Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, commonly referred to as UDUS or UDUSOK, is a federal university located in Sokoto State, North-West Nigeria. Beyond its undergraduate programmes, the university runs a fairly large postgraduate structure coordinated by its College of Postgraduate Studies (formerly known as the Postgraduate School), which oversees admissions, coursework, and thesis supervision across thirteen faculties and the College of Health Sciences. This article outlines the postgraduate courses UDUS offers, how the fee structure works, and what prospective postgraduate students should budget for.
Which Body Coordinates Postgraduate Studies at UDUS?
Postgraduate education at UDUS is managed centrally through the College of Postgraduate Studies rather than by individual faculties acting independently. This college works with each faculty’s postgraduate committee to admit candidates, approve research proposals, and coordinate examinations, but the overall registration, fee payment, and administrative processes run through the college’s central portal. Candidates applying for any postgraduate programme at UDUS, whether in Agriculture, Law, or the health sciences, go through this same central admission system before being handed over to their specific department for academic supervision.
Categories of Postgraduate Programmes at UDUS
UDUS structures its postgraduate offerings into four broad categories, each with a different academic focus and duration:
- Postgraduate Diploma (PGD): A conversion or foundational qualification typically pursued by graduates who want to build a base in a new field or who need a bridge qualification before proceeding to a master’s degree. PGD programmes are available across nearly all faculties.
- Academic Master’s Degrees: These include the Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MSc), and similar research-oriented degrees that typically require coursework plus a dissertation.
- Professional Master’s Degrees: These are practice-oriented postgraduate degrees designed for specific career paths, such as the Master of Business Administration (MBA), Executive MBA, Master of Public Administration (MPA), Master of Public Health (MPH), Master of Education (MEd), Master of Laws (LLM), and Master of Veterinary Medicine (MVM).
- M.Phil./Ph.D. and Ph.D. Programmes: Research degrees for candidates pursuing advanced academic careers. UDUS runs an M.Phil./Ph.D. track that allows qualifying candidates to upgrade directly to a full Ph.D. based on satisfactory research progress, in addition to standalone Ph.D. admission for candidates who already hold a relevant master’s degree.
Faculties and Colleges Offering Postgraduate Courses
UDUS spreads its postgraduate programmes across a wide academic base. The faculties involved include Agriculture, Arts, Arabic and Islamic Studies, Education and Extension Services, Engineering and Environmental Design, Law, Management Sciences, Chemical and Life Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Physical and Computing Sciences, Social Sciences, and Veterinary Medicine. In addition, the College of Health Sciences runs its own postgraduate programmes through its component faculties: Allied Health Sciences, Basic Clinical Sciences, Basic Medical Sciences, Clinical Sciences, and Dental Sciences. Postgraduate training in the clinical and dental sciences is a relatively recent addition, having received approval from the National Universities Commission (NUC) to begin coordinated postgraduate admission from the 2023/2024 academic session onward.
This wide spread means that a candidate with a first degree in almost any discipline, from Hausa language studies to veterinary medicine, is likely to find a relevant postgraduate pathway at UDUS.
General Admission Requirements for UDUS Postgraduate Programmes
Admission requirements vary slightly depending on the specific programme and level, but the general pattern across UDUS postgraduate courses follows this structure:
- For Postgraduate Diploma applicants: A first degree (or in some departments, an HND with at least a lower credit) from a recognised institution in a relevant or related field.
- For Academic and Professional Master’s applicants: A first degree with a minimum of second class lower division from a recognised university, or a relevant Postgraduate Diploma with a good grade where the candidate does not meet the direct degree classification requirement.
- For M.Phil./Ph.D. and Ph.D. applicants: A relevant master’s degree, typically with a strong grade point average, along with evidence of capacity for independent research such as a research proposal.
- O’Level requirements: UDUS has clarified that O’Level results are not used as a basis for disqualifying candidates at the Master’s and Ph.D. levels, which simplifies the process for graduates who may not have retained perfect secondary school records.
- Referee reports and transcripts: All categories of applicants are required to submit official transcripts and, in most departments, at least one or two referee reports from academic referees familiar with the applicant’s prior work.
Some departments, particularly in competitive fields, conduct an additional screening exercise or interview before finalising admission offers, so applicants should confirm with their specific department whether this step applies to their chosen programme.
