UTME: Five high-demand undergraduate courses to consider .

The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced the commencement of this year's application for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.

So many secondary school leavers have the erronous believe that any department is good inasmuch as the person that studies it is good in his games; I may not refute that though. No academic discipline is better than the other as it is said but the truth is that some are better placed that the others in terms of job availabilities and entrepreneurial opportunities. 

In this article, I will be writing on some of the best and most high-demand courses you should consider in your applications. These courses pose broader opportunities and provides easier access to a successful career especially for those who are building from the scratch.

"I went to school, studied hard, made distinctions in almost all the courses I offered. I graduated as one of the top three students in my department. Six years after, my life was as if I never went to school. I could not get a reasonable job while the junior students I coached into other disciplines graduated, was highly placed and I watch them do wonders. It was not a failure in my my career but a failure in my choice of course"

 

Six high demand courses for your undergraduate studies.

1. Medicine.

Medicine and all medical related disciplines have maintained its high ranking positions as one of the best courses in the world both in global placement, job opportunities, entrepreneurial opportunities and prestige. There was never a graduate of medicine who lived without a job or found in the street struggling to eke out living. Even in the face of Artificial Intelligence which has gone on a spree, taking up people's jobs, the work of medical professionals cannot be replaced by AI. 

The only challenges here is that these courses are highly capital intensive, requires full-time dedication and high level of intelligence.

To qualify for admission, applicants may have to possess at least 5'Olevel credit pass in English language, mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics.

Some of the medical disciplines to consider includes:

• Medicine and surgery 
• Medical laboratory sciences 
• Radiography or medical imaging 
• Pharmacy 
• Nursing Science 
• Dental therapy/surgery 
• Public Health &
• Optometry.

UTME subject combination: 

• English language 
• Biology 
• Chemistry 
• Physics 

2. Engineering 

Engineering degrees are said to be pure skills and entrepreneurial certifications. Getting a degree in any  engineering disciplines will place you better than your peers in the labour market. Most engineering students start making their money from their second year in the university.

"Tola left his parents to the university to study electrical/electronics  engineering. He had family scuffles that made him never visited home for years. After year two in the university, he was attached to a company for his industrial training, coming back with a lot of experiences. St  300level  he got his first contract for house wiring in an estate. He bought his first car and house as a 400L student "

High-demand Engineering courses to consider:

• Civil engineering 
• Electrical/electronics engineering 
• Computer/software Engineer 
• Biomedical Engineering 
• Aircraft/automobile engineering 
• Petroleum and petrochemical engineering
• Aeronautics and other related disciplines 

3. Law

The third in my ranking is law. Getting a law degree is also another way of making the best use of your university education opportunities. Law is a global demand career especially when commuting between countries that have similar judicial systems. There must always be a need for lawyer's services either in sorting out legal disputes, immigration, property rights, criminal cases and even in businesses. 

As a lawyer, your competence is the only self  advertisement needed to get to the top. On graduation, holders of law degrees can be employed as legal aids to individuals, organizations and agencies and as well have the opportunities to stand for someone in a court of law for a fee.

To get admitted for this degree in any Nigerian university, applicant must possess at least five O' level credit pass in English, mathematics, literature, government, Economics, one Nigerian language, 

4. Cyber security.

Following the global shift to online based activities in businesses, administration, banking, defense and other sectors, there has been a tremendous increase in the number of cyber attacks and hence, the need to protect the online space.

Getting a degree in cyber security places you in a global market. It is one of the most sort after careers in US, UK, Russia, Nigeria and many other countries.

The O level and UTME requirements for this courses are similar to those of engineering degrees.

5. Banking & Finance/Economics. 

Banking business is one of the most profitable businesses with lowest risks. Banks will always be in need of workers as marketers, cashiers, customer care, advertisement or for administrative works. Bank workers are well paid even though getting bank job is not as as easy as the disciplines listed earlier.

It will take approximately four years of classroom training and field experiences to bag a bachelor's certification in banking and finance and economics. This services will always be needed in organizations and agencies as long as they exist. 

5. Architecture/Building Technology.

Making architectural designs and building has been a very profitable and growing career from the rock ages. It is the only discipline that which will remain golden for all ages  

Getting a degree in architecture and building technology has similar O level and UTME subject requirements as those of engineering degrees. 

Students of architecture start making their fortunes from the very second year in the university depending on the student's abilities to master design softwares like ArchCAD and AutoCAD and their ability to make great designs.

Graduates of this discipline work for national and state agencies and as well for private companies and estate firms.

Avoid general sciences like the pure chemistry, physics, mathematics, biology. Studies have shown that most graduates of these departments end up without a good job after their undergraduate education for longer period of time while many end up with career switch or may apply for second degrees in other departments. It will be encouraged if you have aspirations for teaching careers. 

Nigeria and most African countries lack the presence of highly equiped industries, laboratories and research centers for graduate of chemistry, physics and biology. However, they are still top ranking careers in western countries. 

In our next post, I will provide with you the necessary guidelines to each of the disciplines with possible global earning potentials. 

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