Best Universities to Study Nursing in Nigeria

There is no official ranking of nursing programmes in Nigeria — but the strongest choices are consistently the universities with established university teaching hospitals for clinical training, full NUC accreditation, and Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) recognition for the B.NSc programme. The institutions below are those most consistently mentioned for nursing, grouped by clinical-training strength, not ranked in order. Verify accreditation for the session you apply in.

Nursing is often chosen as a “safer” alternative to medicine. It is not — nursing has its own competitive cut-offs, its own professional licensing (NMCN), and its own clinical-training demands, and the teaching hospital matters as much here as in medicine.

How to judge a nursing programme

• Clinical training hospital: a university teaching hospital with maternity, paediatric, surgical, medical, and community-health rotations. Nursing training without adequate clinical exposure produces a graduate who cannot practise confidently.
• Accreditation: NUC accreditation for the programme, plus NMCN recognition for B.NSc training and licensing. A programme without current NMCN recognition cannot produce licensed nurses — check both, for the session.
• Programme structure: B.NSc in Nigeria runs 5 years, followed by the NMCN licensing examination and internship, as the programme structures them. Confirm the structure and clinical-rotation arrangements for the session.
• Departmental cut-off: nursing’s cut-offs run high at the most competitive institutions (approaching medicine’s range at some, as reported). Meeting the institution minimum is not enough.
• Location and cost: federal, state, and private nursing programmes differ sharply in fees; budget the full 5 years, not the first session.

Institutions most consistently mentioned for nursing

University of Ibadan (UI) — Department of Nursing with University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, for clinical training. Longest programme history, broad clinical exposure.

University of Lagos (UNILAG) — Department of Nursing Science with Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba. Large patient volume, broad rotations.

Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife — Department of Nursing Science with Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC).

University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) — Department of Nursing Sciences with University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu.

Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria — Department of Nursing Sciences with Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria.

University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) — Department of Nursing with University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH). Consistently competitive, with a reputation for stable academic calendars.

University of Benin (UNIBEN) — Department of Nursing Science with University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH).

University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) — Department of Nursing Science with University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH).

Bayero University, Kano (BUK) — Department of Nursing Sciences with Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH).

Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka — Department of Nursing Science with Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi.

Private options with established nursing programmes (for example, Babcock University and Bowen University, as reported) offer smaller classes and (typically) more stable calendars at substantially higher fees — verify NMCN recognition and clinical arrangements for the session.

Related Guides & Next Steps

• Admission Requirements for Nigerian Universities
• How to Choose a University in Nigeria
• How University Admission Works in Nigeria
• Best Universities to Study Medicine in Nigeria
• Best Universities to Study Law in Nigeria

Frequently asked questions

Which university is best for nursing in Nigeria? There is no official ranking. UI, UNILAG, OAU, UNN, and ABU are the most consistently mentioned, on teaching-hospital strength and programme history — but “best” for you depends on your score, your budget, and the clinical training you will receive. Verify accreditation for the session.

How many years is nursing in Nigeria? B.NSc runs 5 years, followed by the NMCN licensing examination and internship, as the programme structures them. Confirm the structure for the session you apply in.

Is nursing easier to enter than medicine? Cut-offs are lower than medicine’s at most institutions, but nursing is still highly competitive at the institutions above, and its professional licensing (NMCN) is a separate hurdle after graduation.

What is the difference between a university nursing degree and a school of nursing certificate? A university B.NSc is a degree programme (5 years, NUC + NMCN), while schools of nursing run diploma programmes (typically 3 years, NMCN). Both lead to licensing, but the degree carries university-graduate standing and different career-progression options — check the NMCN route for the qualification you hold.

Can I study nursing at a private university? Yes, where the programme holds current NUC accreditation and NMCN recognition, with clinical arrangements in place. Verify both for the session, and budget the full 5 years at private fees.

Sources and last update

• Institution shortlist (UI/UCH, UNILAG/LUTH, OAU/OAUTHC, UNN/UNTH, ABU/ABUTH, UNILORIN/UITH, UNIBEN/UBTH, UNIMAID/UMTH, BUK/AKTH, UNIZIK/NAUTH) from teaching-hospital and programme-history reporting, grouped by strength, not ranked — no official ranking is asserted.
• Accreditation (NUC + NMCN), 5-year B.NSc structure, and licensing route from professional-body guidance as reported, with per-session verification directed.

Last updated: 24 October 2026. Guide — review every 3–6 months and on every NUC/NMCN accreditation update.