Students who study Nursing Science at the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) pay a combination of an acceptance fee, a session fee, and several smaller charges for registration, identification, and practical training. The university does not circulate one universally agreed figure for the programme, and published amounts differ by session and by the items counted. This article explains what the charges cover, the ranges currently reported, and how to confirm the exact amount before making any payment.
Quick Summary of Nursing Science Fees at UNIABUJA
The figures below are reported estimates for Nigerian undergraduates. They are not an official quotation.
| Fee Item | Typical Reported Range (₦) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance fee | 20,000 – 50,000 | One-time, non-refundable, paid after an admission offer |
| Session fee, fresh students | About 150,000 – 200,000 | Programmes in health sciences sit toward the upper end |
| Session fee, returning students | About 80,000 – 100,000 | Excludes one-time items paid in first year |
| Sundry and service charges | Varies | Registration, ID card, medical, ICT, and similar items |
| Hostel accommodation | Varies by hall and room | Optional and allocated separately |
One commonly cited estimate places Nursing Science at about ₦150,000 for a fresh student’s session fee, which is consistent with the range above. The overall first-year cost is higher once the acceptance fee, sundry charges, uniforms, and equipment are added.
How UNIABUJA Fees Are Structured
UNIABUJA is a federal university, and Nigerian federal universities historically do not charge tuition to undergraduates who are Nigerian citizens. Instead, they collect a set of compulsory charges that together form the school fees. These charges cover items such as registration, examinations, library access, ICT services, medical care, student activities, and general maintenance.
The university publishes its fee schedule by category of student. Nigerian students pay one schedule, and non-Nigerian students pay a separate and considerably higher one. Within the Nigerian schedule, new entrants at 100 level and direct-entry level pay more than returning students, because first-year charges include one-time items. Programmes that rely on laboratories or clinical teaching, such as Nursing Science, Medicine, and Medical Laboratory Science, usually carry higher charges than classroom-based programmes.
Charges a Nursing Science Student Should Expect
Acceptance Fee
Every candidate who receives an admission offer pays an acceptance fee to confirm the place. The payment comes first, before the session fee, and it is not refunded. Admission notices state a deadline, and candidates who miss it risk losing the offer. Published amounts for the fee have varied from session to session, so the figure in the admission notice applies.
Session Fee
The session fee is the largest single payment. For fresh Nursing Science students, reported amounts cluster between ₦150,000 and ₦200,000. The amount is paid per session rather than per semester, so a student pays once at the start of the academic year.
Sundry and Service Charges
In addition to the session fee, students pay smaller charges set by the university and the students’ union. These include items such as student identity card production, departmental dues, and a modest annual adjustment to sundry charges. These are often a few thousand naira each, but they add up across a session.
Clinical and Practical Costs
Nursing Science involves skills-laboratory practice and supervised clinical placements in hospitals. Students buy uniforms, clinical attire, and basic equipment such as a stethoscope, blood pressure apparatus, a watch with a second hand, and a clinical bag. Some of these costs fall outside the official schedule, which is why students budget for them separately.
Professional and Regulatory Costs
Nursing graduates register with the professional regulator and sit licensing examinations. Indexing and examination payments go to the regulatory body, not the university, and the amounts are revised periodically. Students typically plan for these expenses in the later years of the programme.
Hostel Accommodation
University hostels are limited, and allocation depends on the housing office’s process. Students who do not receive a hostel space rent private accommodation around the Gwagwalada campus or in nearby areas, with prices varying by distance, room type, and facilities.
Fresh Students Versus Returning Students
| Category | What Is Paid | Relative Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh student (100 level) | Acceptance fee, session fee, registration and one-time items, sundry charges | Highest |
| Direct-entry student | Similar structure to fresh students, at the entry level | Similar to fresh |
| Returning student | Session fee and recurring sundry charges | Lower |
| Non-Nigerian student | Separate schedule with higher charges | Highest overall |
Returning students skip the acceptance fee and other one-time items, which is the main reason their yearly cost is lower.
