Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), runs its postgraduate programmes through the School of Postgraduate Studies (SPGS), which currently coordinates over 300 programmes across 8 faculties and more than 60 departments. This article sets out exactly what the school charges new and returning postgraduate students for the 2026/2027 academic session, based on the fee schedule and admission requirements published by the School of Postgraduate Studies, and explains what a candidate needs to qualify for each level of postgraduate study.
About the School of Postgraduate Studies, NSUK
The School of Postgraduate Studies at NSUK oversees admission and academic administration for four categories of postgraduate qualification: the Postgraduate Diploma (PGD), the academic and professional Master’s degree tracks, the Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.), and the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.). The school also coordinates a Higher Doctorate award, reserved for individuals who have made substantial, original scholarly contributions to their field. NSUK’s postgraduate community currently exceeds 10,000 students, spread across faculties including Administration, Agriculture, Arts, Education, Law, Social Sciences, Natural and Applied Sciences, and Environmental Science, alongside specialized institutes such as the Institute of Governance and Development Studies and the Institute of Capital Market.
Tuition paid to the School of Postgraduate Studies covers registration, tuition instruction, supervision, examinations, and graduation processing. Payment of the session fee also grants a student membership benefits, including library access, students’ union membership, and issuance of a student identity card.
NSUK Postgraduate School Fees for New Students, 2026/2027
The School of Postgraduate Studies charges different tuition amounts depending on the specific postgraduate category a candidate is admitted into. Based on the officially published fee schedule for new postgraduate students, the amounts break down as follows:
| Programme | First Semester | Second Semester | Total Fee Per Session |
|---|---|---|---|
| Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) | ₦124,950 | ₦124,950 | ₦249,900 |
| M.Sc. (Academic Masters) | ₦130,620 | ₦130,620 | ₦261,240 |
| M.Sc. (Professional Masters) | ₦200,265 | ₦199,635 | ₦399,990 |
| M.Phil./Ph.D. | ₦138,195 | ₦138,195 | ₦276,390 |
| Ph.D. | ₦138,195 | ₦138,195 | ₦276,390 |
These figures apply to newly admitted postgraduate students for the session and are split evenly (or nearly evenly) across the first and second semesters, reflecting NSUK’s two-semester academic calendar structure. Professional Masters programmes, such as an MBA or MPA, sit noticeably higher than the academic Masters track, since professional degrees typically carry additional programme-specific costs tied to their practice-oriented curriculum and industry-facing components.
NSUK Postgraduate School Fees for Returning Students, 2026/2027
Once a postgraduate student completes their first session and proceeds into subsequent semesters of study, the fee drops from the new-student rate, since one-time registration and matriculation charges tied to fresh admission no longer apply. The published fee schedule for returning postgraduate students is as follows:
| Programme | First Semester | Second Semester | Total Fee Per Session |
|---|---|---|---|
| Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) | ₦70,115 | ₦64,485 | ₦134,600 |
| M.Sc. (Academic Masters) | ₦73,895 | ₦68,265 | ₦142,160 |
| M.Sc. (Professional Masters) | ₦117,300 | ₦117,300 | ₦234,600 |
| M.Phil./Ph.D. | ₦78,945 | ₦73,945 | ₦152,890 |
| Ph.D. | ₦78,945 | ₦73,945 | ₦152,890 |
Across every programme category, returning students pay roughly half of what new students pay in their first session, which reflects the removal of one-time admission-related charges rather than a reduction in the core academic and supervision cost of the programme itself.
What the Postgraduate Fee Covers
Regardless of which programme a student is enrolled in, the session fee charged by the School of Postgraduate Studies covers a consistent set of core services:
- Registration for the academic session
- Tuition and instructional delivery
- Academic supervision, particularly relevant for M.Phil. and Ph.D. candidates working on research
- Examination processing
- Graduation processing at the point of programme completion
- Library membership
- Students’ Union membership
- Student identity card issuance
Candidates should note that this fee does not typically include costs such as accommodation, transcript processing fees, or plagiarism-check submission charges, all of which are handled as separate processes outside the core tuition structure.
Admission Requirements by Programme Category
Every candidate seeking postgraduate admission at NSUK must first meet the university’s general matriculation requirement: five O’Level credit passes from WAEC, NECO, NABTEB, or GCE (O’Level) or their equivalent, including English Language and Mathematics, obtained in not more than two sittings. Candidates must also present a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Discharge Certificate or an official Letter of Exemption. Beyond this general baseline, requirements differ by the specific category of postgraduate study a candidate is applying for.
