Rivers State University (RSU), located at Nkpolu-Oroworukwo in Port Harcourt, runs one of the more established medical and health sciences programs among Nigerian state universities. The university’s College of Medical Sciences grew out of a Senate proposal in 2010 and received formal government approval in March 2015, and it now houses several faculties covering basic medical sciences, clinical sciences, and allied health disciplines. This article lists the medical-related courses RSU offers, explains what each course trains a student for, and breaks down the school fees students can expect to pay for the 2026/2027 academic session.
Overview of RSU’s College of Medical Sciences
RSU’s medical training is not limited to Medicine and Surgery. The College of Medical Sciences is organized into faculties that separate the foundational science courses from the clinical and allied health courses. Students in Human Anatomy or Human Physiology, for instance, sit under the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, while Medicine and Surgery itself falls under the Faculty of Clinical Sciences. Nursing, Physiotherapy, Radiography, Public Health Science, and Medical Laboratory Science round out the college’s undergraduate offerings.
This structure matters for prospective students because admission requirements, JAMB cut-off marks, and fees are not identical across the college. A student applying for Human Anatomy is not competing at the same level, or paying the same fees, as a student applying for Medicine and Surgery.
List of Medical Courses Offered at RSU
The medical and health-related undergraduate courses currently offered at RSU include:
- Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) – the core clinical medical degree, training students to become licensed medical doctors.
- Nursing Science (BNSc) – trains registered nurses and midwives for hospital and community health practice.
- Human Anatomy – the study of body structure, useful for careers in teaching, research, and medical illustration.
- Human Physiology – the study of how body systems function, relevant to clinical research and biomedical science careers.
- Public Health Science – prepares graduates for roles in disease prevention, health policy, and community health management.
- Physiotherapy – trains therapists who help patients recover movement and function after injury or illness.
- Radiography – trains professionals who use imaging technology (X-rays, scans) for diagnosis.
- Medical Laboratory Science (MLS/BMLS) – trains laboratory scientists who run diagnostic tests such as blood work and microbiology screening.
Each of these leads to a distinct professional path, and several are regulated by their own professional bodies in Nigeria (for example, the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria for Medicine and Surgery, and the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria for Nursing).
Admission Requirements for RSU Medical Courses
Admission into any of RSU’s medical courses generally follows this pattern:
- A minimum of five credit passes in WAEC, NECO, or an equivalent examination, including English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.
- A competitive JAMB UTME score. Medicine and Surgery and Nursing are the most competitive, and applicants typically need scores well above 200 to be considered on the primary merit list, while other allied health courses accept somewhat lower ranges depending on how many applicants apply that session.
- RSU as the candidate’s first-choice institution on the JAMB portal.
- A passing score in RSU’s Post-UTME screening exercise.
- For Direct Entry candidates, relevant A-Level passes, an ND/HND in a related field, or another recognized qualification that satisfies the department’s specific requirements.
Because JAMB cut-off marks change slightly from one admission cycle to the next depending on the volume and quality of applicants, candidates should treat published figures as a guide rather than a fixed number, and should confirm the exact cut-off for their intended session on RSU’s admissions portal.
RSU Medical Courses and JAMB Cut-Off Marks
| Course | Faculty | Typical JAMB Cut-Off Mark |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine and Surgery | Faculty of Clinical Sciences | 200 and above |
| Nursing Science | Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences | 180–200+ |
| Human Anatomy | Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences | 160–180 |
| Human Physiology | Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences | 160–180 |
| Public Health Science | Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences | 160–180 |
| Physiotherapy | Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences | 160–180 |
| Radiography | Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences | 160–180 |
| Medical Laboratory Science | Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences | 160–200 |
These figures reflect the general range seen in recent admission cycles. RSU’s overall baseline JAMB cut-off mark for the university is 160, but individual medical departments set their own competitive thresholds above this baseline depending on demand.
