5 Most overhyped degrees in Nigeria (2025)

In today’s fast-evolving job market, degrees once viewed as a guaranteed ticket to success can leave graduates underemployed or forced to retrain. Rising enrolment has saturated certain fields while employers increasingly prioritize practical skills and demonstrable experience over academic credentials.

By recognizing which programmes are losing traction, prospective students can make choices that align with market demand and avoid costly detours.

Below are 5 degrees whose appeal outstrips their actual career prospects, along with the reasons they fall short.

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High numbers of graduates flood media and public relations job markets every year, yet available entry-level roles remain limited.

Traditional training focuses heavily on theory and print journalism, leaving many unprepared for digital-first content creation, driven marketing, and technical broadcast skills now sought by employers.

While the study of literature sharpens critical thinking the lack of direct vocational pathways makes it hard to translate into steady employment.

Overreliance on teaching roles or editorial positions in short supply drives many graduates to pursue additional qualifications in law education or digital publishing just to compete.

This field attracts ambitious students, but actual openings in foreign service embassies and international NGOs are extremely limited. Curriculum emphasis on theory often overlooks practical skills such as foreign language proficiency, policy analysis software, and grant writing that organisations require.

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Despite Nigeria’s vibrant entertainment industry, formal degrees in theatre arts rarely guarantee a sustainable career. Most actors, directors, and producers rely on on-the-job apprenticeships and networks outside academia.

Graduates often pivot to related areas such as media production, event management, or corporate training to find reliable work.

Understanding human behaviour is valuable, but local demand for sociologists and clinical  psychologists remains low, and licensure processes can be lengthy and costly.

Many graduates end up in generic administrative roles or complement their degree with certifications in counselling, human resources management, or market research to become employable.

By focusing on programmes that combine academic rigour with clear pathways to in-demand roles, students can avoid the disappointment and expense of pursuing degrees that no longer deliver guaranteed career outcomes.

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