University of Benin (UNIBEN) School Fees for Medicine and Surgery
Introduction
The University of Benin (UNIBEN), founded in 1970 and located in Benin City, Edo State, is one of Nigeria’s oldest and most prestigious federal universities. Its College of Medical Sciences, which houses the Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) programme, is consistently one of the most sought-after and competitive faculties in the institution, alongside Law and Engineering. As a federal university, UNIBEN’s fees remain relatively affordable compared to private medical schools, but the Medicine and Surgery programme still attracts a slightly higher fee structure than most other courses on campus, owing to the specialised laboratory, clinical, and accreditation requirements of medical training.
This article provides a detailed breakdown of what it costs to study Medicine and Surgery at UNIBEN — covering acceptance fees, tuition and sundry charges, and other costs students should budget for — along with answers to five of the most frequently asked questions.
A note on accuracy: Nigerian federal universities review their fee schedules periodically, and figures reported by different education portals can vary slightly from one academic session to another. The figures below reflect the most recently published UNIBEN fee schedules available at the time of writing. Prospective and current students should always confirm the exact, current amount on the official UNIBEN student portal (uniben.edu.ng / kofa portal) before making any payment.
Overview of UNIBEN and the College of Medical Sciences
UNIBEN’s College of Medical Sciences trains students not just in Medicine and Surgery (MBBS/MBBCh) but also in closely related disciplines such as:
Dentistry
Anatomy
Medical Biochemistry
Medical Laboratory Science
Nursing Science
Physiology
These “medical” or “science” courses are grouped together for fee purposes and generally attract a higher acceptance fee and slightly higher sundry/laboratory charges than non-science courses, reflecting the cost of running teaching hospitals, laboratories, and clinical placements.
It’s also worth noting that admission requirements for Medicine and Surgery are stricter than for most other courses at UNIBEN: while the university generally accepts a maximum of two O’Level sittings, candidates applying for Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) must obtain all five required credit passes — including English Language and Mathematics — in a single sitting.
UNIBEN Acceptance Fee for Medicine and Surgery
Before any newly admitted student can proceed to pay tuition and other charges, they must first pay a non-refundable acceptance fee, which confirms they have accepted their offer of admission.
Category
Acceptance Fee (₦)
College of Medical Sciences (Medicine, Dentistry, Anatomy, Medical Biochemistry, Medical Laboratory Science, Nursing Science, Physiology)
80,000
All other faculties/departments
60,000
This acceptance fee must be paid before a student can print their admission notification letter and proceed to other clearance formalities.
UNIBEN School Fees (Tuition and Sundry Charges) for Medicine and Surgery
Because Medicine and Surgery is classified as a science-based course, students pay the “Science” fee category, which is higher than the “Non-Science” category due to laboratory and practical charges. Below is a detailed, itemised breakdown of the charges that make up the total school fees for fresh (newly admitted) science/medical students:
Fee Item
Amount (₦)
Examination Fees
30,000
Laboratory Fees (Science)
30,000
Library / MTN Library Fee
15,000
Sports Fee
5,000
ICT Fee (Science)
5,000
Counselling Fee
1,000
Utility Fee
20,000
Medical Charge / TSHIP / Life Insurance
5,000
Accreditation Fee
24,000
Sanitation Fee
7,000
Bank Charges / Portal Charges
5,500
Development Levy
20,000
Student Union Dues
2,500
Orientation Brochure
5,000
Certificate Screening
5,000
Academic Gown (Rental)
5,000
Forensic ID Card
5,000
Total School Fees (Fresh, Science/Medical)
≈190,000
Total Payable by a Fresh Medicine and Surgery Student
Combining the acceptance fee with the school fees gives the full first-year cost, excluding accommodation:
Component
Amount (₦)
Acceptance Fee
80,000
School Fees (Science/Medical)
≈190,000
Estimated Total (First Year)
≈270,000
It is worth noting that some earlier or alternative fee schedules published by the university have quoted slightly lower science tuition figures (for instance, ₦95,000–₦115,000 in tuition-only terms, excluding acceptance and some sundry charges), which reflects how fee schedules are periodically revised. New students should always check the exact current figure via the official portal after admission, as small variations occur from session to session.
