Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti, runs a full postgraduate school that offers Postgraduate Diploma (PGD), Master’s, M.Phil, and Ph.D. programmes across faculties such as Arts, Social Sciences, Education, Sciences, Engineering, Law, Agriculture, and Basic Medical and Clinical Sciences. This article explains what postgraduate students at EKSU pay for the 2026/2027 academic session, how the charges differ by programme type and study mode, and how the payment process works.
Overview of Postgraduate Studies at EKSU
The EKSU School of Postgraduate Studies coordinates admissions and academic regulations for every postgraduate programme offered across the university’s faculties. Candidates can apply for:
- Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) — typically a one-year conversion or professional upgrade programme for candidates without a first degree directly related to their intended field, or those seeking a foundational qualification before proceeding to a master’s degree.
- Master’s degrees, including M.Sc., M.A., M.Ed., M.Eng., and LL.M., depending on the faculty — generally completed within one to two years.
- M.Phil. and Ph.D. programmes — research-intensive degrees that take longer to complete and typically require a thesis or dissertation defence.
Each of these programmes runs on either a full-time or part-time basis, and the mode a student chooses directly affects how much they pay per session.
EKSU Postgraduate School Fees for 2026/2027
Postgraduate tuition at EKSU is not a single flat figure. It is structured around three main variables: the type of programme (PGD, Master’s, or Ph.D.), the study mode (full-time or part-time), and the specific faculty or department, since science-based and professional programmes generally attract higher laboratory, practical, and departmental charges than arts-based or social science programmes.
Based on the fee pattern the university has maintained across recent postgraduate sessions, the following table gives a realistic estimate of what postgraduate students should budget for in the 2026/2027 session:
| Programme Type | Study Mode | Estimated Fee Range (₦ per session) |
|---|---|---|
| Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) | Full-time | 130,000 – 180,000 |
| Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) | Part-time | 180,000 – 230,000 |
| Master’s Degree (M.Sc., M.A., M.Ed., etc.) | Full-time | 150,000 – 220,000 |
| Master’s Degree | Part-time | 220,000 – 280,000 |
| M.Phil. / Ph.D. | Full-time | 180,000 – 260,000 |
| M.Phil. / Ph.D. | Part-time | 250,000 – 320,000 |
These figures represent tuition and standard postgraduate charges only. Professional and laboratory-based programmes, such as those in Engineering, Sciences, and Basic Medical and Clinical Sciences, tend to fall toward the upper end of each range because of additional practical, laboratory, and departmental fees layered on top of base tuition. Arts, Education, and Social Sciences programmes typically fall toward the lower end.
Part-time postgraduate students consistently pay more than their full-time counterparts. This is standard practice across Nigerian universities, since part-time programmes are self-funding and are not subsidised the same way full-time programmes are, and part-time classes are often scheduled outside regular working hours to accommodate working-class students.
What Postgraduate Fees Cover
The total fee a postgraduate student pays each session is not a single tuition line. It is made up of several components bundled together, which typically include:
- Tuition fee — the core charge for academic instruction and supervision
- Registration and matriculation fee — charged once, mainly to newly admitted postgraduate students
- Library and ICT fee — covers access to the university library, e-resources, and computer laboratories
- Departmental and faculty dues — additional charges specific to the student’s department, sometimes covering seminars, workshops, or research support
- Examination fee — covers the administration of semester examinations
- Thesis/project supervision fee — applicable mainly to Master’s, M.Phil., and Ph.D. students in their research phase
- Development levy — a general infrastructure levy charged to all students, undergraduate and postgraduate alike
Because these components are consolidated into the overall figure a student sees on the payment portal, it is common for two students in different departments to see noticeably different totals even within the same programme category.
Additional One-Time Charges for New Postgraduate Students
Newly admitted postgraduate students pay certain charges that returning postgraduate students do not repeat. These are charged only once, typically in the first session of the programme:
- Postgraduate application/screening fee — paid when purchasing and submitting the postgraduate admission form, before an offer of admission is made.
- Acceptance fee — paid immediately after an offer of admission is confirmed, to secure the candidate’s place in the programme.
- Matriculation/registration fee — a one-time charge covering formal enrolment into the university’s postgraduate register.
- ID card and clearance fee — covers issuance of the student identification card and other clearance documents required for full registration.
Returning postgraduate students are not required to pay these one-time charges again in subsequent sessions. Their annual payment is therefore lower than what a fresher in the same programme pays in the first year, since it typically covers only tuition, library/ICT dues, examination fees, and continuing departmental charges.
