BSC, HND, OND, NCE, A'level: What are the Differences?

As a beginner or fresh admission seeker, you may want to know the differences between these terms or acronyms in the education scene in Nigeria.

It’s important to know these, really not only for conversation reasons but also for you to get the real meaning of each, what they stand for, what forms their admissions take, the statutory purpose behind each, and most importantly for you to know - which one to go for.

BSC, BSC (Ed), BSN, B. TECH, MBBS, LLB, B. AGRIC, B. Pharm 

In full, BSC is a Bachelor of Science. This term is used for a degree or university award. You earn a BSC after completing a 4-year or 5-year course in any university. It is typically awarded in fields of study such as mathematics, natural sciences, and social sciences.

Moreso, terms like B. Tech, and BSC (Ed) are equivalent to BSC. They are also degree awards – just a difference in courses or disciplines. While B. Tech is for graduates of engineering and technology-related courses, BSC (ED) or B. Ed. is for graduates of education courses.

Graduates of Law are awarded LLB and Medical graduates MBBS. Others include BSN for nursing graduates and recently also ND/HND nursing, B. Pharm for graduates of Pharmacy, B. Agric for Agriculture, and related courses.

Recommended: Can I Use NCE to Seek HND Admission?

Gaining Admission to Nigerian Universities to be Awarded BSC, BSC (Ed), BSN, B. Tech, MBBS, LLB, B. Agric, B. Pharm

Generally, to gain admission into any Nigerian university, you’ll have to make your way through JAMB UTME which is a major requirement to gain admission to any course of your interest together with the right SSCE grades.

After passing UTME, you may be subjected to Post-UTME or admission screening (depending on the methods being adopted by the proposed university) before you can be given admission by JAMB and the proposed institution.

Your years or duration of studies depends on the prospective award. The majority of degree courses last 4 years, Agric courses - 5 years, Nursing  - 5 years, Medicine – 6 years, education – 4 years, Law – 6 years (with one year of Law school), Pharmacy – 6 years (with one-year internship), Engineering and Technology – 5 years and so on.

Note that, gaining admission to any of the courses listed and more, may also be preceded with a year pre-degree course or sometimes A’level Advanced courses like IJMB, JUPEB, or Cambridge A’level.

After completing these pre-versity programmes, you can then take UTME (if pre-degree) or Direct Entry form (if IJMB, JUPEB, or Cambridge A’level). Through this, you are offered admission to any university course of your choice.

It's also important to know that, programmes such as daily part-time, weekend part-time, distance learning, and sandwich can help cross the hurdle of seeking admission through JAMB UTME. However, applicable courses are limited for this means.

NCE – Nigeria Certificate in Education 

NCE is the award given to graduates of colleges of education. Generally, after a three-year course at a college, its graduate is awarded NCE. A graduate of college can end up spending 4 years on his course if he has undertaken a year of pre-NCE course before 100-level admission. 

It is awarded in fields such as education and teaching. NCE holders can either proceed with a degree or continue with their professional careers.

Gaining Admission To Nigerian Colleges of Education To Be Awarded NCE

Admission procedures to colleges are the same as for universities. You write your UTME and take part in the post-UTME or admission screening. Then, you’re offered admission for your proposed course by JAMB and the college. You can also be admitted through a sandwich programme without sitting for JAMB.

Recommended: Can I Serve at NYSC After NCE Programme? See Answer

Using NCE To Proceed to University To Be Awarded B. Ed, B. Edu, BSc (Ed) 

After completing your NCE, you may continue to a University of your choice through the JAMB Direct Entry admission exercise. Here, you obtain DE form and choose one or two universities you’re interested in. If you meet up with the required grade from your NCE programme, JAMB, and the university will offer you admission.

More on what next after NCE in, "After Completing NCE, What Next? NCE Graduates Must-Read".

Meanwhile, as an NCE holder, you don’t just choose any course during your DE registration, it's recommended that you choose the one(s) that align with your completed NCE course. For example, if you studied Biology/Chemistry in college, even though you can change the discipline by changing course, you may only be able to process admission into more related courses such as Education Biology or Chemistry Education. Completing this will award you BSC (Ed), B.Ed, or BEd.