RSU Medical Courses School Fees for 2026/2027
RSU’s school fees are billed per session and vary by faculty, department, and whether a student is a Rivers State indigene or a non-indigene. Indigenes generally pay a lower rate than non-indigenes because the state government subsidizes tuition for residents. Fees also differ for fresh (newly admitted) students versus returning students, since freshers pay one-off charges such as acceptance fees, medical screening fees, and ID card fees that returning students do not pay again.
As a general guide for the 2026/2027 session, based on the pattern of recent fee schedules, students can expect the following ranges:
| Fee Category | Estimated Range (₦) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance fee (freshers only) | 39,150 – 55,000 | Paid once, after admission is confirmed |
| Tuition/school fees – Basic Medical Sciences courses (Anatomy, Physiology, Public Health, Physiotherapy, Radiography, MLS) | 150,000 – 250,000 per session | Indigene rates fall at the lower end |
| Tuition/school fees – Nursing Science | 150,000 – 250,000 per session | Slightly higher due to clinical practicals |
| Tuition/school fees – Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) | 200,000 – 300,000+ per session | Highest among medical courses due to clinical training costs |
| Hostel/accommodation fee (optional) | 30,000 – 40,000 per session | Depends on hostel allocated |
| Other charges (ID card, medical fee, library fee, sports fee, etc.) | 40,000 – 65,000 combined | Bundled with tuition on the student portal |
These numbers are estimates drawn from recent fee patterns and should not be treated as the exact amount a student will pay. RSU generates a personalized invoice for every admitted student on its online student portal, and that invoice — not any third-party estimate — is the figure a student should rely on for payment. Because clinical courses like Medicine and Surgery involve laboratory consumables, cadaver use, and hospital-based clinical postings in later years, their fees tend to sit at the higher end of the university’s overall fee structure, and fees can also increase once a student moves from the pre-clinical to the clinical years of the MBBS programme.
Why Medicine and Surgery Costs More Than Other Medical Courses
Medicine and Surgery consistently carries the highest fees among RSU’s medical-related courses for a few practical reasons. The programme runs longer than most other degrees, typically spanning six years compared to four years for Nursing or Physiology. It also requires more laboratory-intensive and clinical-based training, including anatomy dissection, hospital ward rotations, and eventual clinical postings in affiliated teaching hospitals — all of which cost the university more to run than a standard lecture-based programme. Students should budget for the fact that fees in the clinical years (years four to six) of MBBS are often higher than in the pre-clinical years, since clinical postings involve hospital-based supervision and additional practical assessments.
How to Confirm the Exact Fee for a Specific Course
Because RSU updates its fee schedule at the start of each academic session, and because the amount a student pays depends on their indigene status, department, and entry mode (UTME or Direct Entry), the safest way to get an exact figure is to:
- Log in to the RSU student portal using the admission letter details provided after admission is confirmed.
- Locate the personalized invoice generated for the student’s specific department and session.
- Cross-check the figure against any official circular released by the university’s Bursary or Academic Planning unit.
- Avoid making payment based on figures from unofficial sources, since fee scams involving fake payment links are common during admission periods.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does RSU offer Medicine and Surgery (MBBS)?
Yes. RSU offers Medicine and Surgery under the Faculty of Clinical Sciences within its College of Medical Sciences, and the programme runs for six years.
What is the JAMB cut-off mark for Medicine and Surgery at RSU?
Candidates typically need a score well above 200 to be considered competitive, though the exact cut-off can shift slightly each admission cycle depending on applicant volume.
Are RSU medical course fees the same for indigenes and non-indigenes?
No. Rivers State indigenes generally pay lower tuition than non-indigenes because the state government subsidizes fees for its residents.
Is Nursing Science a four-year or five-year programme at RSU?
RSU’s Bachelor of Nursing Science (BNSc) is a four-year programme for UTME entrants, with a shorter duration for Direct Entry candidates depending on their prior qualification.
Where can students find the official RSU fee schedule?
The most reliable source is the RSU student portal, where each admitted student receives a personalized invoice, alongside official circulars published by the university’s Bursary department.