Nasarawa State University, Keffi, commonly known as NSUK, is a state-owned institution in North-Central Nigeria that runs a growing College of Medicine and Health Sciences. The university offers a full Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) programme alongside several allied health science courses, all coordinated from a dedicated medical complex equipped with lecture theatres, laboratories, and clinical training spaces. This article outlines the medical courses available at NSUK, the faculty structure behind them, and a detailed breakdown of what students pay in school fees.
The College of Medicine and Health Sciences at NSUK
Medical and health-related training at NSUK is coordinated through the College of Medicine and Health Sciences, a unit distinct from the university’s other faculties because of the specialised accreditation and clinical infrastructure medical training requires. This college holds accreditation from the National Universities Commission (NUC) for its Medicine and Surgery programme and is recognised by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), which means graduates of the MBBS programme are eligible to sit for the MDCN professional qualifying examination required before practicing as a licensed medical doctor in Nigeria.
The college operates primarily from NSUK’s medical complex, which the university has developed specifically to support both preclinical instruction and clinical training. Students in the earlier years of the programme study foundational medical sciences in this complex before proceeding to clinical postings in affiliated teaching hospitals during the later years of their training.
List of Medical and Health-Related Courses at NSUK
NSUK’s College of Medicine and Health Sciences offers the following programmes:
- Medicine and Surgery (MBBS)
- Nursing Science, covering tracks in Registered General Nursing, Midwifery, and Public Health Nursing
- Public Health
- Medical Laboratory Science
- Physiology
- Anatomy
- Other allied health science courses tied to the college’s broader health sciences mandate
Not every course under this list is necessarily open to fresh UTME applicants in every admission cycle, since some allied health programmes periodically adjust their admission mode between direct UTME entry and Direct Entry pathways. Applicants should confirm the current admission mode for their specific course of interest on the official NSUK admission portal before finalising their JAMB course selection.
Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) at NSUK
The MBBS programme is the flagship course within NSUK’s College of Medicine and Health Sciences and produces graduates equipped to serve in hospitals, research institutions, and public health organisations. Like all MBBS programmes in Nigeria, it runs for six years, structured into a preclinical phase covering subjects such as anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry, followed by a clinical phase involving hospital-based rotations across major specialties including internal medicine, surgery, paediatrics, and obstetrics and gynaecology.
Admission into MBBS at NSUK is competitive and merit-based. Candidates need a strong UTME score, credit passes in the core science subjects at WASSCE or NECO level (specifically English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics), and a satisfactory outcome in the university’s post-UTME screening process.
School Fees for Medical Courses at NSUK
Like most Nigerian state universities, NSUK applies a two-tier fee structure based on residency status: indigenes of Nasarawa State pay a lower rate than non-indigenes. This gap becomes more pronounced for professional and clinical courses like MBBS, where laboratory consumables, clinical postings, and specialised equipment push costs above what students in general arts or social science courses pay.
For the 2026/2027 academic session, MBBS tuition at NSUK generally falls within a band of approximately ₦150,000 for indigenes to ₦260,000 for non-indigenes per session, with fees trending higher in the clinical years of the programme as students begin hospital-based rotations and incur additional clinical training charges. This places NSUK’s medical tuition considerably below what private universities in Nigeria charge for the same MBBS qualification, making it an accessible option for students in North-Central Nigeria seeking a state-subsidised medical education.
The table below summarises the general fee pattern across NSUK’s medical and health-related courses, based on the university’s current fee structure and typical differentiation between indigene and non-indigene rates.
| Course | Indigene Fee (per session, estimate) | Non-Indigene Fee (per session, estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) — Preclinical years | ₦150,000 – ₦200,000 | ₦230,000 – ₦260,000 |
| Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) — Clinical years | Higher than preclinical years due to hospital posting charges | Higher than preclinical years due to hospital posting charges |
| Nursing Science | ₦90,000 – ₦160,000 | ₦120,000 – ₦200,000 |
| Public Health | ₦65,100 – ₦103,000 | ₦90,000 – ₦160,000 |
| Medical Laboratory Science | ₦65,100 – ₦103,000 | ₦90,000 – ₦160,000 |
| Physiology / Anatomy | ₦65,100 – ₦103,000 | ₦90,000 – ₦160,000 |
These figures cover tuition and standard registration charges. They exclude acceptance fees, hostel accommodation, and other one-off charges that apply separately to newly admitted students.
