Prospective students researching Medicine and Surgery at the American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola, need a direct answer before making a UTME choice or a private application decision. This article explains exactly where AUN stands on Medicine and Surgery, what health-related programmes it actually runs, and what those programmes cost for the 2026/2027 academic session.
Does AUN Offer Medicine and Surgery?
No. The American University of Nigeria does not currently run a Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) programme. AUN organises its academic offerings into seven schools rather than traditional faculties, in line with its American-style liberal arts model: the School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Business and Entrepreneurship, the School of Information Technology and Computing, the School of Engineering, the School of Law, the School of Basic Medical and Allied Health Sciences, and the School of Graduate Studies. The health-related school, the School of Basic Medical and Allied Health Sciences, currently runs exactly two undergraduate programmes:
- Nursing (Bachelor of Nursing Science, B.N.Sc.)
- Public Health (Bachelor of Science, B.Sc.)
Neither of these leads to a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) qualification, and AUN does not appear among the Nigerian universities accredited by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) to train medical doctors. Candidates who select AUN specifically to pursue a physician track should be aware that this path is not currently available at the university, regardless of how the course search term is phrased.
What AUN Actually Offers in the Health Sciences
Since Medicine and Surgery is not on offer, the two programmes below represent AUN’s full health-related undergraduate portfolio.
Nursing (B.N.Sc.)
AUN’s Nursing programme prepares students to become practice-ready professionals with clinical competence, critical thinking skills, and a patient-centred approach to care. Students gain experience across medical-surgical nursing, maternal and child health, community health, and mental health, supported by clinical placements in partner hospitals and simulation-based learning on campus. Graduates of this programme are trained to sit for the relevant Nigerian nursing licensing examinations administered by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), subject to the programme’s accreditation status, which prospective students should confirm directly with the university before applying.
Public Health (B.Sc.)
The Public Health programme focuses on disease prevention, health promotion, and population-level health outcomes rather than individual clinical treatment. Students are trained in research methods, data analysis, community engagement, and health policy development, preparing them for careers in public health agencies, non-governmental health organisations, government health ministries, and international health bodies rather than for direct clinical practice as a nurse or doctor would provide.
AUN Fees for Nursing and Public Health (2026/2027)
AUN prices its tuition per credit hour rather than as a single flat annual figure for every programme, and it charges Nursing at a different, higher rate than most of its general Arts and Sciences programmes, similar to how it prices Engineering and Law. For the 2026/2027 academic session, the university’s published undergraduate fee schedule shows the following:
| Fee Item | Standard Programmes (15 credits) | Nursing (18–25 credits) |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition per semester | ₦1,269,840 | ₦1,656,000 |
| Tuition per academic year (Fall + Spring) | ₦2,539,680 | ₦3,312,000 |
Nursing students are billed at a flat rate of ₦1,656,000 per semester for a credit load between 18 and 25 credits, rather than the standard per-credit tuition rate of ₦84,656 charged to most other undergraduate students. Any Nursing student who exceeds the 25-credit limit in a given semester is charged additional fees beyond this flat rate. Public Health students are billed at AUN’s standard per-credit tuition rate, since the flat-rate billing structure at AUN currently applies specifically to Nursing, Law, and Engineering.
Additional Compulsory and Optional Charges
Beyond tuition, every AUN undergraduate student, including those in Nursing and Public Health, pays a set of additional charges each semester. The table below summarises these for the 2026/2027 session.
| Charge | Per Semester | Per Academic Year |
|---|---|---|
| Sport Fee | ₦41,250 | ₦82,500 |
| Student Activity Fee | ₦49,500 | ₦99,000 |
| Health Insurance Fee | ₦39,700 | ₦79,400 |
| Technology Fee | ₦57,750 | ₦115,500 |
| Lab Fee (Engineering, Nursing, and Public Health students only) | ₦66,000 | ₦132,000 |
| Student ID Card (new students only) | ₦10,000 (once) | ₦10,000 (once) |
| E-books (optional) | ₦200,000 | ₦400,000 |
The Lab Fee applies specifically to Nursing and Public Health students alongside Engineering students, reflecting the laboratory and practical components built into both health programmes. Students should note that housing and meal plans are billed separately and are not included in the tuition or compulsory fee figures above, since AUN allows students to select from several room types and meal plan tiers based on preference and budget.
