The University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) runs one of the largest postgraduate programmes among federal universities in Nigeria, offering Postgraduate Diploma (PGD), Master’s, and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees across faculties that include Agriculture, Engineering, Law, Management Science, Education, Arts, Social Sciences, and Clinical Sciences. This article lists the categories of postgraduate courses available at UNIABUJA, explains how the fee structure works for the 2026/2027 academic session, and breaks down what a prospective postgraduate student should expect to pay at each level of study.
Overview of Postgraduate Studies at UNIABUJA
Postgraduate admission at UNIABUJA is coordinated through the School of Postgraduate Studies, which oversees registration, coursework, thesis supervision, and defence for candidates across all faculties. The school offers three broad categories of postgraduate qualifications:
- Postgraduate Diploma (PGD): A foundational postgraduate qualification, usually completed in one to two years, designed either for candidates who want to convert a first degree in one field into working knowledge of another, or for those who want to strengthen weak academic backgrounds before proceeding to a Master’s programme.
- Master’s Degree: Offered as M.Sc., M.A., M.Ed., LL.M., M.Eng., MBA, and similar designations depending on the faculty. Most full-time Master’s programmes run for about three to five semesters (roughly 18 months to two years), while part-time versions typically take longer.
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD): A research-intensive degree that normally runs for three to five years for full-time candidates and longer for part-time candidates, depending on the pace of research and thesis completion.
UNIABUJA offers postgraduate programmes in well over ninety course combinations once specializations are counted, spread across faculties such as Agriculture, Arts, Education, Engineering, Law, Management Sciences, Science, Social Sciences, and Clinical Sciences (through its College of Health Sciences). This makes it one of the more comprehensive postgraduate institutions in the North-Central region of Nigeria.
List of Postgraduate Courses by Faculty
The table below summarises the major postgraduate course categories offered at UNIABUJA, organised by faculty. Many departments run PGD, Master’s, and PhD versions of the same subject, along with area-specific specializations within each programme.
| Faculty | Examples of Postgraduate Programmes |
|---|---|
| Agriculture | PGD/M.Sc./Ph.D. in Crop Protection, Agronomy, Agro-Forestry, Soil Science, Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Extension & Rural Sociology, Animal Science |
| Engineering | PGD/M.Eng./Ph.D. in Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Mechanical Engineering |
| Law | LL.M. (Master of Laws), Ph.D. in Law |
| Management Sciences | PGD/M.Sc./Ph.D. in Accounting & Finance, Banking and Finance, Business Administration, Public Administration |
| Education | M.Ed. and Ph.D. in Educational Planning, Educational Administration, Curriculum Studies, and related fields |
| Arts and Humanities | M.A. and Ph.D. programmes in English, History, Languages, and related disciplines |
| Social Sciences | M.Sc. and Ph.D. programmes in Economics, Political Science, Sociology, and related fields |
| Science | M.Sc. and Ph.D. programmes in the pure and applied sciences, including Library and Information Science |
| Clinical Sciences / Health Sciences | Ph.D. in Clinical Sciences, PGD in Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Veterinary Surgery specialties, and other health-related postgraduate fields |
| Peace and Legislative Studies | PGD and Master’s programmes in Peace Studies, Leadership, and Society Development, run through the Sultan Maccido Institute |
This list is not exhaustive, since some departments run several specialization tracks under a single Master’s or PhD title. For instance, an M.Sc. in Soil Science and Land Management may carry multiple specialization options such as Soil Chemistry and Mineralogy, Pedology, or Environmental Soil Science and Pollution Management. Prospective candidates should check with the specific department for the exact list of specialization options available in a given session.
General Admission Requirements for Postgraduate Programmes
Requirements vary slightly by faculty and by degree level, but the following pattern applies broadly across UNIABUJA’s postgraduate programmes:
- For PGD admission: Candidates typically need a Bachelor’s degree or Higher National Diploma (HND) from a recognised institution, along with five credit passes at O’Level, including English Language and Mathematics, obtained in not more than two sittings.
- For Master’s admission: Candidates generally need a Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of second class lower division (or its equivalent) in a relevant field, or a PGD with a good grade from a recognised institution.
- For PhD admission: Candidates need a Master’s degree with a weighted average score of about 60 percent, or a letter grade of B, in a field relevant to the proposed area of research.
- For professional and clinical postgraduate programmes: Some programmes, particularly in the health sciences, require professional qualifications (such as MBBS, BDS, or a relevant first degree in Pharmacy, Nursing Science, Physiotherapy, or Medical Laboratory Science) in addition to the standard O’Level and degree requirements.
