How To Change Course In Nigerian Universities (2025)

In this article, we shall be looking at how to change course in Nigerian universities this 2025 so as to enlighten many Nigerian students at university level on the things to do, or the various steps to take in order for them to successfully change their course of study from one department to another while their undergraduate programme is effectively running.

Kindly note that this is different from JAMB change of course where prospective university students can change their first or second choice courses before being offered provisional admission. In this case however, the student has already been given provisional admission and is changing their course right there in the university from one department to another.

In many Nigerian universities today, especially the one I attended in the South-Eastern geopolitical zone of the country, it is not uncommon to see students switching departments for one reason or the other. Kindly note that this is not a bad thing in itself and if you feel the need to change your course at school, by all means explore all the available options and do what you really want; I for one had the opportunity to change my course in my first year but decided against it and proceeded to major in the discipline I was studying at that time largely because I applied for it and got it on merit.

This may not be the case for many others who are actually studying a totally different course that their school of choice gave them and not the one they chose for themselves, which may be very dissatisfying for those who really want to do what they love and not just merely go through the motions simply because they want to answer the title of “graduate” in the end, hence the need for a change of course in the university.

I must point out at this juncture that changing courses after gaining admission can be very stressful and those who have the experience of switching departments at the university will tell you that the process is very time consuming and that they had real fears about the whole process hitting a brick wall but that fear eventually disappeared when they scaled through all the hurdles and successfully changed their course. As I have already stated in the course of this article, if you wish to change your course in order to pursue a career path that you feel is best suited to you and your strengths, by all means do. It is better to take this risk than to live with the regret of what would have been.

As we proceed with this article, Nigerian Guide will furnish you with the requirements for changing courses and switching to another department in the university. Kindly note that this switch can only occur within the first two years of your study in the university as after this, you will not be able to do so anymore. Also endeavour to check with your school’s admissions office so as to be sure that you stand a chance of changing courses as well as the requirements before proceeding with the whole process.

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE CHANGING YOUR COURSE IN A NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY

The following are some of the things you should take note of before proceeding to change your course of study in any Nigerian University today:

CHANGE OF COURSE IS POSSIBLE ONLY WITHIN THE SAME FACULTY/COLLEGE 

One of the first things to note before changing your course is that it is only allowed in the same faculty or college What only differs are the departments. This rule may vary from university to university in Nigeria but majority of the universities in the country will only allow you to change your course within the same faculty or college. Do well to check with your university admissions office before considering changing your course and ensure that they give you all the necessary information regarding switching of departments so that you can determine what your next move will be.

YOU’RE REQUIRED TO ATTAIN A SPECIFIC CGPA BEFORE YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR COURSE

In order to effectively change your course and switch to another department in your university, you are required to attain a specific Cumulative Grade Points Average (CGPA) which must be high enough. Many universities in Nigeria require a high CGPA so as to ensure that only the best heads make the switch otherwise this whole process will become something just anybody can do with reckless abandon.

HOW TO CHANGE COURSE IN NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES 2025 

The following are the step by step processes on how to change course and switch to another department in Nigerian universities this 2025:

STEP 1

Attain a high CGPA as many universities in the country require that a student must attain a minimum of 4.5 GPA before they can be allowed to change to another department. Every department however, has their acceptable cut-off GPA for change of degree programme, ensure to find out before making the switch.

STEP 2

You are to apply for a change of course in order to switch to another department at the end of your first year. Make sure to complete the processing for this departmental switch not later than one month from the beginning of the new session.

STEP 3

Make a non-refundable payment for the change of degree programme as mandated by most universities in Nigeria. This payment for the change of course application fee is compulsory. After this payment is made, you are to wait for the admissions office to confirm your qualification for a new department.

STEP 4

Once the admissions office of your school has confirmed you for your departmental switch, they will begin processing your application to your new department. This involves moving your forms from the admissions office to your new faculty or college and once the process is complete, you will be registered in your new department.

OTHER ALTERNATIVES TO CHANGE OF COURSE IN NIGERIA TODAY 

There are other ways or alternatives to change your course if you have tried intra-university methods and one of the ways include taking another JAMB UTME. You can also change your course through inter-university transfer admission. This is possible after you have completed your current course and you proceed to do a direct entry to your preferred course in another university.

Depending on the school, you will be allowed to use your first degree to enter into 200 level or 300 level of your preferred course. You can also decide to finish your current course and proceed to pursue another degree in your preferred course or you finish your current course of study after which you go for a Master’s Degree in your favoured course.