Choosing a medical programme requires more than checking whether a university is licensed. Medicine and Surgery is a professional course, so the status and approved intake set by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria matter directly. This guide lists all 38 institutions shown in the MDCN schedule used for this review, including 32 fully accredited and 6 partially accredited programmes.
The list below is not a ranking of medical schools in Nigeria. It is a regulatory starting point. Accreditation status, student quota, university admission rules and teaching-hospital capacity answer different questions. Applicants should confirm the current MDCN position and the university’s current JAMB listing again before registration because professional-programme status can change.
Full List of MDCN-Accredited Medical Schools in Nigeria
| Medical School | State | MDCN Status | Quota |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abia State University College of Health Sciences | Abia | Full | 120 |
| University of Uyo College of Health Sciences | Akwa Ibom | Full | 50 |
| Nnamdi Azikiwe University College of Health Sciences, Nnewi | Anambra | Full | 100 |
| University of Maiduguri College of Medical Sciences | Borno | Full | 150 |
| University of Calabar College of Medical Sciences | Cross River | Full | 100 |
| Delta State University College of Health Sciences | Delta | Full | 50 |
| Ebonyi State University College of Health Sciences | Ebonyi | Full | 100 |
| University of Benin College of Medical Sciences | Edo | Full | 150 |
| Igbinedion University College of Health Sciences | Edo | Full | 75 |
| Ambrose Alli University College of Medicine | Edo | Full | 50 |
| University of Nigeria College of Medicine, Enugu Campus | Enugu | Full | 180 |
| Enugu State University of Science and Technology College of Medicine | Enugu | Full | 50 |
| Imo State University College of Medicine | Imo | Full | 50 |
| Ahmadu Bello University Faculty of Medicine | Kaduna | Full | 120 |
| Bayero University Faculty of Medicine | Kano | Full | 150 |
| University of Ilorin College of Medicine | Kwara | Full | 150 |
| University of Lagos College of Medicine | Lagos | Full | 150 |
| Lagos State University College of Medicine | Lagos | Full | 100 |
| Olabisi Onabanjo University Obafemi Awolowo College of Health Sciences | Ogun | Full | 75 |
| Obafemi Awolowo University College of Health Sciences | Osun | Full | 100 |
| University of Ibadan College of Medicine | Oyo | Full | 180 |
| University of Jos Faculty of Medical Sciences | Plateau | Full | 150 |
| Madonna University College of Health Sciences | Rivers | Full | 50 |
| University of Port Harcourt College of Health Sciences | Rivers | Full | 100 |
| Usmanu Danfodiyo University College of Health Sciences | Sokoto | Full | 100 |
| Ladoke Akintola University of Technology College of Health Sciences | Oyo/Osun | Full | 75 |
| Niger Delta University College of Health Sciences | Bayelsa | Full | 50 |
| Bingham University College of Health Sciences | Nasarawa | Full | 50 |
| Benue State University College of Health Sciences | Benue | Full | 50 |
| Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University College of Health Sciences | Anambra | Full | 50 |
| Bowen University College of Health Sciences | Osun | Full | 50 |
| Babcock University College of Health Sciences | Ogun | Full | 50 |
| Kaduna State University Faculty of Medicine | Kaduna | Partial | 50 |
| University of Abuja College of Health Sciences | FCT | Partial | 50 |
| Afe Babalola University College of Health Sciences | Ekiti | Partial | 50 |
| Gombe State University College of Health Sciences | Gombe | Partial | 50 |
| Ekiti State University College of Medicine | Ekiti | Partial | 50 |
| University of Medical Sciences, Ondo | Ondo | Partial | 50 |
The quota is the approved intake shown on the published schedule, not the number of people who will necessarily receive an offer through one admission route. A school may receive many thousands of applications for a small approved class. That gap explains why meeting a minimum UTME score is only the beginning of a competitive medical admission.
What Full and Partial Accreditation Mean for Medical Schools in Nigeria
Full accreditation indicates that the programme met the council’s applicable standards at the time of the decision and may train within its approved capacity, subject to continuing compliance. Partial accreditation is not the same as no recognition, but it signals conditions or limits that applicants should understand. Ask the university for the current position and look for a recent MDCN update.
Programme accreditation also differs from institutional approval. NUC licenses and regulates universities, while MDCN regulates undergraduate medical and dental education and professional registration. A university’s general appearance on an approved list does not automatically answer the current status of every professional programme it advertises.
Admission Requirements for Medical Schools in Nigeria
The standard academic foundation includes five O-Level credits in English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics, obtained within the sitting rule stated by the institution. The common UTME combination is Use of English, Biology, Chemistry and Physics. A candidate should still verify the exact institution in JAMB IBASS because special considerations and Direct Entry rules can differ.
