Differences between BSC, HND, OND, NCE, A’ level Exam

What Do I Need To About BSC, HND, OND, NCE, A’ level.

If you’re new to seeking admission, you might want to understand the differences between these terms or abbreviations commonly used in Nigeria’s education system.

It’s crucial to understand these not just for discussion but also to get their true meanings, what they represent, how admissions work with them, their intended purposes, and most importantly, which one suits you best.

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

To put it simply, BSC stands for Bachelor of Science, which is a degree you receive after finishing a 4-year or 5-year program at a university. It’s usually granted in fields of study like Mathematics, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences and Management Sciences.

Also, terms like B. Tech (Bachelor of Technology) and BSC (Ed)- (Bachelor of Science Education) are essentially the same as BSC. They are all degrees, but the difference lies in the fields of study. B. Tech is for those who graduate from engineering and technology-related programs, while BSC (Ed) or B. Ed. is for graduates of education courses.

Graduates of Law receive an LLB (Bachelor of Legislative Law) , medical graduates get an MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery), nursing graduates are awarded BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing or ND/HND nursing, pharmacy graduates earn a B. Pharm (Bachelor of Pharmacy), and those in agriculture and related fields receive a B. Agric (Bachelor of Agric).

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

In Nigeria, getting into a university usually requires you to pass the JAMB UTME and have the necessary SSCE grades. This is a first step to enroll in the course you want.

Once you’ve passed JAMB UTME, the university you’re interested in might require you to undergo Post-UTME or admission screening, depending on their procedures being adopted by the proposed University, before JAMB and the university grant you admission.

Your length of study 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

Keep in mind that getting into any of these courses listed and more, might require you to complete a one-year pre-degree program or sometimes A’level advanced courses such as IJMB, JUPEB, or Cambridge A’level. 

Once you finish these pre-university programs, you can proceed to either take the UTME (if you did a pre-degree) or the Direct Entry form (if you completed IJMB, JUPEB, or Cambridge A’level). This process enables you to gain admission to your preferred university course of choice.

It is important to note that programs like daily part-time, weekend part-time, distance learning, and sandwich courses can offer another path to admission instead of relying on JAMB UTME. But please be informed that not all courses are available through these options.

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

Once you finish your NCE (Nigeria Certificate in Education), you have the option of progressing to a university of your choice through the JAMB Direct Entry admission process. In this process, you get a DE form and select one or two universities you want to apply to. If you meet the necessary grade criteria from your NCE program, both JAMB and the university will grant you admission.

As an NCE holder, when you register for Direct Entry, it is advisable to select a course that aligns with the one you studied during your NCE program. For instance, if you studied Biology/Chemistry in college, while you can switch to a different field by changing your course, you might have better chances of getting admitted into the university if you chose related programs like Education Biology or Chemistry Education. Completing these programs will earn you degrees like BSC (Ed), B.Ed, or BEd.

That being said, a few schools might permit you to study pure courses like Chemistry or Biology, which would lead to a BSC degree upon completion. It’s a good idea to check the JAMB brochure to find out the specific requirements of such universities. In summary, it is always easier to secure admission for education-related courses.

OND Programmes – Ordinary National Diploma

What is the meaning of OND mean? OND or ND/NID is a two-year award from a polytechnic or Innovation Enterprise Institution (IEI). It stands for Ordinary National Diploma, which is an undergraduate qualification in fields like engineering, business, and computing that typically takes two years to finish.

People with an OND can get jobs or be offered admission into Higher National Diploma (HND), and even gain admission into a university’s 200-level course through Direct Entry.

Gaining Admission to Polytechnic To Be Awarded ND

To get into an ND program, you need to get the JAMB UTME form and participate in the post-UTME or admission screening at the Polytechnic or Innovation Enterprise Institution (IEI) you’re interested in. If you’re successful, both JAMB and the institution will grant you admission into ND 1 for your chosen course.

Another way to secure ND admission is by enrolling in school-administered daily part-time programs. These programs are typically full-time, but they may have a different cost structure. Some students might also choose the 3-year regular part-time course option.

After you finish your 2-year or 3-year ND course at a polytechnic or IEI, you receive an ND (NID) degree. This degree is what you need if you want to continue your education at a university through JAMB direct entry admission, as we discussed earlier.

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.

On the other hand, it is being said that Nigerian polytechnics will now be limited to the award of ND only. Hence, candidates who wish to study further can obtain the JAMB Direct Entry form and move on to universities – where they’ll continue from the 200 level.

HND – Higher National Diploma

HND means Higher National Diploma and is an undergraduate qualification that takes two to three years to finish. It’s given in fields like engineering, business, and computing. In Nigeria, HND holders can either pursue a postgraduate degree or continue 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 major requirement 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 or screening.

This program is on the verge of being discontinued especially in federal Polytechnics accross the nation (but this is still under consideration) However, the government and private companies will always acknowledge the HND award when they require the services of someone with this qualification.

A’level Courses – IJMB, JUPEB, NABTEB A’level, and Cambridge Advanced

In Nigeria, there are different 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 accepted by many Nigerian universities. It’s a one-year program where students can study three subjects relevant to their chosen degree program, making them eligible for Direct Entry admission.
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 emphasizes technical and vocational education. It lasts for two years and lets students study subjects like electrical installation, building construction, and automobile mechanics. However, it 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.

To put it simply, finishing any of the above mentioned programs earns you an ND or NCE qualification. As a result, you’re eligible to get the JAMB Direct Entry form, allowing you to continue your education at universities that accept these qualifications.

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