Igbinedion University, Okada (IUO), holds a distinct place in Nigerian medical education as the first private university licensed to run a Medicine and Surgery programme. This article explains the MBBS programme at IUO, its admission requirements, and the school fees applicable for the 2026/2027 academic session.
About Medicine and Surgery at Igbinedion University
Igbinedion University was established in 1999 in Okada, Edo State, as Nigeria’s first licensed private university. Its College of Health Sciences runs the Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) programme through two connected academic units: the College of Basic Medical Sciences, which handles the pre-clinical years, and the Department of Medicine and Surgery under Clinical Medicine, which covers the clinical training stage. The programme is supported by the Igbinedion University Teaching Hospital (IUTH), which provides the clinical training environment students need for hospital postings, ward rounds, and supervised patient care during the clinical years.
The College of Health Sciences at IUO also runs Nursing Science as a related but separately administered programme, alongside Basic Medical Science departments covering Anatomy, Biochemistry, Medical Laboratory Science, Pharmacology, and Physiology, which support the MBBS curriculum and also produce their own graduates in those specific disciplines.
Structure of the MBBS Programme at IUO
Medicine and Surgery at IUO follows the standard Nigerian MBBS structure, split into a pre-clinical stage and a clinical stage.
- Pre-clinical stage (Basic Medical Sciences): Covers foundational subjects such as Anatomy, Physiology, and Biochemistry, and corresponds to the early years of the six-year programme, generally referred to as 100 Level.
- Clinical stage: Covers Medicine, Surgery, Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and Community Health, delivered through the Department of Medicine and Surgery in coordination with the Igbinedion University Teaching Hospital, and applies from 200 Level and above through to final year.
This distinction matters for fee purposes as well, since IUO’s published fee structure separates charges for the Basic Medical Science stage (100 Level) from charges for the clinical years (200 Level and above), reflecting the added cost of hospital-based clinical training once a student advances beyond the foundational stage.
Admission Requirements for Medicine and Surgery at IUO
Gaining admission into the MBBS programme at IUO requires meeting both the general university entry standard and conditions specific to Medicine and Surgery.
- O’Level requirement: Five credit passes in English Language, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology from WAEC, NECO, or an equivalent examination body. Unlike some other courses at the university, candidates applying for Medicine and Surgery (and Dentistry) must obtain all five credits in a single sitting rather than across two sittings.
- UTME subject combination: English Language, Biology, Physics, and Chemistry.
- JAMB and Post-UTME screening: Admission into Medicine is highly merit-based. Candidates must meet a competitive JAMB score and complete IUO’s online screening process, which includes uploading O’Level results, birth certificate, and JAMB result slip through the university’s admission portal.
- Direct Entry restriction: Standard Direct Entry admission does not apply to Medicine and Surgery at IUO. Unlike many other departments at the university that accept Direct Entry candidates with A-Level passes, a Diploma or NCE at credit level, IJMB, or a first degree, Medicine and Surgery, along with Pharmacy, Nursing, Medical Laboratory Sciences, and Law, is excluded from this route.
- Transfer students: Inter-university transfer into Medicine and Surgery is possible but requires an official academic transcript and a JAMB transfer form sent directly to the Registrar, in addition to meeting the department’s standard entry requirements.
Igbinedion University School Fees for Medicine and Surgery 2026/2027
IUO publishes its fee structure by college rather than as a single university-wide figure, and Medicine and Surgery, run through the College of Health Sciences, sits at the top of the university’s fee scale because of the extended duration, laboratory demands, and clinical training costs associated with the programme.
| Fee Category | Approximate Range (per session) |
|---|---|
| General undergraduate programmes (non-professional) | ₦900,000 – ₦1,500,000 |
| Professional tracks (Law, Pharmacy, Nursing) | ₦1,500,000 – ₦2,000,000 |
| Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) | ₦3,500,000 – ₦4,700,000 |
Based on recent comparative reporting on private university medical fees in Nigeria, fresh Medicine and Surgery students at IUO pay an estimated ₦4.7 million per session, which places the university among the higher end of private medical training costs, though generally below institutions such as Bowen University and Eko University of Medicine and Health Sciences, both of which have published fresh-year MBBS fees exceeding ₦5.5 million in recent sessions.
A few points clarify what this fee typically includes and excludes:
- There is no separate fee rate for indigenes and non-indigenes. Unlike many state-owned universities, IUO charges the same Medicine and Surgery fee regardless of the student’s state of origin, since the university is privately owned and not subsidised by any state government.
- Fees rise once a student enters the clinical stage. The 100 Level (Basic Medical Science) fee differs from the fee applicable at 200 Level and above, since the clinical years carry additional charges tied to hospital-based training at Igbinedion University Teaching Hospital.
- Accommodation is compulsory and billed separately. IUO enforces a mandatory on-campus boarding policy for all undergraduate students, and accommodation fees, along with an administration charge, sit outside the core tuition figure.
- Additional charges apply on top of tuition. These typically include sundry fees, medical insurance, ID card and matriculation materials for fresh students, examination and assessment fees, and laboratory or clinical training charges specific to science and medical programmes.
- Payment can be made in installments. IUO permits students to pay their session’s fees in up to three installments through the university’s online portal or the e-Tranzact platform at Access Bank, Zenith Bank, or First Bank, though outstanding balances must be cleared before a student can sit for examinations.
How to Pay IUO School Fees
IUO processes fee payments through its online student portal rather than accepting payment directly at a physical bursary counter. A student logs into the portal, selects “Payments” from the “My Data” menu, and either adds a current session payment or a custom balance payment, selecting the specific fee category to be paid. From there, payment can be completed online using a bank card through Interswitch or Etranzact, or by taking the generated payment ID directly to an approved bank branch. Every fee paid through the platform is non-refundable and non-transferable, and forging a payment slip attracts a fine, so students are advised to keep official payment confirmations for registration purposes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Igbinedion University’s Medicine and Surgery programme accredited?
Yes. IUO’s Medicine and Surgery programme is fully NUC-accredited, and the university holds the historical distinction of being the first private institution in Nigeria licensed to run the programme, supported by its own teaching hospital for clinical training.
How much does Medicine and Surgery cost at IUO per session?
Recent estimates place fresh Medicine and Surgery tuition at around ₦4.7 million per session, though the exact figure depends on the specific level of study and should be confirmed on the university’s official fee structure page for the current session.
Can a student gain admission into Medicine and Surgery at IUO through Direct Entry?
No. Standard Direct Entry does not apply to Medicine and Surgery, Pharmacy, Nursing, Medical Laboratory Sciences, or Law at IUO. Candidates for these programmes must apply through the standard UTME route.
Is accommodation included in the Medicine and Surgery fee at IUO?
No. Accommodation is compulsory for all undergraduate students but is billed separately from tuition, along with an administration charge and other sundry fees.
Can Medicine and Surgery fees at IUO be paid in installments?
Yes. IUO allows fee payment in up to three installments per session through its online portal, though all outstanding fees must be cleared before a student can sit for semester examinations.