most lucrative medical courses in Nigeria..
The top 20 most lucrative medical courses in Nigeria are highlighted and discussed in this post.
The medical field is one of those fields that provide those aspiring to become a certified health practitioner with various courses to major in, at the end of this post, you would learn about the top 20 most lucrative medical courses in Nigeria that you can major in. You can read more about those referred to as health practitioners HERE
Admittedly the most popular medical courses are medicine & surgery, pharmacy, and nursing, this is understandably so because they are mostly at the front of every medical affair and were seen almost every time the need for medical help comes up in the public, little did we know that there are other important health practitioners who work hand in hand with these popular ones which in turn makes their work easier and becomes effective.
Here, you are going to learn about these medical courses and we will provide you with an insight on the top most lucrative medical courses in Nigeria that you can study in higher institutions, you will also be provided with some tips on how you are going to successfully complete these courses as well as their utilization after studying.
Table of Contents
What is a medical course?
The medical course is a term used to describe any course that is related to health sciences. This of course is not limited to medicine and surgery but includes every other health-related course that is listed below.
The General Niche for Medical Courses.
All medical courses are solely created and aimed at preserving lives and maintenance of good health for every living thing. This summarily tells and classifies all health practitioners to belong to one particular niche which is the health sector.
The health sector is an important niche in every community setting and deserves every accolade attached to it by the general public. As a medical student aspiring to work in this sector upon graduation from a higher institution, you can visit the Nigerian medical association’s official website to become a member of the medical students association in Nigeria.
List of all Accredited Medical Courses in Nigeria
Below are the complete lists of accredited medical courses in Nigeria:
- Anatomy
- Biochemistry
- Dentistry
- Dental technology and therapy
- Medical laboratory science (M.L.S)
- Medicine and surgery
- Nutrition and dietetics
- Nursing
- Optometry
- Pharmacy
- Pharmacology and therapeutics
- Prosthesis and osteopathic technology
- Physiotherapy
- Physiology
- Public health technology
- Radiography
- Veterinary medicine
Top 5 most lucrative medical courses
Putting into consideration the top 5 most lucrative medical courses in Nigeria among all of these accredited medical courses in the country, in accordance we have:
- Medicine and surgery
- Dentistry
- Nursing
- Pharmacy
- Medical laboratory sciences (M.L.S)
1. Medicine and surgery
This is the most popular medical course, it is as well top of the list in the most lucrative medical courses in Nigeria, it is a very lucrative course anywhere in the world and there is no gainsaying about that if the right measures are taken. It primarily is a 6years course in the higher institution and it embodies some other medical courses as well, this is because it cuts across varying disciplines that are related to studying and understanding human bodies and their functions. This profession requires you to be a compassionate and considerate being anyways, it is not one of those courses you decide to study because you found out about its high-paying status.
If your dream is to become a medical doctor and to earn some good pay with your profession, then this is the right course for you to apply for when you are seeking admission into higher institutions, you will be equipped with the required disciplines that will qualify you to be a certified medical doctor upon graduation.
- Prospective Salary: Starting salaries range from ₦150,000 to ₦300,000 monthly, increasing significantly with experience and specialization.
- Duration of Study: Typically a 6-year program (5 years in the university and 1-year internship).
- Job Availability: Graduates have high employability in hospitals, clinics, and private practice.
2. Dentistry
This is another high-paying and one of the most lucrative medical courses in Nigeria. Dentistry is a medical course that deals with the treatment of teeth and every other mouth-related disease, It is a medical course that cuts across other medical disciplines such as microbiology and pharmacology, they work with the accumulated knowledge of these disciplines in delivering their duties.
There has always been a looming argument among medically-oriented students about the most lucrative and most respected course among dentistry and MBBS, the truth about this, in reality, is that they both are unique in their own respective manner, dentists sometimes earn almost as much as medical doctors and sometimes more, a dentist can create a clinic and provide medical care for patients, they also can discharge their duties by applying to work in a hospital.
- Prospective Salary: Starting salaries range from ₦120,000 to ₦250,000 monthly.
- Duration of Study: Usually a 5-year program in the university.
- Job Availability: Dentists can work in dental hospitals, clinics, or set up private practices.
