List of Medical Courses Offered in NOUN – Requirements, Fees
NOUN offers medical and health courses including Nursing Science, Public Health, and Environmental Health Science — all fully accredited. See the complete list, requirements, and what NOUN does not offer.
Advertisements
Does NOUN Offer Medical Courses?
Let us answer the question on every prospective student’s mind first, because most websites dance around it.
Advertisements
Yes, NOUN offers medical and health-related courses — and they are fully accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC). But no, NOUN does not offer MBBS (Medicine and Surgery), and it does not offer Pharmacy, Medical Laboratory Science, Radiography, Dentistry, or Physiotherapy. Those clinical programmes require intensive hospital-based training that does not fit the open and distance learning (ODL) model — at least not yet.
What NOUN does offer is a focused set of health science programmes through its Faculty of Health Sciences, covering nursing, public health, and environmental health — three of the most employable health fields in Nigeria today. All three undergraduate programmes hold Full NUC Accreditation, which puts them on equal footing with the same degrees from conventional universities.
Here is the complete picture.
Medical and Health Courses Offered in NOUN
Undergraduate Programmes (Faculty of Health Sciences)
| Programme | Accreditation Status |
|---|---|
| B.NSc. Nursing Science | Full |
| B.Sc. Public Health | Full |
| B.Sc. Environmental Health Science | Full |
Postgraduate Programmes
| Programme | Level | Accreditation Status |
|---|---|---|
| PGD Public Health | Postgraduate Diploma | Resource Verified |
| M.Sc. Public Health | Master’s | Resource Verified |
| Ph.D. Public Health | Doctorate | Resource Verified |
Related Health Programmes (Faculty of Education)
If your interest is health education rather than clinical practice, two additional programmes are worth knowing:
- B.Sc.(Ed) Physical & Health Education — Interim Accreditation
- B.Sc.(Ed) Human Kinetics — Interim Accreditation
These prepare you for careers in school health programmes, fitness and wellness, sports science, and health teaching.
B.NSc. Nursing Science – Who Can Apply?
This is the programme that generates the most questions, so read this section carefully.
NOUN’s Nursing Science degree is a top-up programme for registered nurses, not an entry route into the nursing profession. You cannot use it to become a nurse from scratch.
To qualify, you need:
- A valid RN (Registered Nurse) certificate from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN)
- Five O-level credits in no more than two sittings, which must include English Language, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology
Who is it for? Practising nurses with RN/RM qualifications who want to upgrade to a Bachelor of Nursing Science degree — the qualification increasingly required for senior clinical roles, nursing administration, teaching positions, and international licensing applications.
Why it makes sense: you keep working while you study. The ODL model means no career break, no relocation, and no lost income — which is exactly why thousands of Nigerian nurses choose this route over conventional universities.
If you are not yet a nurse: your path starts at a school of nursing or a conventional university nursing programme, not at NOUN. Once you hold your RN, NOUN becomes your fastest route to the degree.
B.Sc. Public Health – The Most Flexible Health Degree
Public Health is NOUN’s most accessible health programme, and arguably one of the smartest degree choices in Nigeria right now. Epidemic preparedness, primary healthcare, health education, NGO programmes, and community health interventions all run on public health professionals.
Entry requirements:
- Five O-level credits in no more than two sittings, including English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics
- Direct Entry applicants with relevant diplomas (e.g., Community Health, Environmental Health, Nursing) can enter at a higher level
What you will study: epidemiology, biostatistics, health education and promotion, maternal and child health, occupational health and safety, health management, environmental health, and research methods — the full toolkit of a public health practitioner.
Career paths: public health officer, community health programme manager, health educator, NGO/development sector roles (WHO, UNICEF, and local implementing partners), monitoring and evaluation officer, occupational health and safety officer, and health policy analyst.
And because NOUN also runs PGD, M.Sc., and Ph.D. Public Health, you can go from your first degree to a doctorate without ever leaving the university.
B.Sc. Environmental Health Science – The Overlooked Gem
Environmental Health is the health programme most students have never considered — and the one with surprisingly strong job security. Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) are statutory positions in every local government, and the field extends into food safety, sanitation, waste management, and industrial safety.
Entry requirements:
- Five O-level credits in no more than two sittings, including English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics
- Holders of relevant diplomas (e.g., Environmental Health Technology) may qualify for Direct Entry
What you will study: sanitary inspection of premises, water and air quality management, sewage and waste management, food hygiene and safety, environmental toxicology, occupational health, meat inspection and abattoir management, pest control, and environmental health law.
Career paths: Environmental Health Officer in local and state government, food safety inspector, occupational health and safety specialist in oil and gas or manufacturing, waste management consultant, and public utilities regulator.
Postgraduate Public Health at NOUN – PGD to Ph.D.
For health workers looking to climb, NOUN’s postgraduate ladder in Public Health is one of the most affordable in the country.
PGD Public Health — the entry point for graduates from other fields (or those with lower first-degree classifications) who want to move into public health. A Bachelor’s degree from a recognised institution is required.
M.Sc. Public Health — requires a first degree with a minimum of second class lower in a health or related field, or a third class plus a relevant PGD. Ideal for doctors, nurses, pharmacists, lab scientists, and health administrators seeking advanced public health credentials.
Ph.D. Public Health — requires a Master’s degree in Public Health or a closely related field with a strong CGPA, plus a research proposal. This is the route into academia, senior research roles, and top-tier policy positions.
Medical Courses NOUN Does NOT Offer
Save yourself the search. As of today, NOUN does not offer any of the following:
- MBBS / Medicine and Surgery
- Pharmacy (B.Pharm / Pharm.D)
- Medical Laboratory Science
- Radiography
- Dentistry
- Physiotherapy
- Optometry
- Veterinary Medicine
- Anatomy or Physiology as standalone degrees
These programmes require regulated clinical and laboratory contact hours that the NUC and the relevant professional councils (MDCN, PCN, MLSCN) currently mandate must happen in residential settings. Any website telling you NOUN offers medicine or pharmacy is misleading you.
The honest alternative: if your goal is clinical medicine, pursue it through JAMB and a conventional university. If your goal is a respected, accredited career in the health sector with the flexibility to work while studying, NOUN’s nursing, public health, and environmental health programmes are legitimate and proven routes.
How to Apply for NOUN Health Science Programmes
Admission is open all year round, with no JAMB UTME required. The process is straightforward:
- Visit the NOUN admission portal at https://nouonline.nou.edu.ng
- Select your programme — Nursing Science, Public Health, or Environmental Health Science
- Complete the online application form and upload your credentials (including your RN certificate if applying for Nursing)
- Pay the application fee via Remita
- Once admitted, print your admission letter and complete registration at your preferred study centre
A note on examinations: while coursework is delivered online, examinations (e-Exams and Pen-on-Paper) hold at physical study centres, and health science programmes include practical components. Choose a study centre you can realistically reach.
Final Thoughts
NOUN’s health sciences offering is narrow but solid: three fully accredited undergraduate programmes and a complete postgraduate pathway in Public Health, all delivered with the flexibility that working health professionals actually need. The university is upfront about what it does — and what it does not do — and so is this guide.
If you are a registered nurse, a health worker eyeing public health, or someone drawn to environmental health’s quiet job security, NOUN deserves a place on your shortlist. Confirm your eligibility above, then start your application at https://nouonline.nou.edu.ng. For programme details and current fees, visit https://www.nou.edu.ng or contact your nearest study centre.
