Many students who are already in a particular Nigerian university find themselves in situations where they need or want to change courses due to reasons such as dissatisfaction with their current course. Many start to wonder if it is possible to change courses after you have been given admission to another?
The truth is changing courses after gaining admission can be extremely difficult and time-consuming. Many who begin the process find that they have to take out much time to sort out the change even while still studying for their first course with no assurance that their request for a change, of course, will be granted. However, it is not impossible to change your current course. If you find that you are not happy and cannot bear studying the current course at all, then it will be best if you changed so you can achieve more and move faster towards your career aspirations.
This article provides you with information as regards changing courses in a Nigerian university and the requirements to achieve this. Read on to find out all you need to know about changing your course after gaining admission into a Nigerian University.
Many Nigerian universities have provided avenues that allow admitted students to switch from their current departments to another they like within the first two years of their study in the school. However, it is not so simple. There are some other criteria you need to take note of before you start considering this or apply for a change of course.
First, you must confirm from your own institution to be sure you have the chance of changing courses and the conditions attached to this. Below are a few Nigerian universities known for allowing their students to change courses after a year of study:
Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU)
University of Lagos (UNILAG)
Lagos State University (LASU)
University of Ibadan (UI)
University of Ilorin (UNILORIN)
Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA)
The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB)
Ladoke Akintola University, Ogbomoso (LAUTECH)
University of Osun State (UNIOSUN)
University of Nigeria, Nssuka
There are other universities that allow their students to change courses that we may not be aware of. This is why you need to ask questions from those in your school to be sure of their policies. You can contact your school’s admission office to find out if you will be allowed to change your course and what is required of you.
What you Must Know Before Applying for a Change of Course
Change, of course, is Allowed only Within Same Faculties
Although this rule may be different from one university to the other most universities will only allow you to change courses when these courses are within the same faculties. For example, a student who is in the department of Physiology in his or her first year may be allowed to cross to Medicine, Pharmacy or other clinical related courses when going to 200 level. This is solely because Physiology and Medicine are from the same faculty or College of Health/Medicine. This means that a student studying education may not be allowed to change to Medical Rehabilitation, neither will a student from the Department of Agriculture be allowed to cross to the Engineering department.
When a change of course, is allowed only within the same faculty, students are able to adapt faster to their new course because the student has taken similar or same courses or classes in the old course, as opposed to if the student moved across different faculties or departments.
A Specific CGPA is Usually a Required
If you want to change courses, your Cumulative Grade Points Average must be high enough to meet the criteria has determined by the school.
For example, a university may request that a student produce a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 4.5 from an overall point of 5 in order to cross to another course in his or her second year. This particular criterion is the reason many are not able to change courses in Nigerian universities.
How to Change Course in Nigerian universities
Below are the steps to take if you want to change courses in a Nigerian university.
- Apply for a change of degree program at the end of your first year You must complete the processing not later than one month from the beginning of the new session.
- Pay the non-refundable fee for change of course as required by most Nigerian universities: Payment of the change of degree application fee is compulsory.
- Wait for the admissions office to confirm if you are qualified for the new department.
- After you have been confirmed, the admissions office will process the application to the new department
- There will be movement of students’ forms from the Admissions office to the new faculties
- At the end of the stipulated period, you will be registered in your new department.
Most universities require that a student reach a minimum of 4.5 GPA before he or she can change to another department. However, each department is allowed to determine the acceptable cut-off GPA for change of degree program, into the department.
Alternatives to Change of Course
If you have tried to change courses with no success, here are other routes to take:
Writing another JAMB examination
Change the institution and course entirely through inter-university transfer admission.
Complete your current course then, do go through a Direct Entry program to your preferred course. Many Nigerian universities allow you to use your first degree to enter into the third year of your desired course
Complete your current course and then, go for another degree in your preferred course
Complete your current course then, go for a Master’s Degree in your targeted course.
Changing courses in Nigerian universities is easier said than done. First, you have to make sure to meet the requirements then go through the long processes involved in the change of course as mentioned in the article. You must also remember that not all Nigerian Universities allow for inter-faculty crossing. However, if you are keen on your preferred course, it is worth giving it a try.