Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), is a private university in Ekiti State founded in 2009 by legal icon Chief Afe Babalola. Beyond its well-known undergraduate programmes in Law, Medicine, Engineering, Pharmacy, and the Sciences, the university runs a full College of Postgraduate Studies offering Postgraduate Diploma (PGD), Master’s, and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programmes across disciplines including the sciences, engineering, health, law, humanities, and management. Prospective postgraduate applicants need clear, direct information on what tuition and other charges look like before committing to an application. This article explains the fee structure, what it typically covers, and how it compares across programme categories.
Overview of ABUAD’s College of Postgraduate Studies
The College of Postgraduate Studies at ABUAD runs programmes spanning nearly every discipline offered at the undergraduate level, meaning a graduate from any first-degree background can generally find a related postgraduate track to pursue. The college offers three broad categories of study: the Postgraduate Diploma (PGD), Master’s degree programmes (including academic Master of Science or Master of Arts tracks, as well as professional programmes like the MBA), and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programmes for candidates pursuing advanced research qualifications.
As with ABUAD’s undergraduate fee structure, postgraduate charges are not identical across every programme. Fees differ depending on the specific course of study, the college under which the programme falls, and whether a student is a fresh admission or a returning candidate progressing to a later semester. Because ABUAD reviews and adjusts its fee schedule periodically, prospective postgraduate students should treat published estimates as a planning guide and confirm the exact current figure directly through the university’s official postgraduate admission channel before making any payment.
General Fee Range for Postgraduate Programmes
Based on the most consistent estimates available for ABUAD’s postgraduate fee structure, fresh postgraduate students should budget between ₦300,000 and ₦400,000 per semester in core tuition-related charges, translating to roughly ₦600,000 to ₦800,000 for a full academic session. This estimate typically excludes the acceptance fee, accommodation charges, ICT fee, and library fee, which are billed separately and add to the overall first-session cost for newly admitted candidates.
Because ABUAD operates a fully residential system for its student population, postgraduate students who are required or who choose to live on campus should also factor in accommodation costs, which vary depending on the type of room selected, ranging from shared multi-person rooms to more private single-occupancy options. Since ABUAD’s residential fee structure applies broadly across the university, postgraduate accommodation costs generally follow a similar tiered pricing pattern to what is charged at the undergraduate level, though postgraduate students are permitted to cook in their living quarters, unlike undergraduates.
What the Postgraduate Fee Package Typically Includes
A newly admitted postgraduate student’s overall first-session cost is made up of several distinct components rather than a single tuition figure. These typically include:
- Tuition fee – the core academic charge covering coursework, seminars, and academic supervision for the semester or session.
- Acceptance fee – a one-time, non-refundable payment made to confirm the postgraduate admission offer.
- Accommodation fee – charged separately based on the room category selected, since ABUAD operates a compulsory or largely residential system.
- ICT fee – covers access to the university’s information and communication technology infrastructure, including the learning management system used for coursework.
- Library fee – covers access to physical and digital academic resources needed for research and coursework.
- Development levy and other miscellaneous charges – cover items such as medical screening, student association dues, and general infrastructure development costs.
Fee Differences by Programme Category
Postgraduate fees at ABUAD are not uniform across all programme types, and the table below outlines the general pattern in how charges typically differ by category, based on the structure common to Nigerian postgraduate colleges and reflected in ABUAD’s own programme design.
| Programme Category | General Fee Pattern | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) | Lower end of the tuition range | Typically a one-year programme with a lighter research component |
| Master’s Degree (Academic, e.g., MSc/MA) | Mid-range tuition, varies by college | Science and engineering-based Master’s programmes often cost more than humanities-based ones due to laboratory and technical resource use |
| Professional Master’s (e.g., MBA) | Often priced separately from academic Master’s tracks | Structured around a shorter, more intensive schedule in many institutions |
| Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) | Higher tuition, charged across multiple sessions | Covers a longer duration of study with ongoing supervision and research support |
Candidates should confirm the specific fee attached to their chosen programme and college directly through the College of Postgraduate Studies, since science-based and clinical-adjacent postgraduate courses generally carry higher charges than programmes in the humanities or social sciences, mirroring the same pattern seen at the undergraduate level.
Admission Requirements for ABUAD Postgraduate Programmes
Before the question of fee payment becomes relevant, prospective postgraduate students must meet ABUAD’s entry requirements for their chosen programme. Generally, this includes holding a first degree from a recognised university in a field relevant to the intended postgraduate programme, with the specific minimum grade or classification requirement varying depending on whether the applicant is pursuing a PGD, Master’s, or PhD programme. PhD applicants are typically expected to hold a relevant Master’s degree, while some professional postgraduate programmes may accept candidates based on a combination of academic qualification and relevant work experience. Applicants should confirm the exact grade and qualification requirements for their specific programme through the College of Postgraduate Studies before applying, since these requirements differ across departments.
How to Pay ABUAD Postgraduate School Fees
Postgraduate students at ABUAD are expected to complete fee payment through the university’s official student portal rather than through informal channels. The general process typically follows this structure:
- Confirm the current fee schedule for the specific programme and college through the College of Postgraduate Studies before making any payment, since figures are reviewed periodically.
- Pay the acceptance fee promptly after receiving an admission offer, since this confirms the candidate’s place in the programme.
- Log in to the university’s payment portal using student credentials to generate a payment reference for tuition and other compulsory charges.
- Complete payment through the approved online channels or designated banks before the stated deadline for the session.
- Retain all payment confirmations, including portal receipts and Remita Retrieval References, for use during registration and clearance.
Since Law and Medicine-related undergraduate programmes at ABUAD do not permit installment payments, postgraduate students in professionally regulated fields should confirm whether a similar restriction applies to their specific programme, while most other postgraduate programmes generally allow tuition to be settled across two installments within a session.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a postgraduate programme cost at ABUAD?
Fresh postgraduate students should generally budget between ₦300,000 and ₦400,000 per semester in core tuition, excluding the acceptance fee, accommodation, ICT fee, and library fee, which are charged separately.
Does ABUAD offer PGD, Master’s, and PhD programmes?
Yes. The College of Postgraduate Studies offers Postgraduate Diploma, Master’s degree, and PhD programmes across disciplines including sciences, engineering, health, law, humanities, and management.
Is accommodation compulsory for postgraduate students at ABUAD?
ABUAD operates a largely residential system for its student population, and postgraduate students who live on campus pay accommodation fees separately from tuition, with charges varying based on the room type selected.
Do postgraduate fees differ by programme and college?
Yes. Science, engineering, and technically oriented postgraduate programmes generally cost more than humanities or social science-based programmes, reflecting the additional laboratory and research resources required.
How can prospective students confirm the exact current postgraduate fee for their programme?
Prospective students should contact the College of Postgraduate Studies directly or check the official ABUAD postgraduate admission portal, since the exact figure for each programme is confirmed at the point of admission and can be adjusted between sessions.