The College of Nursing Sciences at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) trains students for careers in professional nursing under the regulation of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN). Candidates who have gained admission, and those still planning to apply, need a clear picture of how the fee structure works for both new and returning students. This article explains what the fees typically cover, how the amount differs between freshers and returning students, and what to expect during the payment process for the 2026/2027 academic session.
About the College of Nursing Sciences, UPTH
The College of Nursing Sciences operates within the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital complex along the East-West Road in Alakahia, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. It runs National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) nursing programmes, along with Post-Basic specialty training in areas such as accident and emergency nursing, peri-operative nursing, and other clinical specialties offered per intake. Training combines classroom instruction with supervised clinical practice inside the wards and units of one of the leading teaching hospitals in the South-South region of Nigeria.
Because the college operates under a federal teaching hospital, its programmes carry strong practical value, and admission is competitive each session. Candidates applying for the General Nursing programme typically need a minimum of five O’Level credits, including English Language and either Physics, Chemistry, or Biology, obtained in not more than two sittings, along with a satisfactory JAMB score and performance at the college’s own screening exercise where applicable. Once admission is secured, understanding the fee obligations for the session becomes the next essential step in preparing for resumption.
General Fee Structure for Freshers
Newly admitted students at the College of Nursing Sciences, UPTH, pay a higher total amount in their first year than continuing students pay in later years. This follows the same pattern common to nursing training institutions attached to Nigerian teaching hospitals, where freshers absorb several one-time onboarding costs on top of the regular academic charges every student pays.
Based on the fee structure that comparable federal teaching hospital nursing colleges have maintained in recent sessions, freshers at the College of Nursing Sciences, UPTH, should reasonably expect to pay in the region of ₦150,000 to ₦250,000 for the 2026/2027 session, depending on the specific programme (ND, HND, or Post-Basic) and any adjustments the hospital management makes for the new intake. Because UPTH releases its exact tuition and fee schedule directly to admitted candidates through official notices per intake, prospective students should treat this figure as a realistic planning estimate and confirm the precise current amount from the college’s admissions office before making any payment.
The components that typically make up a fresher’s total bill at a teaching hospital-based nursing college include:
- Tuition fee: the core academic charge for the training programme for the session.
- Acceptance fee: a one-time, non-refundable payment made once an offer of admission is confirmed, usually within a stated deadline.
- Caution fee: a refundable deposit held by the institution against damage to hospital or college property, often refunded on graduation or withdrawal in good standing.
- Medical fitness fee: covers the pre-admission health screening required to confirm that a candidate is fit to participate in clinical and ward-based training.
- Uniform and clinical kit fee: covers nursing uniforms, name tags, and the basic clinical equipment freshers need before starting practical sessions.
- Registration and identity card fee: administrative charge for processing admission documents and issuing the student’s identification card.
- Library and departmental levies: support access to the library, laboratories, and departmental teaching resources.
- Hostel accommodation fee: charged separately for students who secure a bed space within hospital or college hostel facilities, where available.
General Fee Structure for Returning Students
From the second year of training, students no longer pay the one-time onboarding charges tied specifically to fresh admission, such as the acceptance fee, uniform and clinical kit fee, and the initial medical screening. This reduces the total amount payable in subsequent sessions. Returning students at the College of Nursing Sciences, UPTH, typically pay in the region of ₦100,000 to ₦170,000 per session, covering tuition, examination fees, continuing clinical practicum charges, and standard levies.
The recurring components every student, whether fresher or returning, pays each session include tuition, library and departmental levies, and examination fees. Hostel accommodation, where taken up, is billed separately and applies to both categories of students who choose to renew or take a bed space.
Fee Comparison Table: Freshers vs Returning Students
| Fee Component | Freshers | Returning Students |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | Charged in full | Charged in full |
| Acceptance fee | Paid once (non-refundable) | Not applicable |
| Caution fee | Paid once (refundable on exit) | Not applicable |
| Medical fitness screening | Paid before resumption | Usually not repeated |
| Uniform & clinical kit | Paid in first year | Not applicable, unless replacement is needed |
| Registration & ID card fee | Paid | Not applicable, unless card is renewed |
| Library & departmental levy | Paid | Paid |
| Examination fee | Paid | Paid |
| Hostel accommodation | Paid if bed space is secured | Paid if bed space is renewed |
| Approximate session total | ₦150,000 – ₦250,000 | ₦100,000 – ₦170,000 |
The ranges above reflect the typical spread seen across federal teaching hospital nursing colleges of similar standing, and the exact figure for a given session depends on the specific programme a student is enrolled in and any fee review the hospital management approves.
