UNICAL Postgraduate Courses and Admission Requirements 2026/2027 for PGD, Master’s, Ph.D. Programmes

The University of Calabar (UNICAL) offers a broad range of postgraduate programmes for graduates seeking to advance their academic qualifications, professional knowledge, research skills, and career opportunities. Through its College of Postgraduate Studies, the university provides Postgraduate Diploma, Master’s and Doctor of Philosophy programmes across agriculture, arts, education, health sciences, management, law, physical sciences, social sciences, oceanography and other specialised fields.

This guide provides a detailed overview of the UNICAL postgraduate courses available for the 2026/2027 academic session and explains the admission requirements candidates need to satisfy. It covers the major faculties and institutes offering postgraduate programmes, the general requirements for PGD, Master’s and Ph.D. admission, concept-note and transcript requirements, the screening exercise, and the application process.

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UNICAL Postgraduate Courses for 2026/2027

The University of Calabar has a wide postgraduate academic structure, with programmes spread across numerous faculties and specialised institutes. The 2026/2027 admission notice specifically lists programmes leading to Postgraduate Diploma, Master’s and Ph.D. degrees.

Below is a breakdown of the major UNICAL postgraduate courses listed for the 2026/2027 academic session.

Faculty of Agriculture

The Faculty of Agriculture provides postgraduate opportunities in areas connected with agricultural production, economics, extension, animal science, crop science, forestry, wildlife and soil management.

Available areas include:

• Agricultural Economics
• Agricultural Extension and Rural Sociology
• Animal Science
• Crop Science
• Forestry and Wildlife Resource Management
• Soil Science
• Fisheries and Aquaculture

Depending on the department and qualification level, candidates may find PGD, Master’s and doctoral options within relevant agricultural disciplines.

Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences

The Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences provides postgraduate study opportunities in important health-related disciplines.

The listed areas include:

• Nursing Science
• Public Health
• Radiography and Radiological Sciences

Candidates interested in health-sector careers should carefully check the specific professional and departmental requirements for their intended programme because postgraduate admission in health-related fields can involve qualifications beyond the general Graduate School requirements.

Faculty of Arts

The Faculty of Arts provides postgraduate courses covering language, literature, history, philosophy, religious studies, cultural studies, modern languages and theatre/media-related disciplines.

The 2026/2027 list includes:

• English and Literary Studies
• History and International Studies
• Linguistics and Nigerian Languages
• Modern Languages and Translation Studies
• Philosophy
• Religious and Cultural Studies
• Theatre and Media Studies

These programmes provide opportunities for candidates interested in academic research, education, communication, cultural studies, public service and related professional fields.

Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences

UNICAL also offers postgraduate programmes in core biomedical disciplines under the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences.

The listed programmes include:

• Anatomical Sciences
• Biochemistry
• Pharmacology
• Physiology

Specific requirements vary between departments. For example, the detailed graduate-school catalogue shows that some programmes require a relevant first degree with a specified CGPA, while doctoral programmes generally require a relevant Master’s degree meeting the applicable CGPA threshold.

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Faculty of Biological Sciences

The biological sciences provide postgraduate opportunities in areas related to biotechnology, microbiology, ecology, fisheries and zoological studies.

The listed areas are:

• Genetics and Biotechnology
• Fisheries and Aquaculture
• Plant and Ecological Studies
• Microbiology
• Zoology and Environmental Biology

Candidates should confirm the exact specialisation and qualification available under their preferred department before applying.

Faculty of Clinical Sciences

The Faculty of Clinical Sciences contains several medically specialised postgraduate areas.

The 2026/2027 list includes:

• Community Medicine
• Family Medicine
• Paediatrics
• Haematology
• Chemical Pathology
• Medical Microbiology and Parasitology
• Histopathology
• Obstetrics and Gynaecology
• Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery
• Urology
• Otorhinolaryngology
• Anaesthesiology
• Radiology
• Dentistry
• Psychiatry
• Surgery

Because many of these programmes are professional and medically regulated, candidates should not rely solely on the general postgraduate CGPA requirement. The relevant department may require a specific medical qualification, professional registration, NYSC documentation or other professional credentials.

Faculty of Arts and Social Science Education

Candidates interested in education and teaching-related postgraduate qualifications can find programmes in:

• Arts Education
• Continuing Education and Development Studies
• Environmental Education
• Social Science Education
• Library and Information Science

Faculty of Educational Foundations

The Faculty of Educational Foundations includes postgraduate areas such as:

• Curriculum and Teaching
• Educational Foundations
• Educational Management (Administration and Planning)
• Guidance and Counselling
• Special Education

These programmes are relevant to graduates seeking careers in education, school administration, counselling, educational research and related areas.

