The University of Benin runs one of the largest postgraduate schools among Nigerian federal universities, offering programmes across nearly every faculty on its Ugbowo and Ekehuan campuses. Prospective candidates researching UNIBEN’s postgraduate offerings for the 2026/2027 academic session typically want two things: a clear picture of which courses are available at the Postgraduate Diploma, Master’s, and Doctorate levels, and an accurate sense of what each level costs. This article addresses both directly.
Overview of Postgraduate Studies at UNIBEN
Postgraduate programmes at the University of Benin are coordinated centrally through the School of Postgraduate Studies, which works with individual faculties and departments to admit and supervise candidates. The school oversees three broad categories of postgraduate qualification:
- Postgraduate Diploma (PGD): A conversion or foundation-level qualification, often taken by candidates whose first degree is in a different field from the one they now wish to pursue, or by candidates who need to meet a minimum CGPA requirement before proceeding to a Master’s programme.
- Master’s Degree (M.Sc., M.A., M.Ed., M.Eng., LL.M, MBA, and similar designations depending on the field): A postgraduate qualification that deepens specialisation in a chosen discipline, usually completed through a mix of coursework, seminars, and a research project or thesis.
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.): UNIBEN’s highest postgraduate qualification, awarded after original research culminating in a thesis defended before an academic panel.
Some departments also run a Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.) track, which sits between a taught Master’s and a full Ph.D., typically for candidates who intend to proceed to doctoral research.
Faculties Offering Postgraduate Courses at UNIBEN
Postgraduate admission at UNIBEN spans essentially every faculty in the university. The main academic units running postgraduate programmes for the 2026/2027 session include:
- Faculty of Arts
- Faculty of Agriculture
- Faculty of Education
- Faculty of Engineering
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Life Sciences
- Faculty of Management Sciences
- Faculty of Pharmacy
- Faculty of Physical Sciences
- Faculty of Social Sciences
- College of Medical Sciences (including postgraduate clinical and basic medical science programmes)
- Institute of Education
- Institute of Public Administration and Extension Services
Each faculty runs postgraduate courses through its constituent departments, so a candidate applying for a Master’s in Economics, for instance, applies through the Department of Economics and Statistics under the Faculty of Social Sciences, while a candidate applying for an M.Eng. in Civil Engineering applies through the Faculty of Engineering.
Popular Postgraduate Courses at UNIBEN
While the university’s postgraduate course list runs into hundreds of specific programmes once every department and specialisation is counted, certain courses draw the highest number of applicants each session because of strong job-market demand or professional relevance. These include:
- Business Administration (MBA and M.Sc.)
- Accounting
- Banking and Finance
- Economics
- Mass Communication
- Public Administration
- Guidance and Counselling
- Educational Administration and Planning
- Law (LL.M)
- Computer Science
- Civil Engineering
- Petroleum Engineering
- Estate Management
- Public Health
- Human Anatomy and related basic medical sciences
- Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Candidates interested in a specific programme not listed here should still check with the relevant department directly, since UNIBEN’s postgraduate course list is broader than what any single article can summarise in full, and departments occasionally introduce new specialisations or suspend admission into others depending on staffing and accreditation status.
UNIBEN Postgraduate Admission Requirements
Admission requirements differ slightly by level and by department, but the general conditions that apply across the university are as follows.
For Postgraduate Diploma admission, a candidate needs a first degree from a recognised university, usually with a minimum of a Third Class or its equivalent, along with the standard five O’Level credits including English Language and Mathematics.
For Master’s degree admission, a candidate typically needs a first degree with at least a Second Class Lower division in a relevant discipline, or a Postgraduate Diploma with a good grade point average from a candidate whose first degree falls below the direct entry requirement. Some professional programmes, particularly in Law, Engineering, and the medical sciences, set additional requirements such as relevant work experience or professional certification.
For Ph.D. admission, a candidate needs a Master’s degree in a relevant field, generally with a minimum CGPA that the department considers strong enough to sustain independent research, along with a research proposal that aligns with the interests of available supervisors in the department.
Every category of applicant also needs a completed application form, a non-refundable application fee, academic transcripts from previously attended institutions, and, in many departments, an interview or entrance examination before final admission is confirmed.
UNIBEN Postgraduate School Fees for 2026/2027
School fees for postgraduate studies at UNIBEN differ by qualification level, by faculty, and by whether a candidate is a fresh admission or a returning student. As a federal university, UNIBEN keeps its postgraduate fees considerably lower than what many private universities charge for comparable programmes, though professional and science-based courses cost more than arts- and social-science-based ones because of laboratory, clinical, or practical components.
