The College of Nursing Sciences at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, is one of the most sought-after nursing training institutions in Nigeria. Candidates who gain admission, as well as those still considering an application, need clarity on how much they should budget for tuition and other charges. This article explains the fee structure for freshers and returning students, what the fees typically cover, and how the payment process works.
About the College of Nursing Sciences, LUTH, Idi-Araba
The College of Nursing Sciences, LUTH, is a hospital-based nursing training institution situated within the Lagos University Teaching Hospital complex in Idi-Araba, Lagos. It is accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) and runs training programmes that combine classroom instruction with supervised clinical practice inside one of Nigeria’s busiest teaching hospitals. The college offers Basic Nursing training leading to Registered Nurse (RN) status, as well as Post-Basic specialty programmes in areas such as Midwifery, Peri-operative Nursing, Public Health Nursing, Ophthalmic Nursing, and Accident and Emergency Nursing, among others.
Because LUTH is a federal teaching hospital located in Lagos, competition for admission into the College of Nursing Sciences is high every session, and the JAMB cut off mark for the Basic Nursing programme is typically higher than the national minimum, reflecting strong demand from candidates across the country. Once admitted, understanding the fee obligations for both new and continuing students becomes the next practical step in planning for the training.
School Fees for Freshers
Newly admitted students at the College of Nursing Sciences pay a higher total fee in their first year than they will in subsequent years. This is because freshers are billed for several one-time charges tied specifically to fresh admission, in addition to the standard tuition that every student pays regardless of level.
Based on the fee structure the college has maintained in recent sessions, freshers should expect a total cost in the region of ₦230,000 to ₦400,000 for the academic session, depending on the specific programme and any adjustments the college makes for the 2026/2027 session. This total typically factors in tuition, acceptance fee, uniform costs, identification and administrative charges, and other one-time onboarding fees. Because teaching hospitals review their fee schedules periodically in response to operating costs, candidates should treat this as a realistic planning range rather than a fixed, unchanging figure, and should confirm the exact current amount from the college’s official fee schedule before making any payment.
The components that typically make up a fresher’s total bill include:
- Tuition fee: the core academic charge for the training programme for the session.
- Acceptance fee: a one-time, non-refundable payment made after an offer of admission is confirmed, generally required within a set deadline announced by the college.
- Uniform and clinical kit fee: covers nursing uniforms, name badges, and basic equipment freshers need before starting ward postings and clinical demonstrations.
- Application/registration processing fee: administrative charge for processing admission documents and capturing student records.
- Identity card fee: covers production of the student’s official identification card.
- Medical fitness screening fee: pre-admission health screening required to confirm a candidate is fit to undergo clinical training in hospital wards.
- Library and departmental levies: support access to the college library and departmental resources.
- Hostel accommodation fee: charged separately for students who secure a bed space within the college or hospital hostel facilities.
School Fees for Returning Students
From the second year of training onward, students no longer pay for one-time onboarding charges such as the acceptance fee, uniform kit, and initial medical screening. This significantly reduces the amount payable each session compared to what freshers pay. Returning students at the College of Nursing Sciences, LUTH, typically pay in the range of ₦145,000 to ₦200,000 per session, covering tuition, examination fees, continuing clinical practicum charges, and standard levies.
The fee returning students pay still includes the recurring components every student is responsible for each session, namely tuition, library and ICT levies, examination charges, and departmental dues, along with hostel accommodation fees for those who choose to renew their bed space.
Fee Comparison Table: Freshers vs Returning Students
| Fee Component | Freshers | Returning Students |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | Charged in full | Charged in full |
| Acceptance fee | Paid once (non-refundable) | Not applicable |
| Uniform & clinical kit | Paid in first year | Not applicable, unless replacement is needed |
| Medical fitness screening | Paid before resumption | Usually not repeated |
| ID card fee | Paid | Not applicable, unless card is lost/renewed |
| Library & ICT levy | Paid | Paid |
| Examination fee | Paid | Paid |
| Hostel accommodation | Paid if bed space is secured (around ₦40,000) | Paid if bed space is renewed |
| Approximate session total | ₦230,000 – ₦400,000 | ₦145,000 – ₦200,000 |
The wide range on both ends reflects differences between the Basic Nursing programme and Post-Basic specialty programmes, as well as periodic upward adjustments the college makes to keep pace with the cost of running clinical training within a teaching hospital.
