Thinking of pursuing a postgraduate degree at one of Nigeria’s biggest and most respected universities? Then you need a clear picture of the ABU postgraduate school fees before you begin. Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, is a federal institution with one of the largest postgraduate schools in the country, offering Postgraduate Diplomas, professional master’s degrees, academic master’s degrees, M.Phil programmes, and doctorates across dozens of disciplines.
This guide explains the full ABU postgraduate school fees structure for the 2026/2027 academic session, including a faculty-by-faculty fee table for Nigerian and non-Nigerian students, special programme charges, acceptance and application costs, and other levies. You will also find a detailed step-by-step guide to paying through the university portal and Remita, notes on paying by semester, advice on funding your studies, a comparison with earlier sessions, and tips for avoiding payment scams.
ABU Postgraduate Courses and Admission Requirements 2026/2027 Academic Session
About Ahmadu Bello University Postgraduate School
Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) is a federal research university in Zaria, Kaduna State, with campuses at Samaru and Kongo in Zaria and the School of Basic Studies in Funtua. The School of Postgraduate Studies (SPGS) coordinates all higher-degree programmes and is one of the biggest in West Africa, with several hundred postgraduate programmes spread across faculties such as Administration, Law, Arts, Education, Social Sciences, Environmental Design, Science, Engineering, Agriculture, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Clinical Medicine, and Veterinary Medicine.
Compared with many private universities and even some state institutions, the ABU postgraduate school fees are considered moderate for the quality of teaching, research supervision, and library and laboratory resources on offer. That reputation is one reason thousands of graduates apply every year, and it is why understanding the exact fee schedule is so important before you accept an offer.
ABU Postgraduate School Fees Structure Overview
The ABU postgraduate school fees are organised by faculty and by programme type. The main programme categories are:
- Postgraduate Diploma (PGD): a one-year (full-time) conversion or upgrade programme.
- Professional Masters: programmes such as MBA, MPA, LL.M, and other professionally oriented degrees.
- M.Phil / Academic Masters: research-based M.Sc., M.A., and M.Phil degrees.
- Ph.D.: doctoral programmes in all faculties.
- Special programmes: including MPH, Nuclear Science and Engineering, Disaster and Risk Management, Election Administration, and masters programmes in International Affairs and Diplomacy, Peace and Conflict Management, and Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice.
The fee for a programme is made up of a core programme fee, which varies by faculty, and a set of other compulsory charges covering items such as registration, ICT, health care, and examinations. Some laboratory-based and field-based faculties also add a field trip fee, a bench fee, or an animal welfare fee.
ABU Postgraduate Fee Breakdown Table
Nigerian Students (Programme Fee by Faculty)
| Faculty | PGD | Professional Masters | Ph.D. | M.Phil / Academic Masters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Administration / Law | ₦87,500 | ₦150,000 | ₦150,000 | ₦125,000 |
| Arts / Education / Social Sciences | ₦62,500 | ₦110,000 | ₦125,000 | ₦87,000 |
| Environmental Design | ₦87,500 | ₦125,000 | ₦125,000 | ₦100,000 |
| Sciences / Engineering / Agriculture / Clinical Medicine / Pharmacy | ₦100,000 | ₦125,000 | ₦125,000 | ₦100,000 |
| Veterinary Medicine | ₦100,000 | ₦125,000 | ₦125,000 | ₦100,000 |
Non-Nigerian (International) Students
| Programme | Fee (all faculties) |
|---|---|
| PGD | ₦200,000 |
| Professional Masters | ₦350,000 |
| M.Phil / Academic Masters | ₦300,000 |
| Ph.D. | ₦500,000 |
Other Faculty-Specific Charges
| Faculty | Field Trip | Animal Welfare | Bench Fee | Other Compulsory Charges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Administration / Law | – | – | – | As applicable |
