Many prospective students search for the cost of studying Medicine and Surgery at Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU), Ikeji-Arakeji, expecting a straightforward tuition figure. Before quoting any fee, it is necessary to clarify what JABU actually offers, because this determines whether a fee figure for “Medicine and Surgery” even applies. This article gives a direct, accurate answer to that question, explains the health-related programmes JABU currently runs, states what those programmes cost, and points candidates who specifically want an MBBS degree toward accredited options in Nigeria.
Does JABU Offer Medicine and Surgery (MBBS)?
Joseph Ayo Babalola University does not currently run a Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) degree programme. The university’s College of Health Sciences, established to train healthcare professionals, is made up of two departments only: the Department of Nursing Sciences and the Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences. There is no College of Medicine, no Faculty of Clinical Sciences, and no MBBS programme listed among JABU’s accredited courses on the university’s official academic structure.
This point matters because several third-party websites circulate estimated “Medicine and Surgery” fee figures for JABU that are not backed by any accreditation record or official fee schedule. A Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) programme in Nigeria requires accreditation from the National Universities Commission (NUC) together with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), and it requires a teaching hospital or an affiliated clinical training site where students complete their clinical years. JABU has not published accreditation for such a programme, and the university’s own college listing does not include it. Candidates who see fee estimates for “JABU Medicine and Surgery” online should treat those figures as unverified, since they do not correspond to an existing, accredited programme at the institution.
Students who specifically want to study Medicine and Surgery should look at private and public universities in Nigeria that hold confirmed NUC and MDCN accreditation for the programme, run an affiliated teaching hospital, and publish an official MBBS fee schedule. Several private universities in the same region of Nigeria, including institutions with a full teaching hospital, run accredited MBBS programmes and publish their fees directly on their admissions portals.
What Health-Related Programmes JABU Actually Offers
Since JABU does not run Medicine and Surgery, the two health-related degrees available to interested candidates are Nursing Science and Medical Laboratory Science, both domiciled in the College of Health Sciences.
Bachelor of Nursing Science (B.NSc.): This programme trains students in nursing theory, clinical practice, and patient care across primary, secondary, and tertiary health settings. It was approved for JABU in the 2019/2020 academic session and is accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN). Nursing is a five-year programme that combines classroom instruction with clinical postings.
Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science: This programme prepares students to work as laboratory scientists who carry out diagnostic testing in areas such as haematology, microbiology, chemical pathology, and histopathology. Like Nursing, it sits under the College of Health Sciences and follows NUC accreditation guidelines for medical laboratory science education in Nigeria.
Both programmes carry higher fees than JABU’s standard arts, humanities, and social science courses because of the cost of laboratory equipment, consumables, clinical placement arrangements, and specialised teaching staff.
JABU School Fees Structure for Health Science Programmes
JABU determines its fees per college and per level of study, and the figures differ from one academic session to another as the university reviews its fee schedule. The following table summarises how the fee structure for JABU’s health-related programmes generally compares with the university’s other course categories, based on the pattern the institution has followed in recent sessions.
| Programme Category | Relative Fee Level | Reason for the Fee Level |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing Science | Highest among undergraduate programmes | Clinical placement costs, simulation laboratory use, practical training materials |
| Medical Laboratory Science | High, close to Nursing | Laboratory reagents, equipment maintenance, practical sessions |
| Pure and Applied Sciences (Biochemistry, Microbiology, Physics, Industrial Chemistry) | Mid-range | Laboratory-based but without clinical placement costs |
| Environmental Sciences (Estate Management, Building, Quantity Surveying) | Mid-range | Studio and fieldwork requirements |
| Arts, Social Sciences, and Management courses (English, Accounting, Business Administration, Political Science) | Lowest among undergraduate programmes | Lecture-based instruction with minimal equipment cost |
Because JABU is a private university, fees are paid directly by students rather than being subsidised by government funding, which is why they sit considerably above what public universities charge for comparable programmes. New students also pay one-time charges that returning students do not pay again in subsequent sessions.
Components of the Fee a Nursing or Medical Laboratory Science Student Pays
A student admitted into Nursing Science or Medical Laboratory Science at JABU should budget for the following components, which together make up the total amount payable in the first year:
- Acceptance fee: A one-time charge paid immediately after an admission offer is confirmed, to secure the candidate’s place.
- Tuition fee: The core academic charge for the session, which is higher for Nursing and Medical Laboratory Science than for non-clinical courses.
- Laboratory/practical fee: Covers the cost of consumables, reagents, and equipment use during practical classes.
- Clinical placement fee (Nursing only): Covers the cost of supervised clinical postings in affiliated health facilities.
- ICT and library fee: A standard charge applied across all JABU programmes for digital learning resources and library access.
- Accommodation fee: Since JABU operates as a fully residential university, new students are generally required to pay for hostel accommodation as part of their first-session charges.
- Other institutional charges: Includes students’ union dues, medical/health services, examination fees, and departmental dues.
Fresh students pay more than returning students in the same programme because acceptance fees, hostel deposits, and some one-time administrative charges apply only once, at the point of admission.
How to Confirm the Exact Fee for a Chosen Programme
Because JABU reviews its programme fees at the start of each academic session, and because fee schedules are published directly by the university’s Bursary department, candidates should treat any fee figure quoted by a third party as an estimate until confirmed on the official channel. The most reliable way to get the exact, current figure is to:
- Visit the official JABU website and locate the Programme Fees section under Academics.
- Select the fee category that matches the applicant’s status — fresh (100 Level), Direct Entry, returning (200 to 500 Level), JUPEB, conversion, or postgraduate.
- Identify the specific department, since fees differ by college even within the same level.
- Contact the university’s Bursary office directly (bursar@jabu.edu.ng) for clarification on any figure that seems unclear or outdated.
- Avoid making any payment through a third-party website or an unofficial link; JABU fees are payable only through the university’s approved payment channels listed on its e-portal.
Admission Requirements for JABU’s Health Science Programmes
Candidates applying for Nursing Science or Medical Laboratory Science at JABU need a minimum of five credit passes in relevant subjects — including English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics — obtained at not more than two sittings in SSCE, NECO, or an equivalent examination. They must also meet the university’s UTME cut-off mark for the session and register the university as their choice of institution during the JAMB registration process, or apply through JABU’s Direct Entry route if they hold an approved A-Level, ND, or NCE qualification in a related field.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) available at Joseph Ayo Babalola University?
No. JABU’s College of Health Sciences currently runs only two departments — Nursing Sciences and Medical Laboratory Sciences. There is no accredited MBBS programme or College of Medicine at the university at this time.
Which is the closest programme to Medicine at JABU?
Medical Laboratory Science is the closest clinical science programme to Medicine that JABU currently offers, since it involves diagnostic laboratory training within a health sciences setting. Nursing Science is the other clinically oriented option.
Why do Nursing and Medical Laboratory Science cost more than other courses at JABU?
Both programmes require laboratory equipment, consumables, and, in the case of Nursing, supervised clinical placements in affiliated health facilities. These practical components raise the cost of delivering the programme compared with lecture-based courses.
Where can a candidate confirm the exact JABU fee for the 2026/2027 session?
The official JABU website publishes fee schedules under the Academics section, broken down by level and category of student. The university’s Bursary office can also be contacted directly for the most current figures.
Should a candidate interested in Medicine and Surgery still apply to JABU?
Only if the candidate is interested in Nursing Science or Medical Laboratory Science instead, since JABU does not offer MBBS. Candidates set on studying Medicine and Surgery should apply to a university with confirmed NUC and MDCN accreditation for the programme and an affiliated teaching hospital.