The University of Abuja (UNIABUJA), also known as Yakubu Gowon University, is a federal, dual-mode institution located in Nigeria’s capital city. It runs both conventional full-time programmes and distance learning options through its Centre for Distance Learning, and its course offerings span agriculture, the arts, education, engineering, environmental sciences, law, management sciences, the pure sciences, social sciences, veterinary medicine, and the health and clinical sciences. This article lists the courses and faculties available at UNIABUJA and gives a full breakdown of what freshers and returning students can expect to pay per session.
Faculties and Colleges at UNIABUJA
UNIABUJA organizes its academic programmes across several faculties and two dedicated colleges for health-related training. Understanding this structure helps prospective students identify where their intended course sits and what kind of fee bracket it is likely to fall into, since fees at UNIABUJA vary significantly by faculty.
- Faculty of Agriculture — covering Agricultural Economics and Extension, Animal Science, Crop Science, Soil Science, Food and Nutrition Science, and Water Resources, Aquaculture and Fisheries.
- Faculty of Arts — covering language, literature, and humanities-based programmes.
- Faculty of Education — covering education-focused degree combinations across various teaching subjects.
- Faculty of Engineering — covering the standard engineering disciplines available at the university.
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences — covering programmes such as Architecture, Estate Management, Urban and Regional Planning, and related environmental disciplines.
- Faculty of Law — running the LL.B. programme.
- Faculty of Management Sciences — covering Accounting, Business Administration, and related management-focused courses.
- Faculty of Sciences — covering the pure and applied sciences such as Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, and Computer Science.
- Faculty of Social Sciences — covering Economics, Political Science, Sociology, Mass Communication, and related disciplines.
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine — running the veterinary medicine training programme.
- College of Health Sciences — comprising the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences and the Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences.
- College of Medicine — comprising the Faculty of Clinical Sciences, based at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital in Gwagwalada.
Each faculty houses multiple departments, and a prospective student should check the specific departmental listing under their faculty of interest to confirm that their exact intended course is currently running, since UNIABUJA periodically reviews and updates its full list of approved programmes.
UNIABUJA School Fees for Freshers (100 Level)
Fresh students at UNIABUJA pay a fee that varies by faculty and department, generally falling between roughly ₦96,500 and over ₦230,500 per session depending on the specific programme. As with most federal universities, courses that require laboratory access, clinical training, or specialized equipment sit at the higher end of this range, while general arts, education, and social science courses sit closer to the lower end.
| Faculty Group | Approximate 100-Level Fee (per session) |
|---|---|
| Arts, Education, and general Social Sciences | ₦96,500 – ₦130,000 |
| Agriculture and Environmental Sciences | ₦120,000 – ₦160,000 |
| Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science) | ₦130,000 – ₦170,000 |
| Engineering | ₦150,000 – ₦200,000 |
| Law | ₦150,000 – ₦200,000 |
| Basic Medical Sciences / Basic Clinical Sciences | ₦180,000 – ₦230,500 |
| Clinical Sciences (Medicine and Surgery) | ₦200,000 – ₦230,500 and above |
Because fee schedules are reviewed periodically and can be adjusted between sessions, prospective students should confirm the exact current figure for their specific department directly on the UNIABUJA portal or through their faculty’s admission office before making payment.
UNIABUJA School Fees for Returning Students
Returning students generally pay less than fresh students because they are not required to cover one-time charges tied to first-year admission, such as certain registration and orientation-related costs. Returning students typically pay a registration fee of around ₦40,000 at the start of each new session, in addition to full or partial tuition payment depending on the university’s payment policy for that session. Some students are permitted to pay tuition in parts, with an initial payment required to complete registration and the balance cleared before the end of the session, though this arrangement can vary depending on departmental and university-wide policy for that particular year.
