and surgery in Nigeria such as federal government owned universities.
Some of these universities charges below $100 per year for study of medicine and surgery in Nigeria.
On the other hand, some many argue that some of the easiest and best universities to study medicine and surgery in Nigeria are private universities as these universities operates fast and uninterrupted academic calendar.
But, to study medicine and surgery in Nigeria private universities,it requires a very huge financial strength which only the children of super rich and politicians can afford.
So, there are no universities in Nigeria where medicine and surgery is easy to study,but some universities in Nigeria are cheapest universities to study medicine and surgery while private universities are fastest universities in Nigeria for studying of medicine and surgery.
Process of Studying Medicine & Surgery in Nigeria
There are steps of studying medicine and surgery in Nigeria. These are different stages of studying medicine in Nigeria university and the number of years it takes to achieve these stages of medicine and surgery years of study in Nigeria.
Passing Your High School Diploma / Olevel Examination
This is the first process of studying Medicine in Nigeria. As a prospective student of medicine and surgery, you must undertake high school diploma examination and pass all your requires subjects.
When we say high school diploma or O’level examination, we mean the following WAEC, NECO as well as JAMB examination.
Also, you will be required to write entrance examination into your university of choice and this examination is usually referred to as POST UTME.
For your Jamb you need to undertake your core science subjects which are: Chemistry, Biology, English Language, and Physics and you are required to score an aggregate of above 200 in these subjects to be able to be considered fit to study Medicine in Nigeria.
However,it is pertinent to note that 200 aggregate score in JAMB can hardly get you medicine and surgery, you should aim for a minimum of 250 and above aggregate score in JAMB for Medicine and Surgery.
For WAEC which gives students West Africa Senior Secondary Certificate Examination, you need to get at least a credit pass in Mathematics, English Language, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Civic Education.
Then in case you don’t make all your papers in your WAEC exams, you may use your NECO result and the same credit pass requirement is still applicable here.
Undergoing Academic Medical Training
This process comes when you have gained admission to study medicine and surgery in any Nigeria accredited university.
Here you will spend 6 years undergoing both academic and clinical training on medicine and surgery.
Your First year which is your 100 Level you will be taught basic sciences and practical courses on the subjects you did in Secondary School such as Chemistry, Physics, and Biology. You will also take courses on Zoology and General studies.
After your 100 Level, you will undergo your Pre-clinical program which is from 200 – 300 level, a period wherein you will learn pure medical courses such as human anatomy, gross anatomy, physiology, histology, embryology, and Biochemistry.
After undergoing these pure Medical courses in your 300 level you will sit for your 2nd M.B.B.S examination which is a combination of what you have done in this preclinical period of 200 – 300 Level.
Upon passing your 2nd M.B.B.S examination, you will begin your Clinical which is from 400 – 600 level. During this period of clinical you will be taught only core medical courses such as Pharmacology, Microbiology, Pathology, Gynecology, Psychiatry, Obstetrics, amongst other core clinical courses.
You will also undergo clinical postings to improve the practical aspect of these teachings, and you will write M.B.B.S examination each year.
Upon undergoing your Basic sciences, pre clinical, and clinical and passing all your examinations in that period you will be awarded a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (M.B.BS) degree and you will be inducted into the Medical profession as well as will be given the license to practice as a Medical Doctor anywhere in Nigeria and beyond.
Housemanship ( Internship)
This the next process of Studying Medicine and surgery in Nigeria that comes immediately after after academic and clinical training in the university.
This is an internship program where by the newly trained doctors are placed in hospitals under the tutelage of senior doctors to master the practice of the profession.
It last for 1 year and is usually done in a federal government hospitals such as university teaching hospitals or federal medical centers. It is compulsory for all Nigeria doctors who wishes to practise in Nigeria.
National Youth Service Corps ( NYSC)
Upon completion of Housemanship, the newly trained doctors now proceed on 1 year mandatory service year during which they provide their expertise to communities where they are posted.
These does not only apply to doctors but to all Nigeria graduates who wants to work in the country.
The NYSC year last for one full year and end with presentation of certificate which gives a newly trained doctors the opportunity to practise in Nigeria public hospitals and considered for other professional engagements in Nigeria.
