Lagos State University (LASU), located in Ojo, Lagos State, runs one of the more established postgraduate schools among Nigeria’s state universities, offering Postgraduate Diploma (PGD), Master’s, M.Phil, and PhD programmes across its various faculties. This article breaks down what candidates should expect to pay for LASU postgraduate courses in the 2026/2027 academic session, along with the admission requirements and application process for the university’s Postgraduate School.
Overview of LASU’s Postgraduate School
The LASU Postgraduate School coordinates admission and academic administration for all postgraduate programmes across the university’s faculties, including Arts, Sciences, Social Sciences, Management Sciences, Education, Law, and Engineering, among others. Programmes are generally offered in both full-time and part-time formats, giving working professionals the option to pursue an advanced degree without necessarily leaving their jobs.
As a state-owned university, LASU applies a dual fee structure that distinguishes between Lagos State indigenes and non-indigenes, similar to the fee model used at the undergraduate level. Indigenes typically enjoy subsidised rates across most postgraduate programmes, while non-indigenes pay a comparatively higher tuition for the same course. This distinction applies consistently across PGD, Master’s, M.Phil, and PhD programmes, and prospective applicants should factor their indigene status into their financial planning from the outset.
LASU Postgraduate Admission Requirements
Before looking at the fee structure, it helps to understand what LASU expects of postgraduate applicants, since admission requirements differ by programme level.
- General O’Level requirement: All postgraduate applicants must hold five credit passes at Ordinary Level, including English Language, obtained through GCE, WASC, SSCE, Grade II Certificate, NECO, or NABTEB. Applicants to Science, Social Sciences, Management Sciences, and Educational Management courses must additionally hold a credit in Mathematics.
- Postgraduate Diploma (PGD): Candidates generally require a first degree with at least a Third Class from a recognised institution, or a Higher National Diploma (HND) with at least a Lower Credit.
- Master’s programmes: Candidates typically need a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline with at least a Second Class Lower Division. Certain professional Master’s programmes, such as the MBA, may additionally require relevant work experience or professional qualifications.
- M.Phil/PhD programmes: Candidates generally require a Master’s degree in a relevant field with a minimum CGPA of around 4.0 on a 5-point scale, or its equivalent under other grading systems.
- Entrance examination: LASU conducts a qualifying entrance examination for postgraduate applicants at the university’s main campus in Ojo, Lagos. Attendance is compulsory, and the university does not typically offer a make-up sitting for candidates who miss the scheduled date.
- Application fee: Candidates are required to pay a non-refundable application fee (recently set at approximately ₦30,300) as part of the online application process before proceeding to the entrance examination stage.
Candidates should also note that transcripts from previous institutions must be forwarded directly to the LASU Postgraduate School under confidential cover, rather than submitted personally by the applicant, as part of standard postgraduate admission procedure across most Nigerian universities.
LASU Postgraduate School Fees by Programme Level
LASU’s postgraduate tuition is structured by programme level, with PGD attracting the lowest fees and PhD programmes attracting the highest, reflecting the increasing depth of coursework, research supervision, and academic resources required at each stage. The figures below represent the general fee ranges applicants should expect for the 2026/2027 academic session, though exact amounts can vary depending on faculty, programme specialisation, and indigene status.
| Programme Level | Approximate Fee Range (per session) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) | ₦150,000 – ₦200,000 | Serves as a conversion pathway into a new field or a stepping stone to Master’s admission |
| Master’s Degrees (M.A., M.Sc., M.Ed.) | ₦200,000 – ₦350,000 | Fees vary by faculty and specialisation |
| MBA and other specialised professional Master’s programmes | Generally higher than standard Master’s fees | Reflects professional accreditation and specialised coursework |
| M.Phil | ₦300,000 – ₦500,000 | Research-intensive, with supervision-based charges |
| PhD | ₦250,000 – ₦600,000 | Varies significantly by research area, faculty, and residency requirements |
Lagos State indigenes generally pay fees at the lower end of these ranges, or in some cases below the stated ranges entirely, due to the subsidised rate the university applies to indigene students. Non-indigenes should expect to pay closer to the upper end of each range, and in some faculties, non-indigene rates can exceed the stated maximum depending on the specific programme.
Additional Compulsory Charges for Postgraduate Students
Beyond the core tuition figure, LASU postgraduate students, whether fresh or returning, pay a number of additional charges each session. These typically include:
- Acceptance fee: Approximately ₦20,000, paid once by newly admitted students to confirm their offer of admission.
