The College of Nursing Sciences, Ihiala, officially operating within the Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Complex (OLLHC) in Ihiala, Anambra State, is a mission-founded nursing training institution owned by the Catholic Diocese of Nnewi. It is one of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN)-approved colleges of nursing sciences recognised to operate in Anambra State, and it runs Basic Nursing, Basic Midwifery, and Post-Basic Nursing programmes. This article explains the fee structure for freshers and returning students, what the charges typically cover, and how the admission and payment process works for the 2026/2027 academic session.
About the College of Nursing Sciences, Ihiala
The Department of Nursing at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Complex, Ihiala, traces its origins to 1953, when it was founded by His Grace Most Rev. Charles Heerey of blessed memory, and it has been managed by the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mother of Christ, since the departure of the expatriate Holy Rosary Sisters. Over more than seven decades, the institution has grown through its Basic Nursing, Basic Midwifery, and Post-Basic Nursing programmes to become one of the recognised training grounds supplying skilled nursing manpower to the hospital and to healthcare facilities across the region.
According to the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria’s approved list, the College of Nursing Sciences, Ihiala, is officially recognised alongside other Anambra State institutions such as the College of Nursing Sciences, COOUTH, Nkpor, the College of Nursing Sciences, Waterside, Onitsha, and the College of Nursing Sciences, Iyi-Enu Mission Hospital, Ogidi. The Ihiala college specifically offers both Nursing and Midwifery programmes, making it one of the more comprehensive training options in the state for candidates who want either or both qualifications.
The institution is located along the Onitsha/Owerri Expressway in Ihiala, Anambra State, and admission into its Basic Nursing programme is processed through JAMB, alongside the college’s own entrance examination and screening process.
Admission Requirements
Candidates seeking admission into the Department of Nursing at the College of Nursing Sciences, Ihiala, must meet the following entry requirements:
- A minimum of five credit passes in relevant O’Level subjects, specifically English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, obtained in not more than two sittings, from GCE or SSCE (WAEC/NECO).
- Registration and payment of the college’s interview fee before the entrance examination date, along with an online printout serving as proof of payment, which must be presented before entry into the examination venue. The college does not accept cash payment for this fee, directing candidates instead to pay through its official school portal.
- Successful performance in the college’s entrance examination and screening process.
- For candidates applying through JAMB, meeting the applicable UTME cut off mark alongside the college’s own admission requirements.
The Basic Nursing programme runs for three years, while the college also offers Basic Midwifery and Post-Basic Nursing programmes with their own separate durations and entry conditions, generally requiring candidates for the Post-Basic route to already hold a relevant nursing qualification.
General Fee Structure for Freshers
As with most mission-founded and hospital-affiliated nursing colleges in South-East Nigeria, newly admitted students at the College of Nursing Sciences, Ihiala, pay more in their first year than they will pay in subsequent years. This reflects one-time onboarding charges tied specifically to fresh admission, on top of the standard tuition every student pays each session.
Based on the fee structure that comparable Anambra State nursing colleges have maintained in recent sessions, freshers at the College of Nursing Sciences, Ihiala, should reasonably expect a total cost in the region of ₦150,000 to ₦200,000 for the 2026/2027 session, in addition to the interview/entrance examination fee of approximately ₦10,500 paid before the screening exercise. Because the college communicates its exact, itemised tuition and fee schedule directly to admitted candidates through its official portal rather than through a single permanently published rate, prospective students should treat the ₦150,000 to ₦200,000 range as a realistic planning estimate and confirm the precise current amount through the college’s official channels before making payment.
The components that typically make up a fresher’s total bill at the College of Nursing Sciences, Ihiala, include:
- Interview/entrance examination fee: approximately ₦10,500, paid before the entrance examination date through the official school portal.
- Tuition fee: the core academic charge for lectures, laboratory sessions, 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 and basic clinical equipment freshers need before starting ward postings within the hospital complex.
- Medical fitness screening fee: covers the pre-admission health check required to confirm a candidate’s fitness for hospital-based clinical training.
- Identification and file purchase: candidates are required to purchase files from the school bookshop and register with the Student Union Government, obtaining an identity/permit card required for movement within the hospital complex.