Faculty of Vocational and Science Education

The university also lists postgraduate programmes in:

• Human Kinetics and Health Education
• Science Education
• Vocational Education

Candidates from relevant education and subject disciplines should check the specific departmental requirements before applying.

Faculty of Environmental Science

The listed postgraduate area under the Faculty of Environmental Science is:

• Environmental Resource Management

The wider UNICAL postgraduate catalogue also contains Geography and Environmental Science-related programmes under the university’s academic structure, so applicants should confirm the exact programme title and faculty designation on the current prospectus before completing the application.

Faculty of Law

UNICAL offers postgraduate study in:

• Law

The detailed postgraduate catalogue identifies the LL.M as one of the postgraduate law qualifications. Candidates seeking admission into the LL.M programme are required to have a good LL.B degree, academic transcript, Certificate of Call to Bar and NYSC discharge or exemption certificate.

Faculty of Management Sciences

The Faculty of Management Sciences includes:

• Accounting
• Banking and Finance
• Business Management
• Marketing
• Public Administration

The university’s detailed postgraduate catalogue also identifies M.Sc, MBA, MPA, MPAS and other postgraduate pathways in relevant management and public administration areas.

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Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science

UNICAL provides postgraduate opportunities in specialised medical laboratory disciplines, including:

• Medical Parasitology and Entomology
• Chemical Pathology
• Haematology and Blood Transfusion Science
• Histopathology and Cytology
• Bacteriology, Virology and Mycology

Applicants should pay close attention to the professional background required by their intended programme. Some specialised programmes accept medical graduates or graduates of Medical Laboratory Science and related biomedical disciplines.

Faculty of Oceanography

The Faculty of Oceanography provides postgraduate opportunities in marine and ocean-related fields.

The listed programmes include:

• Biological Oceanography
• Chemical Oceanography
• Geological Oceanography
• Physical Oceanography
• Mariculture and Marine Fisheries Resources

These programmes may be particularly relevant to graduates interested in marine science, fisheries, environmental research and coastal resource management.

Faculty of Physical Sciences

The Faculty of Physical Sciences offers postgraduate study in:

• Computer Science
• Geology
• Mathematics
• Physics
• Pure and Applied Chemistry
• Statistics

The detailed UNICAL postgraduate catalogue confirms that PGD, Master’s and Ph.D. pathways are available in several of these areas, subject to the requirements of individual departments.

Faculty of Social Sciences

The 2026/2027 postgraduate programme list includes:

• Economics
• Political Science
• Social Work
• Sociology
• Geography and Environmental Science

Candidates interested in public policy, economics, social research, development studies, administration and related fields can therefore find several postgraduate pathways within the social sciences.

Institute of Education

The Institute of Education provides specialised postgraduate diploma programmes including:

• PGD Education (PGDE)
• PGD Environmental Education (PGDEE)
• PGD Human Kinetics (PGDHK)
• PGD Special Education (PGDSE)
• PGD Library and Information Science (PGDLIS)

These programmes can be useful for graduates seeking additional professional or academic preparation in education-related fields.

Institute of Oceanography

The Institute of Oceanography lists the following postgraduate diploma programmes:

• PGD Fisheries and Aquaculture
• PGD Coastal Zone Management
• PGD Marine Ecology, Toxicology and Pollution Studies

Institute of Public Policy and Administration

The Institute of Public Policy and Administration provides postgraduate programmes including:

• PGD Public Administration (PGDPA)
• PGD Peace Studies and Conflict Management (PGDPSCM)
• Policy and Administrative Studies (MPAS)

The detailed catalogue indicates that MPAS can admit candidates from policy studies, public administration, political science and related disciplines, while applicants from other disciplines may also be considered subject to the programme’s requirements.

UNICAL Postgraduate Admission Requirements for 2026/2027

The general UNICAL postgraduate admission requirements depend on the qualification being sought.

The university’s 2026/2027 admission notice states the following minimum CGPA requirements:

• PGD: minimum CGPA of 1.25 on a 5-point scale.
• Master’s: minimum CGPA of 3.00 on a 5-point scale or 2.75 on a 4-point scale.
• Ph.D.: minimum CGPA of 4.00 on a 5-point scale or 3.00 on a 4-point scale.

These are the general thresholds published by the College of Postgraduate Studies. Individual departments can impose additional requirements based on the nature of the programme.

Requirements for PGD Programmes

For Postgraduate Diploma programmes, the general university threshold is a minimum CGPA of 1.25/5.

However, the detailed programme catalogue shows that requirements differ by discipline.

For example, some PGD programmes accept holders of relevant bachelor’s degrees with lower classifications, while certain programmes also consider HND holders. The Economics PGD, for instance, accepts a first degree with at least Third Class or an HND at Upper Credit level, with HND candidates also required to have at least two years of post-qualification experience.

