KWASU, Al-Hikmah University among institutions halting top-up admissions as uncertainty grows for affected students nationwide
The National Universities Commission (NUC) has directed universities across Nigeria to immediately discontinue Higher National Diploma (HND) to Bachelor of Science (BSc) conversion and top-up degree programmes.
Following the directive, several universities have begun announcing the suspension of admissions into the programmes, a development that has sparked concerns among polytechnic graduates seeking university degree qualifications.
Among the institutions that have officially confirmed the suspension are Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, and Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin.
In a public notice, KWASU stated that its Top-Up/HND Conversion programme would be discontinued starting from the 2025/2026 academic session in compliance with regulations issued by the NUC.
The university explained that further directives regarding students currently enrolled in the programme would be communicated by the commission at a later date.
Similarly, Al-Hikmah University announced the immediate termination of admissions into all top-up degree programmes, stressing that future undergraduate admissions would only be processed through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
The institution also warned members of the public against dealing with unauthorized individuals or groups promising admissions outside approved procedures.
The decision marks a significant policy shift in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector, particularly for polytechnic graduates who relied on conversion programmes to upgrade their qualifications and improve career opportunities.
While new admissions have been suspended, uncertainty remains over the fate of students already undergoing HND-to-BSc conversion studies, as the NUC is yet to release comprehensive guidelines on the matter.
The commission has also not publicly disclosed the reasons behind the nationwide discontinuation of the programmes.
