Pharmacy Postgraduate Programme Entry Requirements In Nigeria

There is a post on this blog on how to become a pharmacist in Nigeria. The focus of that post was on how to get through the undergraduate degree in pharmacy before been awarded a pharmacy certificate. Recently on this same blog, a post on the different schools of pharmacy and the postgraduate programme they award was feature. On this blog post, emphasis will be on how to pursue a higher degree in pharmacy. However, before we begin to duel on that proper, let us take a little look at the undergraduate degree.

Pharm. D. and B. Pharm degree are declassified degree. A declassified degree is a degree in which emphasis is not placed on the grade but on the fact that the holder is in a position to carry out some duties and responsibilities. However, this benefit of a declassified degree does not cover students who wish to pursue a higher education.

Postgraduate pharmacy programme

After the undergraduate programme, a pharmacist who wishes to pursue a higher career in pharmacy will have to enrol in a postgraduate programme. There are different postgraduate programmes in pharmacy with each having different academic requirements, as we shall see here.

Pharm. D. Conversion Programme

The only school of pharmacy in Nigeria approved by National Universities Commission (N.U.C) and Pharmacists Council Of Nigeria (P.C.N) to award a Pharm. D degree in pharmacy after six years of regular study is University of Benin, UNIBEN. As for the other schools, they are at various stage of accreditation for Pharm. D. However, the students who graduate from these B. Pharm. programme and wish to convert their degree to Pharm. D will have to undergo another programme known as the Pharm. D. conversion programme. This programme is present in the UNIBEN and some foreign institutions. Emphasis will be placed on UNIBEN although the general entry requirements are similar across all board.
Read Also: How To Become A Pharmacist In Nigeria
For any further study in pharmacy, the students must always provide evidence of O’ Level and/or A’ Level certificate and when applicable diploma certificate. The certificate must tally with the one used to gain entry into the undergraduate study.
To enroll into the UNIBEN conversion programme, the student must fulfil the following condition which is must be a registered pharmacist with PCN with a valid and current licence to practice in the country with a master degree if a lecturer.
For pharmacists with B. Pharm degree who work in the hospital or community pharmacy, they must be nominated by their parent organisation. They can be considered if recommended by the dean of any faculty of pharmacy within Nigeria.
There was no mention of grades here. In addition, the duration of the programme is two years full time or three years part-time. Apart from the above requirements, the student must submit a transcript of the undergraduate programme. Others are National Youth Service Corps (N.Y.S.C) discharge certificate.
For foreign train pharmacist who wish to study this programme in Nigeria, the English language proficiency test otherwise known as TOEFL or its equivalent must be submitted. This same document is submitted to foreign schools when a pharmacist from Nigeria wants to do this programme abroad. Some foreign schools require some other documents such a financial statement.
To enter the programme, the student must buy the entrance form. Candidates may write an entrance examination when the number of students to be admitted is less than the number that applies.

Postgraduate Diploma

A postgraduate diploma is not a very common programme in pharmacy in Nigeria and other parts of the world. The requirements to gain entry into the programme is one of the least and the programme is one of the most flexible for all the postgraduate courses available.
Most schools require pharmacist coming in to have at least a cumulative grade point average of 1.50 of five scale. Others may require a 2.0. The most common is a third class which is the minimum grade in Nigeria university as of today as there is no more pass.
The full-time programme lasts for a period of a year while the part-time last for two years. The maximum number of extension is two. Some school uses an entrance assessment test to give admission. Others only administer an entrance examination when the number of applicants for that year exceeds the allotted number of admission.
Candidates have to buy the entry forms. Shortlisted candidates will then write the entrance examination. Successful candidates will begin lectures. This programme is based on only coursework.

Master of Science/Master Of Pharmacy

The entry requirements here is a good CGPA from an undergraduate degree or a PGD. The CGPA from both is always in the range of 2.0 and upwards depending on the school. Some schools require as high as 3.0. In other times, some schools even up the required CGPA for PGD and lower the CGPA for undergraduate degree grade.
The grading system here is based on a Weighted Average Score (W.A.S).
Course duration is three semester for full time and four semesters for part-time. An extension is allowed but must not exceed some number of years.
Read Also: Undergraduate And Postgraduate Courses Offered In Accredited Schools Of Pharmacy In Nigeria
For those who came in through PGD, the PGD course must relate to the master course. The programme involves a coursework with a research report at the end of which a dissertation is produced.

Master of Philosophy

The first requirement is to provide evidence of an undergraduate degree after which the candidates WAS from a related master of pharmacy programme must be at least within 55 – 59 %.
Course duration is 12 months and the course content is more on the thesis.

Doctor Of Philosophy

The entry requirements is an M. Pharm or an M. Phil in pharmacy. The minimum WAS accepted by most schools is 60 % or 3.5 for CGPA. This is the very reason students with a low grade from a master of pharmacy programme consider a master of philosophy to boost the WAS to the required grade.
Course duration is three years for full time and four years for part-time. The course content is based on an original thesis.
Application from a candidate must be accompanied by project proposal with a particular format specified by the school.
The remedial course is always available for students whose master’s degree course content omit some courses, which the present programme, consider very valuable to succeed. This is very common when the school the student did the masters programme is different from the presnt school.
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