The National Universities Commission (NUC) has announced the upgrade of three medical-related programmes in Nigerian universities—Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, and Optometry—to doctoral status. This decision, disclosed in a press statement by the NUC’s Acting Director of Public Affairs, Mrs. Franca Elochi Chukwuonwo, aims to align with global best practices by incorporating more clinical and practical sessions, expanding foundational course coverage, and enhancing clinical skills.
The newly upgraded programmes are:
- Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)
- Doctor of Physiotherapy (DPT)
- Doctor of Optometry (OD)
The duration of these programmes has been extended from five to six years to accommodate the additional courses and clinical training. According to the NUC, the changes are designed to ensure Nigerian graduates in these fields achieve global competitiveness in education, employability, and professional recognition.
However, the statement clarified that the Doctor of Medical Laboratory Science (DMLS) programme is not approved in any Nigerian university, as it is not included in the NUC’s Benchmark Minimum Academic Standards (BMAS) or Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS). The NUC emphasized its commitment to aligning Nigerian higher education with international standards to foster harmonization and global mutuality for graduates.