A few schools may also allow you to do pure courses like Chemistry or Biology which will award you BSC at completion. Consider checking the JAMB brochure for the specific requirements of universities. Generally, it will be easier to gain admission to only education courses.

Recommended: Who Are Qualified Or Not Qualified To Serve at NYSC?

OND Programmes - Ordinary National Diploma

What is the meaning of OND? OND or ND/NID is a polytechnic or Innovation Enterprise Institution (IEI) award for a two-year course. This stands for Ordinary National Diploma, which is also a vocational undergraduate qualification that takes two years to complete. It is awarded in fields such as engineering, business, and computing. 

Holders of ND can be employed or be offered admission into Higher National Diploma (HND) and where through Direct entry admission, be admitted to the 200-level course in a university.

Gaining Admission to Polytechnic To Be Awarded ND 

To gain admission for the ND award, you must obtain the JAMB UTME form and take part in the post-UTME or admission screening exercise of the Polytechnic or  Innovation Enterprise Institution (IEI). If you pass, you’ll be offered admission to ND 1 of your proposed course by JAMB and the polytechnic.

Another means to gain ND admission is through school-administered daily part-time programmes. This course is usually run full-time, perhaps, with a cost difference. Some may also opt-in for the 3-year programme called a regular part-time course.

When you complete your 2-year or 3-year ND course at any polytechnic or IEI, you’re awarded ND (NID) respectively. This serves as the prerequisite to further your education at a university through JAMB direct entry admission (as earlier explained).

You can also further to another level at your polytechnic or any other. This level is called HND. HND is also run for two years as well.

Whereas, it’s being proposed that Nigerian polytechnics will henceforth be limited to the award of ND only. Hence, candidates who wish to study further can obtain the JAMB Direct Entry form and cross to universities – where they'll continue from the 200 level.

Recommended: How to Cross From Polytechnic/College to University. 

HND - Higher National Diploma 

HND stands for Higher National Diploma, which is a vocational undergraduate qualification that takes two to three years to complete. It is awarded in fields such as engineering, business, and computing. In Nigeria, HND holders can either proceed for a postgraduate degree or continue with their professional careers. In between the ND and HND, there is always the need for a 1- or 2-year Industrial Training (IT), which is a prerequisite for Higher National Diploma admission.

Note that the HND course doesn’t require writing UTME again or obtaining the JAMB direct entry form. Applicants are only to take part in the school’s organized entrance test and interview or screening.

This programme is about to be scraped (if not by the time you’re reading this post). Yet, the award will be forever recognized by the government and private establishments that may need the services of an HND holder.

A'level Courses - IJMB, JUPEB, NABTEB A'level, and Cambridge Advanced

Several posts had been written on this category of qualifications. To learn more about each, consider reading the post, "IJMB, JUPEB and Cambridge A’level: Opportunity to Gain Admission directly to 200 Level".

In brief here, in Nigeria, there are several types of A'level courses that students can take to gain admission into universities. These include:

1. IJMB (Interim Joint Matriculation Board): This is an A'level program that is recognized by many Nigerian universities. It is a one-year program that allows students to study three subjects related to their chosen degree program through Direct Entry
2. JUPEB (Joint Universities Preliminary Examinations Board): This is another A'level program that is recognized by many Nigerian universities. It is also a one-year program that allows students to study three subjects related to their chosen degree program through Direct Entry.
3. NABTEB A'level (National Business and Technical Examinations Board): This is an A'level program that focuses on technical and vocational education. It is a two-year program that allows students to study subjects such as electrical installation, building construction, and automobile mechanics. This is no longer accepted for Direct Entry.
4. Cambridge Advanced: This is an A'level program that is offered by the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. It is a two-year program that allows students to study a wide range of subjects, including mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology.

The summary of this is that completing any of the above equates you with ND or NCE. Hence, you're qualified to obtain the JAMB Direct Entry form in order to proceed to any of the universities accepting them.

Conclusion

Nigerian education is rich in awards like any other country. There are more postgraduate and professional awards too – including MSC, MA, ICAN, NIM, etc.

Going to school requires you to know the end from the very beginning and here you have it all.

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