The Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo (FUHSO), located in Benue State, has opened its School of Postgraduate Studies (SPGS) for the 2026/2027 academic session, with programmes scheduled to take off in October 2026. This marks the university’s first formal entry into postgraduate education since its establishment as Nigeria’s pioneer federal university dedicated solely to health sciences. This article covers the full range of postgraduate programmes on offer, the school fees structure, admission requirements, and the application timeline for prospective candidates.
About the FUHSO School of Postgraduate Studies
FUHSO’s School of Postgraduate Studies operates as a distinct academic unit responsible for coordinating all Postgraduate Diploma (PGD), Master of Science (M.Sc), and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programmes across the university’s faculties and departments. The pioneer Dean of the school is Professor Adelaja Akinlolu, a neuroscientist who also facilitated a research partnership between FUHSO and Aalborg University in Denmark. The school positions itself around translational research, meaning postgraduate theses are expected to produce findings with practical, real-world application rather than remaining purely academic exercises.
FUHSO has signed memoranda of understanding with three foreign universities for joint teaching and research collaboration, and the university also won a Seeding Labs equipment grant, a US-based programme that supplies laboratory equipment to research institutions. These partnerships give postgraduate students at FUHSO access to international research exposure that is uncommon for a newly established federal university.
Full List of Postgraduate Courses at FUHSO
FUHSO offers a combined total of 16 PGD programmes, 39 M.Sc programmes, and 31 PhD programmes across its departments and faculties for the 2026/2027 session. The programmes span the basic sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, clinical and medical sciences, and health-related interdisciplinary fields. The table below groups the programmes by department and shows the postgraduate qualifications available in each.
| Department/Unit | PGD Programmes | M.Sc Programmes | PhD Programmes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biochemistry | Biochemistry | Biochemistry, Medical Biochemistry | Biochemistry, Medical Biochemistry |
| Biological Sciences | Environmental Biology | Environmental & Conservation Biology, Genetics & Molecular Biology, Hydrobiology & Fisheries, Parasitology & Entomology, Plant Science & Biotechnology | Environmental & Conservation Biology, Genetics & Molecular Biology, Hydrobiology & Fisheries |
| Biostatistics | Biostatistics | Biostatistics | Biostatistics |
| Chemistry | Not offered | Analytical Chemistry, Environmental & Pollution Control, Medicinal Chemistry | Analytical Chemistry, Environmental & Pollution Control |
| Computer Science & Mathematics | Computer Science, Cyber Security, GenAI for Business, Mathematics | Computer Science, Cyber Security, Mathematics | Computer Science, Cyber Security, Mathematics |
| Microbiology | Microbiology | Food & Industrial Microbiology, Environmental Microbiology | Food & Industrial Microbiology, Environmental Microbiology |
| Physics | Radiation & Medical Physics, Environmental Physics, Material Science & Renewable Energy | Radiation & Medical Physics, Environmental Physics, Material Science & Renewable Energy | Radiation & Medical Physics, Environmental Physics, Material Science & Renewable Energy |
| Clinical Pharmacy & Pharmacy Practice | Not offered | Clinical Pharmacy & Pharmacy Practice | Not offered |
| Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry | Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry | Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry | Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry |
| Pharmacognosy & Herbal Medicine | Drug Production & Vaccinology | Pharmacognosy & Herbal Medicine, Drug Production & Vaccinology | Pharmacognosy & Herbal Medicine, Drug Production & Vaccinology |
| Pharmacology & Toxicology | Not offered | Pharmacology & Toxicology | Pharmacology & Toxicology |
| Basic Medical Sciences | Forensic Science | Cell & Molecular Biology, Forensic & Genetic Anthropology, Human & Medical Genetics, Neuroscience | Cell & Molecular Biology, Forensic & Genetic Anthropology, Human & Medical Genetics, Neuroscience |
| Basic Clinical Sciences | Immunology, Forensic Pathology | Immunology, Medical Microbiology | Immunology, Medical Microbiology |
| Clinical Sciences | Not offered | Clinical Sciences | Clinical Sciences |
| Institute of Global Health and Health Security | Not offered | Public Health (Professional), Bioinformatics, Health Economics, Forensic Accounting & Fraud Investigation, Healthcare Entrepreneurship & Innovation | Bioinformatics, Health Economics, Forensic Accounting & Fraud Investigation, Healthcare Entrepreneurship & Innovation |
| Library Unit / Information Resource Management | Not offered | Health Information Management, Library & Information Science, Health Record & Archival Management | Not offered |
Some of these programmes, such as Drug Production and Vaccinology, Forensic Accounting and Fraud Investigation, and Human and Medical Genetics, are described by the university as first-of-their-kind offerings among Nigerian universities, reflecting FUHSO’s attempt to combine health sciences training with newer interdisciplinary fields like forensic science, bioinformatics, and health-focused entrepreneurship.
FUHSO Postgraduate School Fees for 2026/2027
FUHSO charges a non-refundable postgraduate application fee of ₦25,000, paid through Remita during the application window. This fee covers processing of the online application and does not include tuition once a candidate secures admission.