UNIABUJA Nursing Science Versus Nursing Schools in Abuja
Prospective students sometimes confuse the university degree with programmes offered by schools or colleges of nursing. UNIABUJA offers the Bachelor of Nursing Science (B.NSc), a university degree. Separate institutions in the Federal Capital Territory, including hospital-based nursing schools, run basic nursing, midwifery, and post-basic programmes. These lead to different certificates, follow their own admission processes, and set their own fees. A fee quoted for one of these schools does not apply to the university degree, so students confirm which institution a figure belongs to before paying.
Estimated First-Year Cost
A realistic first-year budget extends beyond the official session fee. For a student who does not live in a university hostel, a planning breakdown looks like this:
| Budget Area | Planning Estimate (₦) |
|---|---|
| Acceptance fee | 20,000 – 50,000 |
| Session fee and sundry charges | 150,000 – 220,000 |
| Uniforms, clinical equipment, and textbooks | 50,000 – 150,000 |
| Feeding, transport, and personal costs | Varies by lifestyle |
| Accommodation | Varies |
These are planning ranges and not official amounts. Families comparing universities also consider the cost of living in the Abuja area, which is higher than in many other Nigerian cities and often exceeds the fee itself over a full session.
How to Pay UNIABUJA Fees
The payment process follows a consistent order for new students:
- Check admission status on the university’s admissions portal and save the admission letter.
- Pay the acceptance fee through the approved online channel and keep the receipt.
- Log in to the student portal, complete biodata, and generate the fee invoice for the session.
- Pay the session fee and related charges using the invoice reference through the approved payment platform or participating bank.
- Complete course registration, screening, and clearance, then obtain a matriculation number.
Students pay only through channels listed on the official portal. Transfers to personal accounts are a frequent source of admission-related fraud, and the university does not accept such payments.
Factors That Change the Final Amount
Several variables affect what a particular student owes. The academic session matters because fee schedules are reviewed from time to time. Level of study matters because one-time charges apply only in the first year, while clinical placements and induction items concentrate in later years. Entry mode, nationality, and late-payment penalties also change the total. Replacement of lost documents or identity cards adds incidental costs. The invoice generated on the student portal after biodata completion is the most dependable statement of what a student owes for a given session.
Ways to Manage the Cost
Students lower their expenses by paying within the stated deadlines to avoid penalties, applying early for scholarships and bursaries aimed at health-science students, and buying clinical equipment through second-hand or shared arrangements where the department allows it. Sharing rented accommodation reduces housing costs. Keeping every payment receipt matters, since the bursary asks for proof of payment during clearance and result processing.
How to Confirm the Current Fee
Because published figures vary, verification is part of the process. Students check the fee schedule on the university’s official website, ask the Bursary Department for the approved schedule for the current session, and confirm department-specific charges with the Department of Nursing Science. Admission letters also contain payment instructions, and the portal-generated invoice shows the exact amount owed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is UNIABUJA school fees for Nursing Science?
Reported fresh-student session fees fall between about ₦150,000 and ₦200,000, with an acceptance fee and sundry charges paid in addition. Returning students pay roughly ₦80,000 to ₦100,000.
Is tuition free at UNIABUJA?
Federal universities do not charge tuition to Nigerian undergraduates, but compulsory charges apply, and these together make up the school fees.
Is the fee paid per semester or per session?
The fee is paid per session.
Do Nursing Science students pay more than students in other courses?
Programmes with laboratory and clinical components generally cost more than classroom-based programmes, so Nursing Science sits toward the upper end of the university’s range.
Is the B.NSc the same as a programme at a school of nursing?
No. The B.NSc is a university degree. Schools of nursing run separate basic, midwifery, and post-basic programmes with their own fees and certificates.
Final Note
UNIABUJA Nursing Science fees consist of an acceptance fee, a session fee in the range of ₦150,000 to ₦200,000 for fresh students, and additional sundry, clinical, and equipment costs. Amounts differ across published figures and sessions, so the bursary’s current schedule and the portal invoice are the dependable confirmation. Prospective students plan for a first-year total at the upper end of the estimates and set aside funds for uniforms, clinical equipment, and living costs in addition to the official charges.