The Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences (FBMS), Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu Alike Ikwo (FUNAI) was one of the three faculties established at the inception of the University on 3^rd November, 2011 while academic activities resumed in the Faculty during the 2012/2013 session.

Currently the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences (FBMS) is one of the three (3) Faculties established as part of College of Medical Sciences and other faculties include the Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences and the Faculty of Clinical Sciences based on the recommendations of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN). The Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences has three Departments namely, the Department of Anatomy, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Department of Physiology. In the meantime two of the Departments are offering B.Sc (Hons) degree programmes in Anatomy and Physiology respectively.

The Faculty also serve as the Pre-Clinical arm of the College of Medical Sciences that service the students of Medicine and Surgery programme with the Clinical arm at the Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital (AEFUTHA), Abakaliki, Ebonyi State-Nigeria.

With the establishment of the MBBS programme at AEFUNAI, the first year of study by both the B.Sc. (Hons) and MBBS students will receive lectures in courses in general studies as prescribed by the University and courses in general Sciences namely Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, Medical Genetics, and Medical Parasitology in the Faculty of Science. At the end of the first year of study which is designed to give the students a basic understanding of the scientific concepts in Medicine, students of B.Sc (Hons) and MBBS Programmes would begin the Basic Medical Sciences courses and trainings, available in the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences.

In line with the vision and mission of our University, the Faculty promises to uphold the principles of integrity and excellence by presenting a platform for life-long learning on the part of the students and a purely serene academic environment for quality research that will impact on the community for the development of the nation and the world at large.

The Vision is to be a bastion of renewable educational resources in the Basic Medical Sciences for undergraduate and preclinical students towards producing high quality and employable graduates.

The mission in keeping with the overall academic goals of AEFUNAI, the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences seeks to:

• Produce high quality graduates in the Basic Medical Sciences of Anatomy, Medical Biochemistry and Physiology.
• Contribute to the training of Medical Doctors and other paramedical professionals.
• Contribute to National development, self-reliance and unity through the advancement and propagation of knowledge in the field of Basic Medical Sciences

In line with the philosophy of AEFUNAI and Medical Education in Nigeria, the philosophy of the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences centers on the provision of sound background for the study of the gross and ultrastructure, functions, as well as chemical reactions within the living cells of the human body and how disruptions in structural, functional and metabolic processes in the body would clinically manifest as disease.

The Academic and Administrative structure of the Faculty which has the Dean as the head comprises of three (3) Departments namely Anatomy, Medical Biochemistry and Physiology each of which is headed by a Head of Department, and there is a Faculty Officer who serves amongst other roles, as the Secretary of the Faculty Board. The programmes of the Faculty domiciled in the Departments are highlighted.

DEPARTMENTS AND PROGRAMMES

1. Department of Anatomy:
   B.Sc Anatomy and MBBS programmes

2. Department of Medical Biochemistry:
   MBBS programme

3. Department of Physiology:
   B.Sc Physiology and MBBS programmes

B.Sc. PROGRAMMES

B.Sc. Programme (SECOND YEAR TO FOURTH YEAR)

Students for the B.Sc (Hons) Programmes in Anatomy and Physiology need an average score of 40% to proceed to the second year of study. Students who fail to obtain 40% in any course shall be required to carry over the course to the second year.

 COURSE OUTLINE FOR THE FIRST YEAR AND FACULTY COURSES

The Faculty operates the course credit system of study in the B.Sc. programmes as well as the Pre-clinical course of the MBBS Programme. The general University Regulations governing the award of Bachelor’s degree shall apply. The Faculty courses will be at 200, 300 and 400 levels. Each course shall have a course number and a course code of three letters common to all the courses in the Departments.

The first digit of the course number indicates the year of study in which it is taught, the second digit indicates the special area to which the course belongs within the Departments and the third digit specifically identifies the course. For instance, MBC 201 is a Medical Biochemistry course for second year of study and taught in the 1st semester. The third digits of first semester courses are conventionally designated with odd numbers while the second semester courses are designated with even numbers. Details of the Course outline can be found on the Handbook of the FBMS

FACULTY GUIDELINE FOR COURSE SYSTEM IN B.Sc PROGRAMMES

For the purpose of teaching and examinations, the academic year is divided into two semesters each of about sixteen weeks of teaching. The unit of credit for a course is the credit unit. One credit unit is when a class meets one hour every week for one semester in a lecture or tutorial or for 3 hours every week for laboratory practical/workshop/field work.

A three credit unit course is when a class meets three hours every week for one semester in a lecture or tutorial for that course. Every course shall be continuously assessed, and examined at the end of the semester in which it is given. The maximum number of credit units per semester shall be in line with the University General and Academic Regulations.

ACADEMIC ADVISERS

Every student shall be attached to an Academic Adviser who must be an academic staff and who will advise the student on academic affairs as well as on personal matters. Academic Advisers shall be expected to follow their students’ academic progress and provide counseling to them.

REGISTRATION OF COURSES

All students shall be required to register their courses during the first week of each academic session. Late registration attracts a surcharge as penalty. Students shall not be allowed to sit for examination in courses for which they have not previously registered.

CHANGE OF PROGRAMME OF STUDY

A student shall not normally be allowed to change courses until he/she has completed the first academic session in the present Department. This change must be on a duly completed change of course form from the Registrar’s office.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS FOR B.Sc. AND MBBS PROGRAMMES

Regular Entry through the Joint Matriculation Board

All candidates seeking admission into any first degree programme in the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences should in addition to meeting the minimum cut-off for the Faculty in JAMB, possess at least a credit pass in English and Mathematics and in the three core courses in Science namely Physics, Chemistry and Biology at one sitting in WAEC or NECO or SSCE. The applicant must have passed English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology at acceptable standard in UTME or Pre-degree examination.

 DIRECT ENTRY ADMISSION

• All candidates seeking for direct entry admission into Medicine and Surgery programme in the Faculty must in addition to possessing at least credit pass in English and Mathematics and in the three core courses of the Faculty (Physics, Chemistry and Biology) in one sitting acquire at least B.Sc. 2nd class upper in any Biological Science course or any allied health science course.
• Candidates with HSC or London A/L GCE or JUPEB seeking for direct entry to Medicine and Surgery must possess B level passes in the three core subjects-Physics, Chemistry and Biology in one sitting.
• Candidates seeking for direct entry to any of the B.Sc. Programmes must possess GCE A/L with at  least C level pass in each of the three core subjects-Physics, Chemistry and Biology. In addition to having at least a credit pass in English and Mathematics and in the three core courses of the Faculty (Physics, Chemistry and Biology) in one sitting, candidates for Direct Entry must possess a National Diploma in Science Laboratory Technology, Medical Laboratory Technology or related courses from an approved Polytechnic or equivalent institution recognized by the Senate of AEFUNAI.

DEPARTMENTS

• Anatomy 
• Physiology 
• Medical Biochemistry