For actual tuition, postgraduate students at FUHSO generally pay within a range of ₦250,000 to ₦400,000 per session, depending on the specific programme, the level of study (PGD, M.Sc, or PhD), and whether laboratory work is involved. Programmes with heavy laboratory or clinical components, such as those under Pharmacology, Biochemistry, or the Basic Medical Sciences, tend to sit at the higher end of that range because laboratory and equipment charges are added to the base tuition. Programmes based mainly on coursework, such as those under Library and Information Resource Management or Health Economics, typically fall closer to the lower end.
Because FUHSO’s postgraduate programmes are taking off for the first time in October 2026, the university has not yet published a fully broken-down, department-by-department tuition schedule for each of the 86 combined PGD, M.Sc, and PhD offerings. Prospective candidates should treat the ₦250,000 to ₦400,000 range as a reasonable planning estimate and confirm the exact figure for their specific programme once they log in to the postgraduate portal after applying.
Payment of school charges at FUHSO generally follows an installment structure, where students pay a percentage of the total fee before the first semester and the remaining balance before the second semester. This mirrors the payment pattern already in use for undergraduate students at the university, where charges are split into a larger first-semester payment and a smaller second-semester balance.
Admission Requirements for FUHSO Postgraduate Programmes
Requirements differ slightly depending on whether a candidate is applying for a PGD, an M.Sc, or a PhD, but some conditions apply across board:
- A minimum of five credits in relevant O’Level subjects, including English Language and Mathematics, obtained in not more than two sittings (WASC, NECO, or GCE).
- Evidence of completion of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme, or a certificate of exemption or exclusion, for Nigerian applicants.
- Reference letters from three referees, at least two of whom must be academics familiar with the applicant’s academic ability.
- Official academic transcripts sent directly from the applicant’s previous institution to the FUHSO School of Postgraduate Studies.
For candidates applying specifically into PGD programmes, FUHSO requires at minimum a Third-Class Bachelor’s degree in a relevant or related discipline from a recognized university, or an HND at a specified minimum classification, in the field connected to the intended PGD programme. Candidates applying for M.Sc programmes typically need a Second-Class degree or higher in a relevant discipline, while PhD applicants generally need a relevant Master’s degree with a good grade point average, along with evidence of research capability such as prior publications or a completed thesis.
Inter-university transfer into an ongoing postgraduate programme is permitted at FUHSO, provided the transferring candidate satisfies the university’s minimum entry requirements for that specific programme.
How to Apply for FUHSO Postgraduate Admission
The application process for the 2026/2027 postgraduate session at FUHSO follows these steps:
- Visit the official FUHSO website and locate the 2026/2027 Postgraduate Application link.
- Pay the ₦25,000 non-refundable application fee through Remita, since the university has warned that payments through any other channel will be rejected.
- Complete the online postgraduate application form and upload all required credentials in JPEG format.
- Request that three referees submit reference letters directly to the School of Postgraduate Studies via email.
- Arrange for your previous institution to send both a hard copy and a soft copy of your academic transcript to the School of Postgraduate Studies before the stipulated deadline, since late or missing transcripts can stop an application from being processed.
The application window for the 2026/2027 postgraduate session runs from 17th August to 2nd October 2026, and candidates are strongly advised not to wait until the closing date, since transcript verification alone can take time depending on how quickly a candidate’s former institution responds.
Why FUHSO’s Postgraduate School Stands Out
A few features distinguish FUHSO’s postgraduate offering from many longer-established Nigerian universities. First, the range of programmes goes beyond conventional health science postgraduate courses to include newer fields such as cyber security, generative AI for business, forensic accounting, and healthcare entrepreneurship, giving candidates from non-clinical backgrounds a path into the university’s postgraduate school as well. Second, the university’s international partnerships mean postgraduate students may have opportunities to conduct part of their research at partner institutions abroad. Third, since this is the pioneer postgraduate intake, early applicants effectively become foundational cohorts within their respective departments, which can carry both advantages, such as closer access to faculty and smaller class sizes, and some uncertainty, since administrative processes for a brand-new postgraduate school are still being fully established.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do FUHSO postgraduate programmes for 2026/2027 begin?
Programmes are scheduled to take off in October 2026, and the application window closes on 2nd October 2026.
How much is the FUHSO postgraduate application fee?
The application fee is ₦25,000, paid only through Remita and non-refundable regardless of the outcome of the application.
How much are FUHSO postgraduate tuition fees?
Tuition generally ranges from ₦250,000 to ₦400,000 per session, though the exact figure depends on the specific PGD, M.Sc, or PhD programme and its laboratory or clinical requirements.
Does FUHSO offer postgraduate programmes outside health sciences?
Yes. Beyond clinical and biomedical fields, FUHSO offers postgraduate programmes in areas such as computer science, cyber security, mathematics, forensic accounting, and library and information science.
Can a candidate transfer from another university into an ongoing FUHSO postgraduate programme?
Yes, inter-university transfer is allowed, provided the candidate meets FUHSO’s minimum requirements for the specific postgraduate programme they wish to join.