| Arts / Education / Social Sciences | – | – | – | ₦102,500 |
| Environmental Design | – | – | ₦30,000 | ₦98,500 |
| Sciences / Engineering / Agriculture / Clinical Medicine / Pharmacy | ₦40,000 | – | ₦30,000 | ₦113,500 |
| Veterinary Medicine | ₦40,000 | ₦50,000 | ₦30,000 | ₦113,500 |
Special Programmes (Nigerian / Non-Nigerian)
| Programme | PGD | Professional Masters | M.Phil / Academic Masters | Other Charges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MPH (Regular) | – | ₦112,500 / ₦350,000 | ₦87,500 / ₦300,000 | ₦163,500 |
| MPH (FLTD) | – | ₦212,500 / ₦450,000 | ₦187,500 / ₦400,000 | ₦163,500 |
| Nuclear Science / Engineering | – | ₦337,500 / ₦675,000 | ₦312,500 / ₦625,000 | ₦112,500 |
| Disaster and Risk Management | ₦125,000 / ₦400,000 | ₦212,500 / ₦450,000 | ₦187,500 / ₦400,000 | ₦102,500 |
| Election Administration | ₦125,000 / ₦400,000 | – | – | ₦102,500 |
| Masters in International Affairs & Diplomacy | – | ₦175,000 / ₦350,000 | ₦150,000 / ₦300,000 | ₦98,500 |
| Masters in Peace & Conflict Management | – | ₦175,000 / ₦350,000 | ₦150,000 / ₦300,000 | ₦98,500 |
| Masters in Law Enforcement & Criminal Justice | – | ₦175,000 / ₦350,000 | ₦150,000 / ₦300,000 | ₦102,500 |
Disclaimer: The ABU postgraduate school fees in this article are compiled from the most widely published figures for the 2026/2027 session and are provided for planning purposes only. Ahmadu Bello University may revise its charges at any time, so please confirm the exact amount on your payment invoice before you pay. MasterPG.com.ng is not affiliated with Ahmadu Bello University.
ATBU Postgraduate School Fees (2026/2027 Session): Approved Master’s and PhD Fee Schedule
New vs Returning Students
Fresh students carry the heaviest financial load in their first session. In addition to the programme fee and other compulsory charges shown above, a newly admitted student pays one-time items: the application form, the acceptance fee, and the registration and screening charges that come with matriculation. These are not repeated in later sessions.
Returning students continue paying the programme fee and the recurring charges (examinations, ICT, health care and similar items) but do not pay the application or acceptance fee again. In the final semester, graduating students face additional charges such as the oral examination fee and graduation fees, so the last stretch of a programme is often more expensive than the middle.
A realistic budget therefore looks like this:
- Year one: programme fee + other compulsory charges + application + acceptance + registration.
- Middle semesters: the balance of the programme fee and recurring charges for each semester.
- Final semester: remaining fees + oral examination + graduation charges.
Because the duration of your programme determines how many semesters you pay for, remember that full-time master’s students usually spend 18 months, part-time students longer, and doctoral students three or more years. The overall cost of a science master’s programme is commonly quoted at around ₦455,000 across the full course of study, which is much higher than any single line in the tables above.
Acceptance Fee & Additional Charges
Beyond the main fee tables, the following charges apply to ABU postgraduate students:
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Postgraduate application form (Masters or PGD) | ₦10,500 |
| Acceptance fee (PGD, Masters, Sciences) | ₦50,000 |
| Registration fee | ₦25,000 |
| Developmental levy | ₦100,000 |
| Health care | ₦25,000 |
| Computer / ICT service | ₦25,000 – ₦30,000 |
| Internet service | ₦30,000 |
| Hostel accommodation (where available) | about ₦90,000 per year plus ₦7,000 maintenance |
The acceptance fee confirms your place, and you must pay it before other charges. It usually has a deadline of about two weeks after your admission is released, and failing to meet that deadline can cost you your admission. Some of the items above may be bundled into the “other compulsory charges” column in the newer schedule, so always follow the total on your generated invoice rather than adding lines by hand.
