Kaduna State University (KASU) runs one of the more established medical training structures among Nigerian state universities, organised under its College of Medicine. The college brings together Medicine and Surgery, Pharmacy, Nursing Science, and several allied health courses under one administrative umbrella, giving prospective students in northern Nigeria a range of medical and health science pathways within a single institution. This article explains which medical courses KASU offers, what fees apply to each, and what admission requirements candidates need to meet.
Overview of KASU and Its College of Medicine
Kaduna State University was established in 2004 and received full accreditation from the National Universities Commission (NUC) in 2005. The university operates across two campuses, the main campus in Kaduna town and a second campus in Kafanchan, and runs sixteen faculties spread across more than seventy departments. The College of Medicine at KASU was established in 2008 and has since grown into one of the university’s most structured academic units, organised into distinct faculties covering basic medical sciences, clinical medicine, pharmaceutical sciences, and allied health sciences.
Within the College of Medicine, the Faculty of Medicine houses departments such as Anatomy, Human Physiology, Pathology, Community Medicine, and Dentistry, supporting the core Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) programme. Clinical training for KASU medical students takes place primarily at the Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, which serves as the university’s main teaching hospital for hands-on patient-facing instruction. Alongside the Faculty of Medicine, the College also includes the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, established in 2012, and the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, which covers Nursing Science, Medical Laboratory Science, Radiography, and Physiotherapy.
Medical Courses Offered at KASU
The table below summarises the main medical and health-related courses available at KASU, along with the faculty each falls under and standard programme duration.
| Course | Faculty | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) | Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine | 6 years |
| Pharmacy | Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences | 5 years |
| Nursing Science | Faculty of Allied Health Sciences | 5 years |
| Medical Laboratory Science | Faculty of Allied Health Sciences | 5 years |
| Physiotherapy | Faculty of Allied Health Sciences | 5 years |
| Radiography | Faculty of Allied Health Sciences | 5 years |
Medicine and Surgery is the longest programme, structured in line with the standard Nigerian MBBS pattern, with pre-clinical science courses dominating the early years and clinical rotations taking over as students progress toward graduation. Pharmacy, Nursing Science, Medical Laboratory Science, Physiotherapy, and Radiography follow a similar structure of theoretical coursework combined with laboratory training and, in the later years, clinical placement at KASU’s affiliated teaching hospital.
KASU School Fees for Medical Courses
KASU is widely known for maintaining one of the more affordable general tuition structures among Nigerian state universities, with baseline fees for non-medical courses typically falling within a relatively modest range. Medical and health-related courses, however, attract noticeably higher charges than the university’s general courses due to the added cost of laboratory work, clinical training, and specialised equipment these programmes require.
Based on the university’s most recently published fee information, general undergraduate tuition at KASU for non-indigene students has ranged from approximately ₦130,000 for Arts and Education courses up to ₦170,000 for Science-based courses per session, with indigenes of Kaduna State typically paying less under the university’s subsidised fee structure. Professional and medical programmes sit above this general range. Medicine and Surgery, along with Engineering, has been reported to cost up to approximately ₦250,000 to ₦300,000 per session, reflecting the heavier laboratory, clinical, and equipment demands of these courses compared to standard degree programmes.
The table below presents this comparison for clarity.
| Course Category | Approximate Fee (Per Session, Non-Indigene) |
|---|---|
| Arts and Education courses | ₦130,000 |
| General Science courses | ₦170,000 |
| Medicine and Surgery, Engineering | ₦250,000 – ₦300,000 |
Fee figures reported for KASU vary somewhat across different sources and academic sessions, and the university itself has periodically adjusted its overall fee bands. Some published schedules describe a lower general fee band of roughly ₦27,000 to ₦46,000 for standard courses in a given session, while others place non-indigene fees for science-based courses considerably higher. This variation reflects both genuine year-on-year fee reviews and differences in whether a given figure represents indigene or non-indigene charges, and whether additional levies are included. Given this, prospective students and parents should treat all figures in this article as planning estimates and confirm the exact current amount for their specific course, level, and indigene status directly through KASU’s official student portal or bursary department before making payment.
