List of Courses Offered in NOUN and Their Requirements

NOUN offers 120 NUC-approved programmes — 59 undergraduate and 61 postgraduate — across 8 faculties. See the full course list, accreditation status, and admission requirements.

What Courses Can You Study at NOUN?

Choosing a university course is one of the biggest decisions you will make, and the first question every prospective student asks is the same: what courses does NOUN actually offer, and do I qualify?

Here is the direct answer. The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) currently runs 120 academic programmes approved by the National Universities Commission (NUC). These break down as:

• 59 undergraduate programmes — 55 with Full Accreditation and 3 with Interim Accreditation
• 61 postgraduate programmes — including PGDs, Master’s degrees, and PhDs, with 9 fully Accredited and 51 Resource Verified
• 0 unapproved programmes — every course on this list is officially recognised

That last point matters more than most students realise. Every programme NOUN offers has passed through NUC quality assurance, which means your certificate is valid for employment, professional registration, and further study in Nigeria and abroad.

In this guide, you will find the complete list of NOUN courses faculty by faculty, the accreditation status of each one, and the admission requirements for undergraduate and postgraduate entry.

NOUN Undergraduate Courses by Faculty

NOUN’s undergraduate programmes are spread across eight faculties. Find your faculty below and check the accreditation status of your intended course.

Faculty of Agricultural Sciences Courses

Faculty of Arts Courses

Faculty of Education Courses

Faculty of Health Sciences Courses

Faculty of Management Sciences Courses

Faculty of Science Courses

Faculty of Social Sciences Courses

Note: NOUN’s Faculty of Law offers postgraduate law programmes (listed below). The LL.B undergraduate programme is not on the current accreditation list, so prospective law students should confirm availability directly with the university before applying.

NOUN Undergraduate Admission Requirements

One of NOUN’s biggest attractions is its open admission policy — there is no JAMB UTME requirement and no competitive cut-off mark battle. If you meet the entry requirements, you get admitted. Here is what you need.

O-Level Requirements (Standard Entry)

To qualify for any undergraduate programme, you must have:

• A minimum of five credit passes in SSCE (WAEC), NECO, GCE, NABTEB, or an equivalent examination
• The five credits must be obtained in no more than two sittings
• English Language is compulsory for all programmes
• Mathematics is compulsory for science, management, and social science programmes
• The remaining subjects must be relevant to your chosen course — for example, Physics and Chemistry for science programmes, Economics or Commerce for management programmes, and Literature in English for arts programmes

Direct Entry Requirements

Holders of the following qualifications can enter at 200 level or higher, depending on the programme:

• ND (National Diploma) in a relevant field
• HND (Higher National Diploma) in a relevant field
• NCE (Nigeria Certificate in Education) for education programmes
• A first degree in another discipline
• IJMB, JUPEB, or A-Level passes in relevant subjects

Special Requirements for Health Sciences

Programmes like B.NSc. Nursing Science carry additional conditions beyond the standard five credits:

• Credits must include English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology
• Nursing applicants are typically required to hold a valid RN (Registered Nurse) certificate from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, as the programme is designed as a top-up for practising nurses

NOUN Postgraduate Courses by Faculty

NOUN runs 61 postgraduate programmes spanning PGD, Master’s, and doctoral levels. Nine of these are fully Accredited and the rest are Resource Verified — an NUC status confirming the university has the staffing and facilities to run the programme.

Faculty of Agricultural Sciences

Faculty of Arts

Faculty of Education

Faculty of Health Sciences

Faculty of Law

Faculty of Management Sciences

Faculty of Science

Faculty of Social Sciences

ACETEL (Academic Centre)

NOUN’s Africa Centre of Excellence on Technology Enhanced Learning runs six fully accredited, high-demand technology programmes:

Worth noting: all six ACETEL programmes carry full NUC accreditation — the strongest status on the postgraduate list. If you are considering a tech-focused Master’s or PhD, these are among the most secure choices NOUN offers.

NOUN Postgraduate Admission Requirements

Requirements vary by level, but here is the standard framework across NOUN’s postgraduate programmes.

PGD (Postgraduate Diploma) Requirements

• A Bachelor’s degree from a recognised institution (third class and pass degrees are often accepted for PGD entry)
• HND holders with a minimum of lower credit are eligible for most PGD programmes
• Five O-level credits including English Language, in no more than two sittings

Master’s Degree Requirements

• A Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of second class lower (2.2) in a relevant field from a recognised institution
• Candidates with a third class degree plus a relevant PGD are eligible for many programmes
• HND plus PGD in a relevant field is an accepted pathway
• Five O-level credits including English Language (and Mathematics for science and management programmes)
• ACETEL programmes (AI, Cyber Security, MIS) require a minimum CGPA of 3.0 on a 5-point scale in a related discipline

PhD Requirements

• A Master’s degree in the relevant field from a recognised institution with a minimum CGPA (typically 3.50 on a 5-point scale, or 4.00 for ACETEL programmes)
• Evidence of research capability — most programmes require a research proposal at the application stage
• All lower qualifications (Bachelor’s, O-levels) must also be in order

How to Apply to NOUN

Admission into NOUN is open all year round, with two admission cycles per session. The process is fully online:

1. Visit the NOUN admission portal at https://nouonline.nou.edu.ng
2. Select your programme of choice and confirm you meet the requirements
3. Complete the online application form and upload your credentials
4. Pay the application fee via Remita
5. Print your admission letter once approved, then proceed to registration at your preferred study centre

ACETEL postgraduate programmes (AI, Cyber Security, and MIS) use a separate portal at https://aceteladmissions.nou.edu.ng, with biannual intakes in December and May.

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Why Accreditation Status Should Guide Your Choice

Before you settle on a course, understand what the three status labels mean for you as a student:

• Full Accreditation / Accredited — the programme passed NUC’s complete quality review. Your certificate faces no recognition issues anywhere.
• Interim Accreditation — the programme is approved and valid, but the NUC flagged areas for improvement. The university must address these before the next review. Students can enrol and graduate normally.
• Resource Verified — common for newer postgraduate programmes. The NUC has confirmed NOUN has the staff, facilities, and curriculum to run the programme. Full accreditation typically follows once the programme matures.

The headline for prospective students: 55 of NOUN’s 59 undergraduate programmes hold Full Accreditation, and the university has zero unapproved programmes. That is a stronger accreditation record than many conventional Nigerian universities can claim.

Final Thoughts

With 120 NUC-approved programmes across agriculture, arts, education, health, law, management, science, and social sciences — plus cutting-edge technology programmes through ACETEL — NOUN offers one of the widest course selections of any Nigerian university, all through flexible open and distance learning.

Your next step is simple: find your course in the tables above, confirm you meet the requirements, and head to https://nouonline.nou.edu.ng to apply. Admission is open, there is no JAMB hurdle, and your study centre is closer than you think.

For programme-specific details, fees, and course outlines, visit the official NOUN website at https://www.nou.edu.ng or contact your nearest study centre.