Federal University, Dutse (FUD) is one of the nine federal universities established by the Nigerian government in 2011. Located along the Ibrahim Aliyu Bypass in Dutse, Jigawa State, the institution runs its postgraduate operations through the School of Postgraduate Studies, which coordinates admissions, registration, and academic supervision for every diploma, master’s, and doctoral programme on campus. This article explains the postgraduate courses available at FUD, how the fee structure works, and what candidates should budget for before applying.
Overview of FUD’s School of Postgraduate Studies
The School of Postgraduate Studies at FUD oversees three broad categories of postgraduate qualifications: the Postgraduate Diploma (PGD), the Master’s Degree (M.Sc., M.Eng., MBA, M.Ed., MPH, and similar professional variants), and the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.). These programmes run across the university’s faculties, including Agriculture, Arts and Social Sciences, Computing, Education, Management Sciences, Life Sciences, Basic Medical Sciences, and Engineering. Admission into any of these programmes requires candidates to hold the relevant first degree or HND, meet the departmental grade requirements, and, in many cases, submit a research concept note along with academic references.
Each academic session, the School of Postgraduate Studies publishes an admission call listing the specific specializations open under each department. Because departments periodically update which specializations they admit into, applicants are encouraged to confirm the current list directly from the School of Postgraduate Studies portal before completing their application.
Postgraduate Courses Offered at FUD
FUD’s postgraduate offerings span science-based and arts-based disciplines. Below is a breakdown of the major departments and the categories of postgraduate qualifications available under each.
Faculty of Agriculture
This faculty runs some of the most extensive postgraduate options at FUD, with M.Sc. and Ph.D. tracks available in:
- Agricultural Economics
- Agricultural Extension
- Agribusiness
- Animal Science and Technology
- Soil Science and Technology
- Fisheries and Aquaculture
- Agricultural Engineering (M.Eng. and Ph.D., with a PGD option for candidates holding a Third Class degree)
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Postgraduate diploma, master’s, and doctoral programmes are offered in fields such as:
- Economics (including a PGD in Development Economics)
- Criminology and Security Studies (PGD)
- Sociology
- Political Science
- English and Literary Studies
- History and related humanities disciplines
Faculty of Computing
Candidates can pursue postgraduate qualifications in:
- Computer Science (PGD and M.Sc.)
- Information Management Technology (PGD, MBA, M.Sc., and Ph.D.)
- Applied Mathematics (PGD)
Faculty of Life Sciences
This faculty covers science-based postgraduate research areas, including:
- Biotechnology (M.Sc. and Ph.D.)
- Microbiology (M.Sc. and Ph.D.)
- Environmental Technology (M.Sc. and Ph.D.)
- Chemistry, Physics, and Biological Sciences
Faculty of Management Sciences
Professional and academic postgraduate options here include the Master of Business Administration (MBA) and related M.Sc. programmes in accounting, business administration, and management-related fields.
College of Medicine and Basic Medical Sciences
Postgraduate research in this college draws from departments such as Human Anatomy, Human Physiology, Medical Biochemistry, Nursing Sciences, Environmental Health, and Public Health, along with the Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences (Chemical Pathology, Haematology, Histopathology).
Faculty of Education
This faculty typically offers M.Ed. and related postgraduate qualifications in Educational Management, Guidance and Counseling, and Curriculum Studies, along with a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) track for candidates without a teaching qualification from their first degree.
Candidates interested in a specific specialization not listed above should check with the relevant department, since new tracks are added as faculties expand their research capacity.
Admission Requirements for FUD Postgraduate Programmes
General requirements across most FUD postgraduate programmes include:
- A first degree from FUD or another recognized institution, typically with a minimum of Third Class for PGD entry and a Second Class Lower (or its equivalent) for M.Sc. entry.
- An HND with a minimum of Lower Credit for candidates applying to relevant PGD programmes.
- A minimum score in the university’s postgraduate entrance examination, generally around 50%.
- A research concept note or proposal outlining the candidate’s intended area of study, particularly for M.Sc. and Ph.D. applicants.
- Two academic references from lecturers or professionals familiar with the candidate’s academic work.
- Satisfaction of the university’s general matriculation requirements, including O’Level credits in five relevant subjects.
Ph.D. applicants additionally need a relevant Master’s degree with a minimum CGPA set by their department, along with evidence of research capability such as a dissertation or publications from their master’s programme.
