The College of Nursing Sciences, St. Mary’s Joint Hospital, Amaigbo (commonly abbreviated as CONSAMAIGBO), is a long-established nursing training institution in Amaigbo, Imo State, and an affiliate of Abia State University, Uturu. Candidates who have secured admission, and those still applying, need clarity on how the college’s fees are structured for freshers compared to returning students. This article explains the fee components, the admission process, and how payment typically works for the 2026/2027 academic session.
About the College of Nursing Sciences, Amaigbo
The College of Nursing Sciences at St. Mary’s Joint Hospital, Amaigbo, has a history stretching back several decades, tied closely to the hospital itself, which the Amaigbo Town Union has supported and rehabilitated over the years. The nursing school was reopened in 1979, nine years after the Nigerian Civil War, following an application to the Nursing Council of Nigeria and a subsequent inspection, and it has continued to receive community support from the Amaigbo Town Union ever since. The college recently marked its 54th matriculation ceremony, underlining its status as one of the older and more established nursing training institutions in Imo State.
CONSAMAIGBO currently operates as an affiliate of Abia State University, Uturu, and its academic programmes are approved and regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN). The college runs three main programme areas: General Nursing, Midwifery, and Public Health, alongside various Post-Basic specialty programmes offered periodically, including Perioperative Nursing, Cardiothoracic Nursing, Ophthalmic Nursing, and Anaesthetic Nursing. Training combines classroom instruction with clinical practice delivered through St. Mary’s Joint Hospital, giving students direct, hands-on exposure to patient care throughout their studies.
Admission Requirements
Candidates seeking admission into the General Nursing Education Programme at the College of Nursing Sciences, Amaigbo, must meet the following requirements set by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and the college’s own admissions office:
- A Senior Secondary School Certificate or its equivalent, with a minimum of five credit passes, including English Language, Mathematics, and either Physics, Chemistry, or Biology/Health Science, obtained in not more than two sittings.
- Successful completion of the college’s entrance examination and screening process, referred to in recent admission notices as the Post-UTME and screening exercise.
- For the Post-Basic Midwifery Programme, the candidate must already hold Registered Nurse (RN) status and meet all other institutional requirements applicable to the country’s schools of midwifery.
- For Post-Basic Psychiatric Nursing and other Post-Basic specialty programmes, candidates must similarly hold a Registered Nurse qualification and satisfy the specific entry conditions attached to each specialty track.
The General Nursing programme runs for three calendar years and leads to Registered Nurse (RN) certification, while the Post-Basic Midwifery programme runs for one calendar year and leads to Registered Midwife (RM) certification. Other Post-Basic specialty programmes carry their own durations depending on the specific area of specialisation.
General Fee Structure for Freshers
As with most mission-affiliated and hospital-based nursing colleges in the South-East, newly admitted students at the College of Nursing Sciences, Amaigbo, 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. The college’s own published fee notices have been explicit that its stated tuition breakdown for freshers does not include the acceptance fee, caution fee, medical fee, uniform fee, and other miscellaneous charges, all of which are billed separately and add to the total amount a fresher ultimately pays.
Based on the fee structure that comparable teaching hospital-affiliated nursing colleges in Imo State and the wider South-East region have maintained in recent sessions, freshers at the College of Nursing Sciences, Amaigbo, should reasonably expect a total cost in the region of ₦150,000 to ₦220,000 for the 2026/2027 session, once tuition, acceptance fee, caution fee, medical fee, uniform fee, and other standard charges are combined. Because the college reviews and communicates its exact fee schedule directly to admitted candidates rather than through one single, permanently published figure, prospective students should treat this range as a realistic planning estimate and confirm the precise current amount through the college’s official portal or admissions office before making any payment.
The components that typically make up a fresher’s total bill at the College of Nursing Sciences, Amaigbo, include:
- 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, serving as proof of the candidate’s acceptance of the provisional admission.
- Caution fee: a refundable deposit held against damage to college or hospital property, typically refunded on graduation or honourable withdrawal.
- Medical fee: covers the pre-admission health screening required to confirm a candidate’s fitness to undergo clinical training within the hospital.
