Universities Offering SLT And Their Fees
Science Laboratory Technology (SLT) is a multidisciplinary field of study that trains students to become skilled laboratory technologists, technicians, and researchers across sectors such as healthcare, pharmaceuticals, environmental management, food production, and industrial research. The programme is regulated professionally by the Nigerian Institute of Science Laboratory Technology (NISLT), which is empowered to award professional certification to graduates of accredited institutions. This article examines universities in Nigeria that offer SLT as a degree programme, along with their admission requirements and an overview of what students typically pay.
Understanding Science Laboratory Technology (SLT)
SLT differs from Medical Laboratory Science (MLS), even though both fields deal with laboratory work. MLS is a clinical science course studied under the College of Medicine or Faculty of Health Sciences, focused specifically on diagnostic testing in hospital and clinical settings. SLT, on the other hand, is a broader science and technology-based programme that can be studied in both universities and polytechnics, covering specialisations that may include Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Microbiology, and Biochemistry laboratory techniques, and preparing graduates for laboratory work in research institutes, industries, quality control units, and educational institutions rather than exclusively clinical settings.
SLT was historically certified through the City and Guilds of London in conjunction with the Institute of Science Technology in the United Kingdom, before oversight passed to the Nigerian Institute of Science Laboratory Technology (NISLT), which now inspects and accredits universities running the degree programme and also examines graduates from both universities and polytechnics.
Universities Offering Science Laboratory Technology in Nigeria
A number of federal, state, and private universities run accredited SLT degree programmes, typically domiciled within the Faculty of Science or a dedicated Department of Science Laboratory Technology. Notable institutions include:
University of Jos (UNIJOS) – one of the pioneer institutions, offering SLT as a full degree programme since 2009/2010, with earlier part-time study dating back to 1976
University of Benin (UNIBEN) – runs SLT with options across various science-based specialisations
University of Calabar (UNICAL) – offers SLT within its Faculty of Science
Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka
Lagos State University (LASU)
University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN)
Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUTMINNA)
Kano State University of Science and Technology, Wudil (KUST Wudil)
Ekiti State University (EKSU)
Babcock University (a private university option for SLT)
Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology (BOUESTI)
This list is not exhaustive, as several other federal, state, and private universities across Nigeria run SLT programmes, and prospective students are advised to confirm current NISLT accreditation status for any institution before applying, since the professional body periodically reviews and can delist universities whose SLT programmes fail resource inspection.
Admission Requirements for SLT
Admission requirements are broadly similar across institutions offering SLT, though specific cut-off marks and screening processes vary by university:
A minimum of five O’Level credit passes in WAEC, NECO, or an equivalent examination, including English Language, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, obtained in not more than two sittings
A competitive UTME score meeting the specific institution’s cut-off mark for science-based programmes
JAMB subject combination typically comprising Physics, Chemistry, and Biology
Participation in the university’s Post-UTME or screening exercise
For Direct Entry candidates, a minimum of Lower Credit in a relevant National Diploma (ND), or acceptable A-Level/IJMB points in relevant science subjects
Fees at Universities Offering SLT
Because SLT is offered by federal, state, and private universities, fees vary widely depending on the type of institution.
Federal Universities
Federal universities remain the most affordable route into SLT due to government subsidy, though science-based courses such as SLT typically attract slightly higher charges than arts and humanities courses because of laboratory and practical costs.
University of Benin (UNIBEN):
Fresh science students: approximately ₦170,000 to ₦190,000 per session
Returning science students: approximately ₦150,000 to ₦170,000 per session
Some more recent fee schedules place base tuition-related charges lower, in the range of ₦61,340 for new and ₦45,340 for returning students, reflecting periodic revisions to the fee structure
University of Calabar (UNICAL):
Fresh students (science-related courses): approximately ₦59,850 to ₦63,850, with some schedules citing figures up to ₦160,000 depending on faculty and specific charges included
Returning students: approximately ₦44,350 to ₦48,350
Acceptance fee: ranges from ₦25,000 to ₦40,000 depending on the fee schedule referenced
Hostel accommodation: approximately ₦25,000 to ₦50,000, depending on the session and hostel type
Fee figures for federal universities can differ between sources and sessions because of periodic revisions, so students are advised to always confirm the exact current breakdown via each university’s official student portal.
State Universities
State universities such as Delta State University (DELSU), Lagos State University (LASU), Ekiti State University (EKSU), and Kano State University of Science and Technology (KUST Wudil) generally charge fees comparable to or slightly higher than federal universities, since they receive less direct federal subsidy and may include additional state development levies. Fees for SLT at these institutions typically range from around ₦50,000 to ₦150,000 per session, depending on indigene or non-indigene status, faculty charges, and departmental practical fees.
Private Universities
Private universities offering SLT, such as Babcock University, charge substantially higher fees than public institutions, often ranging from several hundred thousand naira to over a million naira per session, depending on the specific programme, laboratory intensity, and the university’s overall fee structure. Private university fees typically bundle in accommodation, feeding (in some cases), and a wider range of facility charges.
Other Compulsory Payments Common Across Institutions
Regardless of the specific university, SLT students should generally budget for the following in addition to core tuition:
Acceptance fee, payable once admission is confirmed
Post-UTME/screening form fee
Laboratory/practical fees, given the hands-on nature of the SLT curriculum
Library, ICT, and administrative charges
Hostel accommodation fee, where applicable and where a student chooses to reside on campus
Departmental/faculty-specific charges tied to specific SLT specialisations
Career Prospects for SLT Graduates
Graduates of Science Laboratory Technology are trained to work as laboratory technologists, technicians, quality control officers, and researchers across healthcare institutions, pharmaceutical companies, food and beverage industries, environmental agencies, and educational institutions. Graduates may also pursue professional membership and certification with the Nigerian Institute of Science Laboratory Technology (NISLT), and can proceed to postgraduate study, including M.Sc. and PGD options in Science Laboratory Technology or related specialisations, offered by some of the same universities running the undergraduate programme.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which universities in Nigeria offer Science Laboratory Technology (SLT)?
Several federal, state, and private universities offer SLT, including the University of Jos, University of Benin, University of Calabar, Delta State University, Lagos State University, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Federal University of Technology Minna, Kano State University of Science and Technology Wudil, and Babcock University, among others.
2. What is the difference between SLT and Medical Laboratory Science (MLS)?
SLT is a broader science and technology programme offered in both universities and polytechnics, covering laboratory techniques across general science fields, while MLS is a clinical science course studied only in universities under the College of Medicine or Faculty of Health Sciences, focused specifically on diagnostic laboratory work in clinical settings.
3. What are the admission requirements for SLT?
Candidates generally need five O’Level credits including English Language, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, a competitive UTME score with the JAMB subject combination of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, and successful participation in the institution’s Post-UTME screening exercise.
4. How much does it cost to study SLT at a federal university compared to a private university?
Federal universities are considerably more affordable, with fees generally ranging from about ₦50,000 to ₦190,000 per session depending on the institution and student category, while private universities can charge several hundred thousand naira to over a million naira per session for the same programme.
5. Can SLT graduates get professional certification?
Yes. Graduates of accredited university SLT programmes are eligible to register with the Nigerian Institute of Science Laboratory Technology (NISLT), which oversees professional certification, examinations, and continued accreditation of universities running the SLT degree programme.