List of most demanded PhD programs in Nigeria has a long record of those academic programs which everyone would have loved to study. Since scholars are people who are commonly interested in one particular field of knowledge or the next, another academic level on which they can pursue their intellectual urge for learning is going on various PhD programs available.
PhD, Ph.D., or DPhil, which is in full known as Doctor of Philosophy, is the most common degree at the highest academic level awarded following a course of study. PhDs are awarded for programs across the whole breadth of academic fields after you must have earned your Master’s Degree. Because it is an earned research degree, those studying for a PhD are required to produce original research that expands the boundaries of knowledge, normally in the form of a dissertation, and defend their work before a panel of other experts in the field.
Doing PhD programs can be a very costly academic venture as far as the university education is concerned; however, it is worth the call if you consider its gain after all. There are however some requirements that a student or individual must meet before he will stand eligible for PhD programs.
Requirements PhD Programs in Nigeria
- To be eligible for admission to the Ph.D. degree programme, candidates must have obtained a Master’s degree from a recognized University approved by Senate.
- If you have a Master’s degree from other University with Ph.D. grade, you can only proceed to Ph.D. degree programme where you have finished your Master’s degree. Any attempt to go to another University, you will do one-year course work, and the school will examine you before you proceed to the Ph.D. degree programme. The same is true for MPhil/PhD grade.
- It is advisable to do PhD program at the University where you finished M.Sc.
- Ph.D. grade in some schools is 60% or 3.5/5.0 or 5.0/7.0. Most schools still use percentage except few ones that use CGPA.
- Additionally, the PhD program takes a minimum of 3 years (6 semesters) and a maximum of 5 years (10 semesters).
- UI grade system for PhD is quite different (they use PhD grade and MPhil/ Ph.D. grade system). A grade point of 3.5 out of 5-point will offer you an MPhil/ PhD admission if your result is from a recognized University. And this calculation will be done through your transcripts.
- Most Universities in Nigeria will offer you admission for MPhil/ Ph.D. or MSc/ Ph.D. if you didn’t do your Masters program at their University. MPhil/ PhD or MSc/ Ph.D. means you will do one year of coursework and the remaining three years for your research work.
List of Most Demanded PhD Programs in Nigeria.
Below is the list of most demanded PhD programs in Nigeria:
1. Philosophy
The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is a five year program that will prepare you for an academic career in research and teaching in philosophy. The minimum eligibility to pursue PhD Philosophy is to have a Master’s Degree in Philosophy or Literature. Students can gain admission to PhD Philosophy in India on the basis of entrance exams such as CSIR UGC NET, UGC-NET, JNUEE, etc.
Earning a PhD in philosophy takes hard work and perseverance. The process of getting your PhD in philosophy varies depending on the university and program. However, almost all programs will require coursework, intense research, and a completed dissertation. Professionals with a doctorate in philosophy often begin careers as professors at colleges and universities. Philosophy doctoral degrees may also lead to administrative roles in higher education or leadership positions in business or government settings. Philosophy is one of the list of most demanded PhD programs in Nigeria.
2. Physical Therapy
Physical Therapy is also another one on the list of most demanded PhD programs in Nigeria. Science students that decide to obtain a traditional or online doctorate in Physical Therapy are usually people concerned with the welfare of those less fortunate or with the well being of recovering trauma patients. This degree route is usually chosen by sympathetic individuals that want to help ease the suffering of those in their community.
Occupational Therapists, for example, are tasked with assisting employees who have sustained injuries on the job and with teaching employees about ergonomics so they are less likely to sustain injuries in the first place. Social Workers with a PhD in Physical Therapy, on the other hand, are usually employed by homeless shelters and battered women’s shelters and are tasked with helping to heal injuries that could be sustained by people seeking shelter. These are some of the professional engagements that anyone who study Physical Therapy are Physicians, Occupational Therapists and Social Workers, etc.
3. Political Science
The Doctorate of Political Science program provides students with valuable, comprehensive knowledge of government and global politics, preparing them to analyze complex political problems and recognize potential solutions in both the public and private sectors. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in the life, physical, and social science field are set to grow at 5% over the next ten years, faster than the average overall growth. This fact then helps the political science students have the leverage to easily get jobs in the labor market.
4. Education and Teaching
Students that choose to obtain a PhD in Educational Leadership and Administration are generally students that are concerned with the quality of education that today’s students are receiving. They generally are passionate about making a difference in the lives of today’s youth, and wish to better the quality of education for the sake of the future leaders of America. With a PhD in this field, professionals are able to pursue careers all across the education board, including the Board of Education. Admissions Directors, for example, are those that choose whether or not a student would be a good fit at a postsecondary school. They generally are the ones that read student entry essays to decide if a student should attend the school.
Education Administrators oversee day-to-day operation of a school and provide instructional leadership to those that are employed at the school. With a traditional or online doctorate in Education, an individual is able to enter a career path where they are tasked with the ensuring students receive quality education. The kinds of individuals that seek out this degree are usually those who are concerned with the nation’s education levels and wish to provide a better quality of life for everyone through a better education. A possible career path for someone with a PhD in General Education would be a school counselor who is tasked with assisting students in picking a career path and assisting them to get on the right track to being able to start in that chosen career.
