Overview

The Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) programme has over the years transited from a 4-year Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) to a 5-year Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science (B.MLS) honours degree offered in many public and private Universities in Nigeria. This was necessitated by some inadequacies observed in the training curriculum and the need to build capacity at the undergraduate level to cater for advances in modern diagnostics and disease dynamics.

Philosophy

The broad philosophy of training in medical laboratory sciences are to Provide sound academic and professional background for the production of Medical Laboratory Scientists who would be capable of working anywhere in Nigeria. It is also aimed at producing Medical Laboratory Scientists who would satisfy internationally recognisable standards and who could undertake further training towards specialisation and Medical Laboratory Scientists with sufficient management ability to play a leadership role and entrepreneurship in employing others, establishing self, and also in training and general practice of laboratory sciences.

Objectives

The objectives of the bachelor honours degree programme in Medical laboratory sciences are to:

1. provide sound academic and professional background for the production of Medical Laboratory Scientists who would be capable of working anywhere in Nigeria;

2. instil in students a sense of enthusiasm for the profession; an appreciation of its application in different contexts (in areas such as general medicine, food and beverages, pharmaceutical industries, utility departments such as water corporations; research institutions and many others);

3. involve the students in an intellectually stimulating and satisfying experience of learning, studying and research;

4. provide students with a broad and balanced foundation of medical laboratory knowledge and practical skills; performing effectively in clinical diagnostic services, academics and quality assurance; and function independently or in collaboration with other members of the health team in the care of individuals and groups at all levels of health care;

5. develop in students, the ability to apply their medical laboratory knowledge and skills to the solution of theoretical and practical problems in laboratory medicine;

6. develop in students through an education in medical laboratory sciences, a range of transferable skills of value in medical and non-medical employment;

7. provide students with a knowledge and skills base from which they can proceed to further studies in specialised areas involving medical sciences;

8. To generate in students, an appreciation of the importance of medical laboratory sciences in an industrial, economic, environmental, health and social context;

9. generate students with the ability to produce biological and diagnostic reagents as well as being able to fabricate and maintain laboratory equipment; and

10. empower graduates of Medical Laboratory Sciences with skills that will enable them engage in income yielding ventures.

Admission and Graduation Requirements

The modes of entry are UTME and Direct Entry. To be admitted into the B.MLS programme the candidate must meet these entry requirements.

Admission Requirements

The B.MLS degree programme shall run for 5 years for Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination entry candidates and 4 years for Direct Entry candidates.

Five-Year Degree Programme:

In addition to appropriate UTME scores, five Senior Secondary Certificate (SSC) (or its equivalent) credit passes including Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English Language in not more than two sittings.

Direct Entry (DE)

Candidates of Allied Health Science disciplines with BSc in Biochemistry, Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology, Zoology, and candidates with GCE ‘A’ level with minimum of credit passes in Biology, Chemistry and Physics in addition to the above Senior Secondary Certificate (SSC) credit passes, may enter the Programme at 200 Level. Holders of Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) certificate of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria who have at least five Senior Secondary Certificate credit passes in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics and English Language (WAEC, NECO and NABTEB) at no more than 2 sittings are eligible for direct entry at 200 level. The medical laboratory technician already has an appropriate academic knowledge and skill in Medical Laboratory Science.

The B.MLS degree programme shall run for 5 years for UTME entry candidates and 4 years for Direct Entry candidates. The pass mark for core courses is 50%. The degree is a unclassified degree.

Graduation Requirements

Expected duration for UTME candidates shall be 5 years and students are required to pass a minimum of 160 units for the award of a bachelor’s degree in Medical Labouratory Science while for DIRECT entry students, expected duration for graduation shall be 4 years and candidates are expected to pass a minimum of 130 units which must include all compulsory courses.