Candidates should always confirm department-specific requirements before applying, since specializations within the same broad programme can carry slightly different entry conditions.
University of Abuja Postgraduate School Fees for 2026/2027
UNIABUJA, like most federal universities in Nigeria, does not charge conventional tuition fees to Nigerian students at the same scale as private universities. Instead, postgraduate students pay a combination of registration charges, faculty-specific fees, and other sundry charges that cover the actual cost of running each programme. The total amount payable therefore depends on the specific programme, the faculty, and whether the candidate is a fresh admission or a returning student.
Based on the fee patterns UNIABUJA has maintained across recent postgraduate sessions, the amounts below reflect what candidates can generally expect for the 2026/2027 academic session:
| Programme Level | Approximate Fee Range (Per Session) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) | ₦120,000 – ₦150,000 | Fees can be slightly higher for science-based or laboratory-intensive PGD programmes |
| Master’s Degree (Non-Science) | ₦130,000 – ₦180,000 | Includes programmes in Arts, Law, Management Sciences, Education, and Social Sciences |
| Master’s Degree (Science-Based) | ₦150,000 – ₦220,000 | Higher due to laboratory, practical, and materials costs |
| PhD (Non-Science) | ₦120,000 – ₦180,000 | Fees are charged per session across the duration of the programme |
| PhD (Science-Based / Clinical) | ₦150,000 – ₦250,000 | Includes laboratory access, research materials, and clinical costs where applicable |
| Acceptance Fee (New PG Students) | ₦30,000 – ₦40,000 | One-time, non-refundable fee paid after receiving an admission offer |
These figures represent typical ranges drawn from the university’s recent fee patterns rather than a single fixed amount, because UNIABUJA reviews its fee schedule from one session to another and because individual departments add specific charges depending on their programme’s practical or research demands. Candidates should treat the figures above as a budgeting guide and confirm the exact amount for their chosen programme once the School of Postgraduate Studies releases its official fee schedule for the 2026/2027 session.
What Postgraduate Fees at UNIABUJA Typically Cover
The total amount a postgraduate student pays in a session is rarely a single lump sum tuition charge. It is usually broken down into several components, which commonly include:
- Registration and matriculation charges: Administrative fees for enrolling into the programme each session.
- Faculty and departmental dues: Charges specific to the department running the programme, often tied to seminars, workshops, or departmental activities.
- Laboratory or practical fees: Applicable mainly to science, engineering, and clinical postgraduate programmes that require access to laboratories or equipment.
- Library and ICT fees: Charges that give students access to library resources, research databases, and campus ICT infrastructure.
- Thesis or project supervision fees: Charged in the sessions when a candidate is actively working on a thesis, dissertation, or research project under a supervisor.
- Examination fees: Covering the cost of conducting coursework examinations, defence sessions, and, where applicable, external examiner arrangements for PhD candidates.
Because these components are combined differently depending on the programme and session, two candidates in different departments at the same degree level may end up with different total fees even though both are technically pursuing a Master’s degree.
How to Confirm the Exact Fee for a Specific Programme
Since UNIABUJA reviews its postgraduate fee schedule at the start of each academic session, and since sundry charges vary from one department to another, the most accurate way to confirm the exact fee for a specific postgraduate programme is to check the official fee schedule published by the School of Postgraduate Studies once admission for the 2026/2027 session opens. Prospective students should also confirm directly with their intended department, since specialised programmes (particularly in Engineering, Clinical Sciences, and Agriculture) often carry additional charges not reflected in the general fee schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does UNIABUJA charge the same postgraduate fee for all programmes?
No. Fees differ by programme level (PGD, Master’s, or PhD) and by faculty, with science-based, engineering, and clinical programmes generally costing more than arts, law, and social science programmes due to laboratory and practical costs.
Is the acceptance fee part of the postgraduate school fee?
No. The acceptance fee is a separate, one-time, non-refundable payment made after a candidate receives an admission offer, and it is paid in addition to the regular session fees.
How long does a Master’s programme take at UNIABUJA?
Most full-time Master’s programmes run for about three to five semesters, roughly 18 months to two years, while part-time Master’s programmes generally take longer to complete.
Can international or non-Nigerian students expect different postgraduate fees at UNIABUJA?
International students at Nigerian federal universities, including UNIABUJA, typically pay a different fee structure from Nigerian students, and this should be confirmed directly with the School of Postgraduate Studies or the university’s international office.
Do postgraduate fees at UNIABUJA increase every session?
Fees can be reviewed periodically based on inflation and the actual cost of running programmes, so candidates should not assume the previous session’s fee will remain unchanged for 2026/2027 without checking the official schedule.