10 Marketable Courses to Study in Nigerian Universities

This list of marketable courses is not based on hard data but on observations. Note also that this is not based on who earns the highest salary, but who has potential to earn a decent income with his degree. Remember, the operative word here is potential.

List of Marketable Courses to Study in Nigerian Universities

Before they are listed, it must also be stated that because a course is marketable doesn’t mean it should take the place of that course you’re more passionate about because some factors are much more important in making the decision. Note that the courses are listed in no particular order. Here we go:

Petroleum Engineers are employed by oil or gas companies to design, test and implement efficient methods to extract petroleum products from the earth and sea floor. Photo Credit: Engineers Journal

1. Chemical/Petroleum Engineering

Chemical and Petroleum Engineering have the potential to fetch you really fat pay checks after graduation because the companies that ask for them are those that pay heavily – the oil companies.

2. Estate Management/Architecture/Building/Survey/Civil Engineering:

A degree in any of these courses places you in a good position for self-employment. Even from school, architecture students make money drawing plans for people. We consider these courses the one of the most marketable courses in Nigeria.

3. Medicine

Medicine may not earn you N500k per month at entry level, but it is the course that guarantees you job the most. The pay may not be as heavy as the Chemical engineering guy in the oil company, but you are quite guaranteed of a better-than-average income as a doctor. Medicine is always high on the list of marketable courses. 

Medical doctors will always be in high demand as far as health care is concerned. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

4. Computer Science/Computer Engineering/IT courses

IT professionals and Computer science grads are in hot demand the world over. Nigeria is not different. With special IT skills, your chance is even brighter. The downside is, anybody can learn IT skills, even if he doesn’t study computer engineering.

5. Geology

Geology is also a course that places you in good position to penetrate the much-sought-after oil industry.

6. Economics/Accounting/Finance

The good thing about Economics is that it fits into many roles. One downside with Accounting degree alone is that without professional qualifications, the first degree alone is not usually so helpful. So, it is advisable for the accounting graduate to do the needful and take professional examinations after his degree. 

Finance is another great course. The three courses, sometimes alongside Management and Business Administration, are usually in hot demand, although supply still exceeds demand when it comes to labour and many graduates of these courses are still without employment.

The primary task of accountants, which extends to all the others, is to prepare and examine financial records. Photo Credit: Botswana Youth Magazine

7. Mechanical, Electrical and Other Related Engineering Courses

Engineering courses such as Mechanical Engineering generally sell in the oil and gas industry. In addition, other courses like Electrical and Electronic Engineering are also sought for in other major industries.

8. Nursing/Laboratory Science

Nurses don’t earn mouth-watering pay, but they are hardly ever jobless. Nurses change jobs like clothes. Hospitals and clinics – private and public – are springing up everyday, and a medium size clinic needs at least four Nurses. Some may have as much as 20 nurses. Same goes with Lab scientists, although in lower demand. Nursing and Laboratory Science, therefore make the list.

9. Law:

Maybe the supply is fast outstripping demand and affecting pricing, law seems to have declined in economic value compared to the past. However, it remains a top course especially in the corporate world.

Whether you decide to practice or go into corporate world, or you decide to go into allied things like real estate agency, you still stand a decent chance of earning a really decent income with a Law degree.

Law remains a top course especially in the corporate world. Photo credit: MadameNoire

10. Mass Communication/Journalism

Mass Communication will remain a marketable course because not many universities in Nigeria do it, but many institutions need it. The downside is, journalism is not exclusive to Mass Comm graduates, as graduates of almost any course are recruited by news and media companies. Yet, the course still stands a decent chance.

Credit: Jarushub