If you want to study medical laboratory science in Nigeria, you may wonder: which faculty houses this course?
Some people think it belongs to medicine, while others see it in science. The truth is different universities place it in different faculties.
Is Medical Laboratory Science part of Medicine?
No. In many Nigerian universities, medical laboratory science is not inside the Faculty or College of Medicine.
Instead, it is in a separate faculty focused on laboratory or basic medical science.
For example, the University of Ibadan’s program is in the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, under the College of Medicine.
Similarly, UNILAG College of Medicine offers a BMLS under its Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, not in clinical medicine.
Which faculty houses Med Lab at the University of Nigeria, NSUKKA?
UNN, Nsukka includes medical laboratory science in its Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology.
The Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences is under this faculty, separate from the Faculty of Medicine.
Is Med Lab under science or health faculty?
It is usually under a health‑applied faculty. Many universities treat medical lab science as a health science, not pure science.
The University of Nigeria Nsukka places it in its Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology.
The University of Calabar lists the Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science clearly among its faculties.
What departments exist in this faculty?
Departments vary by school, but all share core lab disciplines:
- Clinical Chemistry
- Haematology & Blood Transfusion
- Medical Microbiology
- Histopathology and Cytology/Immunology
For instance, Rivers State University’s Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science includes exactly these four departments.
Can I find a Med Lab in the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences?
Yes. University of Ibadan’s program is a perfect example.
The Department of Biomedical Laboratory Sciences sits under the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences in the College of Medicine.
So if lab science is present in that faculty, it offers full honors BMLS degrees.
In which faculty is Med Lab at Ladoke Akintola University?
At LAUTECH, Medical Laboratory Science is part of its Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences.
That faculty includes related departments like Medical Biochemistry, Haematology, Physiology, etc., along with Medical Lab Science.
Is there a standalone Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science?
Yes. Some universities like the University of Calabar and Rivers State University have a dedicated faculty.
The University of Calabar lists the Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science among its faculties.
Rivers State University also maintains a separate Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science with its dean and several departments.
Can I study Med Lab in the College of Medicine?
Often, the course is run by the College of Medicine but placed in the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences within the college, for example: the University of Ibadan.
So yes, you study it in the College of Medicine, but under a non‑clinical faculty inside that college.
This differs from the Faculty of Clinical Sciences which trains doctors.
How it works in four universities
- University of Ibadan
- College of Medicine → Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences → Dept. Biomedical Laboratory Sciences.
- University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN)
- Faculty of Health Sciences & Technology → Dept. of Medical Laboratory Sciences.
- University of Calabar
- Standalone Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science.
- Rivers State University
- Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science with Clinical Chemistry, Haematology, Microbiology, Histopathology.
Why this matters for students
Knowing the faculty helps you understand application routes. For example, JAMB UTME subjects vary by faculty.
If it’s in Basic Medical Sciences, you’ll share classes with Biochemistry, Physiology, etc.
Medical lab science leads to lab roles, manufacturing, instrumentation, and research, different from clinical doctors or pharmacists. This will help you know your career direction.
Medical Laboratory Science in Nigeria is not part of the Faculty of Medicine that trains doctors.
Rather, it sits in faculties like Basic Medical Sciences, Health Sciences & Technology, or in its own faculty. Which one depends on the university.
But in all cases, it is a recognized, full‑time honours degree (BMLS or BSc MLS), studied over five years.
You will study core lab branches like chemistry, hematology, microbiology, and pathology.