Gombe State University (GSU) runs one of the more established medical training programmes among state universities in northern Nigeria. This article explains exactly which medical and health-related courses GSU offers, how its College of Medical Sciences is structured, and what students should expect to pay in tuition and other charges for the 2026/2027 academic session.
Does Gombe State University Offer Medicine and Surgery?
Yes. Gombe State University runs a full Medicine and Surgery programme leading to the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree. The programme was initially conceived as a Faculty of Medicine in 2006 and has since grown into a full College of Medical Sciences. GSU’s MBBS programme graduated its first set of medical doctors in January 2020, and the college has continued producing new cohorts of doctors every year since, with induction ceremonies conducted under the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), confirming that graduates are formally recognised and licensed to practise medicine in Nigeria.
Structure of the College of Medical Sciences at GSU
GSU’s College of Medical Sciences is organised into three faculties, which reflects the standard structure used across most Nigerian medical schools:
- Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, covering Human Anatomy, Human Physiology, and Medical Biochemistry.
- Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences and Clinical Sciences, covering a wide range of clinical departments including Anaesthesia, Internal Medicine, Surgery, Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Community Medicine and Public Health, Radiology, Ophthalmology, Psychiatry, Chemical Pathology, Haematology and Blood Transfusion, Histopathology, Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat), Dermatology, Maxillofacial Surgery, and Clinical Pharmacology.
A student progresses through the basic medical science years before advancing into the clinical years, where teaching moves from lecture-based instruction into hospital-based clerkships and rotations across the various specialties. To qualify for the award of the MBBS degree, a student must pass every examination at each level of the programme and satisfy all other university requirements, including conduct and character assessments.
Other Medical and Health-Related Courses at GSU
Beyond MBBS, Gombe State University runs several other health-related professional programmes:
- Pharmacy, offered through the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, leading to either the Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm) or the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D).
- Nursing Science, which is one of the courses GSU offers as an institution listed among Nigeria’s approved nursing training institutions recognised by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN).
- Paramedical and basic science support courses, including Anatomy, Physiology, and related departments that also admit students directly into standalone science degree programmes outside the main MBBS track, in addition to their teaching role within the medical curriculum.
This gives GSU one of the broader spreads of medical and health-related training options among state universities in the North-East region, covering the physician track (MBBS), the pharmaceutical track (Pharmacy), and the nursing track (Nursing Science) under one institution.
GSU School Fees for Medical Courses
Gombe State University, like most Nigerian state universities, prices its programmes differently depending on whether a student is an indigene of Gombe State or a non-indigene, and whether the student is a fresher or a returning student. Medical and pharmaceutical courses are priced noticeably higher than arts and social science courses, reflecting the cost of laboratory equipment, clinical training, and specialist teaching staff. Based on the university’s published fee schedule for a recent academic session, the following breakdown applies:
| Programme Category | Fresh Indigene | Fresh Non-Indigene | Returning Indigene | Returning Non-Indigene |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MBBS (Pre-clinical years) | ₦161,000 | ₦279,500 | ₦148,750 | ₦285,000 |
| MBBS (Clinical years) | — | — | ₦161,250 | ₦335,000 |
| Pharmacy | ₦160,500 | ₦284,250 | ₦128,000 | ₦271,750 |
| Nursing | ₦161,250 | ₦285,000 | ₦148,750 | ₦272,500 |
| Other Paramedics (Anatomy, Physiology, Public Health, Pharmacology, Nutrition) | ₦89,000 | ₦191,000 | ₦99,000 | ₦181,000 |
| Sciences (general, for comparison) | ₦89,000 | ₦191,000 | ₦79,000 | ₦181,000 |
| Social Sciences (general, for comparison) | ₦79,000 | ₦161,000 | ₦69,000 | ₦151,000 |
A few patterns stand out from this breakdown. First, MBBS clinical-year students pay noticeably more than pre-clinical students, since the clinical years involve hospital-based training, ward rounds, and direct patient-care instruction that carries higher operational costs for the university. Second, Pharmacy and Nursing are priced close to MBBS pre-clinical fees, reflecting their status as professional, laboratory-intensive courses rather than standard arts or social science degrees. Third, the gap between indigene and non-indigene fees is substantial across every category, which is standard practice at Nigerian state universities and reflects the fact that state governments subsidise tuition primarily for their own residents.
Additional Charges Beyond Tuition
On top of the tuition figures above, students admitted into any GSU programme, including the medical courses, should budget for a few additional standard charges:
- An acceptance fee, which has recently ranged from roughly ₦10,000 to ₦20,000 depending on the course of study, payable once an admission offer is confirmed.
- Hostel accommodation charges for students who choose to live on campus, which GSU provides for all regular undergraduate students apart from postgraduate and part-time students.
- Departmental and faculty-specific charges, such as laboratory coats, dissection kits for anatomy classes, clinical practicum fees during the MBBS clinical years, and examination fees, which are typically itemised separately from the core tuition figure shown above.
Because these figures are reviewed by the university from one session to the next, and because Nigerian state university fee schedules can shift depending on government subvention levels and inflation, prospective and returning students should confirm the current, exact fee breakdown directly through the official GSU school fees portal before making any payment, rather than relying on a previous session’s figures.
Admission Requirements for GSU’s Medical Courses
Candidates applying for Medicine and Surgery, Pharmacy, or Nursing at GSU need to meet the following conditions:
- A minimum of five O’Level credit passes, including English Language, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, from WAEC, NECO, or an equivalent examination body, obtained at not more than two sittings.
- UTME registration with GSU selected as the candidate’s first-choice institution, since first-choice status is required for eligibility.
- A UTME score that meets the specific cut-off mark for the chosen course. While GSU’s general cut-off mark for most programmes has recently been set at around 150, competitive courses such as Medicine and Surgery, Pharmacy, Law, and Nursing have recently required a minimum UTME score closer to 200, reflecting the higher demand and limited admission quota for these professional programmes.
- Successful completion of the university’s Post-UTME screening exercise.
- For Direct Entry applicants, a relevant qualification such as an IJMB, A-Level, or ND result at the appropriate grade, along with the standard O’Level requirement for the chosen course.
Because MBBS admission quotas are set and periodically reviewed by the MDCN, and because the college has publicly stated it continues to seek an increase in its admission quota to fully utilise its available resources, candidates should expect Medicine and Surgery to remain one of the most competitive courses at GSU each admission cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Gombe State University offer Medicine and Surgery?
Yes. GSU runs a full MBBS programme through its College of Medical Sciences, and it has graduated multiple cohorts of medical doctors since January 2020.
What other medical courses does GSU offer besides MBBS?
GSU also runs Pharmacy, through its Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Nursing Science, which is recognised among Nigeria’s NMCN-approved nursing training institutions.
How much does MBBS cost at GSU?
Based on the university’s published fee schedule, MBBS pre-clinical tuition has recently ranged from ₦161,000 for fresh indigenes to ₦279,500 for fresh non-indigenes, while clinical-year tuition has ranged from ₦161,250 for returning indigenes to ₦335,000 for returning non-indigenes. These figures should be confirmed against the current session’s official schedule before payment.
What UTME score is needed for Medicine and Surgery at GSU?
While the university’s general cut-off mark for most courses is around 150, Medicine and Surgery, along with Pharmacy, Nursing, and Law, has recently required a minimum UTME score closer to 200.
Are GSU’s medical courses accredited?
Yes. The MBBS programme is recognised by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, as confirmed by the induction and oath-taking ceremonies conducted for its graduating cohorts, and GSU is also listed among Nigeria’s NMCN-approved nursing training institutions.