Prince Abubakar Audu University (PAAU), Anyigba, formerly known as Kogi State University, runs its health-related programmes through a dedicated College of Health Sciences. This article outlines every medical and health science course currently offered at PAAU, states what each one costs, and explains how the university’s fee structure changes depending on a student’s state of origin and course of study.
Background: From Kogi State University to PAAU
The institution began academic operations in 2000 as Kogi State University, offering programmes across six original faculties. It was renamed Prince Abubakar Audu University in honour of the state’s former governor, and has since expanded into a full multi-faculty institution with a College of Health Sciences dedicated to training doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals. This history matters for one specific reason: the university’s Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme was originally accredited and began admitting students in 2012, but the National Universities Commission (NUC) withdrew that accreditation in 2015 after a resource verification exercise found gaps in infrastructure and academic staffing. Following sustained state government investment in facilities and staffing, the NUC granted full re-accreditation to the MBBS programme in 2025, restoring Medicine and Surgery as an active course of study at PAAU after a ten-year suspension.
List of Medical and Health Science Courses at PAAU
The College of Health Sciences at PAAU currently runs the following programmes:
- Medicine and Surgery (MBBS). A six-year clinical degree leading to the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery qualification, now fully re-accredited by the NUC.
- Nursing Science (B.N.Sc.). A five-year degree programme preparing graduates for professional nursing licensure through the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN).
- Medical Laboratory Science. A degree programme training students in diagnostic laboratory techniques used across clinical and research settings.
- Human Physiology. A basic medical science degree covering the study of normal body function, commonly pursued by students interested in research or as a foundation before postgraduate clinical training.
- Human Anatomy. A basic medical science degree focused on the structure of the human body, also commonly chosen by students aiming for further studies in medicine-related fields.
- Pharmacology. A basic medical science programme covering how drugs interact with the body, relevant to careers in research, drug regulation, and pharmaceutical industries.
Medicine and Surgery, Nursing Science, and Medical Laboratory Science are generally regarded as the most competitive of these courses, both in terms of the JAMB aggregate required for admission and the fee bracket applied once admitted.
PAAU School Fees for Medical Courses: Indigene vs. Non-Indigene
As a state-owned university, PAAU applies a tiered fee structure based on whether a student is a confirmed indigene of Kogi State. Indigenes pay a subsidized rate across all faculties, while non-indigenes pay a higher rate for the same programme. Clinical and laboratory-based courses in the College of Health Sciences sit at the top of this fee structure, since they require more equipment, consumables, and hospital-based training than non-clinical departments.
| Course | Indigene Fee (Approx.) | Non-Indigene Fee (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing Science | ₦300,550 – ₦302,250 | ₦350,050 – ₦351,750 |
| Medical Laboratory Science | ₦300,550 – ₦302,250 | ₦350,050 – ₦351,750 |
| Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) | Comparable to or above the Nursing/Medical Laboratory Science bracket, pending the university’s post-reaccreditation fee schedule | Comparable to or above the Nursing/Medical Laboratory Science bracket, pending the university’s post-reaccreditation fee schedule |
| Human Physiology / Human Anatomy / Pharmacology | Below the clinical premium bracket, closer to the general Science faculty rate | Below the clinical premium bracket, closer to the general Science faculty rate |
| Arts, Social Sciences, Management Sciences (for comparison) | Around ₦72,250 | Higher than the indigene rate, in line with the university’s standard non-indigene multiplier |
Because Medicine and Surgery only regained full accreditation in 2025 after a decade-long suspension, the university’s most current published fee schedule for the programme should be confirmed directly on the PAAU student portal, since newly reinstated professional programmes sometimes carry a distinct fee line separate from the older clinical sciences bracket during their first few admission cycles.
What the School Fee Covers
The figures above represent the core school fee bill, not the total cost of studying at PAAU. The published school fee generally bundles together tuition, registration charges, ICT fees, examination fees, and other standard academic charges into a single figure. It does not include the following, which students budget for separately:
- Acceptance fee. New students pay a one-time, non-refundable acceptance fee once admission is confirmed, historically set at ₦30,000.
