One of the questions asked by most people who intend to pursue postgraduate programmes in Nigeria is, “Can I study postgraduate programmes before, during, or without NYSC?”. And whenever they ask this question, they get several contradicting answers, like yes and no, which will only leave them confused and sometimes frustrated.
The NYSC is an important scheme for all youth graduates who are not more than 30 years old at their year of graduation from an accredited institution. The aim of this scheme is to foster national unity, and just to make sure all youths partake in it, many organisations and institutions made the NYSC certificate a mandatory requirement for jobs, admission, and more.
Presently, the NYSC certificate is now one of the eligibility criteria for many institutions that run postgraduate programmes like masters, PGD, PhD and more in Nigeria. But even at this level of importance, most people still wonder if it’s still possible to pursue a postgraduate programme before, during, or without NYSC.
In today’s article, I will be providing a clear answer to this question, and I promise that by the end of this article, you won’t have any reason to be confused anymore. To make things understandable, I will be answering the question in the order below.
- Can I study postgraduate programmes without NYSC?
- Can I study postgraduate programmes before NYSC?
- Can I study postgraduate programmes during NYSC?
Can I Study Postgraduate Programmes Without NYSC?
No, you cannot study postgraduate programmes without NYSC. All institutions in Nigeria now require NYSC certificate or exemption letter before you can be able to register for any of their postgraduate programmes, and without having this certificate or exemption letter, you are automatically ineligible. Now how about studying postgraduate programmes before NYSC? Is it actually possible? Let’s find out.
Can I study Postgraduate Programmes Before NYSC?
No, you cannot pursue a postgraduate programme before NYSC. If you cannot study postgraduate programmes without NYSC, then definitely you can’t do it before NYSC. And lastly, can you study postgraduate programmes during NYSC? Let’s find out.
Can I Study Postgraduate Programmes During NYSC?
No, you cannot pursue a postgraduate programme during NYSC. I know most of you might be thinking you might be able to study a postgraduate programme while serving because you have started already, but it’s not possible. You will need your NYSC certificate before you can be able to pursue any postgraduate programmes, which can only be obtained after completing your 1 year of service.
Is There Any Other Way To Study A Postgraduate Programme Without NYSC?
The only way you can study postgraduate programmes without NYSC is when you decide to do it abroad. This is because institutions abroad don’t require you to have an NYSC certificate before you can be allowed to study any of their postgraduate programmes. But as far as Nigeria is concerned, you cannot pursue a postgraduate programme without having either an NYSC certificate or an exemption letter.
What If I Am Not Eligible To Serve? Does That Mean I Can’t Study Postgraduate Programmes In Nigeria?
There are situations whereby some people aren’t eligible to serve due to their age or degree. If you are in this situation and you intend on doing your master’s, you can get what we call an exemption letter, which is proof that you aren’t eligible to serve. This exemption letter can also be used in place of the certificate for your postgraduate programme registration.
Is There Any Institution In Nigeria Where I Can Still Study A Postgraduate Programme Without NYSC?
No, all institutions presently require you to have an NYSC certificate before you can be able to register for their postgraduate programs. However, this was possible a few years back in several institutions like UNILORIN and more, but as the years passed by, they all made the NYSC certificate or exemption letter compulsory.
So in conclusion, it’s impossible to pursue any postgraduate programs in Nigeria without having NYSC certificate or exemption letter unless you decide to study abroad. If you intend on studying a postgraduate programme in Nigeria, just be patient enough to complete your NYSC, get the certificate, and then you can now proceed. And if you aren’t eligible to serve, you can get the exemption letter, which is also acceptable by many institutions that run postgraduate programmes.
