Rhema University, Obeama-Asa is a private institution situated along the Aba-Owerri Road corridor, with its campus serving students from Abia State and the neighbouring Obeama-Asa area of Rivers State. The university runs a College of Medicine and Health Sciences that offers Medicine and Surgery (MBBS), alongside Nursing Science, Medical Laboratory Science, Physiotherapy, and Optometry. Anyone planning to apply for Medicine and Surgery at Rhema University needs a clear picture of what the programme costs, since medical training at private universities in Nigeria is priced well above the standard arts, management, and social science courses. This article breaks down the tuition structure, additional charges, and payment arrangements for the 2026/2027 academic session.
Does Rhema University Offer Medicine and Surgery?
Yes. Rhema University’s Medicine and Surgery programme runs under the College of Medicine and Health Sciences and is supported by a teaching hospital that gives students clinical exposure from the pre-clinical years through to the clinical years. The programme is accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC), which means graduates sit for the same professional licensing requirements as MBBS graduates from other accredited Nigerian universities before they can practice.
Rhema University Medicine and Surgery Tuition Fee Structure
Medicine and Surgery tuition at Rhema University is charged in tiers that increase as a student progresses from the pre-clinical years into the clinical years, which involve more hospital-based training, equipment use, and specialist supervision. Fee figures published across different admission cycles vary, since private university fees are reviewed periodically, but the pattern is consistent: tuition rises at each stage of the programme, and students can choose to pay the full amount at once or in an installment arrangement.
A typical breakdown of the Medicine and Surgery fee structure looks like this:
| Level | Full Payment (100%) | Part Payment (60%) |
|---|---|---|
| 100 Level | ₦1,800,000 | ₦1,080,000 |
| 200 & 300 Level | ₦2,200,000 | ₦1,320,000 |
| Clinical Years (400 – 600 Level) | ₦3,200,000 | ₦1,920,000 |
Under this structure, the clinical years attract the highest fees because they involve hospital rotations, ward postings, and closer supervision by clinical instructors, which cost more to run than lecture-based pre-clinical training.
It is worth noting that fee information from different admission cycles is not always identical. Some more recent listings show a lower, flat annual charge across most programmes, including Medicine and Surgery, in the region of ₦450,000 to ₦500,000 per session, while other listings place Medicine and Surgery in a separate, higher bracket of roughly ₦1,500,000 to ₦2,500,000 per session. This kind of inconsistency is common with private university fee data because tuition is reviewed from one session to another, and some published figures reflect older sessions that have since changed. Because of this, any applicant serious about the Medicine and Surgery programme should treat the table above as a guide to the fee structure and payment pattern rather than a fixed, unchanging price, and should confirm the exact current figures directly from the university’s admissions or bursary office before making any payment.
Why Medicine and Surgery Costs More Than Other Courses
Medical training is capital-intensive compared to arts, management, or social science programmes. A few factors explain the price gap:
- Laboratory and equipment costs. Anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry practicals require dissection materials, microscopes, models, and consumables that are replaced regularly.
- Clinical and hospital training. From the clinical years onward, students rotate through hospital departments under the supervision of physicians and consultants, which involves costs the university would not incur for a non-medical course.
- Smaller class sizes and specialist staffing. Medical programmes are typically capped at smaller cohorts per accreditation requirements, and lecturers with medical specialisations command higher pay than general lecturers.
- Accreditation standards. The NUC sets minimum resource benchmarks — staff-to-student ratios, equipment, and infrastructure — that a university must meet and maintain to keep offering Medicine and Surgery, and meeting those benchmarks adds to running costs.
Other Fees Medicine and Surgery Students Should Budget For
Tuition is the largest cost, but it is not the only one. Prospective and continuing Medicine and Surgery students at Rhema University typically also plan for the following:
- Acceptance fee: Payable once, after an admission offer is confirmed, before a student proceeds to pay tuition. This fee has been listed at around ₦30,000 for newly admitted students.
- Hostel accommodation fee: Rhema University operates a hostel system, and accommodation charges vary by hostel type. Figures for recent sessions place hostel fees in the range of ₦24,000 to ₦60,000, depending on the specific hostel and session.