- Registration and departmental levies: cover biodata capture, departmental resources, and general administrative processing.
General Fee Structure for Returning Students
From the second year onward, students no longer pay the one-time charges tied specifically to fresh admission, such as the interview/entrance examination fee, acceptance fee, uniform and clinical kit fee, and initial medical screening. Returning students at the College of Nursing Sciences, Ihiala, typically pay in the region of ₦100,000 to ₦170,000 per session, covering tuition, examination fees, continuing clinical practicum charges, and standard departmental levies.
The recurring components every student pays each session, whether fresher or returning, include tuition, departmental levies, and examination fees, along with the periodic purchase of a scratch card for result checking through the college’s ICT department at the end of each examination cycle.
Fee Comparison Table: Freshers vs Returning Students
| Fee Component | Freshers | Returning Students |
|---|---|---|
| Interview/entrance examination fee | ₦10,500 (paid once) | 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 |
| File purchase/ID/permit card | Paid | Paid (renewal, where applicable) |
| Departmental levy | Paid | Paid |
| Examination fee & result scratch card | Paid | Paid |
| Approximate session total | ₦150,000 – ₦200,000 (plus ₦10,500 interview fee) | ₦100,000 – ₦170,000 |
These figures reflect the pattern typical of Anambra State’s mission-run and hospital-affiliated nursing colleges, and the exact amount for a given session depends on the specific programme (Basic Nursing, Basic Midwifery, or Post-Basic Nursing) and any fee review the college’s management approves.
Why Freshers Pay More Than Returning Students
The higher cost freshers bear comes directly from onboarding expenses that occur only once during a student’s training period. The interview/entrance examination fee confirms a candidate’s participation in the screening process, the acceptance fee secures their place once admitted, and the uniform, clinical kit, and medical screening charges prepare a new student for hospital-based practical training within the Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Complex. None of these charges repeat once a student advances beyond the first year, which explains why returning students consistently pay a lower and more predictable amount each session.
How Payment Is Made
Payment of fees at the College of Nursing Sciences, Ihiala, is processed strictly through the college’s official online school portal, with the institution explicitly stating that it does not accept cash payment for fees such as the interview charge. The general process works as follows:
- Candidates register on the official school portal and complete the application form.
- Payment is made by selecting the card payment option, using a Visa or Mastercard activated for online banking, and inserting card details to complete the transaction.
- Candidates upload a passport photograph (not exceeding 100KB) to complete their form after successful payment.
- An online printout serving as proof of payment must be presented before entry into the examination venue on the scheduled interview/entrance examination date.
- Successful candidates proceed to pay tuition and other approved charges through the same official portal ahead of resumption.
The college has explicitly warned that it will never contact prospective candidates through any channel other than those stated on its official website, and candidates should treat any other contact claiming to represent the college with caution.
What the Fees Do Not Typically Cover
School fees at the College of Nursing Sciences, Ihiala, generally do not include textbooks beyond the files purchased from the school bookshop, personal stationery, feeding, or transportation for students who do not reside within the hospital complex’s accommodation, where available. These additional living costs should be planned for separately from the official fees paid to the college.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns the College of Nursing Sciences, Ihiala?
The college operates within the Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Complex (OLLHC) in Ihiala, Anambra State, and is owned by the Catholic Diocese of Nnewi, managed by the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mother of Christ.
How much do freshers pay at the College of Nursing Sciences, Ihiala, for 2026/2027?
Freshers should reasonably expect to pay in the region of ₦150,000 to ₦200,000 for the session, in addition to the approximately ₦10,500 interview/entrance examination fee paid before screening. The exact figure should be confirmed through the college’s official school portal.
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 interview, acceptance, uniform, and medical screening charges that apply only to freshers.
Is the entrance examination fee paid in cash?
No. The college requires the interview fee to be paid strictly through its official school portal, and it does not accept cash collection for this fee.
What programmes does the College of Nursing Sciences, Ihiala, offer?
The college offers Basic Nursing, Basic Midwifery, and Post-Basic Nursing programmes, with the Basic Nursing programme running for three years and requiring five O’Level credits, including English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, obtained in not more than two sittings.