They are also tasked with handing out information on colleges and assisting students in what electives to take. Another example would be a librarian, who is tasked with ensuring students have the resources needed available to them so they can broaden their horizons.
This among the list of most demanded PhD programs in Nigeria places students qualified to work as Education Administrators, Primary and Secondary School Principals and Admissions Director, Curriculum Developer, Librarian, Primary and Secondary Educator and Counselor, etc.
4. Chemistry
A PhD in Chemistry will allow students to enter most scientific fields. This degree path is usually chosen by more analytical students who want to deconstruct the world down to its base parts and figure out how everything works. A PhD in Chemistry won’t limit students to a career that’s purely Chemistry-focused either. Students that have obtained a PhD in Chemistry have many career options available to them, some examples of which are careers in the healthcare sector, in the pharmaceuticals industry and in law enforcement as a member of the forensics team. Some of the more common career paths for those with a PhD in Chemistry are in the research and laboratory sectors, though chemical manufacturing draws a lot of chemists into the field.
Any Nigerian student who studies this course which is identified as one of the list of most demanded PhD programs in Nigeria can have a chance to become an Analytical Chemist, Research Chemist, Research Scientist and Quality Control (QC) Chemist, etc.
5. Clinical Psychology
A degree at the PhD level in Clinical Psychology or Psychology generally is a good idea. This is because those with a PhD in Clinical Psychology are usually concerned with the well being of others or are curious as to how the human mind functions and what can cause it to malfunction.
These individuals will have several career options for them based on what about the human psyche interests them the most. Some Clinical Psychologists, for example, choose to enter into the Forensics field as forensics psychologists. These professionals are tasked with numerous things such as coming up with criminal profiles for wanted individuals, determining whether or not an individual is fit to stand trial or finding out the psychological reasoning behind criminal activity. Another option for these individuals is in a more traditional healthcare setting, such as a Clinical Psychiatrist who helps individuals suffering from depression, ADHD, schizophrenia and many other common mental health afflictions.
6. Psychology
Those that choose to obtain a PhD in General Psychology are usually individuals that have an interest in the more scientific side of psychology. These professionals usually have the same career options available to them as Clinical Psychologists, but are usually found more often in a laboratory or private setting than a clinical one. An example of a career option available to those with a PhD in General Psychology is a Rehabilitation Psychologist. These professionals seek to assist those that are addicted or were once addicted to substances or harmful behaviors be able to come clean and stay sober from whatever vice they are fighting to overcome. Individuals that seek a career in this field are usually very empathetic and fascinated by how the human mind functions.
7. Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
With a PhD in Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering, there’s a multitude of career options available. Radio and Satellite Communications are two very popular career paths for these professionals. Satellite Communications is a career in which an engineer does things such as ensuring a satellite is orbiting properly and collecting data from satellites. A Radio Communications engineer’s job duties includes maintaining and operating the electronics and broadcasting equipment that keeps radio stations on the air. This PhD field is usually chosen by those that are very technical and analytical.
8. Physics or Related Courses
With a PhD in General Physics, an individual will have many career options available to them in both a laboratory setting and in the public sector. The people that seek to obtain this degree are usually very analytical and are interested with the mechanics of the world. An example of a career option for these professionals would be a design engineer. A design engineer is tasked with researching and developing working ideas for new products and for the systems used to manufacture them. They also work to improve the performance and efficiency of existing manufacturing techniques. Another possible field for these individuals would be an optical engineer, which handles the process of manufacturing lenses, microscopes and telescopes and comes up with ideas for new ways to utilize these items.
9. English Language and Literature
A PhD in English Language and Literature you get todo a lot of things and this is why people would rather they chose studying this course any other Art related courses. Many professionals seek out a career in teaching at a collegiate level, however this is by no means the only career option available to them. These individuals could also seek out a career in technical writing, for example. A technical writer is someone who is responsible for creating journal articles or technical and instructional manuals, such as maintenance and operating instructions or various other documents that organizes highly complex material into a single document that can be easily understood, even by those that don’t have a background in the document material. This career path is usually sought out by those that love the written word, and who seek to instill others with a love for the written word.
10. Pharmacy
An early career Pharmacist with 1-4 years of experience earns an average total compensation (includes tips, bonus, and overtime pay) of ₦1,070,000 based on 48 salaries. A mid-career Pharmacist with 5-9 years of experience earns an average total compensation of ₦1,500,000 based on 13 salaries. The foregoing fact gives credence to the fact that Pharmacy as a PhD course should be among the list of most demanded PhD programs in Nigeria. Also, a pharmacist can do a PhD in Pharmacy and somehow qualify to be a doctor.
Other Very Important Courses on the List of Most Demanded PhD Programs are:
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Sociology
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Media Communication
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Accounting