NUC approves 13 new degree programmes for varsities in Nigeria

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has approved 13 new degree programmes for Nigerian universities.

The approval, which was conveyed in a circular addressed to all Vice-Chancellors, follows the addition of the new programmes to the Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS).

According to the Commission, the move is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the relevance of university education and align Nigeria’s higher education system with global academic and industry trends.

The courses are: Artificial Intelligence, Classical Christian Education, Human Kinetics (Sport Management option), Geomatics Engineering, Community Health Science, Intelligence and Security Studies, Islamic Economics and Finance, Parasitology and Entomology, Telecommunication Science, Water Sanitation and Hygiene, Cooperative Economics and Management, Nuclear Science, and Nuclear Engineering.

The NUC explained that the national component of each programme—representing 70 percent of the curriculum—was developed in March 2025 by experts drawn from Nigerian universities, while institutions are to design the remaining 30 percent to reflect their unique strengths and priorities.

Universities intending to run any of the new programmes are expected to begin implementation from the 2025/2026 academic session, subject to a successful resource verification exercise.

Vice-Chancellors were further instructed to distribute the approved CCMAS documents to relevant faculties, departments, and academic planning units for immediate action.