Written examination, oral examination, and graduation fees are payable at the relevant stage of your programme. The university has also stated that late payment attracts an extra fee, and that students who fail to pay within the stipulated period may be barred from sitting their semester examinations.
Step-by-Step Payment Portal Guide
ABU collects all fees online through its student portal and the Remita platform. Follow these steps carefully.
Part 1: Application Form Payment
- Visit www.abu.edu.ng and open the School of Postgraduate Studies application page.
- Create an applicant account with a valid email address and phone number.
- Select your programme (PGD, Masters, M.Phil, or Ph.D.) and generate your application invoice.
- Click Pay via Remita to generate your Remita Retrieval Reference (RRR).
- Pay the ₦10,500 application fee by card online, or take the RRR to a commercial bank.
- Return to the portal, confirm payment, and complete your application form.
- Save your payment receipt and application number.
Part 2: Acceptance and School Fees
- Log in to the ABU student portal (portal.abu.edu.ng, accessible from www.abu.edu.ng). Newly admitted students log in with their matriculation number as username, and the default password issued for the first login, after being screened and allocated a matriculation number.
- Update your personal profile and bio-data. Completing this step lets the system generate your schedule of charges.
- Check your admission status and click the link to pay your acceptance fee first.
- After the acceptance fee is confirmed, return to your dashboard and generate the invoice for school fees.
- On the invoice page, click Pay via Remita. The system produces your RRR and emails you an electronic invoice listing the payment options.
- Choose your payment channel:
- Online: pay instantly with a debit card or through internet banking.
- Bank: print the invoice and pay the RRR at any commercial bank.
- Bank transfer: transfer the exact amount to the account shown, then return to the portal and click “I’ve made the transfer”.
- Wait for confirmation. A successful payment sends a receipt to your email and an alert from your bank, and the invoice shows as paid on your portal.
- Print your receipt and keep both the portal copy and the Remita copy.
- Proceed to your department for course registration and clearance.
Returning Students
Returning students log in with their existing credentials, generate the new session’s invoice, and follow the same Remita steps. Always clear balances from the previous semester first, because the system may block registration until outstanding invoices are paid.
Payment tip: Pay only through the portal-generated invoice and Remita. Never pay into a personal account, no matter what a student or “agent” tells you.
FUTMINNA Postgraduate School Fees 2026/2027 – PGD, Master’s and PhD Fees
Installment Payment & Financial Aid
The ABU postgraduate school fees are payable in stages according to the semester, and the schedule for the third and fourth semesters is separate from the first-year payments. In practice, that means you are not required to clear the entire programme cost at once. Ask your department and the School of Postgraduate Studies about the payment window for each semester, and pay before the deadline to avoid the late-payment penalty.
Several funding routes can ease the burden:
- Employer sponsorship: many agencies, banks, and organisations pay for staff development.
- TETFund: academic and non-academic staff of Nigerian tertiary institutions can access it for postgraduate training.
- PTDF and similar agency scholarships: available for eligible science, engineering, and energy-related programmes.
- Commonwealth, Chevening, and other international scholarships: competitive but valuable for eligible candidates.
- Graduate assistantships: some departments engage research and teaching assistants who receive a stipend.
Start applying for scholarships as early as possible, because many close before the academic session begins.
Comparison to Previous Session
The structure of the ABU postgraduate school fees has changed noticeably over recent sessions. Under the earlier schedule, a PGD student paid a tuition fee of ₦150,000, a science-based master’s student paid ₦250,000, and a management sciences master’s student paid ₦200,000. On top of these came a ₦100,000 developmental levy, an acceptance fee of ₦50,000, registration of ₦25,000, and a bundle of health, ICT, internet, examination, and sports charges of roughly ₦120,000. Under that arrangement, the total for a PGD student at the end of the programme was reported at about ₦405,000, and about ₦510,000 for a management sciences master’s student.
