The University of Ibadan (UI) is Nigeria’s oldest university, established in 1948 as a college of the University of London before becoming a fully independent institution in 1962. As a federal university, UI runs a subsidized fee structure that keeps tuition relatively low compared to state and private universities, though the exact amount a student pays still depends on their faculty, level of study, and whether they are a fresher or a returning student. This article lists the courses and faculties available at UI and gives a complete breakdown of the current fee structure.
Faculties and Courses Offered at UI
UI organizes its academic programmes across twelve faculties, each covering a cluster of related departments and courses. The full faculty list is as follows:
- Faculty of Arts — covering English, History, Linguistics, Languages, Religious Studies, Philosophy, Archaeology, and related humanities disciplines.
- Faculty of Science — covering Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Microbiology, Botany, Zoology, Geology, and Computer Science.
- Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry — covering Agricultural Economics, Animal Science, Crop Science, Forestry, and related renewable natural resource disciplines.
- Faculty of Social Sciences — covering Economics, Political Science, Sociology, Psychology, and Geography.
- Faculty of Education — covering various education-based subject combinations for teacher training.
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine — running the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) programme.
- Faculty of Technology — covering Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, and related technology-based disciplines.
- Faculty of Law — running the LL.B. programme.
- Faculty of Pharmacy — running the Doctor of Pharmacy and related pharmaceutical science programmes.
- Faculty of Public Health — covering Environmental Health, Health Education, and related public health disciplines.
- Faculty of Dentistry — running the Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) programme.
- College of Medicine — comprising the Faculty of Clinical Sciences and the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, running the MBBS programme and related medical science degrees.
Each faculty is broken into specific departments, and prospective students should confirm through the UI admissions office or student portal that their exact intended course is currently running and accredited, since the National Universities Commission periodically reviews the list of approved programmes at every Nigerian university.
UI School Fees for Undergraduate Freshers
Fresh undergraduate students at UI pay a fee that falls within a fairly narrow band compared to many other Nigerian universities, since UI’s tuition-related charges remain heavily subsidized across nearly all faculties. For the current session, freshers across most departments pay between ₦34,300 and ₦36,800, a figure that covers tuition-related charges, course registration, examination fees, library services, and other core academic necessities.
This base fee applies broadly across faculties, but students in professional and clinical programmes should expect additional charges layered on top of it. Students in Medicine, Pharmacy, Veterinary Medicine, Law, and Engineering (Faculty of Technology) typically pay extra professional accreditation levies, laboratory or field trip charges, and other department-specific costs that are communicated through the student portal at the start of each session, since these programmes carry higher running costs tied to clinical training, laboratory access, or professional body requirements.
UI School Fees for Returning Students
Returning students, from 200 level upward, pay a reduced fee compared to freshers, since they are no longer required to cover first-time registration and matriculation-related charges. Returning students typically pay between ₦19,700 and ₦32,000 per session, with the exact amount depending on year level, faculty, and department. As with freshers, returning students in professional faculties such as Medicine, Pharmacy, Veterinary Medicine, Law, and Engineering may see additional departmental levies added to this base figure.
Fee Comparison Table
The table below summarizes the general UI undergraduate fee structure by student category, along with the acceptance fee and hostel accommodation costs that apply separately from tuition.
| Fee Category | Amount (per session) |
|---|---|
| Fresher (100 Level), most faculties | ₦34,300 – ₦36,800 |
| Returning student (200 Level and above) | ₦19,700 – ₦32,000 |
| Acceptance fee (new undergraduate students only) | ₦50,000 |
| Hostel accommodation (general halls) | ₦30,000 |
| Hostel accommodation (Alexander Brown Hall, mainly for medical students) | ₦80,000 |
| Additional professional levies (Medicine, Pharmacy, Veterinary Medicine, Law, Engineering) | Varies by department; communicated via student portal |
Because UI reviews its fee schedule periodically and departmental levies can shift slightly from one session to the next, students should always confirm the exact current figure for their specific department directly on the official UI student portal before making payment.
