Bells University of Technology, Ota (commonly called Bellstech), runs a College of Postgraduate Studies that admits candidates into Postgraduate Diploma (PGD), Master’s, and PhD/M.Phil programmes across several of its academic colleges. Each level of study carries its own approved fee schedule, and the amount a postgraduate student pays depends on the college running the programme, the specific degree, and whether the student is in the first or final year of study. This article breaks down the current published fee structure for every postgraduate category at Bells University, explains what the charges cover, and outlines how payment works.
Overview of Postgraduate Studies at Bells University
The National Universities Commission approved postgraduate degree programmes at Bells University in 2013, and the College of Postgraduate Studies has run continuously since the 2013/2014 academic session. The college organizes its offerings into four tracks:
- Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) — full-time, physical mode.
- Part-time PGD/MBA — hybrid mode, aimed at working professionals.
- Master’s Degree (academic and professional) — full-time, physical mode, covering M.Sc., M.Tech., M.Eng., and MBA programmes depending on the college.
- M.Phil/PhD — full-time, physical mode, for candidates pursuing doctoral research.
Admission into these programmes goes through the Postgraduate School, based on recommendations from the relevant departmental and college postgraduate committees. Candidates must hold the university’s baseline O’Level matriculation requirement in addition to satisfying the specific entry criteria for the programme and college they are applying to, which typically includes a first degree (B.Sc./HND, or its equivalent) with an acceptable class of degree.
Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) School Fees
PGD programmes at Bells University run on a per-session basis, and most PGD tracks are completed within a single academic session, except for programmes attached to the College of Environmental Sciences in Estate Management and Urban and Regional Planning, which extend into a third semester. The fee components for PGD candidates are tuition, library development, examination fees, infrastructural development fee, e-library subscription, ICT fees, and a laboratory/studio/workshop charge.
| College/Programme | Tuition Fee | Other Charges (Library, Exams, ICT, etc.) | Fee Per Session |
|---|---|---|---|
| College of Natural & Applied Sciences (COLNAS) PGD | ₦400,000 | ₦280,000 | ₦680,000 |
| College of Management Sciences / College of Engineering (COLMANS/COLENG) PGD | ₦400,000 | ₦280,000 | ₦680,000 |
| College of Environmental Sciences — Estate Management & Urban and Regional Planning PGD | ₦400,000 | ₦280,000 | ₦680,000 (plus a 3rd-semester charge of ₦480,000; total programme cost: ₦1,160,000) |
A student in the Estate Management or Urban and Regional Planning PGD track, therefore, pays a combined total of about ₦1,160,000 across the full duration of the programme, since it runs beyond a single session into a third semester.
Master’s Degree School Fees
Master’s programmes at Bells University are priced differently depending on the college and the specific degree, and the fee also differs between the first session/first year and the final semester or final (second) year. The table below sets out the published figures by programme.
| Programme | First Session/Year Fee | Final Semester/Year Fee | Total Programme Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| COLNAS M.Sc. programmes | ₦870,000 | ₦675,500 | ₦1,545,000 |
| COLMANS M.Sc. programmes | ₦780,000 | ₦610,000 | ₦1,390,000 |
| COLMANS MBA | ₦930,000 | ₦1,010,000 | ₦1,940,000 |
| COLENVS M.Tech. programmes | ₦870,000 | ₦950,000 | ₦1,820,000 |
| COLENVS M.Sc. Architecture | ₦880,000 | ₦970,000 | ₦1,850,000 |
| COLENG M.Eng. programmes | ₦880,000 | ₦685,500 | ₦1,565,000 |
Across every Master’s track, the recurring fee components are the same: tuition, library development, examination fees, infrastructural development fee, e-library subscription, ICT fees, and a laboratory/studio/workshop charge. What differs from programme to programme is the tuition figure itself and the weighting of the examination fee, which tends to be higher in the final semester or final year because it covers the assessment and, in most cases, the defence or submission process tied to that stage of the degree.
Candidates researching Bells University MBA fees, Bells University M.Sc fees, or Bells University M.Eng school fees specifically will find their programme’s figures in the table above, since the MBA, M.Sc., M.Tech., and M.Eng. tracks each carry separate schedules rather than a single flat postgraduate rate.
