Covenant University, a private Christian university in Ota, Ogun State, runs one of the more structured postgraduate schools among Nigerian private universities, offering Master’s, M.Phil, and PhD programmes through its School of Postgraduate Studies (SPS). Anyone planning to apply needs to know not just an approximate figure, but how the fee structure works, what it depends on, and what other charges come with it. This article covers Covenant University’s postgraduate school fees for the 2026/2027 academic session, the components that make up the total cost, and the process for paying and confirming charges.
How Covenant University Structures Postgraduate Fees
Covenant University does not charge one flat fee for postgraduate study. The amount payable depends on three main things: the degree level (Master’s, M.Phil, or PhD), the specific programme or department, and whether the applicant is a Nigerian resident or an international candidate. Science, engineering, and technology-based postgraduate programmes generally cost more than programmes in the arts, social sciences, and humanities, because of laboratory work, equipment maintenance, and practical training built into those courses.
For the 2025/2026 session, published departmental fee schedules show Master’s tuition ranging from roughly ₦451,440 to ₦855,000 per year, while PhD tuition ranges from roughly ₦860,700 to ₦923,400 per year, again depending on the programme. These figures are reviewed and adjusted for each new academic session, so the 2026/2027 figures may differ slightly. Applicants should treat published figures as a guide to the range they should expect rather than the fixed final amount, and should confirm the exact figure for their chosen programme on the School of Postgraduate Studies admission portal once admitted.
Typical Postgraduate Tuition by Programme Category
The table below groups representative Master’s and PhD programmes by discipline to illustrate how fees vary across Covenant University’s colleges. These are drawn from the university’s published 2025/2026 postgraduate fee schedule and give a realistic sense of what current and prospective PG students should budget for, pending confirmation of the 2026/2027 rates.
| Programme category | Sample Master’s tuition (per year) | Sample PhD tuition (per year) |
|---|---|---|
| Business & Management (e.g., M.Sc Accounting, M.Sc Business Administration) | ₦520,410 – ₦540,930 | ₦860,700 |
| Full MBA / professional-track programmes (e.g., MBA with ACIB) | ₦752,400 – ₦855,000 | Not applicable |
| Engineering (e.g., M.Eng Civil, Mechanical, Electrical/Electronics) | ₦583,110 | ₦923,400 |
| Sciences (e.g., M.Sc Biochemistry, Microbiology, Industrial Chemistry) | ₦583,110 | ₦923,400 |
| Built Environment (e.g., M.Sc Architecture, Building Technology, Estate Management) | ₦583,110 | ₦923,400 |
| Humanities & Social Sciences (e.g., M.A English, M.Sc Political Science, Psychology, Sociology) | ₦451,440 – ₦497,040 | ₦860,700 |
These figures represent tuition only. They exclude the acceptance fee, accommodation, and other one-time or per-session charges described below.
Other Charges Beyond Tuition
Postgraduate students at Covenant University pay several charges in addition to programme tuition:
- Application fee — paid online through Interswitch Webpay or Paystack when creating a profile on the SPS admission portal. This fee is non-refundable and generates the applicant’s unique application number once payment clears.
- Acceptance fee — a one-time charge of approximately ₦50,000 paid by candidates who receive an offer of postgraduate admission, confirming their intent to enrol.
- Accommodation — Covenant University operates a fully residential system, and students who take up on-campus hostel accommodation pay an additional charge, estimated at around ₦185,000 per semester, separate from tuition.
- Bench work or research charges — postgraduate students in laboratory-based or research-intensive programmes, particularly at PhD level, may pay an additional bench work or conference-related fee, generally in the range of ₦50,000 to ₦100,000, to cover materials and research support.
- Caution fee, ID card, matriculation fee, utility fee, health insurance, and similar administrative charges — smaller one-time or per-session charges that apply broadly across the university, whether a student is undergraduate or postgraduate.
- Transcript and graduation fees — paid toward the end of a programme, with local transcript requests costing less than international ones, and a separate graduation fee due in a student’s final semester.
Because tuition and the additional charges are billed separately, the total amount a postgraduate student pays across a session is higher than the tuition figure alone. Students should add the acceptance fee, any accommodation they choose, and applicable administrative charges to the base tuition to arrive at a realistic session budget.
Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) Fees
Covenant University’s School of Postgraduate Studies also admits candidates into Postgraduate Diploma programmes for applicants who do not meet the direct entry requirement for a Master’s degree, typically those with a Third Class or an HND without a strong enough CGPA. PGD tuition at Covenant University is generally estimated between ₦600,000 and ₦700,000 per session, though, as with Master’s and PhD fees, the exact figure depends on the department offering the programme and should be confirmed directly with the School of Postgraduate Studies before payment.
Special and Discounted Fee Arrangements
Covenant University runs a small number of fee arrangements outside its standard schedule:
- International Excellence Scholarship — open to non-Nigerian Master’s applicants admitted for on-campus study. The scholarship is a tuition waiver rather than a cash award, with the percentage of tuition waived tied to the applicant’s previous degree classification; candidates with a Second Class Upper division, for example, receive a 50% tuition waiver for an 18-month period.
