Private Universities in Bayelsa State and Their Fees
Introduction
Bayelsa State, tucked deep in Nigeria’s Niger Delta region, is one of the country’s least populated states and, correspondingly, has one of the smallest clusters of tertiary institutions. Nicknamed the “Glory of All Lands,” the state is home to a handful of universities spanning federal, state, and private ownership. While Bayelsa boasts a federal university (Federal University, Otuoke) and a couple of state-owned universities (Niger Delta University and Bayelsa Medical University, alongside the newer University of Africa, Toru-Orua), the state currently has just one private university: Hensard University, located in Toru-Orua, Sagbama Local Government Area.
This article takes a close look at Hensard University as the sole private university operating in Bayelsa State, examining its programmes, tuition structure, and general charges, so that prospective students and their sponsors can plan their finances ahead of admission.
Overview of Private University Education in Bayelsa State
Unlike states such as Ogun, Osun, or Oyo — which host dozens of private universities — Bayelsa’s private university landscape is still developing. Hensard University was established relatively recently as a privately owned institution with an international outlook, positioning itself as an alternative to studying abroad by offering “dual certification” through partnerships with universities and organisations outside Nigeria. It is also notable for benchmarking its tuition fees in US Dollars, while still accepting payment in the Naira equivalent — a structure that sets it apart from virtually every other private university in the country, most of which quote fees purely in Naira.
Hensard University: Profile
Location: Toru-Orua, Sagbama Local Government Area, Bayelsa State
Ownership: Private
Vice-Chancellor (at time of fee announcement): Professor Dileep Kumar M, a Professor of Business Organisation
Academic structure: 5 faculties, 30 programmes
Distinctive feature: Fees are pegged to the US Dollar (payable in Naira equivalent), and the university emphasises entrepreneurship, innovation, practical skills, and international linkages with research institutions abroad
Also runs: A Foundation School (a remedial/pre-degree pathway) for students who do not yet meet NUC’s minimum admission requirements
Hensard University School Fees
Undergraduate Tuition Fees by Faculty and Department
Hensard’s tuition fees vary by faculty and, within some faculties, by specific department. All figures below are quoted in US Dollars, as officially benchmarked by the university, with the Naira equivalent payable at the prevailing exchange rate.
1. Faculty of Arts, Social Sciences & Management — $2,000 per session
Accounting
Business Administration
Political Science & International Relations
Procurement Management & Project Management
History and Diplomatic Studies
Economics
Performing and Creative Arts
Philosophy and Religious Studies
Languages and Linguistics
2. Faculty of Science and Computing — $2,500 to $3,000 per session
| Department | Tuition |
|—|—|
| Computer Science | $3,000 |
| Science and Laboratory Technology | $2,500 |
| Microbiology and Biotechnology | $2,500 |
| Cybersecurity | $3,000 |
| Physics and Electronics | $2,500 |
| Software Engineering | $3,000 |
| Data Science | $3,000 |
| Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | $2,500 |
3. Faculty of Agricultural Science — $2,500 per session
Agricultural Economics & Extension
Animal Production and Husbandry
Agronomy
Fisheries & Aquaculture
Forestry and Wildlife Management
4. Faculty of Communication and Media Studies — $2,000 per session
Broadcasting
Film & Multimedia Studies
Journalism
5. Faculty of Environmental Sciences — $2,500 to $3,000 per session
| Department | Tuition |
|—|—|
| Environmental Management | $2,500 |
| Surveying & Geo-Informatics | $3,000 |
| Meteorology and Climate Science | $3,000 |
| Geology and Geophysics | $2,500 |
General Charges (In Addition to Tuition)
Beyond faculty-specific tuition, all students are required to pay a set of general charges that fund student welfare, research, and support services:
Charge
Amount (₦)
Medical Deposit
50,000
Hensard Philanthropy
50,000
Entrepreneurship
50,000
Research & Innovation Support Fund
50,000
Accommodation
200,000
Total General Charges
400,000
Hensard Foundation School Fees
For students admitted into the university’s Foundation School (a bridging/remedial programme for candidates who do not yet meet standard admission requirements), the fees are quoted separately in Naira:
Item
Amount (₦)
Tuition (inclusive of accommodation)
750,000
General Charges
400,000
Payment Plan
Hensard University operates an installmental payment policy designed to ease the burden on students and families:
To secure admission, a student must pay at least 50% of the total tuition upfront.
The remaining balance is payable in one further installment at the beginning of the second semester.
Although fees are benchmarked in US Dollars, students are not required to source foreign currency — payment can be made fully in the Naira equivalent at prevailing rates.
Important Notes on Fee Accuracy
The tuition and charges listed above were officially announced by Hensard University’s management for a recent academic session. Because the university’s fees are pegged to the US Dollar, the Naira equivalent a student pays can shift from one payment cycle to the next purely due to exchange rate movements, even where the Dollar-denominated tuition itself stays unchanged. In addition, universities occasionally revise their general charges, accommodation fees, or add new departments and programmes.
For this reason, prospective students planning to apply for the 2026/2027 academic session should:
Visit the official Hensard University website (hensarduniversity.edu.ng) for the most current fee schedule.
Contact the university’s Admissions Office directly using its official phone lines and email addresses.
Avoid making payments through unofficial agents or third parties — Hensard University, like most Nigerian universities, warns prospective students to deal only through its verified official channels.
Why Bayelsa Has Only One Private University
Compared to Nigeria’s south-west (Ogun, Oyo, Osun) and parts of the south-east, the Niger Delta region — and Bayelsa specifically — has attracted far fewer private university investors. Analysts often point to Bayelsa’s relatively low population density, its riverine and swampy terrain (which raises infrastructure costs), and the dominance of public sector-driven education in the state as contributing factors. Hensard University’s emergence is therefore significant, as it represents one of the first serious private-sector bets on university education within the state, with an explicitly international and entrepreneurial positioning to differentiate itself from Bayelsa’s older public institutions — Niger Delta University, Federal University Otuoke, Bayelsa Medical University, and the University of Africa, Toru-Orua.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How many private universities are there in Bayelsa State?
As of now, there is only one private university in Bayelsa State — Hensard University, located in Toru-Orua, Sagbama Local Government Area.
2. How much does it cost to study at Hensard University?
Tuition ranges from $2,000 to $3,000 per session depending on the faculty and department, payable in the Naira equivalent, plus general charges of about ₦400,000 covering medical deposit, accommodation, entrepreneurship, philanthropy, and research support fees.
3. Can students pay Hensard University fees in Naira instead of Dollars?
Yes. Although tuition is benchmarked in US Dollars, the university accepts full payment in the Naira equivalent at the prevailing exchange rate — students do not need to source foreign currency.
4. Does Hensard University allow installmental fee payment?
Yes. Students can pay a minimum of 50% of tuition to secure admission, with the balance payable in one further installment at the start of the second semester.
5. What if I don’t meet the admission requirements for a regular degree programme at Hensard University?
Hensard University runs a Foundation School (a remedial/bridging programme) for candidates who do not yet meet the National Universities Commission’s (NUC) minimum admission requirements, with its own separate tuition of ₦750,000 (inclusive of accommodation) plus ₦400,000 in general charges.