Computer Science remains one of the most sought-after courses at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and prospective students routinely search for a clear picture of what the programme costs before applying. This article explains where Computer Science sits within UNN’s academic structure, how its school fees are calculated, what a fresher versus a returning student should expect to pay for the 2026/2027 session and beyond, and the other charges that come with studying the course.
Where Computer Science Sits at UNN
Computer Science at UNN is domiciled in the Department of Computer Science under the Faculty of Physical Sciences. The department runs a four-year Bachelor’s degree programme for candidates admitted through UTME, while candidates admitted through Direct Entry into Computer Science also complete the full four-year duration, unlike some combined science programmes where Direct Entry students are placed directly into 200 level with a shorter three-year run. The department has operated since the 1970s, initially as a sub-unit offering combined degrees such as Computer Science/Mathematics, Computer Science/Physics, and Computer Science/Statistics, before introducing a standalone single-honours Computer Science degree.
Because Computer Science falls under the Faculty of Physical Sciences, it is classified as a science-based programme for fee purposes, which places it in the same fee bracket as other science and technology courses at UNN rather than the lower bracket applied to Arts, Education, and Social Science courses.
How UNN Calculates School Fees for Computer Science Students
UNN’s school fees follow a session-based structure, meaning a student pays once per academic session rather than per semester, even though that single payment covers both semesters. The amount a Computer Science student pays depends on three factors:
- Student status — whether the student is a fresh (newly admitted) student or a returning student. Freshers pay more in their first year because their fee includes one-time charges that returning students no longer pay.
- Faculty classification — science-based faculties, including the Faculty of Physical Sciences where Computer Science is domiciled, attract a marginally higher fee than non-science faculties, due to laboratory, computer laboratory, and practical charges bundled into the tuition.
- Mode of entry — UTME and Direct Entry students into Computer Science pay the same fee structure applicable to their level, since both categories complete the full four-year programme in this department.
UNN Computer Science School Fees (Estimated)
The table below summarises the general fee range that has applied to Computer Science and other science-based courses at UNN across recent sessions. Because UNN reviews its fees periodically and the amount can change from one session to the next, this table should be treated as a guide, and every applicant should confirm the exact figure generated for their specific level on the official UNN student portal at the point of payment.
| Student Category | Approximate Fee per Session |
|---|---|
| Fresh student (100 level / Direct Entry into 100 level) | ₦110,000 – ₦125,000 |
| Returning student (200 – 400 level) | ₦85,000 – ₦100,000 |
This range covers tuition and the standard bundled charges that appear on a UNN fee invoice — examination fee, library fee, ICT fee, municipal/utility fee, laboratory fee, and sports fee — but it excludes acceptance fee, accommodation, and personal upkeep, which are billed and budgeted separately. Because Computer Science involves regular use of computer laboratories, students should also expect a laboratory or practical charge bundled into the science-faculty fee bracket, distinguishing it from what a student in a purely non-science course pays.
Additional Charges a Computer Science Fresher Should Budget For
Beyond the session fee itself, a newly admitted Computer Science student at UNN typically has to plan for the following:
- Acceptance fee — a one-time charge paid immediately after receiving an admission offer, to confirm the candidate’s intention to take up the offer. This has ranged between ₦30,000 and ₦50,000 in recent sessions and should be reconfirmed on the portal before payment.
- Accommodation fee — payable separately for students who choose to stay in university hostels, with the amount depending on the specific hostel and bed-space category selected.
- Departmental charges — the Department of Computer Science, like other departments, may bill small additional charges tied to departmental activities, handouts, or practicals, which are usually modest compared to the main tuition.
- Laptop and course material costs — while not always a formal university charge, Computer Science students generally need a personal laptop capable of running programming and development software, which is a practical expense to factor into the overall cost of the programme even though it is not billed through the school portal.
- Late payment penalty — UNN applies additional charges to students who pay after the stipulated deadline for each session, so early payment helps avoid unnecessary extra cost.
Fee Trend for Computer Science and Other Science Courses at UNN
School fees at UNN, as with most Nigerian federal universities, have undergone periodic upward revisions rather than staying fixed indefinitely. In earlier sessions, fresh students across faculties paid a consolidated fee in the region of ₦83,000, with returning students paying around ₦40,000. Subsequent revisions pushed fresh-student fees into a bracket spanning roughly ₦114,000 to ₦125,000, while returning-student fees moved into a range of roughly ₦85,000 to ₦95,000, with science-based faculties such as Physical Sciences typically sitting at or near the upper end of these ranges because of the added laboratory component. Prospective Computer Science students should expect fees to continue reflecting this general science-faculty pattern, subject to whatever adjustment the university approves for a given session.
Admission Requirements for Computer Science at UNN
To be considered for admission into UNN’s Computer Science programme, a candidate needs:
- Five O’Level credit passes, including Mathematics, English Language, Physics, and two subjects chosen from Chemistry, Biology/Agricultural Science, and Economics, obtained in not more than two sittings.
- A competitive UTME score with Mathematics, Physics, and one other relevant science subject registered among the UTME subjects.
- Successful completion of UNN’s post-UTME screening exercise, which typically combines UTME performance with O’Level results.
- For Direct Entry applicants, a relevant qualification such as a National Diploma, HND, or A’Level result that meets the department’s requirement, noting that Direct Entry into the standalone Computer Science programme still runs for the full four-year duration rather than a shortened three-year track.
Because Computer Science is one of the more competitive departments at UNN, admission typically requires a stronger UTME score and post-UTME performance than the university’s general minimum cut-off mark, given the high volume of applications the department receives each session relative to available slots.
How to Pay UNN School Fees for Computer Science
Payment of UNN school fees, including for Computer Science students, follows a standard portal-based process:
- Log in to the UNN student portal (unnportal.unn.edu.ng) using the registration number and password issued after admission.
- Navigate to the “School Fees” menu and select the option to generate or reprint the current session’s invoice.
- Complete payment through the designated bank channel or online payment option linked to the portal, using the reference number generated on the invoice.
- Confirm that payment reflects on the portal, then print or save the receipt, since it will be required during course registration and departmental clearance.
Students are advised to make payment ahead of the stipulated deadline each session, since late payment attracts additional charges and can delay course registration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Computer Science more expensive than other courses at UNN? Computer Science falls under the science-faculty fee bracket because it is domiciled in the Faculty of Physical Sciences, so it costs slightly more than Arts, Education, or Social Science courses, but it is priced in line with other science-based programmes rather than as an exceptionally expensive course on its own.
How much is the total first-year cost for a Computer Science fresher at UNN? A fresher should budget for the session fee (generally in the region of ₦110,000 to ₦125,000), plus the acceptance fee, and accommodation if the student chooses to live in a university hostel, bringing the total first-year cost above the session fee alone.
Does UNN offer Computer Science through Direct Entry? Yes. Direct Entry candidates are admitted into the Computer Science programme, and unlike some combined-degree science courses, standalone Computer Science runs for the full four-year duration even for Direct Entry students.
Where can a student confirm the exact current Computer Science school fee? The precise, up-to-date figure for a student’s specific level is generated on the official UNN student portal at the point of payment, and this is the amount that should be relied on over any estimate found elsewhere.
Conclusion
Computer Science at UNN is run by a well-established department under the Faculty of Physical Sciences, and its school fees follow the general science-faculty pattern applied across the university, with freshers paying more than returning students due to one-time new-student charges. While the figures in this article reflect the fee range that has applied across recent sessions, UNN reviews its fees periodically, so applicants and current students should treat this as a planning guide and confirm the exact current amount on the official UNN student portal before making any payment.