UDUS Postgraduate School Fees: How the Structure Works
UDUS publishes its postgraduate fee schedule through the College of Postgraduate Studies portal each academic session, and the fee a student pays depends on three main factors: the level of study (PGD, Master’s, or Ph.D.), the specific programme or department, and the candidate’s nationality status (Nigerian versus international students, since international candidates are charged at a different rate).
Because UDUS reviews its fee schedule periodically and the exact figures are programme-specific, prospective students should treat the ranges below as a general guide rather than a fixed, unchanging amount. The clearest and most reliable way to see the exact current fee for a specific programme is to check the fee schedule published on the College of Postgraduate Studies portal, which lists fees by programme, level, and nationality for the active session.
| Programme Level | General Fee Range (Nigerian Students, per session) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) | Moderate tuition, generally lower than Master’s level | Duration typically one to two years depending on department |
| Academic Master’s (MA/MSc) | Mid-range tuition, varies by faculty | Science, engineering, and health-related departments often attract higher fees than arts and humanities |
| Professional Master’s (MBA, MPA, MPH, LLM, MEd, MVM) | Typically higher than academic Master’s programmes | Reflects practice-oriented curriculum and, in some cases, part-time/executive delivery |
| M.Phil./Ph.D. and Ph.D. | Higher tuition, spread across multiple sessions | Fees may include research/supervision charges in addition to base tuition |
| International/Foreign Students | Charged at a separate, higher rate across all levels | Rate applies uniformly regardless of programme level |
Other Charges Postgraduate Applicants Should Expect
Aside from tuition, candidates should budget for a few additional and largely unavoidable charges during the admission and registration process:
- Application Form Fee: UDUS postgraduate application forms have historically been priced at around ₦20,000, payable online with a Nigerian debit card during the application window. This fee is separate from tuition and is paid before an applicant is considered for admission.
- Acceptance Fee: Once an applicant receives an admission offer, a separate acceptance fee is required to confirm the offer before registration can proceed.
- Installmental Payment Option: UDUS operates an installment payment system for postgraduate tuition through its student information portal, allowing candidates to split their fee payment into more manageable portions rather than paying the full amount at once. Students who choose this option should still ensure that all installments are cleared before key academic deadlines, such as examination registration.
- Departmental and Research Charges: Master’s and Ph.D. candidates conducting supervised research may encounter additional departmental levies tied to laboratory use, fieldwork, or thesis supervision, depending on their specific area of study.
How to Apply for a Postgraduate Programme at UDUS
The general application process for UDUS postgraduate admission follows this sequence:
- Visit the College of Postgraduate Studies portal and purchase the application form for the current academic session.
- Select the desired programme (PGD, Master’s, or Ph.D.) and the specific department or faculty.
- Submit all required documents, including transcripts, referee reports, and, where applicable, a research proposal.
- Attend any departmental screening or interview scheduled for the chosen programme.
- Wait for the admission list and, upon receiving an offer, pay the acceptance fee and proceed to register.
- Complete tuition payment (in full or through the installment system) and finalise course or research registration with the relevant department.
Deadlines for postgraduate application typically fall within a defined window each session, and candidates are advised to apply early since some departments close registration once available slots are filled.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does UDUS require O’Level results for postgraduate admission?
No, not for Master’s and Ph.D. programmes. UDUS has clarified that O’Level results are not used to disqualify candidates at these levels, though transcripts and a relevant first degree remain compulsory.
Can a candidate move from M.Phil. directly to a Ph.D. at UDUS?
Yes. UDUS runs an M.Phil./Ph.D. track that allows candidates to be upgraded to full Ph.D. status once they demonstrate satisfactory research progress, rather than requiring a completely fresh Ph.D. application.
Are postgraduate fees the same across all faculties at UDUS?
No. Fees vary depending on the faculty, the specific programme, and whether the course is research-based, professional, or diploma-level. Science, health-related, and professional programmes generally attract higher fees than arts and social science programmes.
Do international students pay the same postgraduate fees as Nigerian students?
No. International or foreign postgraduate students are charged at a separate, higher rate across all programme levels, distinct from the fee schedule applied to Nigerian candidates.
Where can applicants find the exact current postgraduate fee for their programme?
The most accurate and current figures are published on the College of Postgraduate Studies fee schedule portal each academic session, since UDUS reviews and updates postgraduate fees periodically.