The 2026/2027 schedule separates the core programme fee from a fixed block of other compulsory charges, and gives clearer figures for each faculty and for the special programmes. The practical effect is that the visible programme fee looks lower, while the other compulsory charges (₦98,500 to ₦163,500 depending on programme) make up a large part of your total bill. When comparing sessions, always compare your total invoice, not just the headline programme fee. Given the general trend in Nigerian federal universities, further adjustments in future sessions are possible, so budget with a cushion.
Scam Prevention & Safety Tips
Fraudsters target postgraduate applicants every admission season. Protect yourself with these rules:
- Pay only through the official portal and Remita. Never transfer money to a personal account.
- Do not trust “agents” who promise guaranteed admission, cheaper fees, or faster clearance.
- Check your RRR. It must belong to Ahmadu Bello University and match the service you selected.
- Keep every receipt as a PDF and a printed copy until you graduate.
- Type the portal address yourself. Avoid clicking links sent through WhatsApp, Telegram, or social media.
- Never share your login details with anyone, including classmates and supposed staff.
- Ignore discount offers. There is no legitimate way to buy a reduced ABU postgraduate school fees invoice from an individual.
- Report suspicious contacts to the School of Postgraduate Studies immediately.
UNIJOS Postgraduate School Fees 2026/2027 | Full Fee Structure & Payment Guide
FAQ
How much are the ABU postgraduate school fees for Nigerians?
Programme fees range from ₦62,500 for a PGD in Arts, Education, or Social Sciences to ₦150,000 for professional masters or PhD programmes in Administration and Law, with other compulsory charges added on top.
What is the cheapest programme?
The PGD in Arts, Education, and Social Sciences, at ₦62,500 for the programme fee.
How much do international students pay?
Non-Nigerian students pay ₦200,000 for a PGD, ₦300,000 for an academic master’s, ₦350,000 for a professional master’s, and ₦500,000 for a PhD, before other charges.
Which programmes are the most expensive?
Nuclear Science and Engineering, with professional masters at ₦337,500 for Nigerians, and the FLTD version of the MPH.
How much is the application form?
₦10,500 for the Masters or PGD form.
How much is the acceptance fee?
₦50,000, paid after admission and before other fees.
Where do I pay?
On the ABU student portal by generating an invoice and paying through Remita, online or at a bank.
Can I pay in installments?
Fees are structured by semester, so you pay in stages rather than all at once. Ask your department about the exact payment windows.
What happens if I pay late?
Late payment attracts an extra fee and can stop you from sitting examinations.
Is hostel accommodation included?
No. Hostel charges are separate and space is limited.
Conclusion
The ABU postgraduate school fees are structured by faculty and programme type, and once you identify your category in the tables above, budgeting becomes easy. Add the other compulsory charges, the application and acceptance fees, and any faculty-specific items, then plan for the full length of your programme rather than just the first session.
Pay only through the official portal and Remita, keep every receipt, and clear each semester’s invoice before the deadline. Ready to apply? Read our companion guide, ABU Postgraduate Admission Requirements 2026/2027, on MasterPG.com.ng to check your eligibility and prepare your documents.
Asuku Abdulmalik is an education content writer and the founder of MasterPG, a Nigerian postgraduate information platform focused on postgraduate admissions and school fees. With a background in researching and writing educational content, Asuku is passionate about making postgraduate information easier for students and prospective applicants to find and understand. Through MasterPG, he covers admission requirements, application forms, deadlines, admission lists, school fees, and practical guides for postgraduate students across Nigerian universities. He is committed to keeping MasterPG’s content clear, accurate, and regularly updated, while encouraging readers to verify important details with the relevant institution’s official sources before making any decisions.
Founder & Education Content Writer, MasterPG
Your Guide to Postgraduate Studies in Nigeria.