Why Freshers Pay More Than Returning Students
The gap between what freshers and returning students pay is a direct result of onboarding costs that only occur once during a student’s training period. The acceptance fee confirms a candidate’s decision to take up the offer of admission, the caution fee protects institutional property, and the uniform and medical screening charges prepare a new student for clinical work. None of these recur in later sessions, so a returning student’s bill is limited mainly to tuition, levies, and examination charges, which explains the lower and more predictable cost from the second year onward.
Factors That Influence the Exact Amount Payable
Several factors affect what an individual student ultimately pays at the College of Nursing Sciences, UPTH:
- Programme type: the National Diploma (ND) programme, Higher National Diploma (HND) programme, and Post-Basic specialty programmes each carry different fee structures reflecting differences in duration and clinical exposure.
- Periodic fee review: as a teaching hospital-based training institution, the college reviews its fees from time to time in response to the cost of running clinical training, meaning fees for the 2026/2027 session may differ from earlier sessions.
- Hostel accommodation choice: students who take up hostel space pay an additional accommodation charge, while students living off-campus only pay the academic component of the fees.
- Late payment penalties: students who complete payment after the official deadline typically face an additional penalty before their registration can be completed.
- State of origin or sponsorship arrangements: in some sessions, teaching hospitals apply differentiated charges or waivers for candidates under specific state government or scholarship sponsorship, which can affect the final amount an individual student pays.
Because fee schedules for hospital-based nursing colleges are communicated directly to admitted candidates per intake rather than published as a permanently fixed rate, students should always confirm the exact current figures from the College of Nursing Sciences admissions office or the UPTH management before making any payment.
How Payment Is Made
Payment of school fees at the College of Nursing Sciences, UPTH, generally follows the standard process common to teaching hospital-based training institutions in Nigeria:
- The college communicates the approved fee schedule for the session to admitted candidates through official notices.
- Students generate a payment reference or invoice number tied to their name and admission number.
- Payment is made through the designated bank or online payment channel specified by the college or hospital accounts department.
- Students retain evidence of successful payment, such as a receipt or payment confirmation slip, which is required during physical registration and biodata capture.
- Registration for the session is finalised only after the accounts unit confirms that the payment has been received and matched to the correct student record.
Candidates should only use the official payment channels announced by the college and should be cautious of individuals or third parties who claim they can process admission or reduce fees outside the official system.
What the Fees Do Not Typically Cover
School fees at the College of Nursing Sciences, UPTH, generally do not include textbooks, personal stationery, feeding, or transportation to and from the hospital for students who do not live in the hostel. These living costs should be planned for separately from the official fees paid to the college.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do freshers pay at the College of Nursing Sciences, UPTH, for 2026/2027?
Freshers should reasonably expect to pay in the range of ₦150,000 to ₦250,000 for the session, covering tuition, acceptance fee, caution fee, uniform and clinical kit charges, and other one-time onboarding costs. The exact figure depends on the specific programme and should be confirmed with the college’s admissions office.
How much do returning students pay?
Returning students typically pay between ₦100,000 and ₦170,000 per session, since they no longer pay the one-time charges that apply only to freshers.
Why do freshers pay significantly more than returning students?
Freshers pay one-time onboarding charges, including the acceptance fee, caution fee, uniform and clinical kit fee, and medical screening fee, which do not recur in later sessions. Returning students pay mainly for tuition, levies, and examination charges.
Does the College of Nursing Sciences, UPTH, offer both ND and HND programmes?
Yes. The college runs National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) nursing programmes, along with Post-Basic specialty training advertised per intake, and fees differ slightly across these programme categories.
How is payment made at the College of Nursing Sciences, UPTH?
Payment is made through the official bank or online payment channel designated by the college or hospital accounts department, using a payment reference generated for each student before payment is completed.