Other programmes have more specific academic requirements. Therefore, candidates should confirm the exact entry conditions attached to the particular PGD programme they intend to study.

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Requirements for Master’s Programmes

The general requirement for Master’s admission is:

• A minimum CGPA of 3.00 on a 5-point scale; or
• A minimum CGPA of 2.75 on a 4-point scale.

The degree should normally be relevant to the proposed Master’s programme, and individual departments may require a specific degree, discipline, class of degree, professional qualification or other condition.

For example, the detailed programme requirements for several science and social science Master’s programmes specify a relevant first degree. Some departments also accept candidates with relevant postgraduate diplomas where the applicant’s first-degree result does not meet the normal direct-entry requirement.

Candidates should therefore avoid assuming that meeting the general CGPA automatically guarantees admission into every UNICAL Master’s programme.

Requirements for Ph.D Programmes

For Ph.D admission, UNICAL’s general 2026/2027 requirement is a minimum CGPA of:

• 4.00 on a 5-point scale; or
• 3.00 on a 4-point scale.

Candidates are normally expected to possess a relevant Master’s degree from UNICAL or another recognised university.

The university also states that candidates with a Master’s degree from a recognised university may be allowed to credit relevant courses towards the Ph.D programme, provided the quality of the grades is acceptable to the College of Postgraduate Studies.

Some departments impose additional research requirements. Candidates applying for certain Ph.D programmes may need to submit a research statement or satisfy a departmental research assessment.

UNICAL M.Phil/Ph.D Admission

The detailed postgraduate catalogue also provides for M.Phil/Ph.D routes in some disciplines.

The M.Phil/Ph.D pathway can be relevant to candidates whose Master’s performance does not meet the direct Ph.D threshold but who may still be considered for doctoral-level training.

The graduate-school material indicates that the M.Phil/Ph.D option may be available where the Master’s CGPA is below the direct Ph.D requirement, subject to the department and College of Postgraduate Studies.

Candidates should therefore check the specific department before assuming that an M.Phil/Ph.D option exists in their chosen field.

UNICAL Postgraduate Concept Note Requirement

One of the important requirements for the 2026/2027 application is the submission of a concept note.

According to the university’s admission notice:

• Master’s applicants: maximum of one page.
• Ph.D applicants: maximum of two pages.

The concept note is expected to provide a brief summary of the research the candidate intends to undertake.

It should cover areas such as:

1. Statement of the problem.
2. Relevance of the study to the candidate and society.
3. Aim or aims of the study.
4. Justification for the study.
5. Proposed methodology.
6. Brief theoretical background.

The concept note is typed into the designated space during the application process and printed after submission. UNICAL specifically states that candidates who fail to submit the concept note online will not be allowed to participate in the oral interview.

This requirement is particularly important for Master’s and Ph.D candidates because the concept note gives the department an early indication of the applicant’s proposed area of research.

UNICAL Postgraduate Transcript Requirement

Academic transcripts are another important component of the application.

UNICAL requires applicants to ensure that their academic transcripts are sent by their previous institutions through courier service to the Academic Secretary, College of Postgraduate Studies, University of Calabar, Calabar.

The university states that transcripts must reach the College of Postgraduate Studies by the specified deadline and before the screening exercise. Applicants whose transcripts are not received by the required deadline may not be considered for admission.

The university also states that awaiting results are not accepted where the relevant results have not been approved by the College of Postgraduate Studies Board or University Senate.

Candidates should therefore request their transcripts early rather than waiting until the application deadline.

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UNICAL Postgraduate Screening Exercise

The UNICAL postgraduate screening exercise includes a Computer-Based Test.

The university describes the screening in two parts:

Part A – Computer-Based Test

The CBT covers:

• Use of English Language
• Logic
• Mathematics
• ICT
• General Knowledge

Part B – Oral Interview

Master’s and Ph.D candidates also participate in an oral interview conducted in their respective departments. The interview is based on the candidate’s subject area and concept note.

However, UNICAL states that there is no oral interview for MBA, MPAS and PGD programmes.

Candidates should therefore prepare for both general aptitude testing and programme-specific discussion where an oral interview applies.

How to Apply for UNICAL Postgraduate Admission

The application process for the 2026/2027 session follows a series of steps.

