College of Nursing Sciences, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (AEFUTHA), is a federal government-owned nursing institution in Ebonyi State that trains students for careers as Registered Nurses and, through its diploma track, holders of a National Diploma in Nursing Sciences. The college sits inside a functioning federal teaching hospital, which gives students direct, ongoing access to clinical wards throughout their training. This article explains the school’s programs, admission requirements, and fee structure for freshers and returning students for the 2026/2027 academic session.
About College of Nursing Sciences, AEFUTHA
AEFUTHA, formerly known as Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (FETHA), is a federal teaching hospital serving Ebonyi State and the wider South East region. The College of Nursing Sciences operates as an academic arm of the hospital, meaning nursing students train alongside a functioning tertiary healthcare facility rather than at a standalone classroom-only institution. This structure gives students exposure to a high volume and wide variety of clinical cases, from general medicine and surgery to specialized units, since the hospital serves as a referral centre for the state and neighbouring areas.
The college is regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), the statutory body responsible for licensing nurses in the country. For its ND and HND-track programs, the college additionally falls under the framework used for National Diploma nursing education, which follows a JAMB-based admission process similar to polytechnics. Because it is a federal government-owned school, tuition and fees are generally lower than what private nursing colleges and private universities charge for comparable training, a point that consistently draws applicants from Ebonyi State and neighbouring states such as Enugu, Abia, and Cross River.
Programs Offered at College of Nursing Sciences, AEFUTHA
The college runs both a Basic Nursing pathway and an ND/HND diploma pathway, alongside a Post Basic Nursing program for already-licensed nurses seeking specialization.
| Program | Duration | JAMB Required | Certification Earned |
|---|---|---|---|
| ND Nursing Sciences | Approx. 4 years (ND + HND track) | Yes | National Diploma (ND), progression to HND, Registered Nurse (RN) eligibility |
| Basic Nursing (General Nursing Programme) | 3 years | No (school entrance exam) | Registered Nurse (RN) |
| Post Basic Nursing | 18 months | No | Specialty certification for licensed nurses |
The ND Nursing Sciences track is run through the college’s dedicated CONSAEFUTHA admission portal and follows the standard National Diploma structure regulated jointly with nursing education bodies, requiring a JAMB UTME score as part of entry. The Basic Nursing programme, often referred to by its older designation “School of Nursing, AEFUTHA” (SONAEFUTHA), is entered through the school’s own screening exam rather than JAMB and leads directly to RN certification after three years. The Post Basic Nursing programme accepts only candidates who are already registered and licensed nurses looking to add a specialization to their credentials.
Admission Requirements
Entry requirements differ slightly depending on which programme a candidate is applying for, but the baseline academic qualification is consistent across both the ND and Basic Nursing tracks.
For both the ND Nursing Sciences and Basic Nursing programmes, a candidate needs five credit passes in English Language, Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, and Biology, obtained from not more than two sittings of WAEC, GCE, NECO, or NABTEB. A candidate combining results from different examination bodies should note that NABTEB results can only be combined with other NABTEB results and cannot be mixed with WAEC or NECO results. The minimum age for admission is 16 years as at the relevant admission year.
For the ND Nursing Sciences programme specifically, candidates must also register for the JAMB UTME and score a minimum of 150, while selecting the College of Nursing Sciences, AEFUTHA, as their institution of choice during JAMB registration. After JAMB requirements are met, candidates proceed to the school’s own screening exercise, which includes a computer-based test and an interview, before a final admission decision is made.
For the Basic Nursing programme, candidates go directly to the school’s internal admission process, which includes purchasing the screening form, sitting the entrance examination, and attending an interview, without a JAMB requirement.
School Fees for Freshers
As a federal government-owned nursing institution, AEFUTHA’s College of Nursing Sciences charges considerably less than private nursing schools, though the exact figure for each session is released directly by the school’s management rather than fixed permanently. Based on the fee levels the school has charged in recent sessions, freshers admitted into the Basic Nursing programme can expect total tuition and compulsory charges in the range of ₦150,000 to ₦200,000 per session.
