Computer Science at the University of Benin sits under the Faculty of Physical Sciences, which places it in the science category for fee assessment. This matters because UNIBEN charges science students a different rate from non-science students, and Computer Science falls firmly on the science side of that divide. This article breaks down UNIBEN school fees for Computer Science for the 2026/2027 academic session, covering the acceptance fee, tuition and departmental charges, accommodation costs, and the payment process, so a student or parent planning for admission knows exactly what to budget for.
Understanding the exact figure matters because Computer Science is one of the more sought-after courses at UNIBEN, and applicants often compare it against similar programmes at other federal universities before making a final decision. The UNIBEN school fees for computer science structure is not a flat, single number; it is made up of several smaller charges that the university bundles into one sessional total, and the total differs slightly between a fresh student in 100 Level and a returning student in 200 Level and above.
Is Computer Science Classified as a Science Course at UNIBEN?
Yes. Computer Science at UNIBEN is domiciled in the Faculty of Physical Sciences, alongside courses such as Physics, Mathematics, Statistics, and Geology. Because of this, every student admitted to study Computer Science pays the science-category rate for both the acceptance fee and the school fees, not the lower non-science rate that applies to courses in faculties like Arts, Education, or Social Sciences. Anyone comparing figures online should keep this distinction in mind, since a number of published breakdowns lump all courses together without separating science from non-science charges.
UNIBEN Acceptance Fee for Computer Science
Before a fresh student can proceed to pay tuition or begin registration, the acceptance fee must be paid first. This fee confirms that an admitted candidate is taking up the offer of admission, and it is non-refundable once paid. For science-based programmes, including Computer Science, the acceptance fee for the 2025/2026 admission cycle stands at ₦122,820, up from the older figure of ₦60,000 that applied in previous sessions before the university reviewed its charges. Non-science students pay a lower figure of ₦115,670. Candidates gaining admission for the 2026/2027 session should expect the science-category acceptance fee to remain at or near this level unless the university issues a fresh circular adjusting it, which it typically does before the admission portal opens each year.
The acceptance fee is paid through the official UNIBEN student portal using the candidate’s JAMB registration number, and payment is processed via Remita. A candidate should never pay through a third party or an unofficial link, since the university has repeatedly warned against fraudulent payment platforms circulating among prospective students.
School Fees for Fresh Computer Science Students
Once the acceptance fee is settled and a student completes clearance, the next payment that determines the full UNIBEN school fees for computer science total is the actual school fee, which is charged per session and covers examination fees, laboratory charges, library access, ICT services, sports, medical care, sanitation, development levy, and other statutory charges bundled into one sessional payment. For science students, including those in Computer Science, the school fees for computer science at UNIBEN for fresh (100 Level) students fall between ₦170,000 and ₦190,000 for the session, depending on how the university structures departmental and faculty-specific charges in a given year. Non-science fresh students pay less, typically between ₦150,000 and ₦170,000.
The table below summarises the standard components that make up the science-category school fees for a fresh Computer Science student, based on the university’s published fee structure:
| Fee Component | Approximate Amount (₦) |
|---|---|
| Examination Fees | 10,000 |
| Laboratory Fees | 8,000 – 15,000 |
| Library Fee | 5,000 |
| Sports Fee | 3,500 |
| ICT Fee | 2,500 |
| Counselling Fee | 1,000 |
| Utility Fee | 7,000 |
| Medical Charges | 5,000 |
| Sanitation Fee | 5,000 |
| Bank/Portal Charges | 3,000 |
| Development Levy | 9,500 – 19,500 |
| Student Union Dues | 1,000 – 2,500 |
| NUGA Charge (freshers) | 1,200 |
These figures are drawn from the university’s standard science-category breakdown and are combined into the total sessional charge a fresh Computer Science student sees on the payment portal. The exact naira value shifts slightly from year to year as the university adjusts individual line items, so the total a student is asked to pay on the portal is the figure that governs, not any third-party estimate.