- Departmental and laboratory fees: Medicine and Surgery students pay additional charges tied to laboratory use, practical sessions, and departmental materials, on top of the general tuition figure.
- Medical/clinical screening fee: New students are usually required to undergo a medical check before resumption, which carries its own charge.
- Library, ICT, and sports fees: These are standard administrative charges applied across most Nigerian private universities and are typically bundled into the tuition invoice rather than billed separately.
- Feeding and personal upkeep: Not a university charge, but a cost every student and parent should plan for separately from tuition and accommodation.
Payment Options for Medicine and Surgery Fees
Rhema University allows tuition to be paid in installments rather than as one lump sum, which matters for a programme with fees as high as Medicine and Surgery. The common arrangement is a percentage-based split, where a student pays 60% of the session’s tuition before resumption and clears the balance later in the session, subject to a deadline set by the bursary. Paying the full 100% upfront is also an option and is sometimes the cheaper route overall, since some fee structures do not require an extra service charge for full payment the way certain installment plans do.
Students who miss a payment deadline should expect penalties. Late payment of school fees at Rhema University can attract extra charges, and in more serious cases, unresolved balances can affect a student’s ability to sit end-of-semester examinations or retain their admission status. Anyone on a payment plan should track deadlines closely and confirm balances with the bursary department rather than relying on informal reminders.
How Rhema University Medicine and Surgery Fees Compare to Other Programmes
To put the Medicine and Surgery figures in context, here is how they generally compare with other programmes at Rhema University:
| Programme Category | Approximate Session Fee Range |
|---|---|
| Arts, Management, Social Sciences | ₦400,000 – ₦620,000 |
| Basic Sciences (Computer Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, Biochemistry) | ₦600,000 – ₦650,000 |
| Nursing Science / Medical Laboratory Science | ₦800,000 – ₦1,200,000 |
| Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) | ₦1,500,000 – ₦3,200,000, rising by level |
This confirms that Medicine and Surgery consistently sits at the top of the fee scale at Rhema University, ahead of Nursing Science and Medical Laboratory Science, which are themselves priced above the standard arts and social science courses.
Admission Routes Into Rhema University Medicine and Surgery
Candidates interested in Medicine and Surgery generally gain entry through one of the following routes:
- UTME (JAMB) route: Applicants sit UTME, meet the required cut-off score for Medicine and Surgery, choose Rhema University, and go through the university’s post-UTME screening process.
- Direct Entry: Candidates who already hold qualifying credentials (such as A-Levels or an equivalent advanced certificate) can apply directly into a higher level, bypassing UTME.
- IJMB Advanced Level route: Rhema University’s School of Basic Studies runs a one-year IJMB programme. Candidates who complete it and meet the required grades can proceed into 200 Level without a UTME score.
Because Medicine and Surgery is one of the most competitive programmes at any Nigerian university, applicants should confirm the current cut-off mark and subject combination requirements directly with the admissions office ahead of each application cycle, since these can be adjusted from one session to the next.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rhema University’s Medicine and Surgery programme accredited?
Yes, the programme runs under the university’s NUC-accredited College of Medicine and Health Sciences, supported by a teaching hospital for clinical training.
How much is Medicine and Surgery tuition at Rhema University for 2026/2027?
Published figures vary by source and admission cycle, generally ranging from about ₦1,500,000 to over ₦3,000,000 per session depending on the level, with clinical years costing more than pre-clinical years. Applicants should confirm the exact current figure with the university’s bursary office.
Can Medicine and Surgery fees be paid in installments?
Yes, Rhema University typically allows tuition to be paid as a percentage upfront (commonly around 60%) with the balance cleared later in the session, in addition to the option of paying the full amount at once.
Is the acceptance fee included in the tuition fee?
No. The acceptance fee is a separate, one-time charge paid after an admission offer is confirmed, before a student proceeds to pay tuition for the session.
Does the Medicine and Surgery fee include hostel accommodation?
No. Hostel accommodation is billed separately from tuition and varies depending on the hostel type a student is assigned to or chooses.