Gateway College of Nursing Sciences, Port Harcourt, is a newly established nursing training institution owned and run by Gateway International Church, offering a National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) Nursing programme. Candidates who have applied, or are considering applying, need clarity on what the college charges for freshers compared to returning students. This article explains the college’s fee structure, what the fees typically cover, and how the admission and payment process works for the 2026/2027 academic session.
About Gateway College of Nursing Sciences
Gateway College of Nursing Sciences is located at 30/32 Elioparanwo Road, off Ada-George Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. It was established by Gateway International Church as an extension of the church’s corporate social responsibility work, and its programmes are designed around producing competent, compassionate, and globally relevant healthcare professionals through a combination of modern classroom training, research exposure, and hands-on clinical practice.
The college runs a four-year National Diploma and Higher National Diploma (ND/HND) Nursing programme, leading toward Registered Nurse (RN) certification. For clinical training, students use the facilities at Bethesda Mission Hospital, a health subsidiary of Gateway International Church, and the college also maintains an affiliation with the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) for more intensive practical placements. This combination gives students exposure to both a mission-run hospital environment and a major federal teaching hospital, which the college positions as a distinguishing feature of its training model.
Because Gateway College of Nursing Sciences only began admissions recently, for the 2025 and 2026 academic sessions, it is one of the newer additions to the list of nursing training institutions serving Rivers State and the wider South-South region, alongside longer-established options such as the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital School of Nursing and the state-run Rivers State College of Health Science and Management Technology.
Admission Requirements
Candidates seeking admission into the National Diploma Nursing (NDN) or Higher National Diploma Nursing (HNDN) programme at Gateway College of Nursing Sciences must meet the following conditions:
- A minimum of five credit passes in relevant O’Level subjects, including Mathematics, English Language, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, from WAEC, NECO, or GCE, obtained in not more than two sittings.
- A UTME/JAMB score of 140 or higher, as confirmed by the college’s admissions office and leadership.
- A minimum age requirement of 17 at the point of admission.
- Good moral character and physical fitness for nursing practice, since the training involves direct patient contact from an early stage.
The application process requires candidates to download the admission form from the college’s official portal, complete it carefully with all required documents attached, pay the application fee, and submit the completed form at the college’s campus address. Successful applicants are then given a date to sit for a Computer-Based Test (CBT) as part of the screening process.
General Fee Structure for Freshers
As a faith-based institution founded on a moderate fee philosophy, Gateway College of Nursing Sciences has publicly described its charges as being in line with the church’s tradition of corporate social responsibility, positioning its fees as more accessible than some comparable private nursing colleges. Because the college is newly established and has not published a detailed, itemised fee schedule through public channels, prospective candidates should treat any specific naira figure as an estimate pending direct confirmation from the college’s admissions office.
Based on the fee structure typically seen at comparable faith-based and private nursing colleges of similar standing in the South-South region, freshers at Gateway College of Nursing Sciences should reasonably expect a total cost in the region of ₦180,000 to ₦280,000 for the 2026/2027 session, covering tuition and the standard one-time onboarding charges that apply to newly admitted students. Candidates should confirm the exact current figure directly through the college’s official portal or by contacting the admissions office listed on the college’s website, since this is the only reliable source for the precise, currently approved fee schedule.
The components that typically make up a fresher’s total bill at a private or mission-run nursing college include:
- Application fee: a one-time charge paid when submitting the admission form, required before a candidate can be scheduled for the entrance screening.
- Tuition fee: the core academic charge for lectures, laboratory work, and clinical instruction for the session.
- Acceptance fee: a one-time, non-refundable payment made once an offer of admission is confirmed.
- Uniform and clinical kit fee: covers nursing uniforms, name tags, and basic clinical equipment freshers need before starting ward postings at Bethesda Mission Hospital or UPTH.
- Medical fitness screening fee: covers the pre-admission health check required to confirm a candidate’s fitness for hospital-based clinical training.
- Registration and identity card fee: administrative charge covering biodata capture and student identification.
- Library and departmental levies: support access to the college’s library and departmental teaching resources.
