Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, Aliero, widely known by its acronym KSUSTA, is a state-owned university in Kebbi State, North-West Nigeria. The university has been renamed Abdullahi Fodio University of Science and Technology, Aliero (AFUSTA), though it continues to be referred to by its earlier name in most searches, applications, and general conversation among prospective students. The university runs an accredited Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) programme, alongside Nursing Science and a range of other health, science, and engineering-related courses. This article explains what is known about the school fees for Medicine and Surgery at the institution, the general fee structure across the university, and what prospective medical students should expect to budget for their training.
About Kebbi State University of Science and Technology (Now AFUSTA)
The university was established in 2006 and started with faculties in Education, Humanities, Natural and Applied Sciences, and Social and Management Sciences. Over the years, it expanded its academic offerings considerably, and the National Universities Commission (NUC) granted approval for the institution to run programmes in Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) and Nursing Science (B.NSc), placing it among the growing number of state universities in Nigeria offering clinical medical training. The Medicine and Surgery programme falls under the university’s Clinical Sciences track, distinct from its Basic Medical Sciences and other health-related programmes.
Prospective applicants should note that the university’s official name has changed to Abdullahi Fodio University of Science and Technology, Aliero (AFUSTA). This change affects official correspondence, admission portals, and fee schedules going forward, even though the physical location, courses, and general academic structure remain unchanged from what was previously known as KSUSTA.
General Fee Structure at the University
As a state-owned university, tuition and other charges at the institution are considerably lower than what is charged at private universities offering the same Medicine and Surgery programme, reflecting the government subsidy that state universities typically receive. Across all courses at the university, published fee ranges have historically shown considerable variation, with new students generally paying between ₦33,500 and ₦84,000 in core charges depending on their course, and returning students paying anywhere from ₦28,500 up to figures well above ₦400,000 in certain clinical years, since Medicine and Surgery and similarly resource-intensive programmes attract higher charges than non-clinical courses.
This wide range reflects an important pattern common to state university clinical programmes: Medicine and Surgery students typically pay more as they progress into their clinical years, since later years of the MBBS programme involve hospital-based training, laboratory access, and clinical supervision that non-clinical courses do not require. A first-year Medicine student and a final-year Medicine student at the same university can therefore have noticeably different fee obligations for the same academic session.
Medicine and Surgery (Clinical Sciences) Fee Pattern
Based on the university’s published fee structure for its Clinical Sciences programme, which houses Medicine and Surgery, tuition for this course has historically been set apart from the general undergraduate fee schedule that applies to Arts, Social Sciences, and non-clinical Science courses. In earlier published fee schedules, the Clinical Sciences (Medicine and Surgery) tuition component was set at a specific rate distinct from the general returning-student fee bracket, reflecting the additional resources required for clinical training, including laboratory access, hospital-based instruction, and specialised faculty supervision.
Because fee schedules at Nigerian state universities are reviewed periodically and Medicine and Surgery fees can shift meaningfully between academic sessions, prospective and current students should treat any previously published figure as a reference point rather than the confirmed rate for the current session. The most reliable way to obtain the exact current Medicine and Surgery fee is to check the tuition schedule published directly on the university’s official student portal at the start of each admission cycle, since this is where course-specific and level-specific charges are formally announced.
Fee Comparison Across Course Categories
The table below illustrates the general pattern in how Medicine and Surgery fees compare to other course categories at the university, based on the structure the institution has followed in its published fee schedules.
| Course Category | General Fee Pattern | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Arts, Social Sciences, Management | Lower end of the university’s fee range | Standard non-clinical, non-laboratory-intensive tuition |
| Natural and Applied Sciences | Moderate, above Arts and Social Sciences | Reflects laboratory and practical component |
| Nursing Science | Moderate to higher | Involves clinical postings and practical nursing training |
| Medicine and Surgery (Clinical Sciences) | Highest tier, increasing across clinical years | Reflects hospital-based training, laboratory access, and specialised supervision |
Other Charges Medicine and Surgery Students Should Expect
Beyond the core tuition figure, Medicine and Surgery students at the university, like students in other courses, are required to pay a number of additional charges that apply broadly across the institution. These typically include an acceptance fee, paid once by newly admitted students to confirm their admission offer, and other standard charges such as registration, library access, ICT fees, medical screening, and sports or student union dues. Students who choose to stay in university hostel accommodation pay this separately from tuition, and this charge applies to postgraduate and undergraduate students alike across the institution.
It is worth noting that, unlike many private universities, the university does not generally offer the option of paying school fees in installments, consistent with the practice followed by most state and federal universities in Nigeria. Medicine and Surgery students should therefore plan to settle their full session fee at once, rather than expecting a staggered payment arrangement.
Admission Requirements for Medicine and Surgery
Beyond fee considerations, candidates seeking admission into the Medicine and Surgery programme need to meet the university’s academic entry requirements. This includes a minimum of five credit passes in relevant O’Level subjects, including English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, obtained in an acceptable number of sittings under WAEC, NECO, or an equivalent examination body. Candidates must also meet the university’s JAMB cut off mark, choose the institution as their first-choice UTME institution, and successfully complete the post-UTME screening exercise before an admission offer into the Medicine and Surgery programme is confirmed. Because Medicine and Surgery is one of the more competitive and closely regulated programmes at the university, candidates should expect a more rigorous screening process compared to non-clinical courses.
How to Pay School Fees at the University
Students admitted into Medicine and Surgery, like all other students at the institution, are expected to complete fee payment through the university’s official online student portal rather than informal channels. The general process follows this pattern:
- Visit the university’s official student portal and log in with the required student credentials to access the fees payment section.
- Select the appropriate fee category, whether acceptance fee, tuition, or other compulsory charges, and confirm the amount specific to the Medicine and Surgery programme and current level of study.
- Generate a payment reference through the portal and complete payment either online or at any designated bank.
- Print and retain the payment receipt as proof of payment required for course registration and subsequent academic clearance.
- Confirm payment on the portal before the stated deadline to avoid late payment penalties or restrictions on sitting for semester examinations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Kebbi State University of Science and Technology offer Medicine and Surgery?
Yes. The National Universities Commission has approved the university to run a Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) programme, alongside Nursing Science, under its Clinical Sciences track.
Is Kebbi State University of Science and Technology still called KSUSTA?
The university has officially been renamed Abdullahi Fodio University of Science and Technology, Aliero (AFUSTA), though it is still widely referred to by its earlier name, KSUSTA, in general searches and applications.
Are Medicine and Surgery fees higher than other courses at the university?
Yes. Clinical Sciences, which houses Medicine and Surgery, generally attracts higher fees than non-clinical courses, and charges tend to increase further as students progress into their clinical years of hospital-based training.
Can Medicine and Surgery students pay their fees in installments?
Generally, no. As a state university, the institution typically requires full payment of school fees per session, rather than offering the installment payment plans sometimes available at private universities.
How can prospective students confirm the exact current Medicine and Surgery fee?
Prospective and current students should check the tuition schedule published on the university’s official student portal at the start of each academic session, since fees are reviewed periodically and the most accurate figure is the one published directly by the university for that specific session.