Bells University of Technology, Ota runs one of the newer private Medicine and Surgery programmes in Nigeria, and it draws a steady stream of applicants each session because it offers an MBBS pathway outside the usual federal and state university route. Given that Medicine and Surgery is a six-year professional programme with heavy clinical and laboratory demands, its school fees sit well above what most other courses at Bells cost. This article explains what a candidate should expect to pay for Medicine and Surgery at Bells University for the 2026/2027 academic session, what the fee covers, and what else a prospective medical student needs to budget for beyond tuition.
About Bells University of Technology and Its Medicine and Surgery Programme
Bells University of Technology is a private institution located in Ota, Ogun State, established by the Bells Educational Foundation. It holds the distinction of being Nigeria’s first private university dedicated to technology-focused education, and its degree programmes carry a strong emphasis on practical, industry-relevant training. The university structures its academic units as colleges rather than faculties, and Medicine and Surgery falls under the College of Natural and Applied Sciences’ health-related cluster, alongside Nursing Science and Medical Laboratory Science.
The Medicine and Surgery programme at Bells leads to the MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery) qualification and runs for six academic years for candidates admitted through UTME, with the programme structured around pre-clinical years focused on basic medical sciences followed by clinical years involving hospital-based training. As with every accredited Nigerian medical programme, the degree is subject to Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) accreditation requirements, and graduates proceed to a mandatory housemanship year before full registration to practice.
Why Medicine and Surgery Costs More Than Other Courses at Bells
Private university tuition in Nigeria varies significantly by discipline, and Medicine and Surgery consistently ranks among the most expensive programmes any private university offers. Several factors drive this:
- Clinical training costs. Medical students require access to teaching hospitals, clinical postings, and consultant-led instruction from the clinical years onward, all of which carry costs that a purely classroom-based course does not.
- Laboratory and equipment costs. Pre-clinical years involve extensive laboratory work in anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry, requiring specialised equipment, cadaver access, and consumables.
- Accreditation and staffing costs. Running an MDCN-accredited medical programme requires a higher ratio of qualified academic and clinical staff than most other degree programmes, and universities factor staffing costs into tuition.
- Extended programme duration. At six years, Medicine and Surgery runs longer than the typical four-year Bells University programme, which affects how the university structures overall cost recovery across the course of study.
Bells University Medicine and Surgery School Fees for 2026/2027
For the 2026/2027 academic session, Medicine and Surgery sits at the top end of Bells University’s private tuition scale. Across Bells University’s full range of programmes, total school fees per session generally fall between ₦700,000 and ₦1,400,000, depending on the course, the student’s level, and the accommodation option chosen. Medicine and Surgery, being the most resource-intensive programme the university runs, sits firmly toward the upper end of that range, and new intake students in particular should budget above ₦1,000,000 for their first session once tuition, accommodation, and compulsory charges are combined.
The exact figure differs between fresh (100 Level and Direct Entry) students and returning students, since fresh students pay additional one-time charges that do not recur in subsequent sessions. It also differs depending on whether a student opts for Bronze or Silver hostel accommodation, since Bells University fees include a mandatory accommodation component built into the total session charge for most programmes.
Fee Breakdown for Medicine and Surgery Students
The table below summarises the categories of charges a Medicine and Surgery student at Bells University typically budgets for. Actual amounts vary by session and by the specific fee schedule the university releases, so candidates should treat this as a structural guide rather than a fixed invoice.
| Fee Category | Applies To | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition fee | All students | Charged every session; highest among Bells University’s undergraduate programmes |
| Accommodation (Bronze or Silver) | All students (accommodation is largely compulsory) | Silver typically costs more than Bronze; affects total session charge |
| Acceptance fee | New students only | One-time payment after receiving admission offer |
| Medical screening, X-ray, vaccination charges | New/100 Level and Direct Entry students | Mandatory health clearance before resumption |
| BUPF Levy | All students | Paid once per session to the Bells University Parents’ Forum account |
| Library, ICT, and infrastructural charges | All students | Bundled into the overall session fee in most cases |
| Clinical/laboratory practical charges | Medicine and Surgery students, especially from the clinical years | Reflects the cost of hospital-based and laboratory-based training |
Payment Structure and Instalment Options
Bells University allows students some flexibility in how they settle their fees rather than requiring the full amount strictly at resumption. A student can pay the full session fee before resumption, or pay a minimum of 60 percent before resumption and clear the remaining balance before first semester examinations. Choosing the instalment option typically attracts an administrative charge on the outstanding balance, so students who can pay in full upfront avoid that extra cost.