3. Nursing
Nursing is also one of the top 5 most lucrative medical courses in Nigeria as well, although it is a course that many Nigerians believed is limited to females only, this is because there obviously are more females nurses in our hospitals than males, nurses use the scientific skills and knowledge, individual tenderness and kind personalities to help patients return their health back to normalcy, they, in other-words are skilled in the preservation of lives and health maintenance.
Nursing is of course not restricted to only females or one particular gender, there are countless male nurses around the world as well, so you should not feel alone if you are a male reading this post and aspiring to study this course, it is a very lucrative and interesting course, and you definitely are almost guaranteed of getting employed upon graduation as there are a lot of job opportunities that come with the course.
- Prospective Salary: Starting salaries range from ₦80,000 to ₦150,000 monthly.
- Duration of Study: Bachelor’s degree programs often take 4 years to complete.
- Job Availability: Nurses are in demand in hospitals, clinics, and healthcare settings.
4. Pharmacy
They sell drugs, right? Common, that’s not entirely true about pharmacists as it is a profession that covers more scopes than just the selling of drugs. Pharmacy is the science that deals with the preparation, administering, and dispensation of drugs, they make research to understand the causes and effects of every disease, this helps them to come up with the discovery of the needed drugs to cure such diseases.
It is in no doubt another course to be listed among the most lucrative medical courses in Nigeria as well as you don’t necessarily need to wait to be employed by hospital owners before you start practicing your skills, it is a very business-related profession, you can decide to set up a macro or micro pharmaceutical store for yourself and start attending to patients there.
- Prospective Salary: Starting salaries range from ₦100,000 to ₦200,000 monthly.
- Duration of Study: Typically a 5-year program in the university.
- Job Availability: Pharmacists find employment in hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, or pharmacies.
5. Medical laboratory sciences (M.L.S)
Medical laboratory scientists major in the mechanism of human body fluids. The fact that no hospitals, laboratories, medical biotechnology companies, and their likes can successfully operate without the knowledge of lab scientists makes the course one of the most important and most lucrative medical courses to study not just in Nigeria but the world at large.
This course comes with a lot of job opportunities and good pay in and outside Nigeria. Laboratory scientists perform different kinds of tests on blood samples, urine, stool, cerebrospinal fluids, to mention a few amongst numerous of them.
- Prospective Salary: Starting salaries range from ₦80,000 to ₦150,000 monthly.
- Duration of Study: Typically a 5-year program including internship.
- Job Availability: Graduates work in laboratories, research institutions, or hospitals.
Considerations before choosing any of these most lucrative medical courses
Students do not always tend to look at the bigger pictures before applying for any of these most lucrative medical courses in Nigeria, once they hear it pays good money, most believe it guarantees them a wealthy life and without a second thought sign up for it, that’s not good enough.
It is a necessity that you really possess the required approach and have a natural flair for some of the above-listed courses before agreeing to study them, it’s not always just about the money but practicing what you naturally enjoy doing leaves you in greater happiness than you bargained for in the long-run, so, be sure you love it before signing up for it. I hope that sinks well?
Is Medicine Better than Dentistry, Which Course is the Most Lucrative?
Overtime, A lot of students find themselves arguing about the supremacy of medicine over dentistry or otherwise, they base these arguments on varying points some of which includes:
- The most sought after among between the two courses.
- Which of the courses is the hardest to study and excel with excellent grades.
- The most relevant course in the real world.
- The salary and chances involved in earning extra income.
- And sometimes the capital involved in setting up a place to work after graduating from the university.
Well, to put an end to this needless comparison, it is necessary for every student to understand that there is no basis to getting richer than anybody in life, regardless of your profession.
While both dentistry and medicine are very lucrative truly, considering the impact and relevance of both courses in our daily lives, it is important to note that they may not necessarily be the most lucrative medical courses in Nigeria.
All medical courses are hot cakes and none can be underrated.
Above, is an illustration of the rate at which medical professionals are required in 2020 in the United States, So each medical profession is lucrative, but it differs based on location and some other factors.
Whatever one you love and are interested in, go after it because it’s worth it.
Other Valuable Medical Courses in Nigeria
6. Physiotherapy
- Prospective Salary: Starting salaries range from ₦100,000 to ₦180,000 monthly.
- Duration of Study: Often a 4-5 year undergraduate program.
- Job Availability: Physiotherapists find employment in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, or private practice.
7. Radiography
- Prospective Salary: Starting salaries range from ₦90,000 to ₦160,000 monthly.