Housing and Meal Plan Costs
Because AUN operates a residential campus model, most students budget for on-campus housing and a meal plan alongside tuition. For the 2026/2027 session, housing options per semester range from ₦281,250 for a shared four-person room without facilities up to ₦487,500 for a double room with facilities. Meal plans range from ₦307,913 per semester for seven meals a week up to ₦763,089 per semester for a full 21-meal-a-week plan. A Nursing or Public Health student budgeting for a full academic year should add the relevant housing and meal plan cost on top of tuition and the compulsory charges listed above to arrive at a realistic total cost of attendance.
Why AUN’s Fees Are Higher Than Most Nigerian Universities
AUN’s tuition sits considerably higher than what most Nigerian public universities charge, and higher than many other private universities as well. This reflects the university’s American-style academic model, which includes a lower student-to-faculty ratio, a semester credit-hour system modelled on U.S. higher education, an English-language writing centre and academic advising infrastructure, and a fully residential campus experience. Families weighing AUN against other options should factor in that its per-credit and flat-rate tuition structure, combined with mandatory technology, health insurance, and activity fees, produces a total cost of attendance that is closer to what a private American-style university charges than what a typical Nigerian federal or state university charges.
Admission Requirements for Nursing and Public Health at AUN
Candidates applying to either programme at AUN’s School of Basic Medical and Allied Health Sciences should expect the following general conditions, which apply across AUN’s undergraduate admissions process:
- A minimum of five credit passes in relevant O’Level subjects, including English Language and Mathematics, from WAEC, NECO, or an equivalent examination body.
- Submission of AUN’s own application, which does not rely on the UTME/JAMB score in the same way Nigerian public universities do, since AUN runs its own independent admissions process typical of private universities with an American-style model.
- Satisfactory performance in any placement or English proficiency assessment AUN’s admissions office may require, particularly for candidates whose prior education was not conducted primarily in English.
- Submission of academic transcripts and any additional documentation requested by the university’s admissions office during the application review.
Because AUN’s admissions process differs from the standard UTME-driven pathway used at most Nigerian public universities, prospective Nursing and Public Health applicants should confirm the current, exact application steps and any programme-specific requirements directly through AUN’s admissions office rather than assuming the same process used at government-owned universities applies here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does AUN Yola offer Medicine and Surgery (MBBS)?
No. AUN does not currently run a Medicine and Surgery programme. Its health-related offerings are limited to Nursing (B.N.Sc.) and Public Health (B.Sc.), both under the School of Basic Medical and Allied Health Sciences.
How much does Nursing cost at AUN for 2026/2027?
Nursing students at AUN pay a flat tuition rate of ₦1,656,000 per semester (₦3,312,000 per academic year) for an 18–25 credit load, in addition to compulsory fees covering sports, student activities, health insurance, technology, and laboratory use.
Is Public Health cheaper than Nursing at AUN?
Public Health students are billed at AUN’s standard per-credit tuition rate rather than the flat rate charged to Nursing students, which can make Public Health somewhat less expensive depending on the number of credits taken per semester, though both programmes share the same laboratory fee.
Does AUN admit students through UTME like Nigerian public universities?
No. AUN runs its own independent admissions process rather than relying primarily on the UTME/JAMB score, consistent with its American-style university model.
Where can I study Medicine and Surgery near Yola if AUN does not offer it?
Candidates specifically seeking MBBS training in the North-East region should look toward MDCN-accredited institutions such as Gombe State University, since AUN and several other private universities in the region do not currently hold that specific accreditation.