The University of Ibadan runs one of the oldest and most structured postgraduate systems in Nigeria through its Postgraduate College, which coordinates admissions and academic standards across eleven faculties, including Arts, Science, the College of Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Agriculture and Forestry, Social Sciences, Education, Technology, Law, Dentistry, and Public Health. This article explains the categories of postgraduate programmes UI offers, the departments they fall under, and what a prospective postgraduate student should expect to pay for the 2026/2027 academic session.
Categories of Postgraduate Programmes at UI
UI’s Postgraduate College offers four broad categories of postgraduate qualifications, and understanding the difference between them matters before choosing a programme:
- Postgraduate Diploma (PGD): a one-year, non-degree qualification typically pursued by candidates who either lack a first degree directly relevant to their intended field or who want a shorter, more applied qualification before proceeding to a master’s degree.
- Master’s degrees (M.Sc., M.A., M.Ed., LL.M., M.P.H., and similar): research or coursework-based degrees that generally run for a minimum of three semesters full-time, or up to four to six semesters part-time depending on the department and prior qualification of the candidate.
- Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.): a research-intensive postgraduate qualification that sits between a master’s degree and a PhD in some departments, often serving as a bridge for candidates progressing toward doctoral research.
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD): the university’s highest postgraduate qualification, awarded after original research culminating in a thesis, typically requiring a minimum of three years of full-time study.
Some professional and specialised postgraduate qualifications exist outside these four categories as well, particularly within the College of Medicine, where postgraduate clinical training in areas such as Surgery, Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Anaesthesia, Psychiatry, and Physiotherapy is offered through the affiliated Institute of Child Health and clinical departments.
Faculties and Departments Offering Postgraduate Programmes
UI’s postgraduate offerings span a wide academic range. The table below gives an overview of the major faculties and representative departments running postgraduate programmes, to help a prospective applicant quickly identify where a specific interest fits.
| Faculty | Representative Departments/Programme Areas |
|---|---|
| Arts | Arabic and Islamic Studies, Archaeology and Anthropology, Classics, Communication and Language Arts, English, European Studies, History, Linguistics and African Languages, Music, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Theatre Arts |
| Science | Botany and Microbiology, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics, Zoology |
| College of Medicine | Anatomy, Biochemistry, Chemical Pathology, Haematology, Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Pathology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Physiology, Virology, Biomedical Laboratory Science, Anaesthesia, Nursing, Psychiatry, Paediatrics, Physiotherapy, Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynaecology |
| Social Sciences | Economics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, and related social science disciplines |
| Education | Various education specialisations leading to M.Ed. and PhD in Education |
| Technology | Mechanical Engineering, Agricultural Engineering, Industrial Engineering, and other engineering specialisations |
| Agriculture and Forestry | Agricultural Biochemistry and Nutrition, Veterinary Microbiology, and related agricultural science programmes |
| Law | Master of Laws (LL.M.), conducted on an interdepartmental basis |
| Veterinary Medicine | Various clinical and pre-clinical veterinary postgraduate specialisations |
| Public Health | Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) and related public health specialisations |
| Dentistry | Postgraduate clinical and academic dental specialisations |
Programme duration differs by department and by the candidate’s entry qualification. For example, candidates without a first degree specifically in Agricultural Engineering or Industrial Engineering are typically required to complete an additional two semesters beyond the standard programme length to bridge foundational coursework before proceeding to the core postgraduate curriculum.
Admission Requirements for UI Postgraduate Programmes
The general entry requirement for any postgraduate programme at UI is a first degree from the University of Ibadan, or an equivalent degree or Higher National Diploma from another institution recognised by the university’s Senate, in a field relevant to the intended postgraduate programme. Beyond this baseline, candidates must also satisfy the following:
- English proficiency test: since the language of instruction at UI is English, all applicants for master’s and postgraduate diploma programmes are required to sit a proficiency test and score at least 40% before their application proceeds further.
- Departmental test: candidates who pass the English proficiency threshold may be required to sit a departmental test specific to their intended field of study, depending on the department’s admission process.
- Academic transcripts and references: applicants must submit academic records demonstrating a solid foundation for graduate-level work, along with letters of recommendation, which the Postgraduate College considers seriously during evaluation.
- Work experience for certain programmes: some professional postgraduate diplomas and specialised master’s programmes require candidates to have a minimum of two years of relevant post-graduation work experience in the public or private sector.
- Single programme application: a candidate may apply to only one department or programme per admission cycle, so applicants should be certain of their choice before submitting an application.
