The University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) runs one of the largest postgraduate schools among Nigerian federal universities, offering programmes across humanities, sciences, engineering, management, law, agriculture, and the health sciences. This article lists the categories of postgraduate courses available at UNIPORT’s School of Graduate Studies and explains what candidates should expect to pay in school fees for the 2026/2027 academic session.
Overview of UNIPORT’s Postgraduate School
UNIPORT’s School of Graduate Studies coordinates postgraduate admission and academic delivery across the university’s faculties, offering three broad categories of qualification: Postgraduate Diploma (PGD), Master’s degrees (including MSc, MA, MBA, MPA, and LLM depending on the discipline), and Doctorate degrees (PhD and, in the case of the Faculty of Management Sciences, the Doctor of Business Administration, DBA). Each faculty at UNIPORT runs its own set of postgraduate programmes tailored to that faculty’s academic strengths, and admission requirements, including minimum CGPA thresholds, vary from one faculty to another.
Candidates can apply for postgraduate study at UNIPORT on a full-time or part-time basis, and in some faculties, an online or distance-learning option is also available, particularly for professional programmes such as the MBA. This flexibility makes UNIPORT’s postgraduate school accessible to both fresh graduates and working professionals seeking to advance their qualifications without leaving full-time employment.
Categories of Postgraduate Courses Offered at UNIPORT
UNIPORT’s postgraduate offerings span nearly all of its academic faculties. The table below summarises the broad categories of postgraduate courses available and the faculties they fall under:
| Faculty | Sample Postgraduate Programmes |
|---|---|
| Humanities | PGD, MA, and PhD in English, History, Linguistics, Religious Studies, Theatre Arts |
| Social Sciences | PGD, MSc, and PhD in Economics, Political Science, Sociology, Psychology, Geography and Environmental Management |
| Management Sciences | PGD, MBA, MSc, and DBA in Accounting, Banking and Finance, Marketing, Business Administration |
| Law | LLM and PhD in specialised areas such as Corporate Law, Maritime and Shipping Law |
| Science | MSc and PhD in Microbiology, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry |
| Agriculture | MSc and PhD in Crop Science, Animal Science, Fisheries, Forestry |
| Basic Medical Sciences | PGD, MSc, and PhD in Anatomy, Nursing Science, Physiology |
| Education | PGDE and other education-related postgraduate diplomas and higher degrees |
| Engineering | MSc and PhD in various engineering specialisations |
This range makes UNIPORT one of the more comprehensive postgraduate institutions in the South-South region, since a candidate can typically progress from a Postgraduate Diploma through to a Master’s and eventually a PhD within the same department without needing to transfer to another university.
General Admission Requirements for UNIPORT Postgraduate Programmes
While specific requirements differ by faculty and programme, certain conditions apply broadly across UNIPORT’s postgraduate offerings. For Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) programmes, candidates generally need at least a Third Class Bachelor’s degree in a related discipline, while candidates from unrelated fields may need at least a Second Class Honours degree. HND holders with a minimum of Upper Credit in a relevant field are also considered for many PGD programmes.
For Master’s degree admission, candidates typically need a minimum of a Second Class Honours degree from UNIPORT or another recognised university in a relevant discipline. Some faculties, such as Management Sciences, additionally specify a minimum CGPA requirement, commonly around 3.00 on a 5-point scale, for candidates applying directly into MBA or MSc programmes.
PhD admission requirements are considerably stricter. Many faculties at UNIPORT, including Humanities and Social Sciences, require a minimum CGPA of 3.50 on a 5-point scale from the candidate’s Master’s degree, with some departments in Social Sciences, such as Economics and the Demography and Population Studies option in Sociology, requiring a CGPA of 4.00 or above. Beyond the academic transcript requirement, most PhD and several Master’s programmes also require candidates to pass a departmental interview, often with a minimum score benchmark, commonly around 60%, before an admission offer is finalised.
UNIPORT Postgraduate School Fees for 2026/2027
Postgraduate school fees at UNIPORT vary depending on the level of study (PGD, Master’s, or PhD), the mode of study (full-time or part-time), and to some extent the specific faculty, since professional and management-related programmes tend to attract slightly higher charges than standard research-based programmes. The table below gives a general breakdown of what fresh postgraduate students should expect to pay per session:
| Programme Level | Fresh Student Fee (First Session) | Returning Student Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) | ₦80,000 – ₦130,000 | Lower than fresher rate, varies by faculty |
| Master’s Degree (MSc, MA, and similar) | ₦160,000 – ₦170,000 | Approximately ₦110,000 |
| PhD (Doctorate) | Higher than Master’s fee, varies by faculty and research demands | Varies by faculty |
These figures reflect the standard research-based postgraduate route. Professional and executive-style programmes, such as the MBA, MPA, or other management-focused Master’s degrees, along with online or distance-learning options where available, typically carry higher fees than the standard full-time research route because of the additional administrative, industry-relevant, and sometimes accelerated delivery components built into these programmes. Candidates interested in these professional tracks should confirm the current programme-specific fee directly from the School of Graduate Studies or their faculty’s postgraduate coordinator, since these figures shift more frequently than the standard MSc and PGD rates.