Why Fresher Fees Are Significantly Higher
The gap between what freshers and returning students pay is not arbitrary. It reflects the fact that a first-year student is being fully onboarded into the institution for the first time. Uniforms, identification materials, medical screening, and the acceptance fee are costs that only arise once during a student’s entire training period. Returning students have already absorbed these costs in their first year, so their subsequent sessions are limited mostly to tuition, levies, and examination charges, which explains why their fees are lower and more predictable from year to year.
Factors That Can Affect the Exact Amount Payable
Several factors influence what an individual student ultimately pays at the College of Nursing Sciences, LUTH:
- Programme type: Basic Nursing (the foundational RN programme) and Post-Basic specialty programmes often have different fee structures because of differences in duration, equipment needs, and clinical exposure.
- Annual fee review: as a federal teaching hospital training institution, the college periodically reviews its fees in line with rising operational costs, which means fees for the 2026/2027 session may differ from what applied in earlier sessions.
- Hostel accommodation choice: students who take up hostel space pay an additional charge on top of academic fees, while students who arrange accommodation outside the hospital premises only pay the academic component.
- Late registration penalties: students who complete payment after the stipulated deadline typically incur an additional late fee before their registration can be finalised.
- Bank or payment platform charges: since payments are processed through designated online payment channels, a small transaction charge may apply on top of the actual fee amount.
Given that fees are reviewed from time to time, students should treat any published figure, including the ranges in this article, as an informed estimate and always confirm the exact current amount through the college’s official fee schedule before making payment.
How Payment Is Made
Payment of school fees at the College of Nursing Sciences follows a standard process common to most teaching hospital-based training institutions in Nigeria:
- The college releases the approved fee schedule for the session, usually ahead of resumption.
- Students generate a payment reference, commonly a Remita Retrieval Reference (RRR) number, tied to their name and admission or student number.
- Payment is made online through the college’s designated portal or at any bank that accepts Remita payments, using a debit card or direct bank transfer.
- Students keep evidence of successful payment, since this is required during physical registration and biodata verification.
- Registration for the session is completed only after the accounts or bursary unit confirms that the payment matches the correct student record.
Students should only use the official payment channels published by the college and should be cautious of anyone offering to process payment or admission through unofficial means, as this exposes candidates to the risk of fraud.
What the Fees Do Not Typically Cover
School fees at the College of Nursing Sciences generally do not include the cost of textbooks, personal stationery, transportation to and from the hospital for students living off-campus, or feeding. Students should factor these additional living expenses into their overall budget for the session, separate from the official fees paid to the college.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do freshers pay at the College of Nursing Sciences, LUTH, for the 2026/2027 session?
Freshers typically pay in the range of ₦230,000 to ₦400,000 for the session, depending on the specific programme, and this figure includes tuition, the acceptance fee, uniform and clinical kit charges, and other one-time onboarding fees.
How much do returning students pay?
Returning students typically pay between ₦145,000 and ₦200,000 per session, since they no longer pay the one-time charges that apply only to freshers.
Why is there a big difference between fresher and returning student fees?
The difference comes from one-time onboarding costs, such as the acceptance fee, uniforms, clinical kits, and medical screening, which freshers pay only once during their entire training period. Returning students pay mainly for tuition, levies, and examination charges each session.
Is hostel accommodation compulsory at the College of Nursing Sciences, LUTH?
No. Hostel accommodation is optional and charged separately from academic fees, usually around ₦40,000 per session. Students who prefer to live off-campus are not required to pay this fee but should plan for safe, accessible accommodation near the hospital.
How is payment made at the College of Nursing Sciences, LUTH?
Payment is made online through the official college portal or approved banks, typically using a Remita Retrieval Reference (RRR) number generated for each student before payment is completed.