PhD (Doctoral) School Fees
PhD programmes at Bells University are charged per session rather than as a fixed total, since doctoral study duration varies by student and depends on research progress. The published PhD fee schedule breaks down as follows:
| College/PhD Programme | Fee Per Session |
|---|---|
| COLNAS PhD programmes | ₦980,000 |
| COLMANS PhD programmes | ₦900,000 |
| COLENG PhD programmes | ₦1,050,000 |
| COLENVS (Architecture) PhD | ₦1,010,000 |
| COLENVS (Others) PhD | ₦950,000 |
As with the PGD and Master’s schedules, each PhD fee bundles tuition together with library development, examination fees, infrastructural development, e-library subscription, ICT fees, and a laboratory/studio/workshop component. Because PhD candidates re-register every session until they complete and defend their thesis, the per-session figure above applies for as many sessions as the candidate remains enrolled, not as a one-time total.
What the Postgraduate Fee Covers
Every postgraduate fee bracket at Bells University, regardless of level or college, is broken into the same set of line items:
- Tuition fee — the core instructional charge, and the component that varies most between programmes.
- Library development fee — supports physical library resources and materials.
- Examination fee — covers assessment, defence, and related academic evaluation processes.
- Infrastructural development fee — goes toward maintaining classrooms, offices, and other physical facilities used by postgraduate students.
- E-library subscription — grants access to electronic journals, databases, and digital reading materials.
- ICT fee — covers computing resources, internet access, and use of the university’s digital platforms.
- Laboratory/studio/workshop fee — applies to programmes with a practical, design, or research-lab component, and the amount charged reflects how equipment-intensive the specific programme is.
How to Pay Postgraduate School Fees
Bells University processes all school fee payments through its online student portal, and it does not accept bank transfers or direct deposits for tuition and fees. The process for postgraduate students follows the same structure used across the university:
- Secure admission and log in — an admitted candidate logs into the postgraduate portal using the matriculation number and password issued after admission.
- Navigate to the payment section — the portal displays the applicable fee items for the student’s programme and level.
- Pay by card — payment is made using a Mastercard or Verve debit card provisioned for SafeToken by the student’s bank; the university’s portal does not process electronic funds transfers or deposits.
- Choose full payment or instalments — students may pay the full session fee at once, or spread it across four instalments: 25% on resumption for the first semester, 25% before the first-semester examination, 25% on resumption for the second semester, and the final 25% before the second-semester examination.
- Retrieve receipts — successful payments generate a receipt accessible under “payment history” on the portal; students needing additional documentation can contact the Bursary Department directly.
- Handle other charges separately — miscellaneous payments such as plagiarism and integrity checks, medical bills, or transcript requests are processed through a separate payments link on the portal, distinct from the main tuition payment.
Why Postgraduate Fees Differ Across Colleges
The variation in postgraduate fees from one college to another at Bells University reflects the practical demands of each discipline. Programmes with heavier laboratory, studio, or design-based components — such as Architecture, Engineering, and Environmental Sciences tracks — carry higher laboratory/studio/workshop charges than programmes based mainly around classroom instruction and coursework, such as those in Management Sciences. The examination fee also rises in the final stage of most programmes, since that stage typically involves thesis defence, project evaluation, or comprehensive assessment rather than routine coursework testing.
It is worth noting that approved fee schedules are subject to periodic review by the university, in line with standard practice across Nigerian private universities. A prospective or continuing postgraduate student should always confirm the exact current figures on the official student portal or with the Postgraduate School office before making payment, since figures published in one academic session can be revised ahead of a new intake.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Bells University charge the same fee for every postgraduate programme?
No. Fees differ by college and by specific programme — PGD, M.Sc., M.Tech., M.Eng., MBA, and PhD tracks each have separate schedules, and the amount also depends on whether a student is in the first or final stage of the programme.
Can postgraduate students pay their fees in instalments?
Yes. Bells University allows payment in up to four instalments per session, tied to the resumption and examination dates of each semester, in addition to the option of paying the full amount at once.
Does Bells University accept bank transfer for postgraduate school fees?
No. All tuition and fee payments go through the university’s online portal using a Mastercard or Verve debit card. The university does not accept electronic funds transfers or bank deposits for these payments.
Is the PhD fee a one-time total or a per-session charge?
It is a per-session charge. Since PhD candidates register every session until they complete and defend their research, the published PhD fee applies for each session of enrolment rather than as a single fixed total.
Where can a candidate confirm the exact current postgraduate fee for their programme?
The most reliable source is the official Bells University student portal or direct contact with the Postgraduate School, since the university reviews its approved fee schedule from one academic session to the next.