NYSC + NERD Recent FAQs (2025 Update) 1. What is NERD Clearance or NERD Compliance? It means uploading your final-year project, thesis, or dissertation to the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD) and getting your institution and supervisor to verify it. The NERD Clearance Slip is proof that you’ve complied. ⸻ 2. Who must submit to NERD? All prospective corps members (PCMs) — university, polytechnic, and college graduates — whether trained in Nigeria or abroad. ⸻ 3. When did the NERD policy start? The policy took effect from October 6, 2025. From that date, no graduate will be mobilized or exempted by NYSC without proof of NERD compliance. ⸻ 4. What do I need to upload on NERD? •Your project, thesis, or dissertation (PDF format) •Signed certification page (with names of your supervisor, HOD, etc.) •Metadata: title, year, department, institution, supervisor’s name, etc. ⸻ 5. What file format and size is accepted? Only PDF is accepted. Large files should be compressed before uploading. ⸻ 6. What happens after I upload my work? Your submission goes through plagiarism/similarity checks, supervisor verification, and institutional approval. Once cleared, you’ll receive your NERD Clearance Slip with a unique deposit ID or QR code. ⸻ 7. Why do I need the NERD Clearance Slip? It’s proof of your NERD compliance. You’ll need it for NYSC registration, verification, and camp clearance. Without it, you won’t be mobilized. ⸻ 8. What if my school hasn’t joined NERD yet? Your institution must register and onboard to NERD. Until that happens, students may experience delays in mobilization — so push your school to activate its NERD portal. ⸻ 9. What if my project fails the plagiarism check? You’ll be asked to correct the flagged parts and resubmit. Approval is only granted after your supervisor confirms the revised version. ⸻ 10. Is this required for foreign-trained graduates? Yes. Every Nigerian graduate, whether local or foreign-trained, must submit their academic work to NERD before NYSC mobilization. ⸻ 11. Can old graduates still be mobilized without NERD? No. Even if you graduated years ago, you must upload your thesis or project if you’re being mobilized after October 6, 2025. ⸻ 12. How long does NERD approval take? It varies by school — but typically takes 3 to 14 days for verification and clearance. ⸻ 13. Will NYSC accept my registration without the slip? No. The NYSC registration portal will now block PCMs without valid NERD clearance. ⸻ 14. What if my metadata doesn’t match my school record? Any mismatch in name, matric number, or graduation details can cause your submission to be rejected. Always double-check your details before uploading. ⸻ 15. What is “similarity check” on NERD? It’s a plagiarism scan comparing your project to existing works. If your similarity score is high, your upload will be flagged for revision. ⸻ 16. Can I track my NERD submission status? Yes. The portal shows your progress: pending → under review → approved. Your clearance slip confirms final approval. ⸻ 17. How do I start the NERD upload process? Visit your school’s NERD portal or the official NERD platform, log in with your student details, and follow the upload steps provided.