1. Visit the UNICAL postgraduate admission platform. Candidates should use the university’s designated College of Postgraduate Studies application portal. https://unicalonline.edu.ng/
2. Obtain the application PIN. The 2026/2027 admission notice states that candidates are required to pay the prescribed non-refundable application fee and obtain a unique PIN or confirmation order number. The current admission notice lists the application fee as ₦40,000.
3. Access the online form. Use the PIN and required contact information to access the postgraduate application form.
4. Enter your personal and academic information. Candidates should ensure that names and academic information correspond with their official documents.
5. Select the appropriate postgraduate programme. Choose the PGD, Master’s or Ph.D programme and department that corresponds with your qualifications.
6. Prepare the concept note where applicable. Master’s and Ph.D candidates should complete the required concept note within the stipulated page limit.
7. Submit the application. Carefully review all information before submission because the university states that changes after submission may attract a fee.
8. Print the completed application and concept note. Candidates should keep copies of the submitted documents and take the required copies to the screening venue.
9. Arrange for your transcript. Contact your previous institution and ensure that the official transcript is forwarded to the College of Postgraduate Studies before the stated deadline.
10. Attend the screening exercise. Candidates should participate in the CBT and, where applicable, the departmental oral interview.

Important Things to Know Before Applying

Before submitting a UNICAL postgraduate application, candidates should pay attention to several details.

Choose a programme that matches your academic background. Meeting the general CGPA requirement does not necessarily mean that a candidate qualifies for every programme. Departments may require a particular first degree, professional qualification or related discipline.

Check the exact programme title. The university offers many closely related programmes, especially in education, medical sciences, management, sciences and environmental disciplines. Candidates should select the programme that corresponds with the official postgraduate prospectus.

Prepare your transcript early. Since UNICAL requires transcripts to reach the College of Postgraduate Studies by the required deadline, delaying the transcript request can affect an otherwise complete application.

Take the concept note seriously. For Master’s and Ph.D candidates, the concept note is not simply an additional document. It forms part of the basis for the departmental oral interview.

Use accurate information. Applicants should ensure that their academic records, names, grades and other information are consistent with their official documents.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the UNICAL postgraduate courses for 2026/2027?

UNICAL postgraduate courses for 2026/2027 cover Agriculture, Allied Medical Sciences, Arts, Basic Medical Sciences, Biological Sciences, Clinical Sciences, Education, Environmental Science, Law, Management Sciences, Medical Laboratory Science, Oceanography, Physical Sciences and Social Sciences, alongside programmes offered through the Institute of Education, Institute of Oceanography and Institute of Public Policy and Administration.

What is the minimum CGPA for UNICAL postgraduate admission?

For 2026/2027, UNICAL states a minimum CGPA of 1.25/5 for PGD, 3.00/5 or 2.75/4 for Master’s programmes, and 4.00/5 or 3.00/4 for Ph.D programmes. Individual departments may have additional requirements.

Does UNICAL accept HND for postgraduate admission?

HND acceptance depends on the programme. The detailed postgraduate catalogue shows that some PGD programmes accept HND holders, sometimes subject to a specified classification or work experience. Candidates should therefore check the requirements for their intended department rather than assuming that HND is accepted for every postgraduate programme.

Does UNICAL require a concept note?

Yes. Master’s candidates are required to submit a concept note of not more than one page, while Ph.D candidates are required to submit a concept note of not more than two pages. The university states that candidates who fail to submit the concept note will not be allowed to participate in the oral interview.

Does UNICAL conduct a postgraduate entrance examination?

Yes. The 2026/2027 admission process includes a Computer-Based Test covering Use of English, Logic, Mathematics, ICT and General Knowledge. Master’s and Ph.D candidates also participate in a departmental oral interview. There is no oral interview for MBA, MPAS and PGD candidates.

Does UNICAL require an academic transcript?

Yes. Applicants are required to arrange for their academic transcripts to be forwarded by their previous institutions to the College of Postgraduate Studies. The university states that transcripts must be received by the required deadline for an applicant to be considered.

Is UNICAL postgraduate admission currently available for 2026/2027?

UNICAL published its 2026/2027 postgraduate admission notice in May 2026 and stated that applications were open for Postgraduate Certificate, PGD, Master’s and Ph.D programmes. The notice gives a July 31, 2026 application deadline and September 11–12, 2026 screening dates. Candidates should check the official postgraduate portal for any subsequent update to the admission timetable.

Conclusion

The University of Calabar provides a wide selection of postgraduate courses for graduates seeking advanced qualifications in academic, professional and research-oriented fields. The 2026/2027 programme list covers disciplines ranging from Agriculture, Arts and Education to Medical Sciences, Management, Law, Physical Sciences, Social Sciences and Oceanography, while specialised institutes provide additional postgraduate diploma and professional pathways.

For prospective applicants, the most important step is to match your academic background with the exact requirements of your intended department. The general UNICAL postgraduate admission requirements provide the minimum CGPA thresholds, but individual departments may impose additional academic, professional or research conditions.

For more updates on UNICAL postgraduate courses, admission requirements, postgraduate school fees, admission lists and other Nigerian university postgraduate information, keep checking MasterPG.com.ng and the official University of Calabar postgraduate channels.