Delta State University, Abraka was established in 1992 and operates from its main campus in Abraka alongside a sub-campus in Oleh, both in Delta State. The university runs postgraduate admission through both a Regular stream and a Weekend stream. DELSU postgraduate courses covers Postgraduate Diploma, Professional Masters, Academic Masters, MPhil, and PhD across seven faculties. Before you even get to picking a department, it’s worth knowing exactly where you stand academically, DELSU sets a different bar depending on whether you’re aiming for a diploma, a professional Master’s, an academic Master’s, or a doctorate, and getting this wrong is one of the more common reasons applications stall.
This piece starts with those requirements, then walks through the full current course list by faculty, and closes with the application fee and process, so you can check your eligibility before investing time in choosing a specific programme.
Also read: FUHSO Postgraduate Admission Form 2026/2027: Requirements, Courses and How to Apply
Overview: DELSU Postgraduate Courses
Regardless of which level you’re applying for, DELSU’s postgraduate admission policy requires a degree or its recognised equivalent from a Senate-approved institution, plus at least five credit passes, including English Language and Mathematics specifically in WASC, NECO, GCE Ordinary Level, or NABTEB, obtained in no more than two sittings. A pass (rather than a credit) in English or Mathematics doesn’t count, and DELSU explicitly doesn’t accept ACE, TC II, or any other qualification as an equivalent to these four exam bodies. There’s also no waiver process, DELSU is explicit that this baseline applies to everyone, regardless of other qualifications or experience.
DELSU Postgraduate Admission Requirements
Postgraduate Diploma (PGD): You’ll qualify with a bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline from DELSU or another accredited university, at a minimum of Third Class Honours, or an HND (Lower Credit) recognised by the Senate. This makes PGD the most accessible entry point at DELSU, and a reasonable stepping stone if your first degree result falls short of what a Master’s programme requires.
Academic Master’s (M.Sc., M.Ed., M.A., LL.M.): You’ll need a bachelor’s degree in the relevant discipline, from DELSU or another accredited institution, at a minimum of Second Class Honours (Lower Division), recognised by Senate.
Professional Master’s: The bar is similar, a bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline at Second Class Honours (Lower Division), but DELSU also accepts an HND with Upper Credit from a Senate-recognised polytechnic as an alternative route in. This distinction matters: a strong polytechnic graduate who wouldn’t qualify for an academic Master’s outright may still have a professional Master’s option open to them.
Also read: Full IMSU Postgraduate Courses and Admission Requirements for 2026/2027 Academic Session
PhD: You’ll need a weighted average score of at least 60% overall, on top of the baseline O’Level requirement above. This is typically assessed from your Master’s degree performance rather than a separate examination, so your existing academic record does most of the work here.
Because the professional Master’s route explicitly opens a door for strong HND holders that the academic Master’s route doesn’t, it’s worth checking which classification your target programme actually falls under before assuming you’re locked out by your first-degree class alone, the distinction between “academic” and “professional” isn’t always obvious from a programme’s name.
The Full DELSU Postgraduate Courses List, Faculty by Faculty
DELSU’s Regular postgraduate stream runs through seven faculties, alongside a distinct Weekend stream aimed at working professionals.
The Faculty of Agriculture offers PGD, M.Sc., and PhD across Agricultural Economics/Agricultural Extension, Animal Science, Fisheries, and Forestry, plus a combined PGD, Professional Master’s, M.Sc., and PhD track spanning Crop Science, Crop Protection, and Soil Science under the Department of Agronomy.
The Faculty of Arts is one of the broadest, with an MFA in Graphics, Ceramics, Sculpture, and Textile Design, alongside M.A. and PhD in Art History and PhD in Studio Art (covering Ceramics, Graphics, Sculpture, Painting, and Textiles); M.A. and PhD in History; a Postgraduate Diploma in Music alongside M.A. and PhD in Music; M.A. and PhD in Religious Studies with specialisations across Old and New Testament Studies, Church History, Sociology and Philosophy of Religion, African Traditional Religions, and Christian Theology; M.A. and PhD in Theatre Arts; M.A. programmes in French Language and Linguistics, Literature in French, and Translation (plus a PhD in French); and M.A. and PhD in English & Literary Studies, split between Languages and Literature tracks.
The Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences runs M.Sc. and PhD in Physiology, and M.Sc. and PhD in Anatomy.
The Faculty of Education covers M.Ed. and PhD in Educational Administration, Higher Education Administration, and Educational Planning; M.Ed. and PhD in Guidance and Counselling and in Measurement and Evaluation; PGD, M.Sc., and PhD in Library and Information Science; M.Ed. and PhD in Science Education (Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics) and in Curriculum Studies; M.Sc.(Ed.) and PhD in Social Studies Education; M.Ed. and PhD in Agricultural Education and in Home Economics; an M.Sc.(Ed.) in Industrial Technology Education; M.Ed. and PhD across Human Kinetics Education, Exercise Physiology and Sports Science, Sports Management, and Health Education; and, through the Institute of Education specifically, standalone Postgraduate Diplomas in Education (PGDE), Basic Education (PGDBE), and Educational Management (PGDEM).
The Faculty of Law offers an LL.M., a Master’s in Law and Diplomacy (MLD), and a PhD in Law.
The Faculty of Management Sciences runs PGD, M.Sc., and PhD in Management, alongside a PGD and M.Sc. in Marketing.
Also read: Rivers State University Postgraduate Courses and Admission Requirements (2026/2027 Session)
The Faculty of Science covers PGD, M.Sc., and PhD in Animal and Environmental Biology; M.Sc. and PhD in Biochemistry; M.Sc. and PhD in Chemistry (with Analytical/Environmental, Inorganic, Organic, Physical, and Industrial Chemistry specialisations); an M.Sc. in Geology (Engineering/Environmental Geology/Hydrogeology, Petroleum Geology, and Mineral Exploration); M.Sc. in Mathematics and in Industrial Mathematics, plus a PhD in Mathematics; M.Sc. and PhD in Physics (Geophysics, Solid State Physics, Radiation & Health Physics, and Theoretical Physics); M.Sc. and PhD in Microbiology (Environmental, and Food and Industrial Microbiology); and a PGD and M.Sc. in Computer Science.
The Faculty of the Social Sciences runs M.Sc. and PhD in Business Administration, Economics, Geography and Regional Planning, Mass Communication, Political Science, and Sociology, plus a PGD, M.Sc., and PhD in Public Administration.
Beyond the Regular stream, DELSU’s Weekend programmes, aimed squarely at working professionals include a PGD and Professional Master’s in Business Administration (PGDBA/MBA), a PGD in Petroleum Economics and a Professional Master’s in Energy and Petroleum Economics (PGDPE/MEPE), a PGD and Professional Master’s in Communication Management (PGDCM/MCM), and a Master’s in Crime Control (MCC) under Sociology.
Because DELSU’s postgraduate school fees are handled separately, this guide focuses specifically on courses and admission requirements, the application fee and process below are still worth knowing, but tuition itself is a distinct topic covered elsewhere.
Also read: AAU Postgraduate Admission Requirements for PGD, Master’s, and PhD 2026/2027 Session
How to Apply: The Fee and the Process
DELSU’s postgraduate application fee is ₦31,000, non-refundable, generated as a virtual pin and paid via the university’s payment portal at one of four designated banks: UBA, Zenith Bank, Unity Bank, or Fidelity Bank.
To apply, visit DELSU’s official website and select the Postgraduate Application option, then create an account with a valid email address you check regularly, since updates and correspondence will go there. Pay your ₦31,000 application fee, then complete the form with accurate personal, educational, and employment information — DELSU specifically advises double-checking these fields, since errors here can hold up your application and aren’t always straightforward to correct after submission. Upload your required documents (more on those below), submit, and print your confirmation slip, which carries your unique application number for future reference.
Alongside your online submission, DELSU expects photocopies of your transcript, your WASC/NECO/GCE/NABTEB certificate (not a TC II), and your NYSC Completion, Exemption, or Exclusion Certificate obtained directly from the NYSC office. PhD applicants additionally need a 3-to-5-page research proposal setting out their intended area of study, background, problem statement, objectives, and methodology. On top of this, you’re expected to download a transcript request form and forward it yourself to your previous institution, since DELSU requires the transcript to arrive independently rather than relying solely on the copy you submit.