What the Medical Course Fees Typically Include
The quoted session fee for medical and allied health courses at KASU generally functions as a combined figure covering tuition alongside several standard institutional charges, rather than tuition alone. Beyond tuition, students in Medicine and Surgery, Pharmacy, Nursing Science, and the other allied health courses should expect to budget separately for an acceptance fee paid upon confirming admission, laboratory and practical fees tied specifically to their course’s clinical or laboratory components, hostel accommodation where a student chooses to reside on campus, and other routine charges such as library fees, medical fees, and identity card fees that most Nigerian state universities bill alongside the core session fee.
Because medical courses involve significantly more laboratory consumables, specimens, and clinical training coordination than non-medical courses, students in these departments should expect their total cost of attendance, once all additional charges are factored in, to run noticeably higher than the base tuition figure alone suggests. This is consistent with the pattern seen across most Nigerian state universities that run medical programmes, where the headline tuition figure understates the true session cost once laboratory and clinical charges are added.
Admission Requirements for Medical Courses at KASU
Admission into any of KASU’s medical or allied health courses requires candidates to sit and pass the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by JAMB, followed by the university’s post-UTME screening exercise. Candidates need a minimum of five credit passes at the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) level or its equivalent, including English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, generally obtained in not more than two sittings.
Most courses at KASU carry a general cut-off mark of 180, but Medicine and Surgery and several allied health courses require notably higher scores given how competitive these programmes are. Medicine and Surgery specifically requires a cut-off mark of 220, the highest at the university, while Doctor of Physiotherapy, Nursing Science, Radiography, Medical Laboratory Science, and Pharmacy each require a cut-off mark of 200. Meeting the departmental cut-off mark only qualifies a candidate for the university’s post-UTME screening exercise; it does not guarantee admission, since final placement also depends on the number of applicants, available slots, and screening performance for that particular admission cycle.
Direct entry admission is also available for candidates holding relevant prior qualifications, such as Advanced Level results, a National Diploma (ND), or a Nigerian Certificate in Education (NCE) in a related field. Direct entry candidates are typically assessed based on the strength of their existing qualifications rather than being strictly bound by the standard UTME cut-off marks, though departments still reserve the right to set specific grade requirements for direct entry applicants, particularly for competitive courses like Medicine and Surgery.
Accreditation Status of KASU Medical Courses
Medicine and Surgery at KASU is regulated by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), the body responsible for licensing medical graduates to practise in Nigeria, while Pharmacy falls under the regulatory oversight of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN). Nursing Science is regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), and Medical Laboratory Science falls under the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN). Each of these regulatory bodies periodically reviews and updates accreditation status for medical training institutions across the country, so prospective students should confirm the current accreditation status of their specific course of interest directly through the university or the relevant regulatory body before finalising their application, since accreditation determines whether graduates can proceed to the professional licensing examinations required to practise in their field after completing their studies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does KASU offer Medicine and Surgery?
Yes. KASU runs a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme under its Faculty of Medicine within the College of Medicine, with clinical training conducted at the Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital.
What is the cut-off mark for Medicine and Surgery at KASU?
The cut-off mark for Medicine and Surgery at KASU is 220, the highest departmental cut-off mark at the university, reflecting how competitive the programme is.
How much is KASU school fees for medical courses?
Medicine and Surgery, along with other professional programmes, has been reported to cost up to approximately ₦250,000 to ₦300,000 per session for non-indigenes, compared to roughly ₦130,000 to ₦170,000 for general Arts and Science courses. Fee figures vary by session and indigene status, so candidates should confirm the exact current amount through the university’s official portal.
Which allied health courses does KASU offer alongside Medicine?
KASU offers Nursing Science, Medical Laboratory Science, Physiotherapy, and Radiography under its Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, alongside Pharmacy under the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, all within the College of Medicine structure.