Federal University, Dutse Postgraduate School Fees
FUD’s postgraduate fees are structured by qualification level (PGD, M.Sc., or Ph.D.), by discipline type (science-based programmes attract higher tuition than arts-based programmes), and by student status (fresh or returning). Each fee schedule bundles tuition together with smaller charges covering registration, library access, examinations, utilities, development levy, sports, medical services, ID cards, portal management, facility maintenance, a plagiarism check, and a caution deposit. Final-year students also pay an additional project, thesis, or dissertation supervision fee.
The table below summarizes the approved fee schedule from the Office of the Bursar, which remains the reference framework the university has continued to apply, subject to periodic review each session.
| Programme Level | Category | Fresh/New Student (₦) | Returning Student (₦) | Hostel Accommodation (₦) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) | Sciences | 172,500 | — | 220,000 |
| Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) | Arts | 167,500 | — | 220,000 |
| Professional Master’s | All disciplines | 189,650 | — | 220,000 |
| M.Sc. | Arts-based | 168,900 | 153,900 (plus 70,000 for final-year thesis) | 220,000 |
| M.Sc. | Science-based | 186,750 | 171,750 (plus 70,000 for final-year thesis) | 220,000 |
| Ph.D. | Arts-based | 217,250 | 197,250 (plus 100,000 for final-year dissertation) | 220,000 |
| Ph.D. | Science-based | 243,500 | 223,500 (plus 100,000 for final-year dissertation) | 220,000 |
International students pay their registration fees in United States Dollars, ranging from about $2,000 for a PGD in Arts to about $3,500 for a Ph.D. in Sciences as a fresh student. Because the Naira equivalent of this dollar charge depends on the prevailing exchange rate, the amount fluctuates from one payment cycle to another, and foreign applicants should confirm the current conversion figure directly with the Bursar’s office before making payment.
It is worth noting that science-based postgraduate programmes consistently cost more than their arts-based counterparts at every level, largely because of laboratory and practical-related charges built into the tuition component. Similarly, Ph.D. fees are noticeably higher than M.Sc. fees, and M.Sc. fees are higher than PGD fees, reflecting the increasing academic and supervisory demands at each level.
What the Postgraduate Fee Covers
Beyond tuition, the consolidated fee structure at FUD includes several standard charges that apply to nearly every postgraduate category:
- Registration fee: covers the administrative processing of a student’s enrollment for the session.
- Examination fee: covers the cost of conducting semester examinations.
- Library fee: grants access to university library resources and databases.
- Utility charges: cover electricity and related campus utilities.
- Development levy: contributes toward infrastructural development on campus.
- Medical fee: covers basic healthcare services at the university clinic.
- Sports fee: supports recreational and sporting facilities.
- M.I.S./Portal management fee: covers access to the university’s online student portal.
- Facility maintenance fee: covers the upkeep of classrooms, laboratories, and other academic facilities.
- Plagiarism test fee: covers the mandatory originality check required for theses and dissertations.
- Caution fee: a refundable deposit held against damages.
- Certificate verification and ID card fees: charged only to fresh students during their first registration.
- Project/Thesis/Dissertation fee: charged to final-year students to cover supervision and defense of their research work.
How Postgraduate Fees Are Paid
FUD postgraduate fees are paid through the university’s approved online payment channel, typically via the Remita platform linked to the student’s MyPortal account. Payment is done per session, and fresh students are usually required to complete payment shortly after their admission is confirmed and before registration deadlines close. Returning students pay a reduced fee that excludes one-time charges such as ID cards and certificate verification, but their overall session cost may rise in their final year because of the added thesis or dissertation supervision charge.
Students are advised to always generate their fee invoice directly from the student portal rather than relying solely on published fee schedules, since minor adjustments can occur between sessions due to inflation, currency fluctuations for the dollar-denominated components, or policy reviews by the university’s Governing Council.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Federal University, Dutse offer part-time postgraduate programmes?
Yes. The School of Postgraduate Studies admits both full-time and part-time candidates into several of its diploma and master’s programmes, though availability depends on the specific department.
Is a Postgraduate Diploma cheaper than a Master’s degree at FUD?
Yes. PGD fees are lower than M.Sc. fees, which are in turn lower than Ph.D. fees, across both arts and science disciplines.
Do returning postgraduate students pay less than fresh students?
Yes, generally. Returning students skip one-time charges like ID card and certificate verification fees, though final-year students pay an added thesis or dissertation fee that fresh students do not pay in their first session.
Are FUD postgraduate fees the same for all departments?
No. Fees differ mainly by whether a programme is classified as arts-based or science-based, with science-based programmes attracting higher charges due to laboratory and practical costs.
How much do international students pay for postgraduate programmes at FUD?
International students pay a separate, higher registration fee billed in US Dollars, which is converted to Naira at the prevailing exchange rate at the time of payment.