It is also worth noting that postgraduate students who exceed the standard duration of their programme are required to pay extra fees for the additional time spent beyond the stipulated completion period. A Master’s programme at UNIPORT, for instance, is expected to run for a minimum of 24 calendar months and a maximum of 36 calendar months on a full-time basis, and students who go beyond this window should expect additional charges tied to the extension.
UNIPORT Postgraduate Acceptance Fee
Every newly admitted postgraduate student at UNIPORT, regardless of the specific programme or faculty, is required to pay a flat acceptance fee of ₦30,000. This fee is non-refundable and must be paid within the deadline communicated by the School of Graduate Studies, since failure to pay on time can lead to automatic forfeiture of the admission offer. The acceptance fee is paid before any other charge, including tuition, faculty dues, and other compulsory postgraduate levies, and it also enables the student to generate their matriculation number and proceed with other onboarding steps such as medical screening and course registration.
Other Compulsory Charges for Postgraduate Students
Beyond tuition and the acceptance fee, UNIPORT postgraduate students should budget for a few additional charges that are typically billed separately:
- ICT and library fees: Charged per session to cover access to the university’s digital infrastructure and library resources.
- Faculty and departmental dues: Vary by faculty and cover administrative costs specific to the postgraduate programme.
- Thesis and research-related fees: Applicable to Master’s and PhD candidates at the point of thesis submission and defence, covering examination and binding costs.
- Accommodation: Postgraduate hostel accommodation, where available, is billed separately from tuition and is not guaranteed for all postgraduate students given limited space.
How to Pay UNIPORT Postgraduate School Fees
Payment of postgraduate school fees at UNIPORT follows the university’s standard digital payment process. Newly admitted students log in to the School of Graduate Studies portal using their application or admission reference number, generate an invoice for the applicable session, and complete payment either online using a debit or credit card or at a designated commercial bank using the generated payment reference. After payment, students are expected to return to the portal to confirm the transaction and print a receipt, which is required for departmental registration and course enrolment. Because late payment can restrict a student’s ability to sit for semester examinations, postgraduate students, particularly freshers, are advised to complete payment well ahead of the university’s stated deadline.
Why Postgraduate Fees Differ Across Programmes at UNIPORT
Postgraduate fees at UNIPORT are not uniform across all programmes because different courses carry different delivery costs. Research-intensive Master’s and PhD programmes in the sciences, engineering, and basic medical sciences often involve laboratory access, fieldwork, and specialised supervision, which raises their cost relative to purely theoretical postgraduate diplomas in the humanities or social sciences. Professional programmes such as the MBA, meanwhile, are priced with reference to the broader postgraduate business education market in Nigeria, where private and executive-focused providers often charge significantly more, so UNIPORT’s MBA and related management programmes tend to sit above the standard MSc fee even though both fall under the same general “Master’s degree” category.
FAQs
How much does a Master’s degree cost at UNIPORT for fresh students?
Fresh Master’s degree students at UNIPORT typically pay between ₦160,000 and ₦170,000 for their first session, with returning students paying a reduced fee of around ₦110,000 in subsequent sessions.
What is the UNIPORT postgraduate acceptance fee?
The acceptance fee for all postgraduate programmes at UNIPORT is a flat ₦30,000, payable once after admission is confirmed and before any other postgraduate charge.
How much is a Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) at UNIPORT?
PGD fees for fresh students generally range from ₦80,000 to ₦130,000 per session, depending on the faculty and specific programme.
Are MBA fees the same as regular MSc fees at UNIPORT?
No. MBA and other professional or executive-style postgraduate programmes typically cost more than standard research-based MSc programmes because of their industry-focused curriculum and administrative requirements. Candidates should confirm the current MBA-specific fee directly from the Faculty of Management Sciences.
Does UNIPORT charge extra for postgraduate students who exceed their programme duration?
Yes. Students who take longer than the maximum stipulated duration for their programme, such as beyond 36 months for a full-time Master’s degree, are required to pay additional fees for the extended period.