The College of Nursing Sciences under the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC) trains nursing students across two campuses — the Ife Hospital Unit in Ile-Ife and the Wesley Guild Hospital campus in Ilesa, both in Osun State. As a federal teaching hospital institution, it remains one of the more sought-after nursing training centres in southwestern Nigeria, and every admission cycle draws a large pool of applicants who need clarity on what the programme actually costs. This article explains what freshers and returning students at OAUTHC College of Nursing Sciences should expect to pay for the 2026/2027 academic session, what the fees cover, and how payment works.
Overview of OAUTHC College of Nursing Sciences School Fees
School fees at the College of Nursing Sciences, OAUTHC, are not identical for every student. The amount payable depends primarily on whether a student is newly admitted or returning, and secondarily on the specific programme — General Nursing (leading to Registered Nurse certification), or one of the post-basic specialty programmes such as Midwifery, Perioperative Nursing, or Public Health Nursing offered to already-qualified nurses.
Fresh students typically pay more in their first session than returning students, because the first-session bill bundles tuition together with several one-off charges that only apply at the point of entry — such as acceptance fees, medical screening, caution deposits, and uniform costs. Returning students, from the second year onward, pay a reduced figure that generally covers tuition and standard recurring charges alone, since the one-off entry costs have already been settled.
Based on figures that have been reported for the institution in recent sessions, fresh students at OAUTHC College of Nursing Sciences should budget within a broad range of roughly ₦280,000 to ₦500,000 for the first session, inclusive of hostel accommodation where applicable, while returning students typically fall within a lower range of about ₦240,000 to ₦420,000 per session. These figures are indicative rather than fixed, since the exact schedule for a given session is published by the hospital’s College of Nursing Sciences administration and can shift from one year to the next. Applicants should always confirm the precise current figure through the official OAUTHC portal or the college’s admission office before making financial arrangements.
Fee Breakdown: Freshers vs. Returning Students
The table below outlines the general categories of charges that make up the total bill for each group. Specific naira amounts vary by session and should be confirmed directly with the college, but the structure below reflects what is typically billed.
| Fee Category | Applies to Freshers | Applies to Returning Students |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance fee | Yes (one-time, paid to confirm admission) | No |
| Tuition fee | Yes | Yes |
| Caution/security deposit | Yes (refundable, one-time) | No |
| Medical screening/entrance medical fee | Yes | No (except where periodic re-screening is required) |
| Uniform and clinical kit fee | Yes | Rarely, unless uniform is reissued |
| Library fee | Yes | Yes |
| ICT/portal access fee | Yes | Yes |
| Examination fee | Yes | Yes |
| Identity card fee | Yes | No |
| Hostel/accommodation fee | Optional, where boarding is taken | Optional, where boarding is taken |
Because boarding is compulsory or strongly recommended for many nursing students due to clinical rotation schedules, most applicants should plan their budget to include hostel charges rather than treating it as a separate, avoidable cost. Where hostel accommodation is compulsory, the cost is added directly to the total payable before a student can complete registration.
What Drives the Difference Between Fresher and Returning Student Fees
The gap between what a fresher pays and what a returning student pays comes down to the nature of one-off versus recurring charges. A fresher’s bill includes several charges tied specifically to entry into the institution — the acceptance fee that secures the admission slot, the caution deposit held against damage to hospital or hostel property, the initial medical fitness screening required before clinical placement, and the cost of nursing uniforms and clinical kits issued at matriculation. None of these recur in subsequent sessions under normal circumstances.
From the second year onward, a returning student’s fee structure narrows down mainly to tuition, library access, ICT/portal charges, examination fees, and accommodation if the student remains in the hostel. This is why returning students consistently pay less than freshers across nearly every Nigerian nursing training institution, not just OAUTHC.
Acceptance Fee and Its Role in Securing Admission
Once a candidate’s name appears on the OAUTHC College of Nursing Sciences admission list, the first payment required is the acceptance fee. This fee confirms that the candidate is taking up the offered admission slot and is distinct from the main school fees, which are paid afterward. The acceptance fee at OAUTHC has typically been set at a modest figure compared to the overall tuition, and it must be paid within the deadline stated on the admission notice. Candidates who fail to pay within this window risk having their slot reallocated to another applicant on the waiting list, so this step should not be delayed once an admission offer is confirmed.
Payment Structure and Instalment Options
Nursing training programmes across Nigeria, including OAUTHC College of Nursing Sciences, commonly allow fees to be paid in instalments rather than as a single lump sum, recognising that the total cost — particularly for freshers — can be a significant burden if demanded all at once. Where this option is available, payment is usually split across the two semesters of the academic session, with a portion due at the start of each semester before a student is permitted to sit for that semester’s examinations.
Students should note that instalment payment does not remove the deadline pressure entirely — each instalment still has its own cut-off date, and late payment beyond the stated deadline can attract a penalty charge or, in more serious cases, prevent a student from sitting for examinations until the outstanding balance is cleared.
How to Pay OAUTHC College of Nursing Sciences School Fees
Payment of school fees at OAUTHC, including for the College of Nursing Sciences, is processed through the hospital’s official tertiary institutions payment portal rather than through direct bank deposits. The general steps follow this pattern:
- Access the official OAUTHC portal designated for tertiary institution payments.
- Log in or register using the JAMB registration number (for freshers) or the matriculation number (for returning students).
- Select the correct payment category, choosing “School Fees” and specifying the College of Nursing Sciences as the relevant institution under OAUTHC.
- Generate a Remita Retrieval Reference (RRR), which is the unique code tied to that specific payment.
- Complete payment either online using a debit card, or offline by printing the generated invoice and paying at any commercial bank that accepts Remita payments.
- Verify payment confirmation on the portal, ensuring the fee reflects as paid before proceeding with registration or resumption.
Students are strongly advised to use only the official portal and avoid third-party agents who claim to process payments on their behalf, since payments made outside the recognised system carry the risk of loss without any guarantee of refund or correction.
Additional Costs to Plan For
Beyond the core school fees, nursing students at OAUTHC should budget for a few recurring costs that are not always included in the official fee schedule but form part of the real cost of the programme. These include textbooks and reference materials for nursing courses, replacement or additional clinical uniforms and equipment such as stethoscopes and aprons, transportation between hostel and clinical posting sites where postings occur outside the immediate campus, and personal upkeep during clinical rotation periods. Factoring these into an overall budget helps avoid financial strain partway through the session.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do freshers pay at OAUTHC College of Nursing Sciences for 2026/2027?
Fresh students should budget within a broad range of roughly ₦280,000 to ₦500,000 for the first session, depending on whether hostel accommodation is included and the specific programme. The exact figure is confirmed on the official payment portal after admission.
How much do returning students pay?
Returning students typically pay less than freshers, generally within a range of about ₦240,000 to ₦420,000 per session, since one-off entry charges such as acceptance fees and medical screening no longer apply.
Is there a separate acceptance fee?
Yes. Newly admitted students pay an acceptance fee to confirm their admission before the main school fees become payable. This must be paid within the deadline stated on the admission notice.
Can school fees be paid in instalments?
Yes, in most sessions students can pay in two instalments, one per semester, though each instalment carries its own deadline and late payment can attract penalties.
Where can students pay their OAUTHC nursing school fees?
Payment is made exclusively through the official OAUTHC tertiary institutions payment portal using a generated Remita Retrieval Reference (RRR), either online or at a designated bank.
Is hostel accommodation compulsory for nursing students at OAUTHC?
Accommodation is strongly recommended and, in many cases, effectively required because of clinical rotation schedules, so students should include hostel charges in their overall budget rather than treating them as optional.