- Continental tuition offer — for the 2026/2027 postgraduate admission cycle, Covenant University advertised a special tuition rate of $2,000 per session for qualified African students applying from outside Nigeria, positioned as a reduced rate relative to standard international postgraduate charges.
Both arrangements apply only to candidates who meet specific eligibility conditions and are not automatically applied to every applicant, so anyone hoping to benefit from either should confirm eligibility and application steps directly with the SPS office at the point of applying.
Admission Requirements That Affect Fee Category
The fee a postgraduate applicant eventually pays is tied to which programme they qualify for, so understanding the entry requirements helps clarify what to budget for:
- Master’s degree applicants need a Bachelor’s degree from Covenant University or another university recognised by Covenant’s Senate. Candidates with First Class, Second Class Upper, or Second Class Lower (with a minimum CGPA of 3.00 in a relevant discipline) may apply; holders of an HND with a postgraduate diploma are not eligible for direct entry into the Master’s programme.
- MBA applicants need a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline with at least a Second Class Lower division (minimum 3.00 CGPA on a 5.00 scale).
- PhD applicants must hold both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree from Covenant University or another recognised university, generally with a minimum CGPA around 3.50 to 4.00 depending on the specific programme.
- Nearly all postgraduate programmes at Covenant University run on a full-time basis; the M.Sc/ACIB Finance programme is a specific exception that runs part-time.
Programme Duration and Its Effect on Total Cost
Because tuition is charged per session rather than as a single lump sum, the total cost of a postgraduate degree at Covenant University depends on how long the programme takes to complete:
- Master’s programmes run for a minimum of two academic sessions on a full-time basis, meaning most Master’s students pay tuition across at least two annual cycles before graduating.
- PhD programmes are research-intensive and typically take between three and five years to complete, so total PhD costs accumulate over a longer period than Master’s costs, even though the per-year PhD tuition is not dramatically higher than Master’s tuition in absolute terms.
- PGD programmes are generally shorter, often designed to be completed within a single academic session before a candidate proceeds to a Master’s programme, if that is their eventual goal.
Students who progress steadily through their programme without repeating sessions naturally pay less in total than those who need additional semesters to complete coursework, research, or a thesis defence.
How to Apply and Pay Postgraduate Fees
The process for applying to a postgraduate programme and settling the associated fees at Covenant University follows a consistent sequence:
- Create an account on the School of Postgraduate Studies (SPS) admission portal and verify the registered email address.
- Complete the screening form, which can typically be saved and completed in stages rather than in a single sitting.
- Pay the application fee online through Interswitch Webpay or Paystack, which generates a unique application number on successful payment.
- Arrange transcript forwarding from previously attended institutions directly to Covenant University’s School of Postgraduate Studies, a step that can take two to six weeks and should be started early.
- Submit the completed application, including a statement of purpose and any required references, for review.
- Pay the acceptance fee once an offer of admission is confirmed, followed by tuition and other applicable charges through the official student portal ahead of registration.
Covenant University permits postgraduate students to pay tuition in two instalments across a session, which spreads the financial commitment across the first and second semesters rather than requiring the full annual amount upfront. Late payment beyond the university’s set deadlines can attract additional charges and may affect a student’s ability to sit for examinations, so postgraduate students are advised to complete payment promptly once fees are confirmed on the portal.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Master’s degree cost at Covenant University? Master’s tuition for the 2025/2026 session ranges from about ₦451,440 to ₦855,000 per year depending on the programme, with this figure excluding the acceptance fee, accommodation, and other administrative charges. The 2026/2027 rate should be confirmed on the SPS portal, as fees are reviewed each session.
How much does a PhD cost at Covenant University? PhD tuition for the 2025/2026 session ranges from about ₦860,700 to ₦923,400 per year depending on the department, payable across the three to five years most PhD candidates take to complete their research and dissertation.
Is the postgraduate acceptance fee the same as tuition? No. The acceptance fee, estimated at around ₦50,000, is a separate one-time charge paid to confirm enrolment after an offer of admission, distinct from the tuition billed each session.
Can international students get a reduced postgraduate fee at Covenant University? Yes, in specific cases. Non-Nigerian Master’s applicants may qualify for the International Excellence Scholarship, a tuition waiver tied to prior academic performance, while a separate continental tuition offer has made a reduced flat rate available to qualified African applicants for a given admission cycle.
Does Covenant University allow postgraduate students to pay fees in instalments? Yes. Postgraduate tuition can typically be paid in two instalments per session, aligned with the first and second semesters, rather than as one full annual payment.
Where can applicants find the exact current postgraduate fee for their programme? The most reliable source is the applicant’s own account on the School of Postgraduate Studies admission portal after admission, since departmental fees are reviewed for each new academic session and the exact figure depends on the specific programme selected.