Pan-Atlantic University (PAU), based in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, is one of Nigeria’s leading private universities for postgraduate study, particularly in business, media, and management. Postgraduate programmes at PAU run through four academic units: the School of Media and Communication (SMC), the School of Management and Social Sciences (SMSS), the School of Science and Technology (SST), and Lagos Business School (LBS), which operates as PAU’s dedicated graduate business school. This article breaks down what each postgraduate route costs for the 2026/2027 academic session, how payment is structured, and what applicants should budget for beyond tuition.
Overview of Postgraduate Study at Pan-Atlantic University
PAU’s postgraduate offerings split into two broad categories. The first is the set of Master’s, Postgraduate Diploma, and PhD programmes run through SMC, SMSS, and SST, which serve students interested in media and communication, management and social sciences, or science and technology respectively. The second is the portfolio of degree programmes run by Lagos Business School, which functions somewhat independently within the university and offers the MSc in Management, the various MBA formats, and the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA).
Because LBS operates as a specialised graduate business school with its own accreditation status (it holds both AMBA and AACSB accreditation, a distinction it is the first institution in West Africa to achieve), its fee structure is set separately from the fees charged by SMC, SMSS, and SST postgraduate programmes. This means a prospective postgraduate student’s total cost depends heavily on which unit of the university they are applying into, not just which degree level they are pursuing.
Postgraduate Fees Under SMC, SMSS, and SST
For postgraduate programmes outside Lagos Business School, PAU currently prices its MSc Modular Full-Time programme (offered through the School of Media and Communication) at ₦6,000,000 for the 2026 intake. This fee covers the full programme rather than being charged per year, since most of PAU’s postgraduate Master’s programmes are structured to run within a single academic cycle with a modular delivery format that blends intensive in-person sessions with independent study.
| Programme Type | Estimated/Confirmed Fee | Payment Structure |
|---|---|---|
| MSc Modular Full-Time (2026) | ₦6,000,000 | Full payment or instalment plans (see below) |
| PhD in Media and Communication | Fee split across sessions and semesters | Full session payment or 3-instalment plan per semester |
| Postgraduate Diploma programmes | Fee varies by school and specialisation | Confirmed at point of admission |
The university offers three payment options for its MSc Modular Full-Time programme, giving admitted students flexibility depending on their financial planning:
- Plan A (Full payment): The entire ₦6,000,000 is paid in one instalment upon admission.
- Plan B (Semester instalments): ₦2,000,000 is paid at the start of each of the three semesters — upon admission, before the second semester begins, and before the third semester begins.
- Plan C (Extended instalments): A first instalment of ₦1,000,000 is paid upon admission, followed by ₦500,000 roughly a month into the semester, and a final ₦500,000 instalment shortly before examinations. This same three-part pattern repeats for each of the three semesters across the programme.
The PhD in Media and Communication is a three-year, structured research doctorate. The first year consists of two semesters of coursework, while the second and third years are dedicated to finalising a research topic, conducting fieldwork, presenting seminars, and writing a thesis. All candidates enter through the first year of coursework regardless of prior research experience. Fees for this programme cover tuition, course materials excluding textbooks, and use of the university’s ancillary facilities. Payment can be made in full per session or split into instalments similar to the Master’s structure, with a recent fee schedule showing a third instalment of ₦400,000 due in a given semester, meaning the full session cost is distributed across staged payments rather than one lump sum.
Lagos Business School (LBS) Postgraduate Fees
Lagos Business School runs the university’s flagship business degrees, and its fees sit considerably higher than the SMC, SMSS, and SST postgraduate programmes because of the intensity, accreditation status, and international benchmarking of its curriculum.
| LBS Programme | Estimated Fee (2026) | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MSc in Management (MiM) | ₦8,400,000 | 18 months (12 months coursework + 6 months research/thesis) |
| MBA (Full-Time and Modular formats) | From ₦11,000,000 | Varies by format (Full-Time, Modular, Executive) |
| Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) | Up to ₦43,190,207 | Multi-year, research-intensive |
The MSc in Management programme runs for 18 months in total, combining a year of core coursework and specialisation with a further six months dedicated to research and thesis preparation. Its tuition is set at ₦8,400,000, payable across four instalments, giving admitted students a staged payment path rather than requiring the full amount upfront.