UI Postgraduate School Fees for 2026/2027
UI’s postgraduate school fees are structured by programme level (PGD, Master’s, M.Phil., or PhD) and by faculty, with science-based, medical, and technology programmes generally costing more than arts, education, or social science programmes due to laboratory, equipment, and practical resource requirements. The table below summarises the typical fee ranges for the 2026/2027 session.
| Programme Level | Typical Fee Range (Per Session) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) | ₦75,000 – ₦150,000 | Varies by department and faculty |
| Master’s degree (M.Sc., M.A., M.Ed., etc.) | ₦120,000 – ₦250,000 | Science and technical departments sit at the higher end |
| M.Phil. | Broadly similar to Master’s range, department-dependent | Research-intensive programmes may carry additional supervision charges |
| PhD | ₦150,000 – ₦200,000 | Some departments charge more depending on research resource needs |
| Specialised/professional postgraduate programmes (e.g. certain College of Medicine and clinical specialisations) | ₦400,000 – ₦500,000 | Reflects clinical training, equipment, and accreditation costs |
| Acceptance fee (all new postgraduate students) | ₦30,000 – ₦50,000 | One-time payment after admission offer |
Master’s degree students typically pay their fees across the duration of the programme rather than as a single lump sum. For a standard three-semester M.Sc. programme, the fee is generally split across the first and second sessions, with returning students paying a reduced amount in their final session compared to what they paid as fresh students. This structure means the total cost of a full master’s degree at UI is usually higher than a single session’s published fee, since most programmes run across more than one academic session.
Why Postgraduate Fees Differ Across Departments
A few consistent factors explain why the same programme level, such as a Master’s degree, can cost noticeably different amounts depending on the department:
- Laboratory and practical requirements: science, technology, medical, and veterinary programmes involve laboratory consumables, equipment access, and sometimes fieldwork, all of which raise the departmental fee above what arts or social science departments charge.
- Clinical and specialised training: postgraduate clinical programmes within the College of Medicine, such as those in Surgery, Anaesthesia, or Obstetrics and Gynaecology, involve hospital-based training and supervision that is significantly more resource-intensive than a purely academic postgraduate programme.
- Programme structure and duration: departments requiring additional bridging semesters for candidates without a directly relevant first degree effectively extend the total cost of the programme, even where the per-session fee remains similar to other departments.
- Currency-denominated components: certain older UI fee structures for postgraduate students include a small dollar-denominated component alongside the naira-denominated portion, historically differentiated by whether the programme falls under Arts and humanities-related faculties or Science, Technology, Agriculture, Medicine, and Veterinary Medicine, with the latter group generally attracting a higher rate.
How to Confirm the Exact Fee for a Specific Programme
Because UI’s postgraduate fees are reviewed periodically and can differ by a few thousand naira even between closely related departments, the most reliable way to get an exact figure is to:
- Visit the Postgraduate College’s official portal once admission has been confirmed, where a personalised fee invoice is generated based on the specific programme, department, and level of study.
- Contact the Postgraduate College office directly, either in person at the University of Ibadan campus or through the college’s published contact channels, for the most current fee schedule before submitting an application.
- Check the specific department’s admission notice, since departments sometimes publish additional charges for professional accreditation, fieldwork, or laboratory access alongside the general school fee figure.
FAQs
How many faculties at UI offer postgraduate programmes?
UI’s Postgraduate College coordinates programmes across eleven faculties, including Arts, Science, the College of Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Agriculture and Forestry, Social Sciences, Education, Technology, Law, Dentistry, and Public Health.
What is the minimum requirement to apply for a UI postgraduate programme?
A first degree from the University of Ibadan, or an equivalent degree or HND from another Senate-recognised institution, in a field relevant to the intended programme, along with passing the English proficiency test and any required departmental test.
How much does a PGD cost at UI compared to a Master’s degree?
A Postgraduate Diploma generally costs less than a Master’s degree, with PGD fees typically ranging from ₦75,000 to ₦150,000 per session, while Master’s programmes generally range from ₦120,000 to ₦250,000 per session, depending on the department.
Are UI postgraduate fees paid once or across multiple sessions?
Most postgraduate programmes at UI run for more than one session, so fees are typically paid per session rather than as a single upfront amount, with the total cost of the degree spread across the programme’s full duration.
Why do some UI postgraduate programmes cost significantly more than others?
Programmes with heavy laboratory, clinical, or fieldwork components, particularly in the College of Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, and certain Technology departments, carry higher fees than arts, education, or social science programmes because of the additional resources and specialised supervision required.