Choose Medicine and Surgery at a university that lists the programme for the current admission cycle.
Meet the institution’s UTME and screening threshold, while remembering that final competition is usually higher.
Upload the correct O-Level result to JAMB CAPS and ensure all five required credits are visible.
Complete the university’s screening and any document-verification process within the deadline.
For Direct Entry, verify accepted A-Level, degree or related qualification and transcript requirements.
Use consistent personal data across JAMB, O-Level records and the university application.
How to Build a Realistic Medical-School Shortlist
For a related next step, compare federal universities in Nigeria. Use that guide only where it matches the decision you are making here.
Start With Programme Status and Quota
Remove any option whose Medicine and Surgery status cannot be confirmed. Then look at quota and historical competitiveness as context, not as a prediction. A larger quota may improve capacity but can attract more applicants. The important question is whether the candidate has a competitive profile and acceptable alternative programmes if Medicine does not work out.
Check Teaching-Hospital and Clinical Exposure
Medical training eventually depends on supervised contact with patients, laboratories, wards and clinical teachers. Ask which teaching hospital supports the programme, how clinical rotations are organised and whether there have been delays affecting recent cohorts. These questions are more useful than an unverified claim that one campus is the best.
Compare the Full Cost and Likely Duration
Medicine is a long programme with books, instruments, clinical clothing, transport, accommodation and professional expenses beyond tuition. Build a multi-year budget and ask about fee changes between pre-clinical and clinical levels. Families should also consider the cost of an interrupted calendar or an unplanned extra year.
Look at Student Support and Progression
Ask how anatomy, physiology and other demanding early courses are taught; what academic support exists; and how remediation works. Later, find out how students prepare for professional examinations, clinical placements and housemanship. A good answer should describe a system, not only celebrate exceptional graduates.
How Competitive Are Medical Schools in Nigeria
Medical admission is shaped by demand, published thresholds, screening performance, O-Level quality, quota and the admission policy that applies to the institution. A cut-off quoted on a blog may be a general eligibility score, a screening score or a final selection score. These are not interchangeable, so always identify the scale and source before comparing numbers.
Applicants should create three layers: preferred medical schools, other verified medical schools that fit the candidate’s score and budget, and acceptable related programmes. An alternative should be a course the student is genuinely willing to study, not a placeholder chosen only because an agent promises an easy transfer into Medicine later.
Documents and Checks Before Applying for Medicine
| Check | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| MDCN programme status | Confirms the professional training position at the time of review |
| NUC university and programme information | Confirms the degree-awarding institution and academic framework |
| JAMB IBASS listing | Shows current subject and institution requirements |
| O-Level upload on CAPS | Allows grades to be considered in admission processing |
| University screening notice | Controls deadline, fee, method and candidate instructions |
| Teaching-hospital information | Shows the clinical environment supporting the programme |
| Written fee schedule | Supports a realistic multi-year budget |
You can also review state universities before choosing a medical programme. That comparison helps prevent a rushed choice based on one advert or one score.
Common Mistakes When Comparing Medical Schools in Nigeria
Treating a university licence as proof that Medicine currently has full professional accreditation.
Using an old quota or status without checking the latest MDCN notice.
Confusing the general university cut-off mark with the final Medicine selection score.
Ignoring Physics, Chemistry or Biology requirements because a different science course has more flexible subjects.
Paying an agent who guarantees transfer from another course into Medicine after admission.
Building a tuition-only budget and overlooking clinical, accommodation and learning-material costs.
Frequently Asked Questions About Medical Schools in Nigeria
How Many Schools Are on This MDCN Schedule?
The schedule used here shows 38 medical programmes: 32 listed as fully accredited and 6 listed as partially accredited. Candidates should use the latest MDCN publication at the time of application in case the status or quota has changed.
Does Partial Accreditation Mean the Degree Is Illegal?
No. It means the programme’s status is conditional or limited under the council’s assessment. The applicant should obtain the most recent explanation from MDCN and the university and understand any effect on intake, training or progression.
What JAMB Subjects Are Required for Medicine?
Use of English, Biology, Chemistry and Physics is the standard UTME combination. O-Level requirements normally include English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Verify the chosen institution in IBASS before registration.
Before closing your shortlist, check private university options and ownership. It provides a useful cross-check without replacing the current official notice.
Can I Transfer Into Medicine After First Year?
Do not plan admission around an assumed transfer. Professional quotas, academic rules and available spaces make transfer difficult or unavailable. Choose another course only if you are willing to complete it.
Conclusion on Medical Schools in Nigeria
Use the table as a regulatory shortlist, then confirm the latest MDCN status, JAMB requirement, university screening rule and full cost. The strongest choice among medical schools in Nigeria is a programme whose recognition, capacity and clinical pathway can be verified and whose admission profile is realistic for the candidate.
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