Provisional admission lists are published at the Postgraduate School on the Abraka campus, and screening plus fee payment for provisionally admitted candidates begins immediately once a list is out, so it’s worth checking regularly rather than waiting for a personal notification, since delays here can push back your registration and resumption timeline.
Also read: EBSU Postgraduate Courses and Admission Requirements 2026/2027
Staying Safe During Application
Because DELSU’s process involves a specific virtual pin fee paid to designated banks, be wary of anyone directing you to pay into a personal account, a different bank, or through a “processing agent” outside the official portal. Confirm any account details or fee changes directly with the Postgraduate School at Abraka rather than trusting a figure passed along informally, and hold onto your payment confirmation and application slip throughout the process, since you may need to reference your application number later if anything goes wrong with your submission.
Frequently Asked Questions
What O’Level results does DELSU require for postgraduate admission? At least five credit passes, including English Language and Mathematics specifically, from WASC, NECO, GCE Ordinary Level, or NABTEB, in no more than two sittings. A pass grade in English or Mathematics isn’t accepted, and there’s no waiver for this requirement under any circumstances.
Can an HND holder apply for a DELSU Master’s programme? Only through the professional Master’s route, and only with Upper Credit from a Senate-recognised polytechnic, the academic Master’s route (M.Sc., M.Ed., M.A., LL.M.) requires a bachelor’s degree specifically, so HND alone won’t qualify you there.
What CGPA or score do I need for a DELSU PhD? A weighted average of at least 60% overall, on top of meeting the general O’Level baseline that applies to every postgraduate applicant regardless of level.
How much is the DELSU postgraduate application form? ₦31,000, non-refundable, paid as a virtual pin through the university’s official payment portal at one of four designated banks.
Does DELSU offer part-time or weekend postgraduate study? Yes, a separate Weekend stream runs PGD and Professional Master’s programmes in Business Administration, Petroleum Economics, and Communication Management, plus a standalone Master’s in Crime Control aimed at working professionals.
Do I need to submit a research proposal to apply for a DELSU PhD? Yes, a typed proposal of 3 to 5 pages outlining your intended research area, background, and methodology, alongside the standard documents required of every applicant regardless of level.
Which faculties at DELSU offer postgraduate programmes? Agriculture, Arts, Basic Medical Sciences, Education, Law, Management Sciences, Science, and the Social Sciences, through both the Regular stream and the separate Weekend stream described above.
Can I submit my own transcript instead of having it sent by my previous institution? Photocopies are accepted as part of your application package, but DELSU also expects you to download a transcript request form and forward it to your former institution directly, so both the copy and the independent transcript matter.
Does DELSU accept TC II as an equivalent O’Level qualification? No. DELSU’s admission policy is explicit that TC II, ACE, and any other qualification aren’t treated as equivalents to WASC, NECO, GCE, or NABTEB for postgraduate admission purposes.
Is there a waiver for candidates who don’t meet the O’Level requirement? No — DELSU states plainly that there’s no waiver process for this requirement, regardless of a candidate’s other qualifications or experience.
Conclusion
DELSU’s postgraduate admission requirements are straightforward once you know which category you fall into: a Third Class degree or HND (Lower Credit) opens the door to a Postgraduate Diploma, a Second Class Lower degree gets you into an academic or professional Master’s (with HND Upper Credit holders also eligible for the professional route), and a strong Master’s result of at least 60% qualifies you for a PhD.
With seven faculties and a separate Weekend stream to choose from, the harder decision is usually which specific department fits, so once you’ve confirmed you meet the level you’re targeting, spend the time narrowing down the right programme rather than assuming the general requirements above cover every departmental nuance. Whichever route you take, treat the documentation stage, your transcript request, NYSC certificate, and (for PhD applicants) research proposal, as seriously as the academic requirements themselves, since an incomplete file is just as likely to delay an otherwise qualified applicant.
Stay updated on DELSU postgraduate courses, school fees, admission requirements, and application deadlines, by checking back on masterpg.com.ng. We revise this page whenever new postgraduate information for The Delta State University, Abraka are released.
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
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