The University of Ibadan (UI), popularly known as Unibadan, holds the distinction of being Nigeria’s oldest university, with its academic origins tracing back to Yaba Higher College in 1932 before it was relocated and formally established on its own campus in Ibadan in November 1948. As a first-generation federal university, UI maintains one of the most heavily subsidized tuition structures among Nigerian universities, which explains why its fees remain remarkably low compared to many state and private institutions. This article covers university of ibadan courses and fees for the 2026/2027 academic session, breaking down what undergraduate, postgraduate, and distance learning students should expect to pay.
Why UI’s Fees Are Considered Low Compared to Other Universities
As a federal institution, UI receives substantial funding support from the federal government through the National Universities Commission and direct budgetary allocation, which keeps its tuition significantly lower than what students would pay at private universities or even many state-owned institutions. This funding model means that the amount a student pays at UI reflects government subsidy policy rather than the actual cost of delivering the academic and infrastructural resources the university provides. A low fee at UI is therefore not an indicator of lower educational quality; it is simply a reflection of how the university is financed.
Undergraduate School Fees for Fresh Students
For the 2026/2027 academic session, fresh undergraduate students at UI, meaning newly admitted 100-level students, pay school fees ranging from ₦34,300 to ₦36,800 per session, with the exact amount depending on the specific faculty and course of study. This fee covers tuition, course registration, library access, ICT services, and other standard academic charges bundled into a single session payment. The variation within this range reflects the fact that certain faculties, particularly those with laboratory-intensive or clinical components, carry marginally higher charges than purely theoretical courses in the arts or social sciences.
Direct Entry candidates, who are admitted directly into 200 level based on prior qualifications such as A-Level results, ND, or NCE, generally fall under a similar fee bracket to standard freshers in their respective faculties, since they are treated as new students for billing purposes in their first year on campus.
Undergraduate School Fees for Returning Students
Students who have already completed their first year and are returning for 200 level through to their final year pay a reduced fee compared to freshers. Returning undergraduate students at UI pay between ₦20,000 and ₦32,000 per session, depending on their level and department. This lower figure reflects the removal of one-time charges that only apply to freshers, such as matriculation fees and first-time administrative registration costs, which are not repeated in subsequent years of study.
Undergraduate Fee Summary Table
The table below summarizes the general fee bands for undergraduate students at UI for the 2026/2027 session.
| Student Category | Fee Range (Per Session) |
|---|---|
| Fresh undergraduate students (100 Level) | ₦34,300 – ₦36,800 |
| Returning undergraduate students (200–400/500/600 Level) | ₦20,000 – ₦32,000 |
| Acceptance fee (newly admitted students) | ₦20,000 – ₦35,000 |
Courses in Medicine, Pharmacy, Law, and Engineering, along with other resource-intensive programmes, tend to sit toward the higher end of these ranges, since they involve greater laboratory, clinical, or specialized equipment costs compared to standard arts or social science courses.
Acceptance Fee for Newly Admitted Students
Beyond the standard school fee, every newly admitted student at UI is required to pay an acceptance fee, which formally confirms their intent to take up the admission offer. This fee is separate from the regular school fee and generally falls between ₦20,000 and ₦35,000, though the exact figure and payment deadline are published by the university at the start of each admission cycle. For the 2026/2027 session, the university set the acceptance fee payment deadline as Friday, June 23, 2026, after which candidates who fail to pay risk losing their admission slot to the next available candidate on the waiting list.
Postgraduate School Fees at UI
Students proceeding into postgraduate study at the University of Ibadan pay a separate and higher fee schedule than undergraduates, reflecting the more specialized and research-intensive nature of postgraduate education. Fresh postgraduate students generally pay between ₦75,000 and ₦120,000 per session, while returning postgraduate students pay a reduced amount, typically between ₦50,000 and ₦100,000, depending on the specific programme and department. The postgraduate acceptance fee for newly admitted students stands at ₦30,000, payable once an offer of admission into a postgraduate programme is confirmed.
It is worth noting that postgraduate fees can vary more significantly by department than undergraduate fees do, since some professional postgraduate programmes, particularly in fields like Business Administration or specialized clinical postgraduate tracks, can carry considerably higher charges, sometimes reaching several hundred thousand naira per session, well above the general average figure quoted for standard M.Sc and PhD programmes across the university.
Distance Learning Centre (DLC) Fees
For students unable to attend regular on-campus classes, the University of Ibadan Distance Learning Centre (UIDLC) offers an alternative path to a UI qualification, maintaining the same academic standards as the on-campus programmes while allowing students to study remotely using internet-connected devices. School fees for new distance learning students generally fall between ₦90,000 and ₦120,000 per session, with one notable exception: the Nursing programme under the Distance Learning Centre carries a considerably higher fee of ₦195,000 per session, reflecting the additional clinical and practical components nursing training requires even within a distance learning format.
Applicants to the Distance Learning Centre also pay a separate application processing fee, generally ranging from ₦10,000 to ₦15,000, and upon successful admission, a further acceptance fee of ₦50,000 is required before full registration is completed.
Hostel and Accommodation Fees
Students who secure on-campus accommodation at UI pay hostel fees separately from their academic school fees, and these charges vary depending on the specific hall of residence a student is assigned to. For most halls of residence, hostel accommodation costs ₦30,000 per session. Alexander Brown Hall, which houses medical students specifically, carries a higher fee of ₦80,000 per session, reflecting its dedicated arrangement for students in clinical training programmes who often require closer proximity to teaching hospital facilities. Hostel accommodation at UI is not compulsory and is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, meaning students who do not secure a hostel space in time must arrange off-campus accommodation independently.
How to Pay UI School Fees
UI processes school fee payments entirely through its official student portal rather than accepting cash payments directly to departments or individuals. The general payment process follows these steps:
- Log in to the UI student portal at ui.edu.ng using your assigned username and password.
- Click on the fee payment section and select the correct academic session and level.
- Generate and print the payment invoice reflecting the exact amount due.
- Complete payment either online through the portal or at any of the university’s designated banks.
- Confirm the payment on the portal once processed and print the official receipt.
- Save the receipt securely, since it is required for course registration, examination entry, and other administrative clearance processes throughout the session.
Students should complete payment well before the university’s published deadline each session, since portal closure after the deadline typically locks out late payers and requires a formal petition to the Bursary and Registry to reopen access, a process that can delay registration and put examination eligibility at risk.
Why Fee Figures Can Vary Slightly Between Sources
Prospective students researching UI fees online will often notice slightly different figures reported across different platforms. This typically happens because fee ranges depend on faculty, department, and specific course, and because the university periodically reviews and adjusts fees between sessions. The safest approach is to treat any published range as a general guide and confirm the exact, current figure for a specific course and level directly through the official UI portal before making payment, since only the university’s own published schedule reflects the definitive amount for a given session.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a fresh undergraduate student pay at the University of Ibadan? Fresh 100-level undergraduate students pay between ₦34,300 and ₦36,800 per session, depending on their faculty and course of study.
Are UI fees the same for returning students? No. Returning students, from 200 level onward, pay a reduced fee ranging from ₦20,000 to ₦32,000 per session, since one-time charges applied to freshers do not recur.
How much does the Distance Learning Nursing programme cost at UI? The Nursing programme under UI’s Distance Learning Centre costs ₦195,000 per session, notably higher than the ₦90,000 to ₦120,000 range charged for most other distance learning courses.
Is hostel accommodation compulsory at UI? No. Hostel accommodation is optional and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Standard halls cost ₦30,000 per session, while Alexander Brown Hall, reserved for medical students, costs ₦80,000 per session.