Postgraduate Diploma (PGD):
- Graduates of NSUK or any other recognized university with at least a Third Class degree.
- Holders of a Higher National Diploma (HND) with at least an Upper Credit in a relevant discipline.
- HND holders with a lower credit classification may still qualify if they have a minimum of five years of relevant post-qualification work experience.
- Holders of other qualifications considered acceptable by the SPGS Board and the University Senate.
Master’s Degrees:
- Graduates of NSUK with a First Class or Second Class Honours degree.
- Holders of an equivalent qualification from another recognized institution.
- A candidate with a first degree lower than Second Class Honours may still be considered if they hold a good, relevant Postgraduate Diploma at an upper credit level.
- Holders of any other qualification, with or without relevant experience, that the Board deems acceptable.
Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.):
- Holders of an NSUK Master’s degree with a CGPA of at least 3.00 on a 5-point scale for academic Masters (M.Sc., M.A., M.Ed., and similar), or at least 3.50 on a 5-point scale for professional Masters programmes such as an MBA or MPA.
- Candidates holding equivalent qualifications from other recognized universities.
- Candidates with other qualifications and relevant working experience acceptable to the Board and Senate.
- Demonstrated intellectual capacity, maturity, and problem-solving ability, as assessed during the admission process.
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.):
- Holders of an NSUK Master’s degree with a CGPA of at least 3.50 on a 5-point scale, equivalent to a 52.5 percent cumulative grade point average.
- NSUK or other university M.Phil. candidates with a CGPA of at least 4.00 on a 5-point scale.
- Candidates holding equivalent qualifications from other recognized universities, subject to Board and Senate approval.
- Candidates with other qualifications and relevant working experience acceptable to the Board and Senate.
- Demonstrated intellectual capacity, maturity, and research-oriented decision-making ability.
M.Phil. and Ph.D. candidates are additionally required to have their official transcripts sent directly from their previous tertiary institution to NSUK, either electronically to the postgraduate school’s official email address or as a physical copy presented at the point of registration.
How to Apply and Register
The application process for NSUK postgraduate programmes runs through the School of Postgraduate Studies’ online application portal. Candidates should:
- Visit the official SPGS application portal and complete the online application form for the desired programme.
- Pay the applicable non-refundable application fee, as specified for the current admission cycle.
- Submit the required credentials, including O’Level results, degree certificates, and the NYSC discharge certificate or exemption letter.
- Await review and admission decision from the relevant department and the SPGS Board.
- On receiving an offer, complete new-student registration following the official registration guidelines published by SPGS, and proceed to pay the applicable new-student session fee.
Returning students follow a separate registration procedure each semester, which does not require resubmission of admission documents but does require timely payment of the applicable returning-student fee to avoid late registration penalties. NSUK has recently introduced updated policies covering late registration, deferment of admission, and automatic expiration of unclaimed admissions, so candidates and continuing students should confirm current registration deadlines directly with SPGS each session.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the NSUK postgraduate fee differ between academic and professional Master’s programmes?
Yes. Professional Masters programmes, such as an MBA or MPA, are charged at a noticeably higher rate (₦399,990 for new students per session) compared to academic Masters programmes (₦261,240 for new students per session).
Do returning postgraduate students pay the same fee as new students?
No. Returning students pay roughly half of the new-student rate across all programme categories, since one-time registration and matriculation charges applicable only to fresh admission no longer apply.
Is NYSC compulsory for postgraduate admission at NSUK?
Yes. All postgraduate applicants must present a valid NYSC Discharge Certificate or an official Letter of Exemption as part of the general admission requirement.
What CGPA is required to progress from a Master’s degree to a Ph.D. at NSUK?
A candidate needs a CGPA of at least 3.50 on a 5-point scale from an NSUK Master’s degree (or the equivalent from another recognized university) to qualify directly for Ph.D. admission, while M.Phil. holders need at least 4.00 on a 5-point scale.
Does the postgraduate fee include accommodation?
No. The published tuition fee covers registration, instruction, supervision, examinations, and graduation processing, along with library, students’ union, and ID card access. Accommodation is handled separately from this core fee.