The School of Nursing under the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) trains students for the Registered Nurse (RN) qualification through a structured, hospital-based programme recognized by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN). Every academic session, one of the most searched pieces of information among admitted candidates and continuing students is the exact amount payable as school fees. This article breaks down what freshers and returning students at UCTH School of Nursing can expect to pay for the 2026/2027 academic session, the components that make up the total fee, and how the payment structure typically works.
Overview of UCTH School of Nursing
The School of Nursing, UCTH, Calabar operates as one of the teaching institutions attached to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, offering a full-time programme that combines classroom instruction with clinical practice inside the hospital’s wards and departments. Students who complete the programme sit for the qualifying examination conducted by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, after which they become licensed to practice as Registered Nurses in Nigeria. Because the school runs under a federal teaching hospital rather than as a private institution, its fees generally fall within the moderate range typical of government-owned nursing schools, though they are not free and still require careful financial planning by students and their sponsors.
Understanding How Nursing School Fees Are Structured in Nigeria
Before looking at what a fresher or returning student pays, it helps to understand that nursing school fees in Nigeria are rarely a single lump sum. They are usually broken into several components, each covering a specific aspect of the student’s training and welfare. This structure applies to UCTH School of Nursing as it does to most schools of nursing attached to teaching hospitals across the country.
- Tuition fee — covers the actual cost of instruction, lectures, and academic supervision throughout the session.
- Acceptance fee — a one-time payment made by newly admitted students to confirm and secure their offer of admission.
- Practical/clinical fee — covers the cost of supervised ward practice, clinical postings, and use of hospital training facilities.
- Library and ICT fee — supports access to the school’s library resources and any computer-based learning tools.
- Examination fee — covers internal school examinations as well as registration for NMCN qualifying examinations where applicable.
- Development levy — a general fee that goes toward maintaining and improving school infrastructure.
- Identification card and uniform fee — for freshers in particular, this covers the cost of the official nursing uniform, name tags, and student ID.
- Accommodation fee — applicable to students who choose to stay in the school’s hostel facilities, charged separately from tuition.
- Medical/health fee — covers basic health screening and access to medical care while enrolled.
Not every fee applies to every student in every year. Freshers typically pay more in their first session because of one-time charges such as acceptance fees, uniforms, and identification materials, while returning students pay a comparatively lighter fee that excludes these one-off costs.
What Freshers Should Expect to Pay
Newly admitted students into the School of Nursing, UCTH, Calabar for the 2026/2027 session should prepare for a higher first-year payment compared to what they will pay in subsequent years. This is standard practice across Nigerian nursing schools and is not unique to UCTH. The first payment typically bundles together the acceptance fee, tuition, uniform costs, and other one-time administrative charges that apply only at the point of entry.
Candidates should also budget separately for items that the school does not usually include in its official fee schedule, such as textbooks, stethoscopes, and other clinical instruments freshers are required to personally own once they begin ward postings. These additional costs, while not part of the formal school fees, form a real part of the total financial commitment for a first-year nursing student.
What Returning Students Should Expect to Pay
Students who have already completed their first year and are progressing into subsequent levels of the programme generally pay less than freshers, since the one-time admission-related charges no longer apply. Returning students’ fees mainly cover tuition, practical/clinical fees, examination fees, and any applicable levies for that particular session. Students who choose to remain in the hostel will continue to pay accommodation fees each session, while those who arrange off-campus housing only pay the academic-related components.
It is worth noting that fees for returning students can still change slightly from one session to the next, particularly if the hospital or nursing council reviews training costs, examination charges, or infrastructure levies. Because of this, returning students should not assume their fee will be identical to what they paid the previous year and should always confirm the updated figure before the start of a new session.
Fee Components Comparison: Freshers vs. Returning Students
| Fee Component | Applies to Freshers | Applies to Returning Students |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance fee | Yes (one-time) | No |
| Tuition fee | Yes | Yes |
| Uniform and ID card fee | Yes (one-time) | No |
| Practical/clinical fee | Yes | Yes |
| Examination fee | Yes | Yes |
| Development levy | Yes | Yes |
| Library/ICT fee | Yes | Yes |
| Accommodation fee (if applicable) | Yes | Yes |
| Medical/health fee | Yes | Yes |
| Textbooks and clinical instruments | Yes (personal cost) | Occasionally, as courses change |
Why the Exact Amount Is Not Fixed Here
School fees at institutions like UCTH School of Nursing are reviewed periodically by the hospital management in consultation with relevant regulatory bodies, and the figures can be adjusted based on inflation, changes in training costs, or new directives from the Federal Ministry of Health. Because these adjustments happen from time to time, quoting a fixed naira figure risks becoming outdated the moment fees are revised for a new session. The most reliable way for candidates and students to get the exact current figure for 2026/2027 is to check directly with the school’s admission office or the official fee schedule released at the start of the session, since this is the only source that reflects real-time changes accurately.
How Payment Is Typically Made
Schools of nursing attached to teaching hospitals generally require fees to be paid through designated bank accounts or an online payment portal linked to the hospital’s finance department, rather than in cash to any individual. Students are usually issued a payment invoice or reference number at the point of admission or at the start of each session, which they use to make payment and generate a receipt. Retaining proof of payment is important, as it is often required during registration, examination clearance, and at various checkpoints throughout the academic year. Students who face genuine financial difficulty in meeting a payment deadline are advised to formally communicate with the school’s administration rather than remain silent, as institutions sometimes provide guidance on installment arrangements where such provisions exist.
Additional Costs to Plan For
Beyond the official school fees, nursing students should budget for a number of recurring personal expenses that accompany the training. These include transportation to and from clinical postings, feeding, personal upkeep, and periodic renewal of practical materials such as scrubs, gloves, and other consumables used during ward practice. Students preparing for admission or already enrolled should treat these as part of their overall financial planning rather than an afterthought, since clinical training in nursing tends to be more resource-intensive than purely classroom-based courses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do freshers at UCTH School of Nursing pay more than returning students?
Yes. Freshers pay additional one-time charges such as the acceptance fee, uniform, and identification card costs, which do not apply to returning students in subsequent sessions.
Where can students confirm the exact current fee amount?
The most accurate and up-to-date figure comes directly from the School of Nursing’s admission office or the official fee schedule released by the school at the start of each academic session.
Are hostel and accommodation fees included in the general school fees?
No. Accommodation is usually charged separately from academic fees and only applies to students who choose to live in the school’s hostel facilities.
Do school fees change every academic session?
They can. Fees may be reviewed periodically due to changes in training costs or institutional policy, so students should not assume the fee stays fixed indefinitely from year to year.
Are textbooks and clinical instruments part of the official school fees?
Generally, no. These are personal costs that students bear separately, in addition to the formal fees paid to the school.