Abia State University, Uturu (ABSU) is one of the state-owned universities in South-East Nigeria offering training in health-related fields under its College of Medicine and Faculty of Health Sciences. Students researching admission into ABSU’s medical programmes usually want two things at once: the list of medical courses the university runs, and a realistic idea of what each course costs per session. This article addresses both, using the most consistent information available on ABSU’s fee structure for the 2026/2027 academic session and beyond.
Overview of ABSU and Its Health-Related Programmes
ABSU was established in 1981 and is located in Uturu, Abia State. The university runs its clinical training partly through its College of Medicine, with teaching hospital affiliation that supports the clinical years of the Medicine and Surgery programme. Beyond the medical degree itself, ABSU also runs several allied health science courses that fall under the broad category of “medical courses” that prospective students search for, since they share similar admission requirements (Biology, Chemistry, Physics at O’Level and UTME) and lead to careers in the health sector.
The medical and health-related courses currently offered at ABSU include:
- Medicine and Surgery (MBBS)
- Nursing Science
- Pharmacy (offered under a dedicated Faculty of Pharmacy)
- Medical Laboratory Science
- Physiology
- Anatomy
- Public Health
- Radiography/Radiation Science (where available)
- Optometry
Not every one of these programmes is available in every admission cycle, and some are still being expanded, so candidates should confirm current availability directly on the ABSU admission portal before applying.
How ABSU Structures Its School Fees
ABSU fees are approved yearly by the university authority and, because it is a state-owned institution, the fee structure separates students into two categories: indigenes of Abia State and non-indigenes. Indigenes pay a lower rate as part of the state government’s policy of subsidising education for its residents, while non-indigenes pay a higher rate for the same programme. This applies across all faculties, including the medical and health science courses.
A second distinction applies to how fees are paid. For most faculties, students are allowed to pay their tuition in instalments across the two semesters of the session. However, the Faculty of Law, Faculty of Engineering, College of Medicine, and School of Nursing are treated differently — students in these programmes are required to pay their full tuition fee for the session at once, rather than spreading it across instalments. This is because clinical and laboratory-heavy courses require full funding upfront to cover practicals, equipment use, and hospital-based training from the start of the session.
A third factor that affects the total amount a student pays is their level. Fresh (100-level) students pay more than returning students in the same course, because freshers are billed additional one-time charges such as acceptance fee, accreditation fee, ID card charges, and development levy, on top of the regular tuition. From 400 level upward, medical and science students are also billed a separate practical fee to cover laboratory consumables and clinical exposure, which non-science courses do not pay.
Estimated School Fees for Medical and Health Science Courses
Because ABSU reviews its fees periodically and the amount can shift slightly from one session to another, the figures below represent the general range reported for recent sessions rather than a fixed, unchanging number. Students should always confirm the exact current figure on the official ABSU student portal at the point of registration, since the amount displayed there for their specific course and level is the one that applies to them.
| Course | Approximate Fee Range (Indigene, per session) | Approximate Fee Range (Non-Indigene, per session) |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) | ₦250,000 – ₦450,000 | ₦450,000 – ₦700,000+ |
| Pharmacy | ₦200,000 – ₦350,000 | ₦350,000 – ₦550,000 |
| Nursing Science | ₦180,000 – ₦300,000 | ₦300,000 – ₦450,000 |
| Medical Laboratory Science | ₦150,000 – ₦270,000 | ₦270,000 – ₦400,000 |
| Physiology / Anatomy | ₦130,000 – ₦230,000 | ₦230,000 – ₦350,000 |
| Public Health | ₦120,000 – ₦220,000 | ₦220,000 – ₦330,000 |
These ranges include tuition and the standard compulsory charges bundled into the session fee (development levy, ICT fee, library fee, medical fee, and similar administrative charges), but they exclude accommodation, feeding, and personal expenses, which vary by student. Clinical courses such as Medicine and Surgery sit at the higher end because of the extended duration of training, the cost of hospital-based clinical postings, and the additional professional body charges tied to producing a medical practitioner.