General Fee Structure for Returning Students
From the second year of the ND/HND Nursing programme onward, students no longer pay the one-time onboarding charges tied specifically to fresh admission, such as the application fee, acceptance fee, uniform and clinical kit fee, and initial medical screening. This meaningfully reduces the amount a returning student pays compared to a fresher.
Returning students at Gateway College of Nursing Sciences should reasonably expect their session cost to fall in the region of ₦130,000 to ₦200,000, covering tuition, examination fees, continuing clinical practicum charges at the college’s affiliated hospitals, and standard departmental levies. As with the fresher fee estimate, this figure should be confirmed directly with the college, since it has not published a detailed public fee breakdown as of the time of this session’s admission cycle.
Fee Comparison Table: Freshers vs Returning Students
| Fee Component | Freshers | Returning Students |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | Paid once, before screening | Not applicable |
| Acceptance fee | Paid once (non-refundable) | Not applicable |
| Tuition | Charged in full | Charged in full |
| Uniform & clinical kit | Paid in first year | Not applicable, unless replacement is needed |
| Medical fitness screening | Paid before resumption | Usually not repeated |
| Registration/ID charges | Paid | Paid (renewal, where applicable) |
| Library & departmental levy | Paid | Paid |
| Examination fee | Paid | Paid |
| Approximate session total | ₦180,000 – ₦280,000 (estimate) | ₦130,000 – ₦200,000 (estimate) |
These figures reflect the typical spread seen at comparable faith-based and private nursing colleges in Rivers State and neighbouring states, given the college’s own description of its fees as “moderate.” Candidates should treat this table as a planning guide rather than an official, published figure.
Why Freshers Pay More Than Returning Students
The pattern of freshers paying more than returning students is standard across nearly every nursing training institution in Nigeria, and Gateway College of Nursing Sciences is no exception. The application fee, acceptance fee, uniform and clinical kit costs, and medical screening charges are all one-time expenses tied to the point of fresh admission. None of these recur once a student advances beyond the first year, which is why a returning student’s session cost is consistently lower and more predictable than a fresher’s.
How Payment Is Made
Gateway College of Nursing Sciences processes its admissions and, by extension, its fee payments through its official online portal. The general process works as follows:
- Candidates download the admission form from the college’s official website and portal.
- Candidates complete the form, attach all required documents, and pay the application fee, keeping proof of payment.
- The completed form is returned to the college at its Port Harcourt campus address.
- Successful applicants receive a date for the Computer-Based Test (CBT) screening exercise.
- Candidates who scale the screening process receive an offer of admission and pay the acceptance fee and other approved charges through the college’s designated payment channels before resumption.
Candidates should only use the official application portal and contact details published on the college’s website and should be cautious of any individual or third party offering to process admission or fee payment through unofficial channels.
What the Fees Do Not Typically Cover
School fees at Gateway College of Nursing Sciences generally do not include textbooks, personal stationery, feeding, transportation, or accommodation costs, since the college has not indicated that hostel facilities are part of its standard fee package. Candidates who need accommodation should plan for this separately and confirm availability and cost directly with the college’s administration.
Frequently Asked Questions
What programme does Gateway College of Nursing Sciences offer?
The college offers a four-year National Diploma and Higher National Diploma (ND/HND) Nursing programme, leading toward Registered Nurse (RN) certification, with clinical training conducted at Bethesda Mission Hospital and through an affiliation with the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital.
What is the JAMB requirement for Gateway College of Nursing Sciences?
Candidates need a minimum UTME/JAMB score of 140, along with five O’Level credit passes in Mathematics, English Language, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, obtained in not more than two sittings.
How much do freshers pay at Gateway College of Nursing Sciences?
The college has not published a detailed public fee schedule, but based on comparable faith-based and private nursing colleges in the region, freshers should reasonably expect to pay in the region of ₦180,000 to ₦280,000 for the 2026/2027 session, including one-time onboarding charges. Candidates should confirm the exact figure directly with the college.
How much do returning students pay?
Returning students should expect a lower session cost, estimated in the region of ₦130,000 to ₦200,000, since they no longer pay the one-time charges that apply only to freshers.
Who owns and runs Gateway College of Nursing Sciences?
The college is owned and run by Gateway International Church, a Christian faith-based organisation, as part of its corporate social responsibility initiatives in healthcare education.