The College of Nursing Sciences, Bishop Shanahan Specialist Hospital, Nsukka, is a private nursing institution in Enugu State that trains students for the National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) in Nursing. As a mission-affiliated institution attached to a specialist hospital, the college charges tuition and other associated fees that differ from what obtains in state-owned or federal colleges of nursing. This article breaks down what fresh applicants and continuing students typically need to budget for, based on the fee categories the college applies each session.
Overview of the College and Its Fee Structure
The college operates as an extension of Bishop Shanahan Specialist Hospital’s long-standing role in health training in Nsukka. Admission into the ND/HND Nursing programme goes through UTME, and candidates need a minimum JAMB score (commonly set around 150) alongside five O’Level credits in English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, obtained in not more than two sittings.
Because the institution is privately run, its total cost per session is generally higher than what applies in a fully government-funded nursing school, but it remains within the range typical of mission and specialist-hospital-affiliated nursing colleges in the South-East. The exact naira figure for tuition changes from one admission cycle to the next, and different sources in circulation quote figures that are not identical — some place the full-session cost in the low hundreds of thousands, others place it close to the upper range charged by comparable private nursing colleges in the region. Because of this inconsistency across unofficial sources, any prospective or returning student should treat the figures below as a general planning guide and confirm the exact current amount directly from the college’s bursary or admission office before making payment.
What Fresh Students (Newly Admitted) Typically Pay
A fresher’s first-session bill at the college is not a single tuition line item. It is usually a combination of several charges that are billed together once admission is confirmed. These commonly include:
- Tuition fee — the core academic charge for the ND or HND nursing programme.
- Acceptance fee — paid once, after an admission offer is confirmed, to secure the candidate’s place.
- Medical/health screening fee — covers pre-admission medical tests required of all new students, since nursing training involves clinical exposure.
- Caution fee (refundable deposit) — held by the college against damage to hostel or laboratory property, and typically refundable at the point of graduation or withdrawal if no damage is recorded.
- Uniform and clinical kit fee — covers the nursing uniform, cap, apron, and basic clinical instruments new students need before ward postings begin.
- ID card and departmental registration charges — smaller administrative fees tied to matriculation.
- Hostel accommodation fee — charged separately for students who choose to live in the college or hospital hostel rather than off-campus.
Because freshers pay almost all of these categories at once, their total first-session cost is always higher than what a returning student pays in a normal session, since returning students no longer pay acceptance fees, fresh medical screening, or first-time kit charges.
What Returning Students Typically Pay
From the second year onward, the fee load reduces because one-off entry charges fall away. A returning student’s session bill is generally made up of:
- Tuition fee for the current level/year of study
- Practical/clinical fee (for continued ward and laboratory attachment)
- Library and departmental fee
- Hostel fee, if the student remains in college accommodation
- Examination fee, charged before professional or promotional examinations
Returning students are expected to clear outstanding balances from a previous session before they are permitted to register for a new one, and the college typically will not issue an examination card to a student with unpaid fees.
Fee Comparison: Freshers vs Returning Students
| Fee Category | Fresh Students | Returning Students |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | Charged in full | Charged in full |
| Acceptance fee | Charged once | Not applicable |
| Medical screening | Charged (new intake) | Not applicable |
| Caution deposit | Charged (refundable) | Not applicable (already paid) |
| Uniform/clinical kit | Charged in full | Only if replacement is needed |
| ID card/registration | Charged | Minimal renewal charge, if any |
| Hostel fee | Charged if resident | Charged if resident |
| Practical/clinical fee | Included in first session | Charged every session |
| Examination fee | Charged before first exams | Charged every session before exams |
This table shows why a fresher’s total outlay in year one is almost always the highest point of the three- or four-year programme, with costs generally levelling off from the second session onward.
Application and Screening Charges Before Admission
Before a candidate is even admitted, the college requires payment for the admission form or screening exercise. This is separate from tuition and is paid by every candidate who wishes to sit the entrance screening, whether or not they are eventually offered a place. This amount is reviewed periodically and paid into the college’s official bank account, with proof of payment submitted physically or via the designated WhatsApp line the admissions office publishes each session. Candidates should never pay into a personal account or an account not explicitly listed on the college’s official admission notice, as fraudulent collection accounts do circulate during active admission periods.
Payment Procedure
Payment of tuition and other fees generally follows a standard pattern across sessions:
- The bursary publishes the approved fee schedule at the start of each session, usually alongside resumption dates.
- Students pay into the official designated bank account, not through any third party.
- Evidence of payment (teller or transfer receipt) is submitted at the bursary or uploaded where an online portal exists.
- The bursary issues a payment confirmation or receipt, which the student needs for course registration and eventual examination clearance.
- Late payment beyond the stated deadline typically attracts a penalty charge, so students are advised to complete payment before the cut-off date announced each session.
Factors That Affect the Final Amount a Student Pays
Several variables explain why two students in the same cohort might not pay identical totals:
- Programme type — ND and HND fee structures are not always the same, since HND carries additional practical and specialisation components.
- Accommodation choice — students who live off-campus do not pay the hostel component, which lowers their total.
- Level of study — fees for the final year sometimes include a project or clinical posting supervision charge not present in earlier years.
- Payment timing — early payment within the stipulated window sometimes avoids late-payment penalties that increase the effective total.
- Refundable deposits — a student’s caution fee from a previous session may be applied toward outstanding balances if the college permits this, subject to bursary confirmation.
Why Fee Confirmation from the College Matters
Nursing school fees across Nigeria change from one admission cycle to the next in response to inflation, accreditation requirements from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), and the operating costs of running clinical training alongside a working hospital. A figure that was accurate for one session can be outdated by the next. For this reason, the most reliable way to know the exact current fee is to:
- Visit the college’s admission or bursary office in person, or
- Check the official notice board or fee schedule circulated at the start of registration, or
- Contact the college through the official phone lines or WhatsApp contacts published on admission notices for the current session.
Relying only on figures shared informally on social media or unofficial forums carries a real risk of misinformation, since such figures are often outdated, exaggerated, or simply inaccurate for the current session.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the tuition fee the same for ND and HND students?
No. HND fees are usually higher than ND fees because of the added practical and specialisation requirements at that level.
Do returning students pay an acceptance fee?
No. Acceptance fees apply only once, at the point of first admission.
Is the caution deposit refundable?
Yes, it is typically refundable at graduation or withdrawal, provided the student is not liable for any recorded damage to college or hostel property.
Can a student without proof of payment sit for examinations?
No. The college generally withholds examination clearance until all outstanding fees for that session are settled.
Where should fees be paid to avoid fraud?
Only into the official account number published by the college’s admission or bursary office for the current session — never into any personal or unlisted account.
Conclusion
Budgeting for the College of Nursing Sciences, Bishop Shanahan Hospital, Nsukka requires understanding that freshers face a higher one-time cost due to acceptance, medical, and kit charges, while returning students settle a comparatively lighter, recurring session fee. Since exact naira figures shift by session, the safest approach for any fresher or returning student heading into the 2026/2027 academic year is to confirm the current published schedule directly with the college’s bursary before making any payment.