College of Nursing Science, Eku, is one of the nursing training campuses operating under the Delta State Colleges of Nursing Sciences system, affiliated with Eku Baptist Hospital in Delta State. It runs Basic Nursing and Post-Basic Nursing programmes accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN). Anyone considering admission, or already enrolled and preparing for a new session, needs a clear picture of what the fees cover and how the cost differs between a fresher and a returning student. This article addresses that directly.
Background of the College
The institution traces its origin to 1928, when it began as the Green Memorial School of Nursing in Ogbomoso, before relocating to Eku in 1959 and forming its long-standing affiliation with Eku Baptist Hospital. As a college operating within Delta State’s nursing training system, it functions alongside sister campuses in Agbor, Warri, Asaba, and Sapele, all coordinated under the Delta State Ministry of Health’s Department of Nursing Services. This state-affiliated structure means the college’s admission process and, by extension, its fee schedule follow patterns broadly consistent with the other Delta State nursing colleges, even though Eku maintains its own campus administration and location-specific charges.
The college offers the Basic Nursing programme, which runs for three years and prepares students for professional nursing practice through courses covering anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, medical-surgical nursing, maternal and child health, and community health nursing. Graduates of this programme become eligible for licensure by the NMCN. The college also runs a Post-Basic Nursing programme lasting approximately 18 months, open to registered nurses seeking specialisation in areas such as paediatric nursing, psychiatric nursing, or midwifery.
Admission Requirements
Candidates applying to the Basic Nursing programme at Eku must be at least 16 years old and must hold a minimum of five credit passes in English Language, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. These credits are accepted from WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB, though the number of allowable sittings differs by examination body: WAEC and NECO candidates may combine credits from not more than two sittings, while NABTEB candidates must obtain their five credits in one sitting only. Applicants under the Delta State system, including those applying to the Eku campus, are also required to use JAMB, meaning candidates must proceed to a JAMB accreditation centre to change their preferred institution to the specific Delta State College of Nursing Sciences campus they intend to attend.
Application Fee for the ND Nursing Admission Process
Under the Delta State Colleges of Nursing Sciences system, of which Eku is one campus, the application form for the ND Nursing admission exercise costs ₦20,500. This amount is stated as non-refundable, and payment is typically made at a designated Zenith Bank branch into the account maintained by the Ministry of Health’s Department of Nursing Services. This application fee is separate from tuition and other post-admission charges, and it applies to every candidate participating in the entrance screening process, whether or not they are eventually offered a place.
What Fresh Students Pay
A newly admitted student at College of Nursing Science, Eku, typically faces a combination of charges once admission is confirmed. These generally include:
- Application/admission form fee, paid before the screening exercise, non-refundable
- Tuition fee for the Basic Nursing or Post-Basic programme
- Acceptance fee, paid once an admission offer is confirmed
- Medical screening/investigation fee, covering the health checks and results of investigations required to be presented to the school before resumption
- Uniform and clinical kit fee, covering the nursing uniform and starter clinical instruments needed before ward postings at Eku Baptist Hospital begin
- Registration and matriculation charges, tied to formal enrolment into the programme
- Hostel accommodation fee, for students who choose to reside in college-provided housing
The college explicitly states that all fees paid are non-refundable, and that a newly admitted student who fails to assume studies or meet the registration requirement within two weeks of the admission offer risks having their space reassigned to another qualified candidate. This makes prompt registration and fee payment particularly important for freshers at this institution.
What Returning Students Pay
From the second year onward, a returning student’s session bill removes the one-time charges associated with first admission, such as the application fee, acceptance fee, and initial medical investigations. What generally remains each session includes:
- Tuition fee for the current year of the Basic Nursing programme
- Clinical/practical fee, covering continued ward attachment at Eku Baptist Hospital
- Hostel fee, if the student continues residing in college accommodation
- Examination fee, paid ahead of NMCN or internal promotional examinations
- Library and departmental charges
Returning students are expected to clear any outstanding balance from a previous session before being permitted to register for a new one, consistent with standard practice across NMCN-affiliated nursing training institutions.
