Are you considering furthering your academic career at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka (UNIZIK)?
This guide will walk you through how the College of Postgraduate Studies is organised, the different Doctorate, Master’s, and Postgraduate Diploma programmes available, what you need to qualify, and how to apply, from your first login to sending your transcript.
About UNIZIK’s College of Postgraduate Studies
Contents
At Nnamdi Azikiwe University, the College of Postgraduate Studies manages admissions and academic standards for Postgraduate Diplomas, Master’s degrees, and PhD programmes across all faculties, institutes, and centres.
The College’s mission is to help students take a life-changing step that can shape their future careers.
To support this, it offers full-time, part-time, and online study options, making postgraduate education accessible for both working professionals and full-time students.
The Range of Postgraduate Programmes at UNIZIK
UNIZIK offers a wide range of postgraduate programmes, including Doctorate, Master’s, and Postgraduate Diploma options in faculties like Health Sciences, Agriculture, Arts, Basic Clinical Sciences, Basic Medical Sciences, Bio-Sciences, and Education.
For example, the PhD programmes alone cover specialisations such as:
- Public Health (Health Sciences)
- Agricultural Economics and Extension (Agriculture)
- English and Literary Studies (Arts)
- Chemical Pathology, Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, and Pharmacology and Therapeutics (Basic Clinical Sciences)
- Anatomy, Human Biochemistry, and Human Physiology (Basic Medical Sciences)
- Applied Biochemistry, Applied Microbiology and Brewing, Botany, Parasitology and Entomology, and Zoology (Bio-Sciences)
- Adult Education, Early Childhood and Primary Education, Educational Foundations, Educational Management and Policy, Guidance and Counselling, Human Kinetics and Sports Science, Library and Information Sciences, and Science Education (Education)
These are just some of the PhD options available.
UNIZIK also offers a wide variety of Master’s degree and Postgraduate Diploma programmes in these and other faculties.
Since the full course list is long and can change between admission cycles, it’s best to check the College of Postgraduate Studies’ official course listing for your department and area of interest.
Admission Requirements by Degree Level
Minimum General Requirement (All Candidates):
Every postgraduate applicant must possess a minimum of 5 credits, including English Language and any four other relevant subjects, obtained at one or two sittings from WAEC, NECO, NABTEB, or TC II (the latter specifically for Faculty of Education applicants), in line with both departmental and general university requirements.
Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) Programmes:
Graduates from approved universities with a first-degree classification and a Final Cumulative Grade Point Average (FCGPA) of 1.51 and above on a 5-point scale are generally eligible to apply.
Candidates holding an HND from a recognised Polytechnic or Monotechnic with at least a Lower Credit may also qualify, depending on the department.
Master’s Degree Programmes:
Requirements vary by department, but candidates generally need a first degree from UNIZIK or another recognised university, often with a minimum FCGPA around 3.00–3.49 on a 5-point scale under the advertised courses.
Some departments also accept candidates with a relevant Postgraduate Diploma and a sufficiently strong FCGPA, provided they meet general university matriculation requirements.
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Programmes:
Applicants must be graduates from approved universities holding a Master’s degree in their proposed field of study, with a minimum FCGPA of 3.50 on a 5-point scale, or a minimum of 60% for universities that do not use the FCGPA system.
UNIZIK has made a concession for postgraduate admission requirements starting from the 2020/2021 session.
If you met the O’Level qualifications required when you first started your undergraduate degree, you do not need to meet the current O’Level standards.
This helps those whose undergraduate admission was under older requirements.
Departmental Variations Worth Knowing About
In addition to the general requirements, each department at UNIZIK has its own specific academic criteria.
For instance, agriculture-related postgraduate programmes usually require 5 O’Level credits, including English Language, Mathematics, Chemistry, and either Biology or Agricultural Science, all earned in no more than two sittings.
Some flexibility exists, such as accepting a pass in Mathematics if you have a credit in Physics, or requiring at least a pass in Biology if you have a credit in Agricultural Science.
Because these details vary by department, always check your department’s requirements before applying, rather than relying only on the general university criteria.
Transcript Requirements
Like most Nigerian postgraduate schools, UNIZIK requires your academic transcript to come directly from your previous institution, not from you.
Both hard and soft copies are accepted, but soft copies must come from an official institutional email address; personal emails are not allowed.
Make sure your transcript reaches the Secretary, College of Postgraduate Studies, by the deadline for that admission cycle.
If your name has changed since you earned your degree, the transcript should show this change to prevent delays.
Ph.D. Research Proposal Requirement
If you are applying for a PhD programme, you must upload a research proposal with your application.
