“Without mathematics, there’s nothing you can do. Everything around you is mathematics. Everything around you is numbers.” – Shakuntala Devi
Do you love maths so much that you would like to study it at a university in Nigeria? Are you looking to do a maths degree after your secondary school education?
Mathematics is a subject no Nigerian student can escape. It is a compulsory subject from the primary to the secondary level of education. If a student loves the subject and wants to continue in it, they can further their education by getting a maths degree at the university level.
However, whether a student decides or not to further their education at the university level, mathematics is a subject they must sit for and pass to study for any other degree they desire.
You will hardly find a Nigerian university that does not offer mathematics as a degree. There are a handful of students that apply to study mathematics every year. Though many students see mathematics as a not-so-easy subject, many still love it and offer it as a degree at the university level.
If you want to study mathematics at the university level, go for it.
Mathematics is vital for our everyday activities. We cannot buy and sell without doing a form of maths. Knowledge of mathematics, and its complexities, can help in almost every career.
Students who want to study mathematics as a degree must take the subject seriously and pay attention while in school.
In this article, we will look at the subjects students should offer at the secondary school level of education w if they want to study maths at university, how they can apply to BSc Maths degree courses and the decisions they need to make when choosing an undergraduate programme.
Studying Maths At Secondary School
At the secondary school level of education in Nigeria, mathematics as a subject isn't optional. All students must attend maths classes and pass the exam. All universities in Nigeria require that students must have at least a credit in maths before applying to study any course.
Mathematics is one of the compulsory subjects a student must write in the senior school certificate examination (WAEC, NECO, GCE). A student must get a minimum of five credits in these examinations to further their studies at the higher institution.
If any student fails maths in their senior school exams, they will have to resit for the exams if they want to further their studies at the university level.
The knowledge students will get in secondary will help them with their maths degrees at the university level.
In addition to being part of the entry requirements for your university degree, you have to know the basic stuff before you can move to more advanced concepts.
Maths at the secondary level prepares students and gives them the foundation they will need to study maths at a higher institution. Every university's module in Nigeria assumes students have completed their curriculum at the senior school level.
Students will notice that many of the courses under the maths degree will be related to what they learn at secondary school. It is why a student who wants to study maths at the university level should pay attention while classes are going on in their secondary school.
A student should only study maths with a strong foundation in algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and calculus.
If a student is having difficulties in some areas of mathematics, they should seek private help outside their school hours. You can get a maths tutor on Superprof to help you in any area of mathematics and to prepare you for your senior school certificate examination (WAEC, NECO, GCE).
Studying Physics At Secondary School
Math and physics are two closely related fields. Students are to offer physics as one of their subjects in secondary school if they want to study maths at the university level.
Universities like to see students interested in maths and mathematical concepts, and physics is arguably the science with the closest relationship to mathematics.
Physics is one of the JAMB requirements for a student who wants to study maths at the university level. Of course, without sitting for the JAMB examination, a student will not gain admission to any state or federal university of their choice.
By studying physics at the secondary level, a student will be able to prove to admissions boards that not only do they understand maths, but they can also apply the concepts in practical and theoretical situations.
Art or commercial student can hardly study mathematics at the university level. Maths is a science-related subject. The knowledge you get in other science subjects like physics and chemistry will help you with your maths degree at the university.
Studying Further Mathematics At Secondary School
Further mathematics is termed "Advanced Level Mathematics". This mathematics is not compulsory for secondary school students. However, for students who want a maths degree, it will help them. Studying further Mathematics is excellent preparation for a degree in Mathematics.
Further Maths is for students who love maths, many of whom will study degrees like maths, engineering, the sciences and economics. Studying further maths will help students develop conceptual, manipulative and advanced mathematical skills in these fields.
There is a belief among students that further mathematics is not easy, but it is not the truth. For maths lovers, it is a broader knowledge of the subject.
Many mathematics scholars will advise students to take it as one of their subjects at the secondary level. The subject introduces a wide range of pure and applied content, such as matrices and complex numbers.
If you look at the WAEC Further Mathematics Syllabus, you will notice that it has similar topics to what a university curriculum for mathematics covers.
Further maths is not a jamb requirement for students who want to study maths at the university. However, the knowledge you would have gotten at the secondary level will make studying mathematics easy.
Applying For Maths Degrees Through JAMB
Mathematics is a compulsory subject at the secondary school level because of its utility in society. It is why JAMB made it a requirement for students who want to study for any degree at a higher institution.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is a Nigerian entrance examination board for tertiary-level institutions. They conduct the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination for prospective undergraduates to study at Nigerian universities.
Students wishing to study at a university in Nigeria need to apply through JAMB. They conduct the examination that determines whether a student will gain admission to higher education. A student has to sit and pass the examination as part of the requirements for the university of their choice.
The board deliberates on the cut-off mark for universities after conducting the exam yearly. Your JAMB score and your POST UTME score will determine the cumulative score that a university will use to decide your candidacy for admission.
The 4 JAMB subject combination for Mathematics are:
- English
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Chemistry
However, before a student can write JAMB, they must have passed the senior school certificate examination (WAEC, NECO, GCE). You should also note that each university has its requirements. A student has to read through each university's requirements to know the core subjects for the five credits.
The required senior school certificate examination (WAEC, NECO, GCE) for Mathematics is usually:
- Mathematics
- English Language
- Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Further Mathematics (At least three of any)
- A trade subject
Make sure you visit the website of JAMB and the universities in Nigeria to get all the information that will help your application process to study mathematics.
Selecting The Right University To Study Maths
Nigerian students are allowed to consider one or two universities for JAMB. There are spaces for four institutions. Yet, you're limited to two universities at most, while others can be other forms of higher institutions, for example, polytechnics.
All students need to be smart about which universities and courses they choose.
Some of the things you should consider while choosing a university are:
Cost
You have to consider the school fees. Asides from school fees, you have to consider your living expenses in the school. You think about money as some towns and cities are more expensive than others.
Career
Some schools are best known as being the best universities for studying mathematics in Nigeria. You have to do your research to apply to the best school that will help your career in mathematics.
Entry Requirements
You have to check the university's entry requirements to know if you have all that will be needed for your application process.
Location
You need to consider the location you'll be studying and not just the university. Make sure the four years of your studies are in a town or city you like.
The Social Aspect
We advise you to enjoy your time at university, and the social aspect is a big part of it. Meeting new friends and places is part of socializing.
All the above are just food for thought while considering the universities for your maths degree. The most important information is that you are happy with your choice and have done the necessary research before applying to study at universities across the 36 states in Nigeria and the federal tertiary of Nigeria.
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