How NUC Licensing Works for Nigerian Universities and Why It’s So Important

Think of how literally every profession and industry is regulated. A fintech company cannot legally operate without approval from financial regulators. A lawyer cannot practise without being called to the bar. A doctor needs a medical licence before treating patients. A hospital must be authorised before it can provide healthcare. These licences and approvals exist for certain reasons in society, and it works the same way in higher education through NUC licensing.

In Nigeria, no institution can legally operate as a university or award degrees without approval from the National Universities Commission (NUC). This approval process, or NUC licensing, ensures that a university has the requirements in place before admitting students.

Understanding how NUC licensing and programme accreditation work helps you avoid unrecognised institutions and protects your academic future. This guide explains the process in simple terms and shows why NUC approval should be one of the first things you check before choosing a university.

What Is NUC Licensing?

The National Universities Commission (NUC) is the regulatory body that oversees university education in Nigeria. No institution can legally operate as a university or award degrees without NUC approval.

NUC licensing confirms that a university:

• -Meets national education standards
• -Has qualified academic staff
• -Has proper facilities or learning systems
• -Has adequate funding and governance structure
• -Can deliver approved academic programmes

It’s important to note that degrees from unlicensed universities are not officially recognised in Nigeria.

NUC’s Historical Role and Why It Was Established

The National Universities Commission (NUC) was first created in 1962 as an advisory body within Nigeria’s Cabinet Office. It was later made a statutory agency under the Federal Ministry of Education in 1974, giving it legal authority to regulate, coordinate, and develop the university system in Nigeria.

NUC’s core purpose is to ensure that university education in Nigeria is orderly, coordinated, and of acceptable quality. To achieve this, it:

• -Sets and enforces minimum academic standards for universities.
  
• -Licenses new universities before they can operate.
  
• -Accredits individual academic programmes to ensure quality and relevance.
  
• -Advises the government on higher education policy, financing, and manpower needs.

NUC was established because, as Nigeria’s population and demand for higher education grew, there was a need for a central regulatory authority to maintain standards, protect students, and prevent the proliferation of substandard institutions that could award degrees without merit.

Challenges Caused by Unlicensed or Illegal Universities

Before and even after the formal licensing regime, Nigeria has struggled with illegal and unlicensed institutions operating as “universities” or degree mills:

• -In one investigation, the NUC uncovered 32 institutions operating illegal honorary doctorate degree schemes, including four unlicensed local universities and several foreign diploma mills, highlighting how fake institutions can mislead students and employers.
  
• -In earlier crackdowns, NUC identified and shut down at least 58 illegal universities and study centres that were offering degrees without approval. Certificates from these institutions were explicitly stated to be unrecognised for NYSC, employment, or further study.

These unlicensed entities harm students and the Nigerian education system by:

• -Awarding degrees that are not recognised by employers, postgraduate programmes, or NYSC.
  
• -Undermining confidence in Nigerian university qualifications.
  
• -Misleading students into paying tuition for worthless credentials.

This history underscores why NUC licensing matters; it protects students, employers, and national credibility.

Who Needs NUC Licensing?

NUC licenses all categories of universities in Nigeria:

• -Federal universities
• -State universities
• -Private universities
• –Open and distance learning universities

Private universities go through the most detailed licensing process before they can begin operations.

Step-by-Step: How NUC Licensing Works

Step 1 — Letter of Intent

University promoters submit a formal written application to the National Universities Commission (NUC) expressing their intention to establish a university. This includes the proposed name, mission, ownership structure, and basic plans.

Step 2 — Interview of Prospective Proprietors

NUC conducts interviews with the founders or promoters to understand their vision, capability, financial backing, and commitment to running a university in line with national standards.

Step 3 — Collection of Application Forms

NUC provides official application forms to the promoters, which capture detailed information about academic plans, governance, staffing, funding, and facilities.

Step 4 — Submission of Application Forms and Relevant Documents

Promoters return completed forms along with supporting documents, such as curriculum proposals, infrastructure plans, staffing schedules, funding sources, and governance frameworks.

Step 5 — Intensive Document Review

NUC experts in relevant departments carefully examine all submitted documents to ensure they meet minimum national standards. This covers academics, staffing, facilities, finance, and governance.