Why NSUK Medical Fees Are Structured This Way
NSUK’s fee structure reflects a common pattern across Nigerian state universities: the government of the state that owns the institution subsidises tuition more heavily for its own indigenes, while non-indigenes pay a rate that still remains well below what a private university would charge for an equivalent programme. For science and clinical courses specifically, NSUK charges more than arts, education, or social science programmes because these courses require functioning laboratories, clinical equipment, and in the case of MBBS, access to affiliated teaching hospitals for practical training.
Freshers across all NSUK courses, including those in the College of Medicine and Health Sciences, also pay a higher first-session total than returning students, since one-time charges such as ICT fees, development levy, medical screening, and ID card processing only apply during the first year of study.
Additional Charges Medical Students Should Budget For
Beyond the core tuition figures listed above, NSUK medical and health science students typically encounter these additional charges:
- Acceptance Fee: Payable once a candidate receives provisional admission, confirming the offer before proceeding to full registration.
- Medical Screening Fee: A standard charge applied to all new students during the registration process, covering a basic health check before resumption.
- ICT and Development Levy: A one-time charge for new students, covering access to the university’s digital infrastructure and contributing to ongoing campus development.
- Departmental and Laboratory Levies: Courses like MBBS, Medical Laboratory Science, and Nursing Science attract additional levies tied to laboratory consumables and, for MBBS specifically, clinical posting costs during the hospital-based years.
- Hostel Accommodation: An optional charge for students who choose to live on campus, priced separately from tuition and varying by hostel type.
Students are advised to complete their fee payments ahead of the university’s stipulated deadline each semester, since late payment at NSUK, as with most Nigerian universities, attracts penalty charges and can restrict access to examinations.
Admission Requirements for Medical Courses at NSUK
To be considered for any of NSUK’s medical or health-related courses, prospective students generally need:
- A minimum of five credit passes in WASSCE, NECO, or GCE, including English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, obtained in not more than two sittings.
- A competitive UTME score that satisfies both NSUK’s general cut off mark and the specific departmental requirement for the chosen course, with MBBS demanding one of the highest cut off marks at the university given its high demand and limited admission slots.
- A satisfactory outcome in NSUK’s post-UTME screening exercise, which evaluates candidates alongside their O’Level results to determine final admission offers.
- For Direct Entry applicants, a relevant National Diploma, IJMB, or A-Level qualification with strong grades in the required science subjects.
Because MBBS admission at NSUK is highly competitive, candidates aiming for the programme should target a UTME score well above the university’s general cut off mark to remain competitive when departmental admission lists are finalised.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is NSUK’s MBBS programme accredited?
Yes. The MBBS programme at NSUK operates under the College of Medicine and Health Sciences with National Universities Commission (NUC) accreditation and recognition from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), allowing graduates to sit for the MDCN’s professional qualifying examination.
How much does MBBS cost at NSUK per session?
Indigenes of Nasarawa State pay approximately ₦150,000 to ₦200,000 per session during the preclinical years, while non-indigenes pay roughly ₦230,000 to ₦260,000, with fees rising in the clinical years due to hospital-based training charges.
Does NSUK offer Nursing Science through direct UTME?
NSUK does offer Nursing Science, though admission mode for specific health science courses can shift between UTME and Direct Entry across sessions. Applicants should confirm the current admission route on the official NSUK portal.
Are NSUK’s medical fees the same for all courses in the College of Medicine and Health Sciences?
No. MBBS carries the highest tuition due to its clinical training requirements, while courses like Public Health, Medical Laboratory Science, Physiology, and Anatomy fall into a lower fee bracket closer to the university’s general science course fees.
Where can students confirm the exact current fee for their course?
The most accurate and updated fee schedule is published on the official NSUK student portal, since the university periodically reviews fees by department and level, and figures may change from one session to the next.