Kogi State University, now officially renamed Prince Abubakar Audu University (PAAU) and still widely referred to as KSU, is located in Anyigba, Kogi State. It runs a Medicine and Surgery programme (MBBS) under its College of Health Sciences, and it remains one of the more affordable state universities for students hoping to study medicine in Nigeria. This article explains what the school fees look like for the programme, what the charges cover, and how the costs compare across the six years of study.
Overview of Kogi State University and Its Medicine Programme
KSU/PAAU was established in 1999 by the Kogi State Government and is domiciled in Anyigba. Its Medicine and Surgery programme leads to the award of the MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery) degree and runs for six academic sessions, similar to most Nigerian medical schools. Admission into the programme is competitive and merit-based, and candidates are required to meet a post-UTME aggregate cut-off mark that is typically higher for Medicine and Surgery than for most other courses in the university, reflecting the demand for the course and the limited number of seats available each session.
As a state-funded institution, KSU charges tuition that is markedly lower than what obtains in private universities offering the same programme. Government subvention subsidizes a large part of the cost of running the medical school, including clinical training, laboratory work, and teaching hospital attachment, so students pay only a fraction of what the training actually costs the institution.
General Fee Structure at Kogi State University
Across most departments, KSU’s tuition for new students typically falls between ₦57,500 and ₦100,000 per session, while returning students pay a lower amount, since some one-time charges (such as acceptance fees) apply only in the first year. Medicine and Surgery, along with a handful of other professional and science-based courses, attracts extra charges on top of the base tuition because of the additional cost of laboratory consumables, clinical postings, and specialized equipment used during training.
The total amount a fresh Medicine and Surgery student pays in the first session is therefore higher than the base tuition figure alone, once the following are added:
- Tuition fee (the core academic charge)
- Acceptance fee (a one-time payment made after receiving an admission offer)
- Medical examination fee
- Library fee
- ICT/technology fee
- Examination fee
- Sports fee
- Students’ union dues
- Departmental and laboratory charges specific to the College of Health Sciences
Approximate Breakdown of Fees for Fresh Medicine and Surgery Students
The table below sets out a representative breakdown of the standalone charges that make up the total school fees payable by a fresh 100-level student. Actual figures move slightly from one session to the next, and Medicine students typically pay additional laboratory and clinical charges above this base structure, so students should treat the table as an illustration of the fee components rather than a fixed, unchangeable amount.
| Fee Component | Indigene Students (₦) | Non-Indigene Students (₦) |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | 50,000 | 65,000 |
| Acceptance Fee | 35,000 | 35,000 |
| Medical Examination | 2,500 | 2,500 |
| ICT/Technology Fee | 7,500 | 7,500 |
| Library Fee | 5,000 | 5,000 |
| Examination Fee | 10,000 | 10,000 |
| Sports Fee | 5,000 | 5,000 |
| Students’ Union Dues | 5,000 | 5,000 |
| Estimated Subtotal (excluding medical department levies) | ≈120,000 | ≈135,000 |
Medicine and Surgery students should expect to pay additional College of Health Sciences charges on top of this subtotal, covering items such as laboratory coats, dissection kits, practical manuals, and clinical/teaching hospital fees once they proceed to the clinical years (typically from 400 level onward). These additions can raise the total first-session cost for a fresh medical student well above the general subtotal shown above.
Fee Difference Between Indigenes and Non-Indigenes
Kogi State indigenes pay a lower tuition rate than students who are not from the state, a common practice across Nigerian state universities. The gap is usually in the tuition component itself rather than in the flat charges (acceptance fee, library fee, sports fee, and similar levies), which apply equally to all students regardless of their state of origin. A candidate’s indigene status is usually confirmed through a local government indigene certificate submitted during registration; without this document, a student is automatically classified and charged as a non-indigene.
Acceptance Fee and Application Charges
Candidates offered admission into KSU/PAAU pay a one-time acceptance fee to confirm their place in the university. This fee is separate from tuition and is paid once, shortly after the admission letter is issued. In addition, prospective students pay a post-UTME screening or application form fee before the admission process begins; this charge has historically been in the region of ₦2,000, though it is subject to review each admission cycle.
Fees for Returning Medicine and Surgery Students
Once a student moves past the first year, the acceptance fee and some other one-off first-year charges no longer apply, so returning students typically pay less than fresh students overall. However, Medicine and Surgery students in the clinical years (400 to 600 level) generally see an increase in departmental and hospital-based charges compared to the pre-clinical years (100 to 300 level), since these later years involve direct patient contact, ward postings, and use of teaching hospital facilities. Students should budget for a gradual rise in departmental levies as they progress through the programme rather than expecting a flat fee across all six years.
Cost Across the Six-Year Duration
Medicine and Surgery at KSU/PAAU runs for six years, and a rough total cost of the programme can be estimated by multiplying the average per-session fee by six, while accounting for the fact that clinical-year charges tend to be higher than pre-clinical charges. For indigene students, the full six-year cost typically remains within a modest range compared to private universities offering the same MBBS programme, some of which charge several million naira per session. For non-indigene students, the total cost over six years is proportionally higher because of the non-indigene tuition differential, but it still remains considerably lower than private medical school fees in Nigeria.
Students and parents planning for the full duration of the programme should factor in likely fee reviews. Nigerian public universities periodically adjust tuition and departmental charges in response to inflation and changes in government subvention, so the exact naira figures for a student’s 100-level session may not be identical to what they pay by the time they reach 600 level.
Other Costs to Plan For
Beyond the official school fees, Medicine and Surgery students at KSU/PAAU should budget for costs that are not part of the university’s fee schedule but are necessary for completing the programme comfortably:
- Accommodation, whether in a university hostel or off-campus lodging
- Textbooks, atlases, and reference materials specific to medical training
- A stethoscope, white coat, and other basic clinical tools required from the clinical years onward
- Transportation to and from teaching hospital sites, where applicable
- Feeding and general upkeep for the duration of each session
These costs vary from student to student and are not fixed by the university, but they form a significant part of the overall financial commitment required to study medicine.
How to Confirm the Current Fee Amount
Because tuition and departmental charges are reviewed periodically, the most reliable way to get the exact, current fee schedule for Medicine and Surgery is to check the university’s official student portal directly at the point of admission or registration. The portal displays fees broken down by faculty, department, and student category (fresh, returning, direct entry, indigene, non-indigene), and payment is also processed through this same platform. Prospective and current students are advised to log in with their JAMB or matriculation details to view the specific amount applicable to their level and category before making any payment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medicine and Surgery more expensive than other courses at KSU/PAAU?
Yes. While the base tuition structure is similar across departments, Medicine and Surgery students pay extra departmental, laboratory, and clinical charges that other courses do not attract, making the overall cost higher than that of a general arts or social science programme.
Do non-indigenes pay significantly more for Medicine and Surgery?
Non-indigenes pay a higher tuition rate than indigenes, while other charges such as acceptance fees and general levies remain the same for both categories. The tuition gap is the main source of the fee difference.
Does the acceptance fee apply every session?
No. The acceptance fee is a one-time payment made only after a candidate is first offered admission. It does not recur in subsequent sessions.
Are the fees paid in one installment?
New students typically pay their total first-session fees in a single installment before registration is completed, while some universities, including KSU, allow certain charges to be settled ahead of specific portal deadlines.
Can the fees change before I complete the programme?
Yes. Public university fees in Nigeria are subject to periodic review, so the amount paid in the first year of the programme may differ from what is charged by the final year.