University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) School Fees for Medicine and Surgery
Studying Medicine and Surgery at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) is one of the most affordable ways to become a doctor in Nigeria — a stark contrast to the millions of naira charged at private medical schools. If you’ve been admitted, or you’re hoping to be, into UNN’s MBBS programme, this article gives you a complete financial picture: from your first acceptance fee payment through to your final clinical year at the teaching hospital.
About the UNN Medicine and Surgery Programme
Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) at UNN is a six-year programme divided into three distinct phases, and where you’re based physically changes as you progress:
Pre-Clinical Phase (100–200 Level): Foundational courses — Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, and general sciences — taught at the main Nsukka campus.
Para-Clinical Phase (300–400 Level): Pharmacology, Pathology, Microbiology, and Community Medicine, marking the transition toward clinical work.
Clinical Phase (500–600 Level): Students relocate to the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) at Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu, for full-time hospital-based training, ward rounds, and clinical rotations.
Graduates receive the MBBS degree and proceed to a one-year housemanship (internship) at a recognized hospital, followed by NYSC. Because the programme spans two locations and three distinct academic phases, your costs shift somewhat as you move through the years — which is important to plan for.
UNN Acceptance Fee
Every newly admitted UNN student — regardless of course — pays a flat, non-refundable acceptance fee of ₦30,000 to confirm their admission. This must typically be paid within about two weeks of the admission list being released, before you can proceed with any other registration step. Payment is made through the UNN student portal (unnportal.unn.edu.ng) via a Remita-generated invoice, payable at any commercial bank or online by card.
Detailed School Fees Breakdown for Medicine and Surgery
Medicine and Surgery follows UNN’s general science-course fee structure, with slightly higher laboratory and departmental charges reflecting its practical-intensive nature.
Fresh Students (100 Level)
Fee Component
Amount (₦)
Tuition Fee
35,000
ICT / Technology Fee
10,000
Library Fee
5,000
Examination Fee
5,000
Student Union / SUG Dues
3,000
Medical Fee
3,000
Sports Fee
2,000
Laboratory / Practical Fee
10,000
Development Levy
7,500
Faculty Dues
5,000
Departmental Dues
5,200
Caution Deposit (refundable)
5,000
Total (Approximate)
95,700
Adding the ₦30,000 acceptance fee brings your total first-year cost to roughly ₦125,700, before accommodation and personal expenses.
Returning Students (200–600 Level)
Fee Component
Amount (₦)
Tuition Fee
35,000
ICT / Technology Fee
5,000
Library Fee
3,000
Examination Fee
5,000
Student Union / SUG Dues
2,000
Medical Fee
2,000
Laboratory / Practical Fee
8,000
Development Levy
5,000
Faculty / Departmental Dues
5,340
Total (Approximate)
70,340
These figures represent the base fee structure and are subject to periodic review by university management — always confirm the exact current amount on the UNN portal before paying.
Additional Costs During the Clinical Years (500–600 Level)
Many students underestimate what changes once they move to UNTH Ituku-Ozalla for clinical training. Budget for these extra, often-overlooked costs:
Item
Estimated Cost
Clinical Posting Fee (per session)
₦10,000 – ₦20,000
Lab Coat, Stethoscope, Diagnostic Kits
₦30,000 – ₦50,000 (one-time, mostly)
Textbooks and Clinical Manuals (across clinical years)
₦50,000 – ₦100,000
Transportation (Nsukka ↔ Enugu/Ituku-Ozalla, monthly)
₦5,000 – ₦15,000
Estimated Total Cost of Studying Medicine at UNN (6 Years)
Year / Level
Estimated Cost (₦)
Acceptance Fee (one-time)
30,000
100 Level (Fresh Student)
95,700
200 Level
70,340
300 Level
70,340
400 Level
~75,000
500 Level (Clinical)
~85,000
600 Level (Clinical)
~85,000
Lab Coat, Equipment & Books (across programme)
80,000 – 150,000
Hostel (optional, per session)
~15,000
Estimated 6-Year Total
₦600,000 – ₦750,000
For context, that six-year total is roughly what a single session of Medicine and Surgery costs at several private Nigerian universities.
