The University of Lagos (UNILAG) is a federal university, and like other federal institutions in Nigeria, its tuition fees stay far lower than what private universities charge. What most students actually need to plan around is not tuition in isolation but the full package of charges: acceptance fee, faculty dues, accommodation, and other one-time charges that come with fresh admission. This article breaks down UNILAG school fees for the 2026/2027 academic session across all levels and course categories, and explains what new and returning students should expect to pay.
How UNILAG Groups Its Fees
UNILAG does not price every course individually. Instead, tuition is grouped into two broad categories:
- Courses without laboratory or studio requirements — these include most Arts, Social Sciences, law, Management Scisocial sciences,tion programmes.
- Courses with laboratory or studio requirements—these include sciences, engineering, environmental sciences, medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, and other programs that involve practical sessions, equipment use, or studio work.
Courses in the second category cost more per session because laboratory materials, equipment maintenance, and practical supervision add to the running cost of the programme. This two-tier structure is the main factor that determines how much a student pays, rather than the specific department or faculty name.
Undergraduate Tuition Fees
For the 2026/2027 academic session, undergraduate tuition at UNILAG generally falls within a modest range compared to private universities. Courses without lab or studio work sit at the lower end of the scale, while lab-based and studio-based courses sit slightly higher. Nursing, which involves both laboratory and clinical components, falls on the higher end of the undergraduate fee scale. Since UNILAG is a federal university, any major change to this fee structure typically follows government-level review, so the figures stay relatively stable from one session to the next, with only small adjustments when they occur.
The table below summarizes the general tuition bands students should expect.
| Category | Approximate Fee Per Session |
|---|---|
| Courses without lab/studio (Arts, Law, Social Sciences, Management Sciences, Education) | ₦126,325 |
| Courses with lab/studio (Sciences, Engineering, Environmental Sciences) | ₦176,325 |
| Nursing and related clinical-based programmes | ₦176,325 |
| OND (full-time, School of Foundation Studies / diploma-level programmes) | ₦25,000 – ₦50,000 |
| OND/HND (part-time programmes) | ₦60,000 – ₦80,000 |
These figures reflect tuition only. Additional compulsory charges apply on top of this base tuition, and these are covered in the next section.
Compulsory Charges For Fresh Students
New students admitted into UNILAG pay a set of one-time charges in addition to their tuition. These typically include:
- Acceptance fee — paid immediately after an admission offer is confirmed, to secure the student’s place in the programme. This fee is separate from tuition and must be paid within a few weeks of the offer being made.
- Departmental and faculty dues — charges specific to the student’s department, often covering identity cards, handbooks, and departmental activities.
- Library and ICT charges — a standard fee that gives students access to library resources and the university’s digital learning platforms.
- Medical fee — covers access to the university’s health centre for the academic session.
- Sports and student union dues — smaller recurring charges tied to student activities and representation.
Returning students generally pay less than freshers each session, since the one-time charges tied to fresh admission, such as the acceptance fee and certain departmental dues, do not apply again once a student has been fully registered.
Postgraduate School Fees
UNILAG’s postgraduate programmes run through the School of Postgraduate Studies (SPGS) and cover Postgraduate Diplomas, Master’s degrees, MBA and Executive MBA programmes, and PhD programmes across all faculties. Postgraduate fees vary far more widely than undergraduate fees, since they depend heavily on the specific programme and its demands.
Programmes in Education, such as Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) and M.Ed., tend to sit at the lower end of the postgraduate fee scale. Business-related postgraduate programmes, particularly the MBA and Executive MBA, sit at the higher end, with the Executive MBA being one of the costliest postgraduate offerings due to its flexible scheduling built for working professionals. Specialized professional postgraduate programmes in Law, such as dispute resolution and arbitration-focused degrees, also carry higher fees than the standard Master’s programmes.
Postgraduate applicants also pay a one-time, non-refundable application fee through the SPGS portal at the point of applying, along with an acceptance fee, prospectus fee, and initial departmental charges once admitted. Returning postgraduate students pay mainly tuition and recurring charges, without the one-time fresher charges attached to first registration.
Hostel Accommodation Fees
On-campus accommodation at UNILAG is limited, and demand consistently exceeds the number of available bed spaces. Priority is generally given to first-year and final-year students, while most students in the middle years end up sourcing accommodation off campus in areas surrounding the university, such as Yaba, Akoka, and Bariga.
Hostel fees differ depending on the campus. Undergraduate hostels on the main Akoka and Yaba campuses charge a lower accommodation fee, while the Idi-Araba campus, which houses the College of Medicine, charges a higher accommodation fee. Students who secure on-campus accommodation should also budget for a caution deposit and any hall-specific charges that may apply, since these amounts can differ slightly from one hall to another.
Fees For International Students
International students admitted into UNILAG pay significantly higher tuition than Nigerian students, since federal university subsidies apply primarily to citizens. International student fees are typically billed in foreign currency, and depending on the course of study, tuition can run into thousands of dollars per academic session. Students applying from outside Nigeria should request the specific international fee schedule for their intended course directly from the admissions office, since this differs considerably from the domestic fee structure covered above.
Payment Method And Structure
UNILAG fees are paid electronically through the university’s student portal. The general process works as follows:
- Log in to the student portal using the registration or matriculation number.
- Generate a Remita Retrieval Reference (RRR) for the exact amount due.
- Complete payment through any commercial bank, USSD code, or approved online payment channel.
- Confirm that the portal reflects the payment as successful before proceeding to course registration.
UNILAG generally expects full payment of tuition and charges before a student can complete course registration and sit for examinations. While a few departments have occasionally allowed limited flexibility in special circumstances, there is no widely publicized instalment plan for undergraduate fees, so students should plan to pay in full ahead of each session’s deadline. Late payment typically attracts a penalty charge, and continued non-payment can lead to withheld results or, in persistent cases, risk to the student’s continued registration.
Scholarships And Financial Support
UNILAG students have access to a number of scholarship opportunities from government agencies, corporate organizations, and the university itself, along with student loan programs offered through partnerships with financial institutions. Students who need support beyond these options often combine part-time work, family support, and early scholarship applications to cover the full cost of their education, which includes tuition, accommodation, feeding, textbooks, and transport, not tuition alone.
Why UNILAG Fees Stay Comparatively Low
As a federal university, UNILAG receives government subvention that keeps its tuition well below what private universities charge for similar or even less competitive programmes. This is why a course like Medicine, which can cost several million naira per session at a private university, remains within a modest range at UNILAG. This affordability is one of the reasons UNILAG remains one of the most heavily subscribed universities during JAMB admission each year, alongside its academic reputation and its location within Lagos.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is UNILAG school fees for a new student? New students pay tuition based on their course category (with or without lab/studio), plus a set of one-time charges including the acceptance fee, departmental dues, and other compulsory charges, bringing the total slightly above the base tuition figure.
Does UNILAG allow instalment payment of school fees? No formal instalment plan is widely available for undergraduate students. The standard expectation is full payment before course registration, though some departments may permit limited flexibility in special cases.
Is on-campus accommodation guaranteed at UNILAG? No. Hostel accommodation is limited and highly competitive, with priority generally given to first-year and final-year students. Many students in other levels live off campus.
Are UNILAG fees the same for all courses? No. Fees are split mainly into two categories: courses without laboratory or studio requirements, and courses with laboratory or studio requirements, with the latter costing more per session.
Do international students pay the same fees as Nigerian students? No. International students pay a significantly higher, separately structured fee, usually billed in foreign currency depending on the course of study.