The proposal should be no longer than five typewritten pages and must use the university’s official template, which you can get from the College of Postgraduate Studies.
In some past admission cycles, PhD applicants have also been asked to defend their proposal as part of the screening process, along with taking a general Screening Test for all postgraduate applicants.
How to Apply: Step-by-Step
- Identify your intended programme and department from UNIZIK’s official postgraduate course listing, checking both the general and department-specific requirements that apply to it.
- Visit the UNIZIK postgraduate application portal and complete the online application form, filling in all required fields accurately.
- Check your email for a validation link and your assigned application number, then activate your account and log in.
- Confirm your details and pay the application fee, using Credo for local (Nigerian) payments or Paystack for international applicants.
- Complete and submit the full application form, including your intended specialisation and any required supporting documents.
- Print your Application and Transcript Request Forms once your submission is complete.
- Forward the Transcript Request Form to your previous institution, ensuring they send your transcript directly to the College of Postgraduate Studies by the stated deadline, from an official institutional email if submitting a soft copy.
- PhD applicants specifically should also upload their research proposal (maximum five typewritten pages) using the official UNIZIK proposal template.
- Monitor your email regularly, since all further updates regarding your application are communicated this way, and use the portal’s Help Dashboard if you encounter any technical issues.
A Few Important Notes
- All admissions offered are explicitly stated as provisional, and the College of Postgraduate Studies reserves the right to offer, confirm, or deny admission even where a candidate has met the stated general conditions.
- Applicants are advised to review the full departmental requirements and available supervisor profiles on the official portal before applying, since your eventual research direction may depend on supervisor availability within your chosen specialisation.
- Study modes at UNIZIK include full-time, part-time, and online options, so consider which format realistically fits your current work and life commitments before selecting your application track.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What levels of postgraduate study does UNIZIK offer?
UNIZIK’s College of Postgraduate Studies offers Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) programmes, Master’s degree programmes (including M.A. and M.Sc. tracks), M.Phil. programmes, and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programmes across a wide range of faculties, institutes, and centres.
2. What is the minimum O’Level requirement for UNIZIK postgraduate admission?
All candidates must possess a minimum of 5 credits, including English Language and four other relevant subjects, obtained at one or two sittings from WAEC, NECO, NABTEB, or TC II (Faculty of Education applicants only).
3. What FCGPA do I need for a PhD at UNIZIK?
PhD applicants generally need a minimum FCGPA of 3.50 on a 5-point scale in their Master’s degree, or a minimum of 60% for universities that don’t use the FCGPA system.
4. Do I submit my own transcript, or does my previous institution send it?
Your previous institution must send your transcript directly to the Secretary, College of Postgraduate Studies.
Soft copies are only accepted from official institutional email addresses, not personal emails.
5. Is a research proposal required for every postgraduate application?
No, this requirement specifically applies to PhD applicants, who must upload a research proposal of no more than five typewritten pages using UNIZIK’s official proposal template.
6. Can I study part-time or online at UNIZIK’s postgraduate level?
Yes. UNIZIK offers full-time, part-time, and online modes of study for its postgraduate programmes, giving candidates flexibility depending on their personal and professional circumstances.
7. What happens if my original undergraduate O’Level qualifications don’t match UNIZIK’s current requirement standard?
UNIZIK has issued a concession, effective from the 2020/2021 session, allowing candidates who met the O’Level qualifications in force at the time of their original first-degree admission to be considered without being re-subjected to the university’s current requirement standard.
8. How do I pay my UNIZIK postgraduate application fee?
Payment is made through Credo for local (Nigerian) applicants and Paystack for international applicants, processed directly through the university’s official application portal.
9. Is admission guaranteed once I meet the stated general requirements?
No. UNIZIK has been explicit that all admissions offered are provisional, and the College of Postgraduate Studies reserves the right to offer, confirm, or deny admission even where general conditions have been met.
10. Where can I find the specific requirements for my department or specialisation?
The College of Postgraduate Studies’ official portal provides detailed department-specific requirements, specialisations, and supervisor profiles, which you should review directly since they often differ meaningfully from the university’s general admission criteria.
Final Thoughts
UNIZIK’s College of Postgraduate Studies has one of the widest ranges of postgraduate programmes in Nigeria, covering Health Sciences, Agriculture, Arts, Education, and both Basic Medical and Clinical Sciences, among others.
Since requirements, deadlines, and available specialisations can change from one admission cycle to another, check the official UNIZIK postgraduate portal for your specific programme before you start your application.
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