Admission Requirements for Postgraduate Programmes
To qualify for postgraduate admission at EKSU, an applicant generally needs to meet both the university’s general postgraduate requirements and any specific requirements set by the faculty or department offering the programme. The general requirements include:
- A minimum of five O’level credit passes, including English Language and Mathematics, obtained in not more than two sittings through WAEC, NECO, NABTEB, or GCE.
- A valid NYSC Discharge Certificate, Certificate of Exemption, or an official Letter of Exclusion, for Nigerian applicants.
- For PGD admission, a first degree in a related or unrelated field from a recognised university, or its equivalent, depending on the specific PGD programme.
- For Master’s admission, a first degree with at least Second Class Honours in a relevant field from EKSU or another recognised university. Candidates with a Third Class degree are generally not eligible for direct admission into a Master’s programme but may be considered after completing a relevant PGD with an acceptable result.
- For Ph.D. admission, a Master’s degree with a minimum CGPA of 3.50 on a 5-point scale (or 2.50 on a 4-point scale), or its equivalent, in a field relevant to the intended area of research.
How to Pay EKSU Postgraduate School Fees
Payment of postgraduate school fees at EKSU follows the same general online process used for undergraduate fees, and is completed through the university’s official student portal. The steps are as follows:
- Log in to the postgraduate portal using the account created during application, accessible through the university’s official website.
- Confirm your admission status and check the fee schedule attached to your specific programme, faculty, and study mode (full-time or part-time).
- Generate a payment invoice through the portal, which produces a unique reference number tied to the session and the exact amount payable.
- Complete payment through the approved payment channels, which include Remita, card payment via Interswitch, or eTranzact, depending on which options the portal makes available for that session.
- Print and retain the payment receipt, since this document is required during physical registration, course form submission, and departmental clearance.
- Proceed to complete course registration on the portal once payment has been confirmed and reflected against the student’s record.
Students should only make payments through the official EKSU portal or its integrated payment gateways. Fees paid into personal accounts, or through unofficial third parties claiming to process postgraduate registration, are not recognised by the university and place the student at risk of losing the payment entirely.
Installment Payment for Postgraduate Students
Similar to the arrangement available to undergraduate students, EKSU generally permits postgraduate students to pay their session’s fees in two installments rather than as one lump sum. A common structure allows a student to pay a percentage of the total fee, often around 60%, to complete first-semester registration, with the balance due before second-semester examinations. This arrangement is subject to review each session and should be confirmed on the student portal at the point of payment, since not every programme or session automatically permits installment payment.
Why Postgraduate Fees Vary So Much Across Departments
Postgraduate students frequently ask why one department’s fee is significantly different from another’s within the same degree category. The variation comes down to a few consistent factors:
- Laboratory and practical requirements. Science, engineering, and health-related postgraduate programmes require equipment, consumables, and practical sessions that arts and social science programmes do not.
- Study mode. Part-time programmes, run mainly for working professionals, carry higher charges because they are self-sustaining and are not subsidised in the way full-time postgraduate education is.
- Research supervision intensity. M.Phil. and Ph.D. programmes involve more one-on-one supervision, external examination, and thesis defence logistics, which raises the overall cost compared to taught Master’s or PGD programmes.
- Professional accreditation charges. Programmes tied to a professional regulatory body, such as Law or programmes within the Faculty of Basic Medical and Clinical Sciences, may carry additional accreditation-linked charges.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an EKSU postgraduate programme cost per session?
Depending on the programme and study mode, postgraduate fees at EKSU generally range from about ₦130,000 to ₦320,000 per session, with part-time programmes and research-intensive degrees like the Ph.D. falling toward the higher end.
Do part-time postgraduate students pay more than full-time students?
Yes. Part-time postgraduate programmes at EKSU consistently attract higher fees than their full-time equivalents, since part-time study is self-funded and scheduled to accommodate working students.
Is the postgraduate acceptance fee refundable?
No. Like most Nigerian universities, the acceptance fee paid to confirm a postgraduate offer of admission at EKSU is a one-time, non-refundable payment.
Can I pay my EKSU postgraduate fees in installments?
In most sessions, yes. EKSU typically allows postgraduate students to split their fees into two payments, usually in a 60/40 arrangement across the two semesters, though this should be confirmed on the portal for the specific session.
Where can I confirm the exact postgraduate fee for my department?
The exact, current figure for a specific programme and department is confirmed on the official EKSU postgraduate student portal after admission, since fees vary by faculty and are subject to periodic review by the university’s management.