National Open University Of Nigeria, NOUN: All You Need To Know

The National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN, was established in July 1983, by the then President, Alhaji Shehu Shagari.

Before the institution could take up fully, it was suspended in 1984 by the military government that took over. But 19 years later in 2002, the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo resuscitated the program.

Since then, the National Open University had grown to become the biggest University in the country in terms of the number of students. It now has almost 200, 000 students around the country.

Structure and Philosophy of National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN.

The National Open University of Nigeria is structured as an open and distance learning institution, ODL. This means, the University is open to any eligible student.

The biggest selling point of NOUN, and other institutions like it around the world is that you don’t have to be present on a physical campus to study. Students can study from any location.

The advantages of this method of Education are obvious:

• Easier access to tertiary education to people
• Matured students who cannot go to school because of work and family commitment now have the means to further their education
• The flexibility of the academics means students can pace their studies to suit their lifestyle and schedule
• It is cheaper than regular institutions

Mode of Academic instructions At NOUN

At the National Open University of Nigeria, there is minimal physical contact between students and lecturers. In an ideal distance learning scenario, contact between the two groups is practically non-existent.

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But the need to ensure students get comprehensive training has led to the establishments of study centers around the country.

At NOUN, these are the primary means students have access to education:

1. Printed Materials

This is the major mode of instruction of any distance learning institution. Each course in the school has a study material written specifically with students in mind.

Students are expected to buy and have them delivered to their location through preferred means. It could through courier services or by post. Students could also go to administrative offices of NOUN close to them to obtain the study materials.

2. Audio – video study packs

Some of the study materials are converted to audio/video tapes and files that can be played over and over again. They are complementary study options to the printed materials.

3. CD-ROMS

The importance of using CD-ROMS as a mode of delivery of instructional materials cannot be overstated. Large amounts of study material (both audio and video) can be stored on a disc.

They also have the advantage of being small and portable and can be played anywhere there is a CD-ROM player.

4. On air on TV and Radio

The law establishing NOUN makes provision for lectures to be delivered through TV and Radio stations. But it is doubtful if the institution has explored this mode of teaching yet.

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5. Online learning

With the advancement in technology especially the Internet, online teaching would increasingly become a major means of teaching at NOUN.

For now, the NOUN iLearn program is the how students around the country engage with lecturers and other students online.

Faculties

The National Open University of Nigeria has 9 academic faculties. These are faculties of:

1. Access and General Studies
2. Agricultural Sciences
3. Arts
4. Education
5. Health Sciences
6. Management Sciences
7. Sciences
8. Social sciences
9. Postgraduate School

Admission requirements

1. New students wishing to study at NOUN must have at least 5 credits at SSCE/GTE O Level, NECO/NABTEP or equivalent. The 5 credits, which should include English and Maths, must be obtained at no more than two sittings.

2. Direct entry students wishing to start at 200 levels must have the following requirements

• National diploma at upper credit from an accredited institution
• National Certificate of Education with a minimum of one merit and one pass
• Interim Joint Matriculation Board (IJMB) with at least two ‘A’ Level papers and a prerequisite number of O Level credits passes.

3. For postgraduate programs at both Master’s and Doctorate degree levels, the full admission requirements information can be found here.

How to apply

The usual method of application is online at the application portal. Just click on the portal and you would get the comprehensive NOUN application guidelines.

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NOUN school fees

The school fees of National Open University of Nigeria vary depending on one’s chosen faculty. Also, the school fees can be adjusted from year to year by the University Senate/ board.

Currently, the fees are as follows:

• Undergraduate New Students  – N41, 000
• Undergraduate returning Students (1st semester)  – N23, 000
• Undergraduate returning students (2nd semester) – N13, 000
• Postgraduate New Students  – N40, 000
• Postgraduate returning students (1st semester) – 23,000
• Postgraduate returning students (2nd semester)  – 13,000
• Ph.D. New students – N244, 000

Visit the official fees page for a breakdown of individual items you need to pay as school fees,

NOUN Study Centers

There are about 51 study centers around the country to complement the services of the administrative headquarters in Lagos and Abuja.

Check this link to see the location of the study center close to you. The study centers are locations for students to get lectures for tutors and obtain study materials.

The study centers are also venues for exams that require the use of pen and paper.

Fun Fact: Former President Olusegun Obasanjo is one of the most famous alumnus of NOUN. He has a Master’s degree in Christian Theology from the school.