Entry requirements for Nigeria

Our entry requirements will vary depending on your level of study, the course you are interested in and your English language proficiency.

Foundation courses

If you have graduated from the national high school system, you may be required to successfully complete an International Foundation Year before entering our undergraduate courses.

Undergraduate courses

You will be required to have the Senior School Certificate combined with a successfully completed International Foundation Programme from a reputable institution to be considered for admission on to our bachelor's degree courses.

Alternatively, if you hold the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, West African GCE A-levels or British A-levels or you have successfully completed an OND or HND or you have successfully completed the first year of a Nigerian bachelor's degree, you may be considered for admission to the first year of our undergraduate courses.

Postgraduate taught courses

You will be required to have a good bachelor's degree (usually minimum 2.1) from a recognised institution to be considered for admission on to a master's degree. In some cases, a good 2.2 bachelor's degree may be acceptable.

Postgraduate research courses

There are a number of possible entry routes to our postgraduate research courses. We will consider applicants who have successfully completed a Masters from a recognised Nigerian institution.

In some cases, we will consider applicants who only have a Bachelor's degree (minimum Second Class, Higher Division), although applicants may be required to complete a Master's course at Cardiff University prior to embarking upon PhD studies.

English language

Whilst Nigeria is, of course, recognised as an English-speaking country, for the purpose of complying with the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) rules, we are asking that students demonstrate their English language abilities. We are constantly reviewing our admissions systems, whilst also abiding by the changes in UK entry laws.

For entry to our undergraduate programmes, the WAEC or IGCSE can be considered at the appropriate grade, in lieu of IELTS. However, due to recent changes, if you are applying for a Foundation Course, you will be asked to sit an IELTS qualification, in order to qualify for your visa to study in the UK.

To find out more about the scores required in the WAEC or IGCSE examinations and our English language requirements, please visit our English language requirements page.

Please don't hesitate to contact us should you have any further questions about this.