School Fees for Returning Computer Science Students
Students moving from 200 Level upward pay a reduced amount because they no longer owe the one-off charges that apply only to freshers, such as the orientation brochure, certificate screening, academic gown rental, and forensic ID card fee. For returning Computer Science students, UNIBEN school fees for computer science typically range from ₦150,000 to ₦170,000 per session, with the science-category total usually sitting around ₦60,500 to ₦63,250 when the university’s standard fee schedule is applied without the newer sessional adjustments, or higher when the most recent review is factored in. A returning student pays the science laboratory fee, examination fee, library fee, ICT fee, and the other recurring charges listed above, minus the fresher-only items.
| Details | Returning Science Students (₦) |
|---|---|
| Examination Fees | 10,000 |
| Laboratory Fees | 8,000 |
| Library Fee | 5,000 |
| Sports Fee | 3,500 |
| ICT Fee | 2,500 |
| Counselling Fee | 1,000 |
| Utility Fee | 7,000 |
| Medical Charges | 5,000 |
| Sanitation Fee | 5,000 |
| Bank/Portal Charges | 3,000 |
| Development Levy | 9,500 |
| Student Union Dues | 1,000 |
| NUGA Charge (returning) | 250 |
Department-Specific Charges for Computer Science
Beyond the general science-category fee schedule that applies to every student in the Faculty of Physical Sciences, the Computer Science department at UNIBEN occasionally adds a modest departmental charge tied to computing resources, such as access to the department’s laboratory machines, software licensing where applicable, and internet bandwidth for practical classes. This is separate from the general ICT fee already included in the university-wide breakdown and is usually a small addition rather than a major cost driver. Students should treat this as a possible extra line item rather than a certainty, since not every session carries the same departmental charge, and the amount, when it applies, is typically announced by the department at the start of registration rather than fixed on the central school fees portal.
Why the Figures Differ Across Sources
Anyone researching UNIBEN school fees for computer science online will notice that different platforms quote different numbers, and this is not necessarily because the information is wrong. UNIBEN has reviewed its fee structure more than once in recent sessions, and older breakdowns that circulate online often reflect an earlier session’s rates rather than the current one. In addition, some platforms quote only the base tuition component while others quote the full sessional total that includes laboratory charges, development levy, and other add-ons. The safest approach is to treat the ranges given in this article as a guide and confirm the exact figure on the official UNIBEN student portal once admission is confirmed, since the portal displays the precise amount tied to a student’s specific department and level.
Every figure discussed so far covers the statutory charges alone. A complete picture of UNIBEN school fees for computer science also has to account for costs the university does not bill directly through the portal but that every student still incurs during the session.
Additional Costs Beyond School Fees
School fees cover only the statutory academic charges. A Computer Science student at UNIBEN should also budget for costs that fall outside the official fee schedule:
- Accommodation: Hostel fees are paid separately and vary by hall, with on-campus options generally cheaper than private lodging around Ugbowo or Ekehuan campus.
- Departmental practicals: Computer Science involves programming labs and project work, and some departments request modest contributions for practical materials or project supervision beyond the standard laboratory fee.
- Course materials: Textbooks, past questions, and, for a computing-related course, personal access to a laptop are practical necessities even though they are not part of the official fee bill.
- Feeding and transportation: These are personal living costs that a student in Benin City should plan for separately from tuition.
How to Pay Your UNIBEN School Fees
Payment is done entirely online through the university’s portal. The steps are straightforward:
- Log in to the UNIBEN student portal with the registration number and password issued after admission or acceptance fee payment.
- Navigate to the school fees or school charges section of the portal.
- Select the correct session and confirm that the department shown is Computer Science, since the portal auto-generates the science-category charge based on the department on record.
- Generate a Remita Retrieval Reference (RRR) and complete payment through a bank, USSD, or online card transaction.
- Print or save the payment receipt for registration and course form purposes.
Students should avoid paying in bits unless they qualify for a bursary or scholarship arrangement, as UNIBEN generally does not accept instalment payment for regular tuition outside such schemes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Computer Science more expensive than other courses at UNIBEN?
Computer Science costs the same as other science-category courses in faculties like Physical Sciences, Life Sciences, and Engineering-adjacent departments. School fees for computer science are more expensive than non-science courses in Arts, Education, or Social Sciences because of the science-category laboratory and accreditation charges, but they are not priced differently from other science programmes.
Does the school fee include hostel accommodation?
No. Hostel accommodation is billed separately from the standard school fees for computer science and depends on the specific hall a student is allocated.
Can a Computer Science student pay school fees in instalments?
Generally no, except for students under an approved bursary, loan, or scholarship scheme such as NELFUND, which allows structured disbursement rather than a single upfront payment.
Has the acceptance fee changed for the 2026/2027 session?
The university reviewed its acceptance fee upward for the 2025/2026 cycle, and candidates admitted for 2026/2027 should confirm the exact figure on the official portal, since UNIBEN typically maintains the prior session’s rate unless a new circular states otherwise.
Where can a student confirm the exact amount before paying?
The only reliable place to confirm UNIBEN school fees for computer science is the official student portal at uniben.edu, logged in with the student’s own credentials. The portal generates a figure specific to the student’s department, level, and category, which removes the guesswork involved in relying on third-party estimates.