Best Universities to Study Political Science in Nigeria

There is no official ranking of political science programmes in Nigeria — but the strongest choices are consistently the universities with established political science departments, full NUC accreditation, strong faculty (including research-active staff), and competitive departmental cut-offs. The institutions below are those most consistently mentioned for political science, grouped by departmental strength, not ranked in order. Verify accreditation for the session you apply in.

Political science is judged on faculty depth and analytical training: political theory, comparative politics, international relations, public administration, and research methods shape the graduate’s employability — in public service, policy, diplomacy, NGOs, media, and academia — more than any single facility does.

How to judge a political science programme

• NUC accreditation: full accreditation for the programme, for the session. Verify, do not assume.
• Faculty and curriculum: faculty specialisation (political theory, comparative politics, international relations, public administration, political economy, and more), curriculum currency, and research training (methods, data, and project work).
• Departmental cut-off: political science cut-offs run high at the most competitive institutions (approaching the top of their ranges, as reported). Meeting the institution minimum is not enough.
• Programme structure: BSc Political Science runs 4 years, plus SIWES as the programme structures it. Confirm the structure for the session you apply in.

Institutions most consistently mentioned for political science

University of Ibadan (UI) — Department of Political Science, Ibadan. Longest political science tradition in Nigeria, strong research faculty, competitive cut-offs.

University of Lagos (UNILAG) — Department of Political Science, Akoka, Lagos. Strong faculty, Lagos policy and media proximity, competitive cut-offs.

Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife — Department of Political Science, Ile-Ife. Established department, strong theory tradition, competitive cut-offs.

University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) — Department of Political Science, Nsukka. Established department, broad specialisation.

Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria — Department of Political Science, Zaria. Major northern political science department.

University of Benin (UNIBEN) — Department of Political Science, Benin City. Established department, competitive cut-offs.

University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) — Department of Political Science, Ilorin. Consistently competitive, with a reputation for stable academic calendars.

Bayero University, Kano (BUK) — Department of Political Science, Kano. Major northern political science department.

Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka — Department of Political Science, Awka. Established department, competitive cut-offs.

University of Jos (UNIJOS) — Department of Political Science, Jos. Established department, competitive in the north-central region.

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• How to Choose a University in Nigeria
• How University Admission Works in Nigeria
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Frequently asked questions

Which university is best for political science in Nigeria? There is no official ranking. UI, UNILAG, OAU, and UNN are the most consistently mentioned, on faculty depth and research tradition — but “best” for you depends on your score, your budget, and the specialisation you want. Verify accreditation for the session.

How many years is political science in Nigeria? BSc Political Science runs 4 years, plus SIWES as the programme structures it. Confirm the structure for the session you apply in.

What UTME subjects do I need for political science? English, Government, and two other Social Science or Arts subjects (as the brochure states for the course and institution — check the brochure for the session, as subject requirements vary by institution).

What jobs can I get with a political science degree? Public service, policy analysis, diplomacy and international organisations, NGOs, media and communications, academia, and political consulting — with research methods and writing skills widening the range. The degree opens doors; internships and research experience determine how far they open.

Should I study political science or international relations? Political science is the broader discipline (theory, comparative politics, public administration, international relations within it); international relations is the specialised sub-field. Choose political science for breadth, international relations for a diplomacy-focused path — and check each programme’s curriculum before deciding.

Sources and last update

• Institution shortlist (UI, UNILAG, OAU, UNN, ABU, UNIBEN, UNILORIN, BUK, UNIZIK, UNIJOS) from departmental-history and faculty reporting, grouped by strength, not ranked — no official ranking is asserted.
• Accreditation (NUC), 4-year BSc structure, and curriculum emphasis from programme guidance as reported, with per-session verification directed.

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