The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), through its College of Postgraduate Studies, runs one of the most extensive graduate programmes among Nigerian federal universities. It offers Postgraduate Diploma (PGD), Master’s, and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) qualifications across faculties covering agriculture, engineering, the sciences, arts, social sciences, education, law, biological sciences, and health sciences and technology. This article explains the postgraduate courses currently available at UNN, the entry requirements attached to each qualification level, and the application process students should follow for the 2026/2027 academic session.
About UNN’s College of Postgraduate Studies
UNN’s postgraduate programmes are coordinated centrally by the College of Postgraduate Studies, which oversees admission standards, screening, and regulation across all participating faculties and departments. The college runs programmes on a full-time, part-time, and sandwich basis, giving working professionals and full-time students different pathways into the same qualifications depending on their circumstances. Sandwich programmes, offered mainly through the Faculty of Education and a few other departments, are structured around long vacation periods, allowing serving teachers and other professionals to complete coursework without leaving their jobs for extended stretches.
Faculties running postgraduate programmes at UNN include Agriculture, Engineering, Sciences, Biological Sciences, Arts, Social Sciences, Education, Law, and Health Sciences and Technology, along with a number of specialised institutes and centres. Because UNN is a comprehensive university, a prospective postgraduate student can generally find a relevant department regardless of their first-degree background, provided they meet the specific entry conditions attached to their intended field.
Categories of Postgraduate Programmes at UNN
UNN’s postgraduate offering falls into four broad categories, each carrying a distinct entry standard and academic purpose.
Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) programmes serve candidates converting into a new discipline or strengthening a lower degree classification before proceeding to a Master’s. Master’s Degree programmes, including the M.Sc., M.A., M.Ed., MBA, MPA, MPH, and MLS, represent the standard second degree and are available in both full-time and part-time formats depending on the department. Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) programmes sit at the top of the structure, requiring an original research contribution in the candidate’s chosen field. A combined Master’s/Ph.D. track also exists, allowing exceptionally qualified candidates to progress from Master’s coursework directly into doctoral registration without submitting a fresh application, subject to meeting a specified grade threshold during the Master’s coursework stage.
Admission Requirements for Postgraduate Diploma (PGD)
To qualify for PGD admission at UNN, a candidate generally needs a Bachelor’s degree with at least Third Class Honours and a minimum GPA of 2.0 on a five-point scale, from UNN or any other recognised university. Holders of a Higher National Diploma with a GPA of 3.50 on a five-point scale, or its equivalent, also qualify for PGD admission in relevant fields. Every PGD candidate must additionally hold a minimum of five credit passes in WASC, GCE, NECO, or NABTEB, including English Language, obtained in not more than two sittings.
Certain PGD programmes carry additional or adjusted conditions. The PGD in Public Administration accepts candidates with a Third Class Honours degree and a minimum GPA of 2.0 from Arts, the Social Sciences, Law, Business Administration, or Education, though candidates from other disciplines must additionally hold at least three years of cognate post-qualification experience in administrative or managerial roles. The PGD in Business Administration requires the Third Class Honours to have been earned specifically in Business Administration, though candidates holding recognised professional qualifications such as the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria or Associate Chartered Institute of Bankers designations gain an added advantage. The PGD programmes in Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Architecture are restricted strictly to candidates who already hold a university degree in a relevant engineering or architectural discipline.
Admission Requirements for Master’s Degree Programmes
Entry into a Master’s programme at UNN generally requires a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline with at least Second Class Honours and a minimum GPA of 2.50. Candidates who instead hold a relevant Postgraduate Diploma from UNN or another recognised university qualify for Master’s admission provided the PGD was passed at Credit level or above, with a minimum GPA of 3.5 on a five-point scale or 3.0 on a four-point scale. Candidates whose first degree is unclassified can also qualify if they achieved an average score of 50 percent or above.
Some Master’s programmes apply distinct conditions beyond this general standard. The table below summarises a few of the more specialised entry routes.
| Programme | Additional Entry Condition |
|---|---|
| M.Ed. | Second Class Honours in a teaching subject plus a Merit-level PGD in Education, or Third Class Honours plus a Credit-level PGD in Education |
| MPA (Master of Public Administration) | Serving administrative or managerial staff with at least two years of post-qualification cognate experience |
| MD (Department of Medicine) | Fellowship in Medicine from the National Postgraduate Medical College, or an M.Sc. in a relevant discipline with a GPA of at least 3.50 (5-point scale), obtained after MBBS or its equivalent |
| M.Sc. (Department of Medicine) | A degree in Medicine (MBBS or MBBCh) from UNN or another recognised university |
| MPH (Master of Public Health) | Second Class Honours in Nursing Sciences, Sociology and Social Work, Psychology, Medical Microbiology, Medical Biochemistry, Medical Laboratory Sciences, Health Education, Pharmacy, DVM, MBBS, or BDS, plus at least three years of relevant post-qualification experience |
Holders of certain professional fellowship qualifications, such as FIMLT or FNILT, also qualify for Master’s admission in relevant technical fields, provided they have worked as senior technologists or in an equivalent position for at least three years.
