Federal University, Gashua (FUGASHUA) runs Computer Science as one of its accredited degree programmes under the Faculty of Science, and students admitted into the course pay the university’s standard federal school fee structure plus a small science-based practical charge. As a federal institution, FUGASHUA keeps its fees well below what private and even most state universities charge, which is one of the main reasons the school continues to attract Computer Science applicants from across Yobe State and the wider North East region.
This article breaks down what a Computer Science student at FUGASHUA can expect to pay, what the fee covers, how fresh students differ from returning students in cost, and how to complete payment correctly.
Overview of Federal University, Gashua
Federal University, Gashua was established in 2013 by the Federal Government of Nigeria as part of a national effort to expand access to university education in the North East geopolitical zone. The main campus sits along the Gashua–Nguru Road in Yobe State, on a large landmass that houses academic buildings, research facilities, and student hostels. The university runs undergraduate programmes across faculties that include Science, Agriculture, Arts, Management Sciences, Education, and Social Sciences, with Computer Science domiciled in the Faculty of Science.
Because FUGASHUA is a federal university, its fees are regulated through Federal Government guidelines and the university’s governing council rather than set purely on a commercial basis. This keeps the cost of a Computer Science degree at FUGASHUA significantly cheaper than the same course at a private university, where science and technology-related programmes often attract tuition several times higher.
How Much Does Computer Science Cost at FUGASHUA?
FUGASHUA’s school fees are structured around two broad categories: fresh (newly admitted) students and returning students. Fresh students pay more in their first year because their bill includes one-time charges that returning students no longer pay once they have completed their first registration cycle.
For Computer Science specifically, students should expect the following components in the total fee:
- Base tuition and statutory charges – This is the core fee every undergraduate pays regardless of course, covering academic instruction, examinations, library access, ICT/portal maintenance, and administrative processing.
- Science practical/laboratory charge – Because Computer Science is a science-based, practical-inclusive course, students pay an additional laboratory or practical fee on top of the base tuition. This charge supports access to computer laboratories, software licences, and departmental equipment.
- One-time fresher charges – New students only pay for items such as identity card processing, matriculation, verification, orientation, and the student handbook.
- Late payment penalty (if applicable) – Students who miss the fee payment deadline are charged an additional late fee, so early payment is the more economical option.
The table below summarises the general fee pattern that applies to Computer Science students at FUGASHUA, based on the university’s published fresher and returning-student fee bands for the current academic session.
| Fee Component | Fresh Students | Returning Students |
|---|---|---|
| Base tuition and statutory charges | ₦41,000 – ₦53,000 | ₦26,000 – ₦41,000 |
| Science/ICT laboratory charge | ₦3,000 – ₦5,000 | ₦3,000 – ₦5,000 |
| One-time fresher charges (ID, matriculation, orientation, handbook) | Included above | Not applicable |
| Late payment penalty | ₦5,000 (if paid after deadline) | ₦5,000 (if paid after deadline) |
These figures reflect the range published across recent academic sessions rather than a single fixed amount, since FUGASHUA occasionally reviews its fee schedule from one session to the next. Students should always confirm the exact figure for the current 2026/2027 session by generating an official invoice on the university’s student portal before making payment, since this is the only source that reflects real-time, department-specific charges.
Why Computer Science Costs Slightly More Than Arts-Based Courses
Computer Science sits among the science and technology courses at FUGASHUA, alongside programmes such as Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biochemistry. Courses in this category attract a modest premium over arts and social science courses because they require functional computer laboratories, licensed software, internet infrastructure, and regular equipment maintenance. Departments such as Accounting, Psychology, Economics, and Home Science are also charged separate laboratory fees for similar reasons, which confirms that the extra charge on science-based courses is a standard university-wide policy rather than something unique to Computer Science.
Despite this premium, Computer Science at FUGASHUA remains considerably cheaper than equivalent programmes at private universities, where Computer Science, Software Engineering, or Information Technology degrees can cost anywhere from several hundred thousand to over a million naira per session. The gap exists because federal universities receive government subvention that private institutions do not, which allows FUGASHUA to keep tuition low while still running a functioning computing curriculum.
Fresh Students vs Returning Students: What Changes
The difference in fees between a fresh Computer Science student and a returning one comes down to first-year-only charges rather than a change in tuition itself. A first-year student pays for items tied specifically to entry into the university — identity verification, matriculation, orientation, and course registration set-up — none of which apply again once a student has been through the process once. From the second year onward, a Computer Science student typically pays a lower total because only tuition, statutory charges, and the recurring laboratory fee remain.
Students should also note that FUGASHUA fees are session-based rather than semester-based in most cases, meaning the amount generated on the portal usually covers the full academic year rather than a single semester, unless the university explicitly splits payment into instalments for a particular session.
How to Pay FUGASHUA Computer Science School Fees
Payment for Computer Science, like every other course at FUGASHUA, follows a fixed process through the university’s official portal. Students should not pay any agent, individual, or unofficial account for school fees under any circumstance, since the university processes fees exclusively through its own digital channels.
- Visit the official FUGASHUA student portal and log in using the registration details issued after admission.
- Navigate to the fee payment or invoice section and generate a Remita Retrieval Reference (RRR) or an equivalent payment invoice specific to Computer Science and the student’s current level.
- Confirm that the amount displayed matches the expected fee band for a fresh or returning student before proceeding.
- Complete payment through the approved channels, which include the Remita payment gateway, designated commercial banks, or direct portal payment.
- Print or save the payment receipt immediately after a successful transaction, since this serves as proof of payment during course registration and clearance.
- Proceed to course registration on the portal only after the fee payment reflects as successful, since registration is typically locked until payment is confirmed.
Students who pay after the university’s stated deadline should expect to pay an additional late fee, so it is more cost-effective to complete payment as early in the session as possible.
Other Costs to Budget For
Beyond the standard school fees, a Computer Science student at FUGASHUA should budget for a few additional expenses that are not part of the official fee invoice but are necessary for a smooth academic session. These include accommodation, since hostel fees at FUGASHUA are charged separately and depend on the room type and hostel block a student is allocated to; textbooks and reading materials specific to programming, data structures, and computing theory; internet data for coursework that increasingly involves online resources and coding practice; and basic computing accessories, since some departmental practical work may require personal access to a laptop outside scheduled laboratory hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Federal University, Gashua offer Computer Science as an accredited course?
Yes. Computer Science is a National Universities Commission (NUC)-accredited programme under the Faculty of Science at FUGASHUA, and it consistently appears on the university’s approved list of undergraduate courses.
Is Computer Science more expensive than other courses at FUGASHUA?
Yes, slightly. Computer Science carries an additional laboratory or practical charge on top of the base tuition, similar to other science-based courses at the university, but it remains far cheaper than Computer Science programmes at private universities.
Do returning Computer Science students pay the same amount every session?
Returning students generally pay less than fresh students because one-time entry charges no longer apply, though the base tuition and laboratory fee still apply every session.
What happens if a student misses the school fees payment deadline?
Late payment attracts a penalty charge and may also delay or block course registration until the outstanding fee and penalty are cleared.
Where can students confirm the exact current fee for Computer Science?
The only fully accurate source is the official FUGASHUA student portal, where an invoice is generated specifically for the student’s course, level, and status as a fresh or returning student.