Enugu State College of Nursing Sciences (ESCONS) operates under the ESUT Teaching Hospital administrative structure, with its main campus at Parklane in the Government Reserved Area (GRA), Enugu North Local Government Area, and a second campus at Awgu, situated beside the Awgu General Hospital. The Awgu campus traces its history back to 1954, when it began as a Cottage Hospital training ground and later operated as the School of Basic Midwifery, Awgu, running a two-year Grade II Midwifery programme. In line with directives from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), the Enugu State Government, under Governor Peter Mbah, approved the upgrade of the School of Basic Midwifery, Awgu, into a full College of Nursing Sciences, aligning it with the Parklane campus under a single institutional identity.
Both campuses jointly run several NMCN-approved programmes, including the three-year, six-semester Basic Nursing programme, the three-year, six-semester Basic Midwifery programme, and the two-year National Diploma (ND) in Public Health Nursing. Because the institution runs a dual-campus structure, prospective students often need clarity on whether fee amounts differ between Parklane and Awgu, and how the cost changes between a student’s first year and later years in the programme.
General Fee Structure: Freshers vs Returning Students
As with most nursing colleges in Nigeria, a fresher at ESCONS pays more in the first year than a returning student pays in subsequent years. This difference exists because freshers carry one-off charges tied strictly to new admission, on top of the recurring charges that every student, whether new or returning, pays each session. A returning student’s fee package excludes items such as the acceptance fee and the fresh registration and matriculation charges, which reduces their total cost from one session to the next, provided they remain in good academic standing and are not repeating a year.
Freshers typically settle their first payment shortly after the release of admission lists and completion of the entrance examination and interview process, while returning students complete payment ahead of resumption for each new session, usually guided by a payment deadline the college circulates to avoid late registration penalties.
Components That Make Up the School Fees at ESCONS
The full cost a student pays at Enugu State College of Nursing Sciences, whether at Parklane or Awgu, is made up of several distinct charges rather than a single lump sum. These commonly include:
- Acceptance fee — a one-time charge paid by freshers only, confirming the admission offer.
- Tuition fee — the core academic charge covering lectures, coursework, and instructional supervision, paid by both freshers and returning students every session.
- Registration and matriculation fee — paid once by freshers at the start of the programme to formalize enrollment.
- Library fee — covers access to reading materials and reference resources, paid by all students annually.
- Laboratory and clinical practicals fee — covers skills-lab training, simulation exercises, and supervised ward postings at the affiliated teaching hospital or general hospital, a significant part of nursing and midwifery training.
- Identity card fee — a one-off charge for freshers to obtain their official student ID.
- Medical fee/health screening fee — confirms a student’s fitness to undergo nursing and midwifery training, typically charged to freshers.
- Development levy — supports facility upkeep and infrastructure, charged to both freshers and returning students.
- Examination fee — covers internal semester and end-of-year examinations, paid by all students each session.
- NMCN registration/indexing fee — charged closer to the final stages of the programme, covering a student’s registration with the professional regulatory body ahead of licensing examinations.
Fee Overview by Category
The table below summarizes how these charges typically apply to freshers compared to returning students at ESCONS, covering both the Parklane and Awgu campuses.
| Fee Category | Applies to Freshers | Applies to Returning Students | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance Fee | Yes | No | Paid once, immediately after admission is confirmed |
| Registration/Matriculation Fee | Yes | No | One-off charge formalizing enrollment |
| Identity Card Fee | Yes | No | Covers the official student ID |
| Medical/Health Screening Fee | Yes | No | Confirms fitness for clinical training |
| Tuition Fee | Yes | Yes | Charged every session, may adjust slightly by level |
| Library Fee | Yes | Yes | Covers access to reading and reference materials |
| Laboratory/Clinical Practicals Fee | Yes | Yes | Increases in relevance as students progress to more clinical postings |
| Development Levy | Yes | Yes | Supports infrastructure and facility maintenance |
| Examination Fee | Yes | Yes | Covers internal semester assessments |
| NMCN Registration/Indexing Fee | Applicable near completion | Applicable near completion | Tied to licensing preparation, not charged every session |
This structure explains why a fresher’s total bill for the first session is noticeably higher than what a second-year or third-year student pays, even though both categories share several recurring charges.