Payments are made through Bells University’s approved bank channels using the reference details generated on the student portal, and the university expects students to retain evidence of payment for verification during registration.
Admission Requirements for Medicine and Surgery at Bells University
Beyond meeting the financial commitment, a candidate needs to satisfy the university’s academic admission requirements for Medicine and Surgery, which include:
- A minimum of five credit passes in the WAEC, NECO, or an equivalent O’Level examination, including English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, obtained in not more than two sittings.
- A competitive UTME score, since Medicine and Surgery is one of the more selective programmes at Bells University and requires a score well above the university’s general cut off mark.
- UTME subject registration in English Language, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.
- Successful completion of the university’s Post-UTME screening exercise.
- For candidates applying through Direct Entry, a relevant A-Level, IJMB, JUPEB, or equivalent qualification with strong grades in the required science subjects.
Additional Costs Beyond Tuition
Candidates budgeting for Medicine and Surgery at Bells University should plan for expenses outside the officially published school fees. These include textbooks and instruments specific to medical training, such as a stethoscope and other basic clinical tools introduced from the pre-clinical years onward; transportation to and from clinical postings once the student reaches the clinical years; feeding and personal upkeep, which the accommodation fee does not cover; and departmental or association dues that student bodies within the College of Medicine typically collect. None of these are part of the official school fees invoice, but they form a real part of the overall cost of the programme and are worth factoring into a family’s financial planning from the outset.
How Bells University’s Medicine and Surgery Fees Compare
Private medical education in Nigeria generally costs more than public university medical programmes because private institutions do not receive government subvention and rely almost entirely on tuition and internally generated revenue to fund their clinical and laboratory infrastructure. Within that private university context, Bells University’s Medicine and Surgery fees fall in a mid-to-upper range compared to other private universities offering MBBS programmes, reflecting the resource-heavy nature of medical training generally rather than any unusual pricing specific to Bells. A prospective student comparing Bells to other private medical programmes should expect the overall cost structure, tuition plus compulsory charges plus incidental costs, to be broadly comparable across similarly accredited private institutions, though exact figures differ from one university to another.
How to Confirm the Exact Fee for a Given Session
Because private university fees change from one session to the next in response to inflation, accreditation requirements, and internal cost reviews, the safest way for a candidate to confirm the exact Medicine and Surgery fee for 2026/2027 is to check the official fee schedule published on the Bells University student portal after receiving an admission offer, or to contact the university’s admissions office directly. Fee schedules released by the university typically break down tuition, accommodation, and other charges by level and by new-versus-returning student status, giving a candidate the precise figure applicable to their specific circumstances.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Medicine and Surgery cost per session at Bells University?
Total charges typically fall above ₦1,000,000 for new students once tuition, accommodation, and compulsory levies are combined, placing it at the top of Bells University’s overall fee range of roughly ₦700,000 to ₦1,400,000 across all programmes.
Does the Medicine and Surgery fee include accommodation?
Yes. Bells University builds accommodation into its standard session fee structure for most programmes, with a choice between Bronze and Silver hostel options affecting the total amount payable.
Can a Medicine and Surgery student at Bells University pay fees in instalments
Yes. A student can pay a minimum of 60 percent before resumption and settle the balance before first semester examinations, though this instalment option attracts an additional administrative charge.
Is the Medicine and Surgery fee the same for every year of the six-year programme?
No. While tuition and standard charges apply every session, the clinical years typically involve additional practical and hospital-based training charges that do not apply during the earlier pre-clinical years.
Does Bells University offer scholarships for Medicine and Surgery students?
Bells University runs merit-based and need-based scholarship schemes from time to time, though availability and eligibility criteria vary by session. Candidates should check directly with the university’s admissions or student affairs office for current scholarship opportunities.