University of Ibadan School Fees for Medicine and Surgery

The University of Ibadan (UI), established in 1948, is Nigeria’s oldest university and one of the most prestigious institutions of higher learning in Africa. As a federal government-owned institution, UI benefits from government subsidy, which means its tuition fees remain remarkably low compared to private universities — even for high-demand, resource-intensive programmes like Medicine and Surgery. This article breaks down exactly what students in the Faculty/College of Medicine at UI can expect to pay, from their first year through to graduation, along with other charges to budget for.

Overview of UI as an Institution

The University of Ibadan runs its medical training through the College of Medicine, in partnership with the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan — Nigeria’s first teaching hospital. Because of this affiliation, UI’s Medicine and Surgery programme is widely regarded as one of the most rigorous and respected in the country, drawing thousands of applicants each year despite the highly competitive admission process.

Although the reputation and clinical training infrastructure are world-class, UI’s fee structure — like that of most Nigerian federal universities — remains heavily subsidized, making it dramatically more affordable than private university equivalents (where Medicine and Surgery fees can run into the millions of naira per session).

University of Ibadan Medicine and Surgery School Fees Breakdown

Based on the most recently published fee schedules, students in the College of Medicine (which includes Medicine and Surgery, Nursing, Physiology, and Biochemistry) pay the following approximate session fees:

Level Approximate Fee (per session)

100 Level (Fresh students) ₦36,800

200 Level ₦22,150

300 Level ₦22,150

400 Level ₦31,150

500 Level and 600 Level (till graduation)

Similar range to 400 Level, subject to portal confirmation

These figures generally cover tuition, registration, technology access levies, and other core academic charges bundled into the “school fees” category.

Additional Charges Medicine and Surgery Students Should Budget For

Beyond the base session fee, Medicine and Surgery students at UI should plan for the following additional costs:

Acceptance fee: A mandatory ₦50,000, paid once, immediately after receiving admission.

Hostel accommodation: Most general halls charge around ₦30,000 per session, but Alexander Brown Hall — which primarily houses medical students — charges approximately ₦80,000 per session, reflecting its proximity to clinical training facilities.

Professional and clinical levies: As a professional, accreditation-regulated course, Medicine and Surgery students should expect additional charges for practicals, clinical postings, professional body accreditation, and possibly white coats/lab materials. These vary by session and are typically communicated through the student portal rather than published in the general fee schedule.

Departmental and faculty-specific levies: Occasional charges for specific courses, equipment use, or examinations within the College of Medicine.

Matriculation and ID card fees: Standard one-time charges applied to all fresh students across the university, not specific to Medicine.

How Fees Are Paid

UI fees are paid entirely through the university’s online student portal:

Select “Pay your fees,” then choose the correct session and level.

Generate and print the payment invoice.

Pay the invoice online via the portal or at any designated partner bank.

Confirm the payment on the portal and print the official receipt for your records.

Why UI Medicine Fees Are Lower Than Private Universities

It often surprises prospective students and parents to learn that a programme as prestigious and resource-intensive as Medicine and Surgery costs a fraction of what private universities charge for the same course. This is because:

UI is a federal government-owned institution, meaning tuition is heavily subsidized by public funds rather than funded solely through student fees.

Clinical training is anchored through University College Hospital, an already-existing, government-funded teaching hospital, which reduces the university’s need to build and fund its own clinical infrastructure from tuition alone.

Nigerian federal universities operate under a long-standing tuition-free (or near tuition-free) policy for undergraduates, with students paying mostly registration, development, and service-related charges rather than true “tuition” in the commercial sense.

This is in sharp contrast to private universities in Nigeria, where Medicine and Surgery programmes can cost anywhere from ₦1,000,000 to well over ₦2,500,000 per session, since these institutions receive no government subsidy and must fund infrastructure, staffing, and hospital partnerships independently.

Important Note on Fee Accuracy

Nigerian university fee schedules — including UI’s — are reviewed and adjusted from one academic session to the next, and departmental or professional levies for Medicine and Surgery are often announced separately from the general fee schedule. Because of this, prospective and current students should always:

Confirm the exact, current fee breakdown directly on the official UI student portal at the start of each session.

Pay attention to announcements from the College of Medicine specifically, since clinical levies are sometimes billed separately from the general faculty fee.

Avoid relying solely on third-party websites (including this article) for final budgeting decisions — always cross-check with the university’s official communication channels.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How much does it cost to study Medicine and Surgery at the University of Ibadan?

Fresh (100 Level) Medicine and Surgery students at UI typically pay around ₦36,800 per session, with returning students paying between roughly ₦22,150 and ₦31,150 depending on their level. This does not include the one-time ₦50,000 acceptance fee, hostel accommodation, or additional clinical/professional levies that may apply in later years.

2. Is UI Medicine and Surgery more expensive than other courses at the university?

Not significantly. UI keeps its base school fees relatively uniform across faculties, with Medicine, Nursing, Physiology, and Biochemistry (all under the health sciences umbrella) following a similar fee structure to other departments. The bigger cost difference for medical students tends to come from additional clinical, accreditation, and professional levies rather than a dramatically higher base tuition.

3. Why are UI Medicine fees so much cheaper than private university Medicine fees?

UI is a federal government-owned institution and receives government subsidies that keep tuition low for undergraduates. It also partners with the already-established University College Hospital for clinical training, reducing the need to fund a hospital from tuition revenue alone. Private universities, by contrast, receive no government subsidy and must independently fund infrastructure, equipment, and staffing, resulting in significantly higher fees — often ten times UI’s rates or more.

4. What other costs should Medicine and Surgery students at UI budget for besides tuition?

Beyond the base session fee, students should budget for the ₦50,000 acceptance fee (paid once), hostel accommodation (around ₦80,000 per session for Alexander Brown Hall, which mainly houses medical students), textbooks and lab materials, feeding and living expenses, and periodic clinical or professional accreditation levies that are communicated through the student portal.

5. How do I pay my UI Medicine and Surgery school fees?

Fees are paid entirely online through the UI student portal. After logging in with your matriculation number and password, select the appropriate session and level, generate a payment invoice, pay it online or at a designated partner bank, and then confirm the payment on the portal to generate your official receipt. It’s advisable to complete payment within the first two weeks of a session opening to avoid processing delays that could affect exam eligibility.

University Of Ibadan School Fees For Medicine And Surgery