Does the Fee Differ Between Parklane and Awgu Campus?
Since both the Parklane and Awgu campuses fall under one unified administrative and academic structure as Enugu State College of Nursing Sciences, the general fee framework applies uniformly across both locations for the same programme. A student offered admission into the Basic Nursing programme at Awgu pays under the same fee categories as a student admitted into the same programme at Parklane, since both campuses report to the same college management and follow the same NMCN-approved curriculum. Minor variations may still occur depending on specific campus-level charges tied to local facility use, such as differences in hostel accommodation costs where each campus manages its own residential arrangements separately.
Programmes Offered and Their Duration
Understanding the specific programme a student is enrolling into helps clarify how long fee payments will continue and how the fee pattern shifts across levels. ESCONS currently runs:
- Basic Nursing Programme — a three-year, six-semester programme leading to a Registered Nurse (RN) qualification upon successful completion and licensing by the NMCN.
- Basic Midwifery Programme — also a three-year, six-semester programme, leading to a Registered Midwife (RM) qualification.
- National Diploma (ND) in Public Health Nursing — a two-year programme structured for candidates interested in community and public health nursing practice.
Each of these programmes carries its own fee schedule, and while the general categories of charges (tuition, laboratory, library, development levy) remain broadly similar in structure, the specific amount tied to clinical practicals may differ slightly between the Basic Nursing and Basic Midwifery tracks due to differences in ward exposure and equipment needs.
Admission Requirements Linked to Fee Payment
Before a candidate reaches the point of fee payment, they must first satisfy ESCONS admission requirements. Candidates need a minimum of five O’Level credit passes, including English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, obtained in not more than two sittings through WAEC, NECO, or an equivalent examining body. After purchasing the admission form and submitting an application, candidates sit for an entrance examination and, in most cases, an oral interview conducted by the college before an admission list is released. Only candidates whose names appear on the admission list proceed to the fee payment stage, after which registration and matriculation follow.
How Freshers and Returning Students Pay Their Fees
The general payment process at ESCONS follows a structured sequence designed to prevent unauthorized collection of money outside official channels:
- Confirm admission status through the official college notice or portal after the entrance examination results are released.
- Obtain the approved payment details from the college, since ESCONS processes fees through designated government revenue channels rather than informal transfers.
- Make payment at any commercial bank or through the specified online payment option linked to the Enugu State Government’s internally generated revenue (IGR) system.
- Retain evidence of payment, including a receipt or teller, for submission during physical registration.
- Proceed to the college, either at Parklane or Awgu depending on the campus of admission, with all required documents and payment evidence to complete registration.
Returning students follow a similar but shorter process, generally skipping the entrance examination and admission confirmation steps, and proceeding directly to fee payment and registration renewal ahead of each new session.
Caution Against Unofficial Agents
The college has repeatedly warned prospective and current students against dealing with agents who claim to sell admission forms or collect fees outside the official college structure. Since ESCONS operates under state government administration, all form sales and fee payments are expected to run through verified government revenue channels or the college’s own designated bank accounts, and any transaction conducted outside these official channels carries a risk that the student bears solely at their own discretion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the school fee the same for freshers and returning students at ESCONS?
No. Freshers pay more in their first year because of one-off charges such as the acceptance fee, registration fee, identity card fee, and medical screening fee, which do not apply to returning students.
Do Parklane and Awgu campuses charge different fees for the same programme?
No significant difference exists for the core fee categories, since both campuses operate under one unified college administration and follow the same NMCN-approved curriculum, though minor campus-specific charges like hostel fees may vary.
How long does it take to complete the Basic Nursing or Basic Midwifery programme at ESCONS?
Both programmes run for three years across six semesters, after which qualifying students proceed to NMCN licensing registration and examinations.
Where can I get the exact fee amount for the 2026/2027 session?
The exact figure is released by the college management through its official notices and the Enugu State Government’s revenue payment channels, since fee amounts are reviewed periodically and should not be assumed from a previous session’s figures.
Can I pay my ESCONS fees to an agent instead of the official channel?
No. The college strongly advises against this, since only payments made through verified government revenue channels or official college accounts are recognized during registration.