The College of Nursing Sciences at St. Margaret’s Hospital, Calabar, sometimes referred to as the School of Nursing, St. Margaret’s Hospital, is one of the health training institutions in Cross River State that prepares candidates for careers in nursing and midwifery. Anyone planning to apply, or already enrolled and preparing for a new session, needs a clear picture of what the school charges and how those charges typically work. This article lays out the fee structure, what it usually covers, how it differs for fresh and returning students, and how to confirm the exact current figures before making any payment.
Overview of the College of Nursing Sciences, St. Margaret’s Hospital, Calabar
St. Margaret’s Hospital, Calabar, has trained nursing personnel in Cross River State for several decades and works alongside other nursing training institutions in the state, including the College of Nursing Sciences at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) and the state-owned Schools of Nursing in Ogoja and Obudu. The school is regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), which means its curriculum, admission standards, and duration of training follow national guidelines set for basic nursing and midwifery education.
The institution runs a basic nursing programme and, depending on the intake, may also run a post-basic nursing programme for candidates who already hold a nursing qualification and want to specialise further. Each of these programmes carries its own fee schedule, since post-basic training typically costs more than the basic programme due to its shorter, more intensive structure.
Why School Fees Are Not Fixed at One Public Figure
Unlike university tuition, which is often published as a single flat figure, fees at hospital-based nursing schools in Nigeria are reviewed periodically and communicated directly to candidates once admission lists are released. Several factors cause the amount to shift from one session to the next:
- Adjustments in the cost of teaching materials, clinical supplies, and hospital-based practical training
- Changes in accreditation requirements set by the NMCN, which can affect infrastructure and staffing costs
- General inflation and the rising cost of running boarding and non-boarding facilities
- Whether a student is a fresher paying full first-year charges or a returning student paying renewal fees
Because of this, any fee figure quoted for a given session should be treated as a guide rather than a permanent price. The safest approach is always to confirm the current figure from the school’s admissions office or bursary department at the point of admission or resumption.
Typical Fee Components for Freshers
When a candidate is offered admission into the basic nursing programme, the fees charged in the first year are usually higher than in subsequent years. This is because freshers pay for items that returning students have already covered. A first-year nursing student at hospital-based schools of this type typically pays for:
| Fee Component | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| Acceptance fee | Confirms the candidate’s admission slot after the offer is made |
| Tuition/school fees | Covers lectures, clinical instruction, and academic administration |
| Registration fee | Formal enrolment into the school’s student register |
| Departmental/laboratory fee | Access to demonstration rooms, science laboratory, and practical equipment |
| Library fee | Use of the school library and reading materials |
| Medical/health fee | Basic health screening and access to the school clinic |
| Identity card and file fee | Issuance of student ID and academic file |
| Uniform and clinical kit | Nursing uniforms, aprons, and basic clinical instruments required for wards |
| Hostel fee (where applicable) | Accommodation for students who opt to live on campus |
| Examination fee | Internal examinations and, where relevant, NMCN licensing examination processing |
Fresh students in nursing and midwifery schools within Cross River State generally fall within a broad range that, across comparable state and hospital-based institutions, has sat between roughly ₦150,000 and ₦350,000 per session when boarding, uniform, and departmental charges are bundled together, though the exact figure for St. Margaret’s Hospital specifically is set by the school for each intake and should not be assumed from other institutions’ figures. Day (non-boarding) students typically pay less than those who take up hostel accommodation.
Typical Fee Components for Returning Students
Once a student completes the first year, subsequent sessions usually involve fewer one-off charges. Returning students do not pay acceptance fees again, and some of the take-off costs like ID cards, files, and initial uniform supply are not repeated unless replacement is needed. A returning student’s fee package generally includes:
- Tuition/school fees for the new academic year
- Departmental and laboratory fees
- Library fee
- Medical/health fee
- Examination fee
- Hostel fee, if the student remains in the school hostel
- Any outstanding levies from the previous session, if applicable
Because several one-time charges fall away, returning students typically pay a lower total than freshers, even though tuition itself may rise slightly from one session to the next due to periodic reviews. Students in their final year should also budget for final clinical posting fees and NMCN licensing examination fees, since these come with additional processing charges that are separate from routine school fees.
Payment Procedure
Most hospital-based nursing schools in Cross River State, including those affiliated with UCTH and similar institutions, use the Remita platform or a designated bank account for fee payment. The general procedure candidates should expect is as follows:
- Confirm admission status through the official admission list or notification from the school.
- Obtain the current fee breakdown from the school’s bursary or admissions office, since amounts differ by session and programme.
- Make payment through the stated bank account or Remita platform, keeping the payment reference or teller number.
- Submit proof of payment at the school’s account or bursary office to receive an official receipt.
- Present the receipt during registration or clearance for the session.
Students should never pay fees to a personal account or through unofficial intermediaries claiming to sell admission forms on behalf of the school. Genuine payment channels are always tied to the institution’s official bank details or Remita platform, and any request for payment outside these channels should be treated with caution.
Factors That Can Affect the Final Amount Paid
A few variables affect how much a specific student ends up paying beyond the base tuition:
- Boarding status: hostel accommodation adds a separate charge on top of tuition and departmental fees.
- Programme type: basic nursing, post-basic nursing, and any midwifery add-on programmes carry different fee schedules.
- Late registration: schools often attach a penalty for registering after the stipulated deadline.
- Outstanding balances: unresolved fees from a previous session usually carry forward and must be cleared before fresh registration is accepted.
- Uniform and kit replacement: students who need replacement uniforms or clinical kits in later years pay for these separately.
How to Confirm the Current Fee Schedule
Since fee amounts are reviewed periodically, prospective and returning students should rely only on official sources for the exact current figures. This includes:
- Visiting the school’s admissions or bursary office in person
- Checking any official notice board or circular released after admission lists are published
- Contacting the school through verified institutional phone lines or email addresses rather than third-party numbers found on classified ad pages
- Cross-checking any figure quoted by an agent or intermediary against what the bursary department confirms directly
Given that several online listings advertising “admission forms” for this school use personal phone numbers and informal contact names rather than official institutional channels, candidates are advised to be cautious. Legitimate nursing schools process admissions through documented, verifiable procedures, and school fees are paid into institutional accounts, not personal ones.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the College of Nursing Sciences, St. Margaret’s Hospital, Calabar charge the same fee every session?
No. Fees are reviewed periodically to reflect changes in operating costs, so the amount can differ from one academic session to the next.
Do freshers pay more than returning students?
Yes, in most cases. Freshers cover one-off charges such as acceptance fees, ID cards, files, and initial uniform supply, which returning students do not pay again.
Is hostel accommodation compulsory?
This depends on the school’s policy for a given session. Where hostel space is limited, priority may go to freshers or out-of-town students, while day students pay reduced fees without accommodation charges.
Where should school fees be paid?
Fees should only be paid through the official bank account or Remita platform designated by the school’s bursary department, with proof of payment retained for registration.
What happens if a student misses the fee payment deadline?
Late payment often attracts a penalty charge, and in some cases can delay registration or access to lecture and clinical schedules for the session.