- Duration of Study: Typically a 4-5 year program.
- Job Availability: Radiographers work in hospitals, diagnostic centers, and research institutions.
8. Optometry
- Prospective Salary: Starting salaries range from ₦100,000 to ₦180,000 monthly.
- Duration of Study: Usually a 5-year undergraduate program.
- Job Availability: Optometrists work in eye clinics, hospitals, or can establish private practices.
9. Medical Rehabilitation/Physiotherapy
- Prospective Salary: Starting salaries range from ₦80,000 to ₦150,000 monthly.
- Duration of Study: Usually a 4-5 year program.
- Job Availability: Professionals work in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, or private practice.
10. Veterinary Medicine
- Prospective Salary: Starting salaries range from ₦100,000 to ₦200,000 monthly.
- Duration of Study: Typically a 5-6 year program.
- Job Availability: Veterinarians work in veterinary hospitals, farms, or government agencies.
11. Anatomy
- Prospective Salary: Starting salaries range from ₦70,000 to ₦120,000 monthly.
- Duration of Study: Generally a 4-year undergraduate program.
- Job Availability: Graduates can pursue careers in research, academia, or healthcare.
12. Physiology
- Prospective Salary: Starting salaries range from ₦70,000 to ₦120,000 monthly.
- Duration of Study: Typically a 4-year undergraduate program.
- Job Availability: Opportunities exist in research, academia, or healthcare sectors.
13. Public Health
- Prospective Salary: Starting salaries range from ₦80,000 to ₦150,000 monthly.
- Duration of Study: Usually a 4-year undergraduate program.
- Job Availability: Professionals work in government agencies, NGOs, or healthcare organizations.
14. Medical Genetics
- Prospective Salary: Starting salaries range from ₦80,000 to ₦150,000 monthly.
- Duration of Study: Typically a 5-6 year program.
- Job Availability: Employment opportunities in research, hospitals, or genetics counseling.
15. Epidemiology
- Prospective Salary: Starting salaries range from ₦90,000 to ₦160,000 monthly.
- Duration of Study: Typically a 4-5 year program.
- Job Availability: Opportunities in research, public health, or government agencies.
16. Health Information Management
- Prospective Salary: Starting salaries range from ₦70,000 to ₦120,000 monthly.
- Duration of Study: Usually a 4-year undergraduate program.
- Job Availability: Work in hospitals, healthcare organizations, or government agencies.
17. Biomedical Engineering
- Prospective Salary: Starting salaries range from ₦90,000 to ₦160,000 monthly.
- Duration of Study: Typically a 5-year undergraduate program.
- Job Availability: Opportunities in hospitals, research institutions, or medical equipment manufacturing companies.
18. Dietetics and Nutrition
- Prospective Salary: Starting salaries range from ₦70,000 to ₦120,000 monthly.
- Duration of Study: Usually a 4-year undergraduate program.
- Job Availability: Work in hospitals, clinics, or food and beverage industries.
19. Medical Biochemistry
- Prospective Salary: Starting salaries range from ₦70,000 to ₦120,000 monthly.
- Duration of Study: Generally a 4-year undergraduate program.
- Job Availability: Employment in laboratories, research institutions, or academia.
20. Forensic Science
- Prospective Salary: Starting salaries range from ₦80,000 to ₦150,000 monthly.
- Duration of Study: Typically a 4-5 year program.
- Job Availability: Work in forensic laboratories, law enforcement, or government agencies.
Conclusions- Most Lucrative Medical Courses in Nigeria
All medical courses are actually lucrative and they all are very important and demanding, we believe you found answers to your questions in this post anyways, you can drop your views and questions in the comment section below. your views and questions will be attended to. Thank you.
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I want to ask a question
Is it better to study medicine and surgery and after that you study dentistry or just study dentistry direct. I am asking because I was told that it is better to study medicine and surgery then dentistry because it will give one opportunity to jobs faster i.e being a medical doctor and also being a dentist
Hi Enyo!
Dentistry and Medicine&Surgery are two different courses that require maximum commitment and a lot of time to study. You can always go for a second degree(Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in any of the courses) if you would like to increase your job opportunity.
So, if your most preferred course of study is dentistry, it is okay to go study directly dentistry, and you go ahead to earn a second degree in it, to boost your chances of landing a job easily and making your profession more lucrative.