- Hostel accommodation. Students who choose university housing pay a separate hostel fee, historically around ₦25,000 per academic year, covering bed space and basic maintenance.
- Departmental practical or clinical charges. Courses with laboratory or hospital-based components, particularly Medicine and Surgery, Nursing Science, and Medical Laboratory Science, may carry additional practical charges at certain levels, especially once students move into clinical postings.
- Feeding, transportation, and personal upkeep. These remain the student’s own responsibility and are not part of any university-issued invoice.
Admission Requirements for Medical Courses at PAAU
Admission into any of PAAU’s medical and health science courses follows the standard national process, with some course-specific adjustments:
- O’Level credits. Candidates need a minimum of five credit passes, including English Language and Mathematics, along with the science subjects relevant to their intended course (Biology, Chemistry, and Physics for Medicine and Surgery, Nursing Science, and Medical Laboratory Science).
- UTME registration. Candidates must register the correct JAMB subject combination for their chosen course and select PAAU as their first choice institution.
- Minimum UTME score. The general baseline score required to participate in PAAU’s screening process is 140, though competitive courses in the College of Health Sciences require considerably higher scores in practice.
- Post-UTME screening and aggregate scoring. PAAU computes a weighted aggregate combining UTME performance (70%) and O’Level results (30%) rather than relying on the UTME score alone.
- Departmental cut-off aggregate. Recent admission cycles placed the aggregate cut-off for Medicine and Surgery at 65.5, Nursing Science at 62.0, and other health-related programmes at similarly competitive levels, well above the aggregate required for less competitive departments.
How PAAU’s Aggregate Scoring System Works
Unlike universities that admit purely on raw UTME score, PAAU combines two components into a single aggregate used for final admission decisions:
| Component | Weight in Final Aggregate |
|---|---|
| UTME (JAMB) score | 70% |
| O’Level result | 30% |
This means a candidate’s WAEC or NECO grades carry real weight in determining admission, not just their JAMB score. Candidates targeting Medicine and Surgery or Nursing Science should aim for strong O’Level grades in the required science subjects in addition to a solid UTME score, since both figures feed directly into the final aggregate used to rank applicants against the departmental cut-off.
Steps to Complete Registration After Admission
Once a candidate receives an admission offer into a PAAU medical course, the following steps complete the financial and academic registration process:
- Accept the admission offer on the JAMB Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS).
- Pay the acceptance fee through the official PAAU student portal to secure the admission slot.
- Complete biodata registration and upload required documents, including O’Level results and the JAMB result slip.
- Generate the course-specific fee invoice through the student portal, which reflects the exact amount payable based on indigene status and course of study.
- Pay the school fee through the approved payment channels listed on the portal.
- Register courses with the relevant department once payment is confirmed, in line with the approved curriculum for the student’s level.
Returning students repeat a shorter version of this process each session, generating a new invoice tied to their current level of study.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medicine and Surgery currently available at PAAU?
Yes. The MBBS programme regained full accreditation from the National Universities Commission in 2025 after a ten-year suspension, and the university is now admitting students into the programme again.
How much does Nursing Science cost at PAAU?
Nursing Science falls within PAAU’s clinical sciences fee bracket, with indigenes paying roughly ₦300,000 to ₦302,000 and non-indigenes paying roughly ₦350,000 to ₦352,000 per session, in addition to the one-time acceptance fee.
Do indigenes and non-indigenes pay the same fee at PAAU?
No. PAAU, as a state-owned institution, subsidizes fees for confirmed Kogi State indigenes, while non-indigene students pay a noticeably higher rate for the same course.
What is the minimum JAMB score needed for PAAU’s medical courses?
The general baseline to participate in screening is 140, but Medicine and Surgery and Nursing Science require a much higher final aggregate score once UTME and O’Level results are combined, since PAAU uses a weighted 70/30 aggregate system rather than the raw UTME score alone.
Does the school fee include hostel accommodation?
No. Hostel accommodation is billed separately from the core school fee and is optional, depending on whether a student secures a space in university housing.