Admission Requirements for Ph.D. Programmes
Ph.D. admission at UNN requires a Master’s degree appropriate to the candidate’s proposed area of study. Most departments require a minimum GPA of 3.5 on a five-point scale, or 3.0 on a four-point scale, at the Master’s level. A stricter threshold of 4.0 on a five-point scale applies specifically to Ph.D. admission in Music, Economics, Public Administration and Local Government, Psychology, and the Faculties of Education, Medical Sciences, Health Sciences and Technology, and Business Administration. Candidates whose Master’s degree included satisfactory research work and who achieved a GPA of 3.0 on a four-point scale, or a B average of around 60 percent, may also qualify.
Candidates with First Class Honours from a recognised university can, in some cases, be admitted directly into a combined Master’s/Ph.D. track within their discipline, bypassing separate application for each stage. Every Ph.D. candidate at UNN must publish at least one article from their thesis in a journal certified by the university before graduation, and all Master’s project reports and Ph.D. theses undergo a plagiarism check before final approval.
Programme Duration
Programme length at UNN varies by qualification level, department, and study mode. The table below sets out the standard duration across the university’s postgraduate offering.
| Programme | Mode | Minimum Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Postgraduate Diploma | Regular | Two semesters |
| Postgraduate Diploma | Sandwich | Three long vacations |
| Master’s degree | Full-time | Three semesters |
| Master’s degree | Part-time | Five semesters |
| Master’s degree (Sociology, Psychology, PALG, Agriculture, Veterinary Medicine, Education, Business Administration) | Full-time | Four semesters |
| Master’s degree (same departments) | Part-time | Six semesters |
| Ph.D. degree | Full-time | Six semesters |
| Ph.D. degree | Part-time | Eight semesters |
| Ph.D. degree (Agriculture) | Full-time | Four semesters |
Candidates are expected to complete their programme within this minimum duration but not exceed the maximum duration specified in the university’s Postgraduate Regulations.
How to Apply for UNN Postgraduate Admission
Applications for the 2026/2027 postgraduate session are submitted entirely online. A candidate visits the university’s postgraduate application portal, selects the relevant PG form, generates a payment invoice through Remita, and completes payment of the non-refundable application fee, currently set at ₦26,700. Once payment is confirmed, the candidate returns to the portal to complete the online application form, upload scanned academic credentials in PDF format, and enter the correct email addresses for their referees, who then receive a link to submit their reports directly online.
Academic transcripts are the one component not submitted online. Candidates must download the transcript request form from the portal and forward it to their previous institution, which then sends the transcript directly to the Secretary of the College of Postgraduate Studies. Applications whose transcripts are not received by the stated deadline are not processed further, so candidates should initiate this step early rather than waiting until close to the closing date. Beyond the transcript, candidates must also attach scanned copies of their qualifying certificates or statements of result and their NYSC discharge or exemption certificate, since a “To Whom It May Concern” letter is not accepted as a substitute for these specific documents.
Once admitted, regular postgraduate students are expected to register for their courses within four weeks of the session’s commencement, while sandwich programme students must register within two weeks of their session starting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum qualification for PGD admission at UNN?
A Bachelor’s degree with at least Third Class Honours and a GPA of 2.0 on a five-point scale, or an HND with a GPA of 3.50, alongside five O’Level credits including English Language.
Can a Third Class graduate proceed directly to a Master’s degree at UNN?
Not directly in most departments. A Third Class graduate typically needs to complete a PGD at Credit level or above first, then apply for the Master’s programme using the PGD as the qualifying credential.
Is a research proposal required for every UNN postgraduate application?
Research-based programmes, particularly Ph.D. and research-track Master’s degrees, require a defined area of research interest, though the specific documentation required varies by department and should be confirmed directly with the relevant faculty.
How much is the UNN postgraduate application fee for 2026/2027?
The non-refundable application fee is ₦26,700, payable through the Remita platform to the designated University of Nigeria Postgraduate Application Fees Account.
What happens if a candidate’s transcript does not arrive before the deadline?
The application will not be processed. Candidates should request their transcript from their previous institution as early as possible in the application window rather than close to the closing date.