Skip to content
National Universities Commission (NUC) has directed all Nigerian universities to discontinue with ongoing Higher National Diploma (HND) to Bachelor of Science conversion and top-up degree programmes, with immediate effect.
NUC regulates tertiary education in Nigeria.
The directive, which reportedly takes effect from the 2025/2026 academic session, has already been implemented by several universities, including Kwara State University and Al-Hikmah University, both of which announced the suspension of admissions into their top-up and conversion programmes.
While the NUC is yet to issue a comprehensive public explanation for the directive, reports suggest the move may be connected to ongoing reforms in Nigeria’s polytechnic education system, including discussions around converting polytechnics into degree-awarding institutions.
In a statement signed by its Registrar, Dr Kikelomo Sallee, Kwara State University said the discontinuation was in compliance with regulations issued by the NUC, the agency responsible for regulating university education in Nigeria.
“This is to inform the public that Kwara State University, Malete, will discontinue its Top Up/HND Conversion programme from the 2025/2026 academic session,” the university stated.
The institution further disclosed that the NUC would later provide directives regarding students currently enrolled in the programme.
Similarly, Al-Hikmah University announced the immediate suspension of admissions into its top-up degree programmes, adding that all undergraduate admissions would henceforth be processed strictly through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
The development marks a major policy shift in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector, where HND conversion programmes had become increasingly popular among polytechnic graduates seeking university degrees to improve employment opportunities and overcome the long-standing disparity between HND and BSc holders.
The conversion programmes, offered by several public and private universities, provided a pathway for HND graduates to obtain bachelor’s degrees through one- or two-year academic programmes.
The NUC has not yet clarified the status of students currently undergoing conversion studies or whether transitional arrangements would be introduced for affected candidates.