Fee Comparison: Freshers vs Returning Students
| Fee Category | Fresh Students | Returning Students |
|---|---|---|
| Application form fee | ₦20,500, non-refundable | Does not apply |
| Tuition | Charged in full | Charged in full, based on current year |
| Acceptance fee | Charged once, after admission offer | Does not apply |
| Medical/investigation fee | Charged at entry | Does not apply |
| Uniform/clinical kit | Full kit charged | Only if replacement is needed |
| Registration/matriculation | Charged | Not applicable |
| Hostel fee | Charged if resident | Charged if resident |
| Clinical/practical fee | Included from first session | Charged every session |
| Examination fee | Charged before first exams | Charged every session before exams |
This comparison shows why the first session at Eku represents the heaviest cumulative cost, with the fees settling into a lighter, more predictable pattern once a student advances beyond the admission stage.
Post-Basic Nursing Programme Fee Considerations
Candidates entering the Post-Basic Nursing programme at Eku, specialising in paediatric nursing, psychiatric nursing, or midwifery, should expect a fee structure distinct from the Basic Nursing programme. Since Post-Basic candidates already hold a Registered Nurse qualification, some of the foundational charges applied to first-time Basic Nursing entrants may not apply in the same way, but the shorter, more intensive 18-month duration of the Post-Basic programme typically carries its own specialisation-specific practical charges. A prospective Post-Basic applicant should request the fee breakdown specific to the chosen specialty rather than assume it mirrors the Basic Nursing fee structure.
Documentation Required Alongside Fee Payment
Beyond fee payment, admitted students are required to submit specific documentation to the college as part of the registration process. This includes two recent passport-sized photographs and a photocopy of SSCE results, alongside all results of medical investigations conducted before resumption. Certain documents are also required to be submitted, in photocopy form, to the legal officer of the Ministry of Health through the Department of Nursing Services in Asaba, reflecting the college’s position within the broader Delta State nursing administration structure.
Payment Procedure
The standard process for settling fees at the college generally follows this pattern:
- The candidate pays the application form fee into the designated Zenith Bank account maintained by the Ministry of Health’s Department of Nursing Services.
- The candidate collects the application form at the College of Nursing Science, Eku, campus.
- Once admission is confirmed, the candidate pays the acceptance fee and tuition fee within the specified window, generally within two weeks of the admission offer.
- Proof of payment and required documents, including passport photographs and SSCE result photocopies, are submitted to the college’s registration office.
- Returning students clear any outstanding balance from the previous session before registering for the new session or receiving examination clearance.
Why Prompt Payment and Registration Matter at Eku
The college’s policy is explicit that failure to assume studies or complete the registration requirement within two weeks of receiving an admission offer results in the provisional admission being deemed lapsed, with the vacated space offered to another qualified candidate. Combined with the non-refundable nature of all fees paid, this makes it especially important for freshers to have their full first-session payment ready promptly after receiving an offer, rather than delaying in the hope of negotiating a payment extension.
Financial Support and Scholarship Availability
While the college does not receive direct government grants, it benefits from donations from local and international organisations, and students may access scholarships and other forms of financial assistance made available through these channels. A student facing difficulty meeting the full fee amount should inquire directly with the college’s administration about any scholarship or bursary support that may be available for the current session, since such support is not automatically applied and generally requires a separate application process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the application fee for admission refundable?
No. The college states clearly that all fees paid, including the application form fee, are non-refundable.
What happens if a student does not register within two weeks of admission?
The provisional admission is deemed lapsed, and the space is offered to another qualified candidate.
Do returning students pay the application fee again?
No. The application fee applies only once, at the point of first applying for admission.
Is JAMB required for admission into the Basic Nursing programme?
Yes. Applicants under the Delta State Colleges of Nursing Sciences system, including the Eku campus, must use JAMB and are required to change their preferred institution to their intended campus at a JAMB accreditation centre.
Does the college offer financial assistance to students?
While there are no government grants, students may benefit from scholarships and financial assistance from local and international donor organisations.
Conclusion
College of Nursing Science, Eku, applies a fee structure in which freshers carry the heaviest first-session cost due to the application, acceptance, medical, and kit charges bundled into initial admission, while returning students face a comparatively lighter, recurring bill covering tuition, clinical, and examination fees. Because all fees paid are non-refundable and registration must be completed within two weeks of an admission offer, prospective and continuing students preparing for the 2026/2027 academic session should confirm the current, exact fee schedule directly with the college’s administration and ensure prompt payment to avoid losing an admitted place.