Acceptance Fee for New Students
Every newly admitted undergraduate student at UI, regardless of faculty or state of origin, pays a flat acceptance fee of ₦50,000. This fee is mandatory and non-refundable, and it must be paid before a student can proceed to full registration, course registration, and other post-admission processes. Unlike some other Nigerian universities, UI does not apply a different acceptance fee rate based on indigene status, since UI does not operate an indigene/non-indigene fee split at all; all Nigerian students pay the same undergraduate tuition-related charges regardless of their state of origin.
Hostel Accommodation Fees
On-campus accommodation at UI is not compulsory and is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis due to limited hostel capacity relative to the total student population. Most halls of residence charge ₦30,000 per session for a bed space, while Alexander Brown Hall, which mainly houses medical students due to its proximity to the College of Medicine, charges a higher rate of around ₦80,000. Students who are not allocated a hostel room, or who prefer not to apply for one, arrange accommodation independently off campus, which falls outside UI’s standard fee schedule.
Postgraduate School Fees at UI
UI also runs a full range of postgraduate programmes, including Postgraduate Diploma (PGD), Master’s, M.Phil, and PhD degrees, with fees that differ significantly from the undergraduate structure. New postgraduate students typically pay between ₦75,000 and ₦170,000 per session depending on the specific programme, while returning postgraduate students pay a reduced rate, generally between ₦50,000 and ₦120,000. PhD programmes and some Master’s specializations can run higher, occasionally reaching up to ₦200,000 to ₦250,000 in certain faculties. New postgraduate students also pay a separate acceptance fee, generally around ₦20,000 to ₦30,000, on top of their tuition.
Why UI Fees Differ From Other Federal Universities
UI’s undergraduate fee structure is notably lower in headline tuition terms than some other federal universities, partly because a large share of what many Nigerian universities label as “tuition” is bundled differently at UI, with the bulk of the practical cost for professional courses appearing as separate departmental and professional levies rather than folded into a single headline figure. This is why a student comparing UI’s advertised base fee to another federal university’s headline tuition figure should look closely at what each figure actually includes, since UI’s low base fee does not represent the full cost of attendance for students in Medicine, Pharmacy, Veterinary Medicine, Law, or Engineering once professional levies, hostel fees, and other charges are added.
How to Pay UI School Fees
UI processes fee payment entirely through its official student portal at ui.edu.ng. The general procedure works as follows:
- Log in to the official UI student portal using your matriculation number (returning students) or admission details (fresh students), and change your password when prompted.
- Navigate to your dashboard and locate the fee payment section for the current academic session.
- Generate a payment invoice, which reflects the exact amount due based on your faculty, level, and student category.
- Complete payment through the university’s designated online payment channel.
- If a transaction is debited but not reflected as successful, use the refresh option on the portal to update the payment status before contacting the bursary for further help.
- Print or save the payment receipt, since this is required for course registration and other clearance steps.
Students should complete every payment step directly through the official portal rather than through informal agents, since UI does not authorize third parties to collect fees on its behalf.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does UI charge different fees for indigenes and non-indigenes? No. As a federal university, UI charges the same undergraduate fee to all Nigerian students regardless of their state of origin, unlike many state-owned universities that apply a separate non-indigene rate.
Which UI courses cost more than the standard base fee? Medicine, Pharmacy, Veterinary Medicine, Law, and Engineering (Faculty of Technology) carry additional professional accreditation and departmental levies on top of the standard base fee, due to their clinical, laboratory, or professional training requirements.
Is the acceptance fee refundable? No. The ₦50,000 undergraduate acceptance fee is a one-time, non-refundable payment that confirms a student’s admission.
Is hostel accommodation compulsory at UI? No. Hostel accommodation is optional and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis due to limited space, and students who are not allocated a room arrange accommodation independently.
How much do returning students pay compared to freshers? Returning students generally pay less, in the range of ₦19,700 to ₦32,000 per session, compared to ₦34,300 to ₦36,800 for freshers, since returning students no longer pay first-time registration and matriculation charges.
Final Note
The University of Ibadan runs twelve faculties covering the arts, sciences, agriculture and forestry, social sciences, education, veterinary medicine, technology, law, pharmacy, public health, dentistry, and medicine, with a base undergraduate fee that stays relatively uniform across departments but rises for professional and clinical courses once departmental levies are added. Since fee figures are reviewed periodically, prospective and returning students should always confirm the exact, current-session amount directly on the official UI student portal before making any payment.