Hostel Accommodation
UNN’s on-campus hostel accommodation is optional and notably cheap — around ₦15,000 per session, covering a bed space, mattress, and shared facilities. Spaces are limited and allocated first-come, first-served through the student portal, so many students (especially during the clinical years in Enugu) opt for off-campus housing instead:
Off-campus rent near UNN Nsukka: ₦50,000 – ₦150,000 per year
Off-campus rent near UNTH Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu: ₦80,000 – ₦200,000 per year
How UNN Compares to Other Universities for Medicine and Surgery
University
Type
Approx. Annual Fees (₦)
University of Nigeria (UNN)
Federal
70,000 – 96,000
University of Lagos (UNILAG)
Federal
75,000 – 100,000
University of Ibadan (UI)
Federal
65,000 – 90,000
Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK)
Federal
70,000 – 95,000
Lagos State University (LASU)
State
150,000 – 350,000
Babcock University
Private
2,500,000 – 3,500,000
Afe Babalola University (ABUAD)
Private
2,000,000 – 3,000,000
Bowen University
Private
1,800,000 – 2,500,000
Federal universities like UNN offer Medicine and Surgery at a small fraction of what private institutions charge — often 1/20th to 1/40th of the annual private-university cost.
How to Pay Your UNN Medicine and Surgery Fees
Log in to the UNN student portal at unnportal.unn.edu.ng with your credentials.
Select the current academic session and navigate to the School Fees section.
Generate your payment invoice — the system produces a Remita Retrieval Reference (RRR) number.
Pay at any commercial bank using the RRR, or pay online via debit card through Remita.
Return to the portal to confirm payment and print your receipt.
Payment structure: Fresh (100 Level) students must pay in full. From 200 Level onward, UNN permits payment in two instalments — one per semester — though the full amount must be settled before second-semester examinations.
Financial Planning Tips for UNN Medical Students
Budget per session, not just per year — fees, accommodation, feeding, textbooks, and transport should all be planned together.
Buy used textbooks where possible — senior medical students often sell materials at 50–70% discounts.
Apply for scholarships — Federal Government Scholarship (via the Federal Scholarship Board), state bursaries, and private foundation grants (MTN Foundation, Shell, TETFund) can meaningfully offset costs.
Save ahead of the clinical years — costs rise noticeably from 500 Level once you relocate to Ituku-Ozalla, so building savings during the pre-clinical years helps cushion the transition.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How much is UNN’s Medicine and Surgery school fees for fresh students?
Approximately ₦95,700 for the first year (100 Level), plus the ₦30,000 acceptance fee — bringing your total first-year cost to roughly ₦125,700, excluding accommodation and personal expenses.
2. Is Medicine more expensive than other courses at UNN?
Only slightly. Base tuition is largely uniform across UNN courses, but Medicine and Surgery students pay somewhat higher laboratory and departmental dues — typically ₦5,000–₦10,000 more than non-science courses — due to the practical-intensive nature of the programme.
3. Can I pay my UNN Medicine fees in instalments?
Fresh (100 Level) students must pay in full. From 200 Level onward, UNN allows payment in two instalments per session, one per semester, provided the full balance is cleared before second-semester exams.
4. Do medical students pay extra once they reach the clinical years?
Yes. From 500 Level, when training moves to UNTH Ituku-Ozalla, expect additional clinical posting fees, medical equipment purchases, and increased transport costs — budget roughly ₦30,000–₦50,000 extra per session for these.
5. How does UNN’s Medicine and Surgery fee compare to private universities?
Dramatically lower. While private universities like Babcock, Afe Babalola, and Bowen charge between ₦1.8 million and ₦3.5 million per session for Medicine and Surgery, UNN students pay well under ₦100,000 annually in core school fees — making it one of the most cost-effective routes to an MBBS degree in Nigeria.