The admission screening form itself, which every fresher pays before sitting the entrance examination, has recently been priced at ₦25,200, payable through the Remita platform on the school’s official admission portal.
| Fee Category | Estimated Amount (Freshers) |
|---|---|
| ND/Basic Nursing screening form (Remita payment) | ₦25,200 |
| Tuition and institutional charges (per session) | ₦150,000 – ₦200,000 |
| Acceptance fee | Confirmed at point of admission |
| Caution fee (refundable deposit) | Confirmed at point of admission |
| Medical fee | Confirmed at point of admission |
| Uniform fee (freshers only) | Confirmed at point of admission |
These fee figures cover the standard tuition and institutional charges published by the school for fresh nursing students. They do not include the acceptance fee, caution fee, medical fee, uniform fee, or other miscellaneous charges the teaching hospital’s management applies specifically to newly admitted students. Freshers should also budget separately for textbooks, practical or clinical kits, and hostel accommodation if they choose to live on campus, since these are billed apart from the core tuition figure.
The school allows payment of fees in instalments in some sessions, a provision meant to ease the burden on parents and guardians, though this arrangement is entirely at the discretion of the teaching hospital’s management and is not guaranteed every session. Students should also note that late payment attracts extra charges, and failure to complete payment on time can prevent a student from sitting semester examinations.
School Fees for Returning Students
Returning students, those already enrolled and progressing into their second, third, or later year, typically pay less than freshers because they are not required to pay the screening form fee, acceptance fee, or the one-time caution deposit again. Their session charges mainly cover continuing tuition, departmental dues, and any clinical practice levies attached to their current year of study.
Because AEFUTHA releases its fee schedule directly to admitted and continuing students through the school’s administration rather than publishing a fixed public rate card, returning students should confirm the exact figure for the 2026/2027 session with the college’s bursary or admission office ahead of resumption. Fee adjustments between sessions are common across federal teaching hospital nursing schools generally, so relying on a previous session’s figure without confirmation can lead to underpayment and possible complications with an accurate registration status.
How to Apply and Pay Fees
Application into the College of Nursing Sciences, AEFUTHA, is done entirely online through the school’s official admission portal. A candidate creates an account on the portal, selects the appropriate programme (ND Nursing or Post Basic Nursing), and proceeds to the “Make Payment” option to generate a Remita Retrieval Reference (RRR) for the screening form fee. After completing payment through Remita, the candidate sends proof of payment, usually a screenshot or receipt, through WhatsApp to the numbers provided on the portal so that the school’s administration can manually activate the candidate’s account. Once the account is active, the candidate returns to the portal to complete registration and prints an examination slip containing the date, venue, and other details of the entrance examination.
Since payment is initiated online and account activation depends on a manual WhatsApp confirmation step, candidates are strongly advised to complete this process early rather than waiting until close to the deadline, since portal congestion and delayed WhatsApp responses are common near the closing date. The school has repeatedly warned that it does not use agents or third-party representatives who charge extra money for admission, and prospective applicants should be cautious of unofficial phone numbers circulating on social media claiming to sell admission forms outside the official portal.
Why Choose AEFUTHA for Nursing Training
Students weighing where to study nursing in Ebonyi State generally consider AEFUTHA’s College of Nursing Sciences among the strongest options because of its direct placement inside an active federal teaching hospital. This arrangement means clinical postings happen on-site rather than requiring transportation to an external hospital, and the range of cases available, from general wards to specialized units, gives students broader hands-on exposure than a standalone nursing college without a teaching hospital attached. As a federal institution, tuition also remains considerably lower than what private nursing colleges in the South East charge, making it a practical choice for students balancing quality training against cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does College of Nursing Sciences, AEFUTHA, require JAMB for admission?
JAMB is required for the ND Nursing Sciences programme, with a minimum UTME score of 150 and AEFUTHA selected as the institution of choice. The Basic Nursing programme is entered through the school’s own screening exam without a JAMB requirement.
How much is the AEFUTHA nursing admission form?
The current screening form for the ND/Basic Nursing programme is priced at ₦25,200, paid online through Remita on the official admission portal.
How long does the nursing programme take at AEFUTHA?
Basic Nursing runs for three years and leads to Registered Nurse certification. The ND Nursing Sciences programme runs for approximately four years across the ND and HND stages. Post Basic Nursing runs for 18 months.
What is the estimated tuition fee for fresh nursing students?
Recent sessions have placed tuition and standard institutional charges for fresh students between ₦150,000 and ₦200,000, excluding acceptance fee, caution fee, medical fee, and uniform fee.
How do I apply to College of Nursing Sciences, AEFUTHA?
Applications are completed online through the school’s official admission portal, where candidates create an account, pay the screening form fee via Remita, send proof of payment via WhatsApp for account activation, and then complete registration to print an examination slip.