- Uniform fee: covers the nursing uniforms and related items freshers need before beginning ward postings and clinical demonstrations.
- Registration and administrative charges: cover biodata capture, student identification, and processing of admission documents.
The college has also indicated, in line with the practice at many Nigerian nursing schools, that it offers newly admitted students the option of paying fees in instalments, at the discretion of the hospital’s management, to give parents and guardians more flexibility in meeting the financial obligation.
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 acceptance fee, caution fee, and initial uniform and medical screening costs. Returning students at the College of Nursing Sciences, Amaigbo, 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 hostel accommodation where a student takes up a bed space within the college’s residential facilities.
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 fee | Paid before resumption | Usually not repeated |
| Uniform fee | Paid in first year | Not applicable, unless replacement is needed |
| Registration/administrative charges | Paid | Paid (renewal, where applicable) |
| Examination fee | Paid | Paid |
| Hostel accommodation | Paid if bed space is secured | Paid if bed space is renewed |
| Approximate session total | ₦150,000 – ₦220,000 | ₦100,000 – ₦170,000 |
These figures reflect the general spread typical of teaching hospital-affiliated nursing colleges of comparable standing in Imo State, and the exact amount for a given session depends on the specific programme and any fee review the college’s management approves.
Why Freshers Pay More Than Returning Students
The pattern of freshers paying more than returning students is standard practice across virtually every school of nursing in Nigeria, and the College of Nursing Sciences, Amaigbo, follows the same structure. The acceptance fee confirms a candidate’s decision to take up the offer of admission, the caution fee protects hospital and college property, and the medical and uniform charges prepare a new student for hospital-based practical training. None of these charges repeat once a student advances beyond the first year, which is why returning students consistently pay a lower and more predictable amount from the second year onward.
How Payment Is Made
Payment of fees at the College of Nursing Sciences, Amaigbo, generally follows the standard process common to teaching hospital-affiliated nursing colleges in Nigeria:
- Candidates purchase the application/admission form through the college’s official channels, typically communicated via the school’s contact lines and admissions office ahead of each intake.
- Shortlisted candidates sit for the entrance examination and screening exercise, referred to in recent notices as the Post-UTME and screening process.
- Successful candidates receive an offer of admission and are required to pay the acceptance fee to confirm their place.
- Before resumption, admitted students pay tuition and other approved charges to the designated bank accounts specified by the hospital’s management, with the option of instalment payment available at the discretion of the management.
- Students retain evidence of payment, since this is required during physical registration and biodata verification at the start of the session.
Candidates should only use the official payment channels and contact details published through the college’s website (consamaigbo.edu.ng) and should be cautious of unofficial intermediaries claiming to facilitate admission or payment outside the recognised system.
What the Fees Do Not Typically Cover
School fees at the College of Nursing Sciences, Amaigbo, generally do not include textbooks, personal stationery, feeding, or transportation for students who do not reside in hostel accommodation. These additional living costs should be planned for separately from the official fees paid to the college.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the College of Nursing Sciences, Amaigbo, affiliated with a university?
Yes. The college operates as an affiliate of Abia State University, Uturu, in addition to being regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.
How much do freshers pay at the College of Nursing Sciences, Amaigbo, for 2026/2027?
Freshers should reasonably expect to pay in the region of ₦150,000 to ₦220,000 for the session, covering tuition, acceptance fee, caution fee, medical fee, uniform fee, and other standard onboarding charges. The exact figure 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.
Does the college allow fee payment in instalments?
Yes, based on the college’s own admission notices, newly admitted students are generally offered the option of paying fees in instalments, though this is subject to the discretion of the hospital’s management for that session.
What programmes does the College of Nursing Sciences, Amaigbo, offer?
The college runs General Nursing (three-year programme leading to Registered Nurse certification), Post-Basic Midwifery (one-year programme leading to Registered Midwife certification), and various Post-Basic specialty programmes, including Perioperative Nursing, Cardiothoracic Nursing, Ophthalmic Nursing, and Anaesthetic Nursing.