NOUN offers about 120 NUC-approved programmes, roughly 59 undergraduate and 61 postgraduate, through nine faculties plus its specialised centres. Admission needs no JAMB, fees are charged per course, and every programme is delivered by distance learning with exams at your study centre. The live list sits under Admission → Am I qualified on nouonline.nou.edu.ng.
Programmes by faculty
The catalogue below follows NOUN’s current faculty structure. Where a faculty runs many options of one degree we list the degree once; confirm the exact programme name and its subject requirements on the portal before you apply.
Faculty of Agricultural Sciences
- B.Agric. with options in Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, Animal Science, Aquaculture and Fisheries Management, Crop Production and Protection, Soil and Land Resources Management
- B.Sc. Agricultural Extension and Management; B.Sc. Hotel and Catering Management
- PGD, M.Sc. and Ph.D. Agricultural Extension and Management
Faculty of Arts
- B.A. English, French, Arabic Language and Literature, Philosophy
- B.A. Christian Religious Studies, Islamic Studies
- B.A. Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo
- M.A. English, Christian Religious Studies, Islamic Studies; PGD and Ph.D. Christian Religious Studies; Ph.D. English
Faculty of Computing
- B.Sc. Computer Science, B.Sc. Information Technology, B.Sc. Cyber Security
- PGD, M.Sc., M.Phil. and Ph.D. Information Technology
Faculty of Education
- B.A.(Ed) Early Childhood Education, English, French, Primary Education
- B.Sc.(Ed) Agricultural Science, Biology, Business Education, Chemistry, Computer Science, Integrated Science, Mathematics, Physics, Human Kinetics, Health Education
- BLIS Library and Information Science
- PGDE (Postgraduate Diploma in Education); M.Ed and Ph.D. in Educational Administration and Planning, Educational Technology, Guidance and Counselling, Science Education
Faculty of Health Sciences
- B.Sc. Public Health, B.Sc. Environmental Health Science
- BNSc Nursing Science (top-up for registered nurses; RN certificate required)
- PGD HIV/AIDS Education and Management; M.Sc. Public Health
Faculty of Law
- LL.B. (five-year programme, accredited by the NUC and the Council of Legal Education)
- PGD Legislative Drafting; LL.M. in selected areas
Faculty of Management Sciences
- B.Sc. Accounting (with ICAN), Banking and Finance, Business Administration, Marketing, Public Administration, Entrepreneurship, Cooperative and Rural Development, Transport Management
- PGD Business Administration, Public Administration, Financial Management, Entrepreneurship
- MBA, MPA, M.Sc. Business Administration, Public Administration, Entrepreneurship; Ph.D. Business Administration, Public Administration
Faculty of Sciences
- B.Sc. Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Mathematics/Computer Science, Environmental Management and Toxicology
Faculty of Social Sciences
- B.Sc. Economics, Political Science, Mass Communication, Broadcasting, Film Production, Criminology and Security Studies, International and Diplomatic Studies, Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution, Tourism Studies, Development Studies
- PGD Economics, Mass Communication, Criminology and Security Studies, Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution
- M.Sc. Mass Communication, Criminology and Security Studies, Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution; Ph.D. Mass Communication, Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution
Centres
- ACETEL (African Centre of Excellence on Technology Enhanced Learning): M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, Management Information Systems
- Centre for Lifelong Learning: proficiency certificates, university certificates and diplomas in fields such as Computer Literacy, Business Communication, Financial Management, Marketing, Medical Office Practice, French, Arabic and Islamic Studies
- Centre for Entrepreneurship and General Studies: the GST courses every undergraduate takes
The programme-by-programme version with requirements is on NOUN accredited courses and requirements.
Popular programmes, briefly
| Programme | What to know |
|---|---|
| BNSc Nursing | A top-up degree for nurses already registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council; not an entry route into nursing. Pass mark is 50 percent, not 40. |
| LL.B. Law | Accredited, five years, 4-unit courses cost ₦3,000 each. Placement of NOUN law graduates into the Nigerian Law School remains contested as of mid-2026; confirm the current position before enrolling. |
| MBA / MPA | Faculty of Management Sciences. New postgraduates pay ₦61,000 compulsory plus ₦4,000 to ₦5,000 per course. |
| PGDE | Faculty of Education, for graduates who need a teaching qualification; adds a ₦15,000 teaching-practice fee. |
| Computer Science / Cyber Security / IT | Now under the Faculty of Computing at undergraduate level; ACETEL runs the M.Sc. and Ph.D. in AI and Cyber Security. |
| Public Health | Faculty of Health Sciences; clinical attachment adds ₦15,000 (undergraduate) or ₦20,000 (postgraduate). |
| Criminology and Security Studies, Mass Communication, Peace Studies | Faculty of Social Sciences at B.Sc., PGD and M.Sc. level; among NOUN’s highest-enrolment programmes. |
How long a NOUN programme takes
| Entry | Minimum duration | Minimum credit units to graduate |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate from 100 level | 8 semesters (4 years); LL.B. 5 years | 120 |
| Direct entry at 200 level | 6 semesters (3 years) | 80 |
| PGD and Masters | Set per programme; shown on the programme page under Am I qualified | Per programme |
NOUN has no fixed graduation year: you register up to 24 credit units a semester, and there are two semesters a year (registration for 2026_2 runs 22 June to 5 October 2026). Taking fewer courses stretches the programme; the minimum semesters above cannot be shortened. Graduation also needs a CGPA of at least 1.00 (2.00 for postgraduates); see the NOUN CGPA calculator.
Requirements and cost in one line each
- Undergraduate: five O’level credits including English and Mathematics in at most two sittings, no JAMB. Full details in the NOUN admission guide.
- Cost: ₦55,500 compulsory in the first semester for new undergraduates, then ₦18,000 a semester plus ₦2,000 to ₦3,000 per course and ₦1,500 exam fee per course. Postgraduates ₦61,000 then ₦30,000 plus per-course fees. Estimator on the NOUN school fees page.
- Where you study: online, with exams and facilitation at one of 128 study centres.
The university’s profile, accreditation and contacts are on our National Open University of Nigeria page.
FAQs
What courses are offered in NOUN?
About 120 programmes across Agriculture, Arts, Computing, Education, Health Sciences, Law, Management Sciences, Sciences and Social Sciences, from certificates and diplomas to Ph.D. The live list is under Am I qualified on the portal.
Does NOUN offer Nursing?
Yes, the BNSc, but only as a top-up for registered nurses with a valid RN certificate. It is not a route to become a nurse from scratch.
Does NOUN offer Medicine, Engineering or Pharmacy?
No. NOUN’s Health Sciences faculty runs Public Health, Environmental Health and Nursing (top-up); there is no MBBS, engineering or pharmacy programme.
Are NOUN degrees accredited?
Yes. Programmes are NUC-accredited, and the LL.B. is also accredited by the Council of Legal Education. Graduates under 30 are mobilised for NYSC.
Which NOUN postgraduate courses are available?
PGD, Masters and Ph.D. programmes in Education, Management (MBA, MPA), Public Health, Agriculture, Arts, Social Sciences, Information Technology, and through ACETEL in AI, Cyber Security and Management Information Systems.
How many years is a NOUN degree?
A minimum of eight semesters (four years) from 100 level or six semesters from direct entry; Law is five years. Registering fewer courses per semester makes it longer.
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