Part-Time and Distance Learning Fees
UNIABUJA’s Centre for Distance Learning and its part-time degree options give students who cannot attend full-time classes an alternative route to a UNIABUJA degree. Part-time courses are available in faculties such as Arts, Education, and Social and Management Sciences, and they generally cost more per session than the equivalent full-time programme, since part-time and distance learning students pay a fee that reflects the additional administrative and material support the distance mode requires. Part-time course fees at UNIABUJA typically range from around ₦130,000 to over ₦150,000 per session, and because part-time programmes usually extend over a longer period — often four to six years depending on the course and entry qualification — students should factor in the extended duration when budgeting for the full cost of the programme, not just a single session.
Admission Requirements and Cut-Off Marks by Course Type
UNIABUJA’s general JAMB-approved UTME cut-off mark sits at 180 for most programmes, but specific courses require a higher score due to stronger competition for limited slots. Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) requires a considerably higher score, generally above 250, along with five O’Level credits in English Language, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology obtained in one sitting. Law requires a UTME score generally around 240 and above, with O’Level credits including English Language, Literature-in-English, Government, and two other relevant subjects. Engineering courses, including Civil Engineering, typically require scores around 180, close to the university’s general minimum, though specific engineering departments can set their own threshold slightly above this baseline. Candidates should always confirm the exact departmental cut-off mark for their intended course each admission cycle, since these thresholds are reviewed based on the volume and competitiveness of applicants that session.
Why Fees Differ So Much Between Faculties
The wide fee range across UNIABUJA’s faculties reflects the same pattern found across most Nigerian federal universities: courses tied to a licensed profession or requiring extensive laboratory, clinical, or workshop access cost more to run, and this cost is passed on through a higher tuition bracket. Medicine and Surgery and the Basic Clinical/Medical Sciences carry the highest fees at UNIABUJA because of their dependence on hospital-based training, laboratory consumables, and strict accreditation requirements from medical regulatory bodies. Engineering and Law follow closely behind due to their own practical and professional training demands, while Arts, Education, and general Social Science courses remain the most affordable since they rely primarily on classroom-based instruction.
How to Pay UNIABUJA School Fees
UNIABUJA processes school fee payment through its official student portal, and the general procedure follows the standard pattern used across most Nigerian federal universities:
- Log in to the official UNIABUJA student portal using your matriculation number (returning students) or admission details (fresh students).
- Generate a fee invoice for the current academic session, which will reflect the exact amount due for your specific faculty and level.
- Complete payment through the university’s designated online payment channel, using a debit card or the bank transfer option provided.
- Confirm that the payment reflects on the portal, and print or save the payment receipt for registration and clearance purposes.
Students should complete this process only through the official portal and avoid third-party agents who claim to process payments on the university’s behalf, since UNIABUJA does not authorize unofficial intermediaries to handle student fee transactions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which UNIABUJA course has the highest school fees?
Medicine and Surgery, under the College of Medicine, carries the highest fees at UNIABUJA, followed closely by the Basic Medical Sciences and Basic Clinical Sciences programmes, due to their clinical and laboratory-intensive training.
Which UNIABUJA courses are the most affordable?
Courses in the Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Education, and general departments within the Faculty of Social Sciences sit at the lower end of the fee scale, since they do not require laboratory or clinical infrastructure.
Do returning students pay less than fresh students?
Yes. Returning students avoid the one-time charges tied to first-year admission and typically pay a registration fee, currently around ₦40,000, along with their tuition for the session.
Is UNIABUJA part-time more expensive than full-time?
Per session, part-time and distance learning fees at UNIABUJA are generally higher than the equivalent full-time programme, and part-time programmes also run longer overall, so total cost over the full duration should be factored into any comparison.
What is the general UTME cut-off mark for UNIABUJA?
The general cut-off is 180 for most courses, though competitive programmes like Medicine and Surgery and Law require higher scores, generally above 230 and 240 respectively.
Final Note
UNIABUJA offers a wide spread of courses across agriculture, the arts, education, engineering, environmental sciences, law, management sciences, the sciences, social sciences, veterinary medicine, and the medical and clinical sciences, with fees that vary significantly depending on the faculty and the level of practical or clinical training a course requires. Since fee schedules, cut-off marks, and course offerings are reviewed periodically, prospective and returning students should always confirm the exact current figures directly through the official UNIABUJA student portal before making any payment or final course decision.