Step 6 — Document Revision by Promoters

Based on NUC’s Directorate of Establishment of Private Universities (DEPU) report, promoters revise their submissions to address any identified gaps or deficiencies.

Step 7 — Interactive Meeting with DEPU

NUC’s DEPU team meets with the promoters to discuss the revised documents, clarify issues, and provide guidance to ensure the proposal is fully compliant with licensing requirements.

Step 8 — First Site Assessment Visit

NUC inspectors visit the proposed university location to verify available facilities, infrastructure, and learning resources. For online universities, virtual platforms and digital infrastructure may also be evaluated.

Step 9 — Finalisation of Documents

After the first site visit, promoters finalise all documentation to confirm that everything matches the standards and requirements specified by NUC.

Step 10 — Second (Final) Site Assessment Visit

A follow-up visit is conducted to verify that all required improvements have been implemented and that the university is ready for provisional operation.

Step 11 — Security Screening of Proprietors and Board of Trustees

Security agencies perform background checks on promoters, founders, and the Board of Trustees to ensure financial integrity, legal credibility, and ethical standing.

Step 12 — Approval by NUC Management

NUC management reviews all findings and recommends whether the institution meets the requirements for licensing.

Step 13 — Approval by the NUC Board

The NUC Board formally evaluates the proposal and management recommendation, giving final regulatory approval for provisional licensing.

Step 14 — Approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC)

The final step is obtaining formal authorisation from the Federal Government through the FEC, after which the university receives a provisional licence to begin admitting students and running approved programmes under NUC supervision.

Provisional Licence Issued

The university can now legally admit students and operate while continuing to meet NUC standards.

What Is a Provisional University Licence?

A provisional licence means the university:

• -Can operate legally
• -Can admit students
• -Is monitored closely by the NUC
• -Must continue meeting quality benchmarks

NUC continues to evaluate performance even after operations begin.

University Licensing Stats: Growth, Private vs Public, and Online/Distance Education

Over the past few decades, Nigeria’s university sector has grown rapidly under NUC regulation:

• -As of February 2026, Nigeria has 309 licensed universities in total. Among them, 168 are private, 74 are federal, and 67 are state universities.
  
• -The rapid growth of private institutions has transformed the sector: from 49 universities in 1999, including just 23 private ones, to over 300 today, with private universities now accounting for over half of all universities in Nigeria.

This expansion reflects both demand for higher education and the role of private and open/university models in increasing access. While not all of these licensed universities are exclusively online, the rise in private and open/university models shows a trend toward more flexible and diverse delivery modes in Nigerian higher education.

NUC Programme Accreditation vs University Licensing

Many people often confuse programme accreditations and university licensing, both by NUC, but they are different.

University Licence

Allows the institution itself to operate.

Programme Accreditation

Approves each specific course or degree programme.

For example:
A university may be licensed, but its:

• -Computer Science programme
• -Accounting programme
• -Nursing programme

must each receive separate NUC accreditation.

How NUC Accredits University Programmes

For an individual university programme to be accredited, NUC checks each of them based on:

• -Curriculum quality
• -Lecturer qualifications
• -Student–staff ratio
• -Laboratory and learning resources
• -Assessment standards

Programmes may receive:

• -Full accreditation
• -Interim accreditation
• -Denied accreditation

Why Does NUC Approval Matter for Students?

Choosing an NUC-licensed university ensures:

• -Your degree is recognised
• -You are eligible for NYSC (mobilisation or exemption)
• -Employers accept your certificate
• -You can pursue postgraduate study
• -Your education meets national standards

How Do You Check if a University Is NUC-Licensed?

Students can verify whether a university is licensed by:

• -Checking the official NUC university list
• -Looking for NUC licensing announcements
• -Confirming programme accreditation status
• -Visiting the university’s regulatory disclosure page

Is Miva Open University Licensed by the NUC?

Miva Open University received its NUC licence in May 2023, making it a legally recognised degree-awarding institution in Nigeria. This means the university itself meets national requirements to operate, admit students, and run programmes under NUC supervision. Currently, programme accreditation is underway, with courses undergoing the accreditation process.

Whether you’re looking to earn a bachelor’s or postgraduate degree, Miva provides flexible, affordable online learning designed for the modern learner. Apply today and be part of Miva’s vibrant student community of over 20,000 enrolled learners.

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