Postgraduate Diploma fees at UNIBEN generally fall in the region of ₦80,000 to ₦100,000 per session, paid across two instalments tied to the first and second semesters, and this figure applies fairly uniformly across most PGD programmes regardless of department.
Master’s degree fees vary more widely depending on the field of study. Programmes under the Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Education, and Faculty of Social Sciences tend to sit toward the lower end of the fee range, while programmes under the Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Physical Sciences, and the College of Medical Sciences sit toward the higher end because of equipment, laboratory access, and clinical training costs. The MBA and other professional Management Sciences programmes typically carry fees above the general M.Sc. range, reflecting their professional, career-oriented structure.
Ph.D. fees at UNIBEN follow a similar pattern to Master’s fees, with science-based and clinical programmes costing more than arts-based ones, and fees are paid every session for the duration of the candidate’s registration, which commonly runs for a minimum of three academic sessions before a thesis defence becomes possible.
Postgraduate Fee Ranges by Category
The table below summarises the general fee ranges for UNIBEN postgraduate programmes for the 2026/2027 session. These are indicative ranges rather than fixed universal figures, since exact charges differ from one department to another and are subject to periodic review by the university.
| Programme Level | Typical Fee Range (Per Session) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) | ₦80,000 – ₦100,000 | Fairly uniform across departments; paid in two instalments |
| Master’s (Arts, Education, Social Sciences) | ₦100,000 – ₦150,000 | Lower end of the Master’s fee scale |
| Master’s (Sciences, Engineering, Pharmacy) | ₦150,000 – ₦220,000 | Higher due to laboratory and practical costs |
| MBA / Professional Management Sciences | ₦200,000 – ₦350,000 | Higher than standard M.Sc. due to professional focus |
| Ph.D. (Arts, Education, Social Sciences) | ₦100,000 – ₦160,000 | Paid every session until thesis defence |
| Ph.D. (Sciences, Engineering, Medical fields) | ₦160,000 – ₦250,000 | Includes research and laboratory levies |
In addition to tuition, postgraduate candidates budget for an application fee (historically in the region of ₦11,500 to ₦12,000, inclusive of a separate processing charge), an acceptance fee once admission is confirmed, matriculation and identity card charges, library and ICT levies, medical and insurance charges, and, for research-based programmes, a thesis or project supervision fee charged closer to the completion stage of the programme.
How to Apply for UNIBEN Postgraduate Admission
Candidates follow broadly the same application sequence regardless of the specific course or department:
- Purchase the application form through the official UNIBEN postgraduate admission portal by making the required payment online.
- Complete the online form, entering academic history, referee details, and the specific programme and department the candidate wishes to apply to.
- Upload required documents, including degree certificates or statements of result, transcripts, O’Level results, and, where applicable, a research proposal or statement of purpose.
- Submit the application before the stated deadline, since UNIBEN typically closes its postgraduate admission portal a few weeks before the start of a new session.
- Attend a departmental screening or interview, which some departments conduct as part of the final selection process.
- Check the admission portal for the outcome, and, once admitted, proceed to pay the acceptance fee and register for courses within the stipulated timeline.
Duration of UNIBEN Postgraduate Programmes
Programme duration depends on the qualification level. A Postgraduate Diploma at UNIBEN generally runs for two semesters, roughly one calendar year. A Master’s degree by coursework and thesis typically runs for a minimum of three semesters, often stretching to two full academic sessions depending on how quickly a candidate completes the research component. A Ph.D. runs for a minimum of three academic sessions on the full-time track, though many candidates take longer depending on the pace of research, supervision availability, and thesis defence scheduling.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the school fees range for a Master’s degree at UNIBEN?
Master’s fees generally range from about ₦100,000 for arts and social science-based programmes to around ₦220,000 or more for science, engineering, and pharmacy-based programmes, with MBA and other professional management programmes often costing more than both.
Does UNIBEN offer PGD, Master’s, and Ph.D. in the same department?
Most departments at UNIBEN run all three levels, though some newer or smaller programmes may only run a Master’s and Ph.D. without a PGD option, or vice versa, depending on staffing and accreditation status.
What is the minimum requirement for Master’s admission at UNIBEN?
A first degree with at least a Second Class Lower division from a recognised university is the general requirement, though candidates with lower grades can sometimes qualify after completing a Postgraduate Diploma with a strong result.
Is the UNIBEN postgraduate application fee separate from the school fees?
Yes. The application fee covers only the cost of applying and does not count toward tuition. Once admitted, a candidate pays an acceptance fee and then the full programme-specific school fees.
How long does a Ph.D. take to complete at UNIBEN?
A minimum of three academic sessions on the full-time track, though actual completion time depends on the pace of research and thesis defence scheduling.