UNIBEN School Fees for Returning Medicine and Surgery Students
Returning students in the College of Medical Sciences do not pay an acceptance fee again, and they are also exempt from a few one-off charges that only apply to fresh students (such as the orientation brochure, certificate screening, academic gown rental, and forensic ID card). Their fee breakdown is as follows:
Fee Item
Amount (₦)
Examination Fees
30,000
Laboratory Fees (Science)
30,000
Library / MTN Library Fee
15,000
Sports Fee
5,000
ICT Fee (Science)
5,000
Counselling Fee
1,000
Utility Fee
20,000
Medical Charge / TSHIP / Life Insurance
5,000
Accreditation Fee
24,000
Sanitation Fee
7,000
Bank Charges / Portal Charges
5,500
Development Levy
20,000
Student Union Dues
2,500
Total School Fees (Returning, Science/Medical)
≈170,000
Other Costs to Budget For
Beyond acceptance and tuition/sundry fees, Medicine and Surgery students at UNIBEN should also plan for:
Accommodation: UNIBEN hostel fees generally range from about ₦45,000 to ₦150,000 per session, depending on the hall and room type. Students who prefer off-campus lodging will pay market rates that vary widely around Benin City.
Clinical/practical materials: As students progress into clinical years, additional departmental charges for practicals, ward postings, and clinical materials (lab coats, stethoscopes, dissection kits, etc.) are common, though these are typically borne directly by students rather than billed through the main portal.
Textbooks and instruments: Medical textbooks and basic instruments represent a recurring cost throughout the six-year MBBS programme.
UNIBEN does not generally accept instalmental payment of school fees, except for students benefiting from bursaries or scholarships, so students and sponsors should be prepared to pay the full amount at once each session.
How to Pay UNIBEN School Fees
Log in to your UNIBEN student portal (Kofa portal) using your registration number/JAMB number and password.
Click on “My Data,” then select “Payments.”
Click “Add Online Payment Ticket” or “Add Current Session Ticket.”
Select the appropriate fee category — acceptance fee or school fees — and confirm the amount displayed matches your faculty/college.
Complete payment via the Interswitch payment gateway using a debit card, or through direct bank deposit at any commercial bank using the university’s designated account details.
Print your payment receipt/acceptance slip and keep the clearance activation code, as it is required for further registration steps.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How much is UNIBEN’s acceptance fee for Medicine and Surgery?
The acceptance fee for students admitted into the College of Medical Sciences (which includes Medicine and Surgery, Dentistry, Anatomy, Medical Biochemistry, Medical Laboratory Science, Nursing Science, and Physiology) is ₦80,000, compared to ₦60,000 for students in other faculties.
2. How much are total school fees for a fresh Medicine and Surgery student at UNIBEN?
Combining acceptance fees and school fees, a fresh Medicine and Surgery student should budget approximately ₦270,000 for their first year, though this excludes accommodation and can vary slightly depending on the exact session’s published fee schedule.
3. Do returning Medicine and Surgery students pay less than fresh students?
Yes. Returning students do not pay the acceptance fee again and are exempt from certain one-off charges like the orientation brochure and forensic ID card, bringing their total school fees to roughly ₦170,000 per session.
4. Does UNIBEN allow instalmental payment of Medicine and Surgery fees?
Generally, no. UNIBEN does not accept instalment payments except for students who qualify for specific bursaries or scholarships — most students are expected to pay their full fees for the session at once.
5. Can I gain admission into UNIBEN Medicine and Surgery with two O’Level sittings?
No. Unlike most other courses at UNIBEN, which accept a maximum of two O’Level sittings, Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) applicants must obtain all five required credit passes — including English Language and Mathematics — in a single sitting.