What Fresh Medical Students Pay in Addition to Tuition
A fresher admitted into any of ABSU’s medical or health science courses should expect the following additional one-time or recurring charges alongside their tuition:
- Acceptance fee — paid once, after receiving an admission offer, to confirm the candidate’s intention to take up the offer. This has ranged between ₦40,000 and ₦45,000 in recent sessions.
- Accreditation and development fee — a mandatory charge for all new students, used toward infrastructure and programme accreditation costs.
- Accommodation fee — compulsory for first-year students in most sessions, historically around ₦40,000 for a full bed space, though this figure has fluctuated after student and union negotiations in past sessions.
- Practical fee — applicable from 400 level for medical and science students, covering laboratory materials and clinical practicals, typically a few thousand naira per session.
- ID card and registration charges — smaller administrative fees processed alongside tuition on the student portal.
Returning students in medical courses generally pay less than freshers in the same programme, since they are no longer billed the one-time acceptance, accreditation, and ID card charges. Their fees mainly cover tuition, practicals (where applicable), and standard recurring charges.
Admission Requirements for ABSU Medical Courses
To be considered for Medicine and Surgery, Pharmacy, Nursing Science, or any of the other health-related courses at ABSU, a candidate needs:
- A minimum of five credit passes in relevant O’Level subjects, including English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, obtained in not more than two sittings.
- A competitive UTME score with Biology, Chemistry, and Physics among the subjects registered.
- Successful completion of the ABSU post-UTME screening exercise, which currently combines the UTME score and O’Level results rather than a separate written test.
- For Direct Entry candidates, a relevant National Diploma, HND, or A’Level qualification that meets the departmental requirement for 200-level entry.
Because Medicine and Surgery, Pharmacy, and Nursing Science are highly competitive courses nationwide, the effective cut-off mark for admission into these programmes at ABSU is typically higher than the university’s general minimum cut-off mark, and candidates should expect stronger competition for available slots compared to non-medical courses.
How to Pay ABSU School Fees
ABSU fees are paid exclusively through the university’s official online portal. The general process for a student making payment is:
- Log in to the ABSU student portal using the registration number or admission details provided after admission.
- Generate the fee invoice for the applicable session, which will display the exact amount due for the student’s specific course and level.
- Complete payment using a bank debit card or the designated payment channel linked to the portal.
- Download and print the payment receipt or invoice for use during registration and clearance.
Students are advised against making payments to individuals or third parties claiming to expedite the process, since the only valid channel for ABSU school fees is the official portal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ABSU school fees for medical courses paid once a year or every semester? Fees are billed per session, covering both semesters together. However, unlike most other faculties, students in Medicine, Nursing, Law, and Engineering are required to pay their session fee in full rather than in instalments.
Does ABSU charge different fees for indigenes and non-indigenes in medical courses? Yes. Abia State indigenes pay a lower rate than non-indigenes across all courses, including Medicine and Surgery, Pharmacy, and Nursing Science, in line with the state government’s education subsidy policy.
Are ABSU medical course fees higher than other courses in the university? Yes. Medicine and Surgery, Pharmacy, and other clinical or laboratory-based programmes attract higher fees than arts and social science courses because of the cost of practicals, clinical postings, equipment, and professional accreditation requirements.
Where can a student confirm the exact current fee for their medical course? The exact, up-to-date figure for a specific course and level is generated on the ABSU student portal at the point of fee payment, and this is the figure students should rely on rather than any third-party estimate.
Conclusion
ABSU offers a reasonable range of medical and health science programmes, led by Medicine and Surgery, alongside Pharmacy, Nursing Science, Medical Laboratory Science, Physiology, Anatomy, and Public Health. Fees for these courses are generally higher than non-medical programmes because of their clinical and laboratory demands, and they differ based on whether a student is an Abia State indigene, their level of study, and whether they are a fresher or a returning student. Since fees are reviewed periodically, prospective and current students should treat the figures in this article as a planning guide and always verify the exact current amount on the official ABSU student portal before making any payment.