The MBA is Lagos Business School’s flagship postgraduate offering and is delivered in multiple formats to suit different career stages. The Full-Time MBA is an intensive, in-class programme spanning around 15 months of coursework across three semesters, requiring at least 72 credit hours, and including a 12-week corporate internship after the first nine months. Because of its demanding weekday schedule, the Full-Time MBA is generally not compatible with holding a full-time job simultaneously. The Modular MBA format, by contrast, is designed for working professionals and compresses coursework into intensive blocks rather than continuous weekday attendance. MBA fees across these formats start from ₦11,000,000, with the exact figure depending on which format a candidate selects and whether they pursue the Executive MBA track, which typically requires more extensive prior managerial experience.
The Doctor of Business Administration is aimed at senior executives, consultants, and academics who want to pursue applied business research while continuing their professional careers. It represents the highest fee tier among LBS’s degree offerings, running as high as ₦43,190,207 depending on the specific track and duration a candidate follows.
Admission Requirements for Postgraduate Programmes
Entry requirements differ across programmes, but several requirements are consistent across PAU’s postgraduate offerings generally. A Bachelor’s degree from a recognised university in a relevant discipline is the baseline requirement for entry into any Master’s or PhD programme. For the LBS MBA programmes specifically, candidates need a minimum of three years of relevant work experience, while the Executive MBA format typically requires around seven years of experience, including time in managerial or leadership roles, reflecting the more senior professional profile LBS targets for that cohort.
Applicants into research-based programmes such as the PhD in Media and Communication or the DBA at LBS should also expect to submit a research proposal or statement of research interest as part of their application, since admission into these tracks is evaluated partly on the strength and feasibility of the candidate’s proposed area of study.
What Postgraduate Fees Cover and What They Don’t
Published postgraduate fees at PAU generally cover tuition, course materials excluding textbooks, and access to the university’s ancillary academic facilities such as libraries, laboratories, and learning technology platforms. They do not typically cover accommodation, which students must budget for separately if they intend to live on or near campus. Given PAU’s location along the Lekki-Epe corridor, accommodation is a meaningful additional cost for students not commuting from within Lagos, and prospective postgraduate students should factor this into their total financial planning alongside tuition.
Fees at Pan-Atlantic University, including postgraduate fees, are also explicitly subject to annual review and can change without extensive prior notice, since the university reserves the right to adjust its fee schedule as part of routine academic planning. This means figures confirmed for one intake year should not be assumed to carry over unchanged into the next admission cycle, and applicants should always confirm the exact current fee directly through the university’s official postgraduate admissions office or the Lagos Business School admissions team before making any payment.
How to Apply and Pay Postgraduate Fees
Prospective postgraduate students apply through PAU’s official postgraduate admissions channels, selecting their intended school (SMC, SMSS, SST, or Lagos Business School) and specific programme at the point of application. Once admitted, the university communicates the exact fee applicable to the candidate’s chosen programme and format, along with the available instalment plans, since as shown above, most programmes offer more than one payment structure to accommodate different financial circumstances. Payment is typically made through the university’s official payment portal or designated bank accounts communicated directly to admitted students, and candidates are advised to keep all payment receipts and confirmations for their academic records.
Given that LBS operates its own admissions and fee communication process separate from the main PAU postgraduate portal, applicants interested in the MSc in Management, MBA formats, or DBA should direct fee-related enquiries specifically to Lagos Business School’s admissions office rather than the general PAU postgraduate office, to avoid confusion between the two fee structures.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an MSc cost at Pan-Atlantic University?
The MSc Modular Full-Time programme costs ₦6,000,000 for the 2026 intake, while the MSc in Management offered through Lagos Business School costs ₦8,400,000 for the full 18-month programme.
Can postgraduate fees at PAU be paid in instalments?
Yes. Most postgraduate programmes offer instalment options, ranging from semester-based two or three-payment plans to more extended plans that break tuition into smaller staged payments across the academic session.
Is Lagos Business School the same as Pan-Atlantic University?
Lagos Business School is the graduate business school of Pan-Atlantic University. It predates the university itself, having been founded in 1991, and now operates as PAU’s dedicated unit for business degrees including the MSc in Management, MBA formats, and the DBA.
Do postgraduate fees include accommodation?
No. Published postgraduate fees cover tuition, course materials, and access to academic facilities. Accommodation is arranged and paid for separately.
What is the most expensive postgraduate programme at PAU?
The Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) at Lagos Business School is the most expensive postgraduate programme, with fees reaching up to ₦43,190,207 depending on the specific track followed.