- Medical fee: Approximately ₦10,000, covering the student’s medical registration and health services access.
- Student union fee: Approximately ₦5,000, covering union dues for postgraduate student representation.
- Matriculation fee: Approximately ₦10,000, associated with the formal matriculation process for newly admitted students.
- Library fee: Approximately ₦5,000, covering access to university library resources.
- Examination fee: Approximately ₦10,000, covering internal examination administration.
- Identity card fee: Approximately ₦2,500, covering the student’s official ID card.
Adding these compulsory charges to the base tuition figure, a fresh postgraduate student at LASU should generally budget for a total first-session cost somewhat above the stated tuition range, since most of these ancillary charges apply specifically to new students in their first year and do not recur for returning students in subsequent sessions.
Difference Between Fresh and Returning Postgraduate Student Fees
As with LASU’s undergraduate fee structure, postgraduate students pay a higher total in their first year of study compared to subsequent sessions. This is because one-time charges, such as the acceptance fee, matriculation fee, and identity card fee, apply only when a student is newly admitted. Returning postgraduate students continue to pay tuition and the recurring compulsory charges (such as the library, examination, and student union fees) each session, but without the additional one-time costs that apply exclusively to freshers.
For programmes that run longer than one academic session, such as most Master’s, M.Phil, and PhD degrees, this means the total cost of completing the programme is generally front-loaded, with the first session costing noticeably more than subsequent sessions, assuming tuition rates remain stable across the duration of study.
Postgraduate Courses Offered at LASU
LASU’s Postgraduate School runs programmes across a broad range of disciplines, structured under the university’s various faculties. Some of the postgraduate courses available include:
- Faculty of Arts: Programmes in African Languages (including Yoruba Language and Literature), English, History and International Studies, Theatre Arts, Philosophy, and Religious Studies, offered at PGD, Master’s, M.Phil, and PhD levels depending on the specific department.
- Faculty of Education: Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE), along with M.Ed. programmes in specialisations such as Counselling Psychology and Educational Management.
- Faculty of Management Sciences: MBA and M.Sc. programmes across various management and business-related specialisations.
- Faculty of Law: LLM programmes for candidates holding a first degree in Law.
- Faculty of Science and Social Sciences: M.Sc. programmes across various science and social science disciplines, along with PGD options that serve as conversion routes into related fields.
Programme duration generally ranges from about 12 months for shorter PGD programmes to around 18 months to 2 years for most Master’s degrees, while M.Phil and PhD programmes typically take longer, depending on the pace of research and the specific requirements of the department.
How to Apply for LASU Postgraduate Admission
Candidates interested in applying for a postgraduate programme at LASU generally follow this process:
- Visit the LASU postgraduate application portal and generate an application number by providing basic biodata and selecting the intended postgraduate programme.
- Pay the non-refundable application fee through the university’s official online payment channel.
- Complete the full application form, using the generated application number and surname to access the remaining sections of the online form.
- Arrange for transcripts from previous institutions to be sent directly to the LASU Postgraduate School under confidential cover.
- Sit for the qualifying entrance examination at the university’s main campus in Ojo, Lagos, on the scheduled date, since attendance is compulsory and no make-up sitting is typically offered.
- Check admission status through the official portal once results from the entrance examination are released.
Candidates are strongly advised to make all payments strictly through LASU’s official portal or designated bank channels, since payments made outside official university channels are not recognised and cannot be used to secure admission or registration.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) cost at LASU?
PGD tuition generally ranges from ₦150,000 to ₦200,000 per session, with indigenes typically paying toward the lower end of this range.
How much does a Master’s degree cost at LASU?
Master’s programmes such as M.A., M.Sc., and M.Ed. generally range from ₦200,000 to ₦350,000 per session, while MBA and other specialised professional Master’s programmes tend to attract higher fees.
How much does a PhD cost at LASU?
PhD tuition generally ranges from ₦250,000 to ₦600,000 per session, depending on the research area, faculty, and residency requirements of the specific programme.
Do Lagos State indigenes pay less for LASU postgraduate programmes?
Yes. LASU applies a subsidised fee structure for Lagos State indigenes across most postgraduate programmes, while non-indigenes pay a comparatively higher tuition for the same course.
Is an entrance examination required for LASU postgraduate admission?
Yes. All postgraduate applicants are required to sit for a qualifying entrance examination at the university’s main campus in Ojo, Lagos, and attendance is compulsory since no make-up examination is typically offered.