Madonna University Postgraduate Courses and Admission Requirements for 2026/2027 Session

Madonna University, Nigeria’s first Catholic university, runs postgraduate admission across four faculties spanning its Elele, Okija, and Akpugo campuses, offering Postgraduate Diploma, Master’s, and PhD programmes in fields from Business Education and Public Health to Computer Science and Political Science. This guide covers the full current programme catalogue by faculty, the exact entry requirements for each qualification level, programme duration, and the step-by-step application process through the School of Postgraduate Studies, along with what documents you’ll need to have ready before you submit.

Madonna University postgraduate courses structure is fairly uniform across departments most run the same PGD, Master’s, and PhD progression which makes it easier to plan your path once you’ve picked a discipline. Below, you’ll find every faculty’s offerings, the general and departmental-level admission requirements, and the questions applicants ask most often.

Also read: Godfrey Okoye University Postgraduate School Fees: Full Fee Breakdown for 2026/2027 Academic Session

About Madonna University’s School of Postgraduate Studies

Madonna University was founded in 1999 and holds the distinction of being Nigeria’s first Catholic university, operating under the motto “Decency in Education and Morals.” The university runs three campuses: Elele (Rivers State), Okija (Anambra State), and Akpugo (Enugu State) with more than 50 degree programmes across 11 faculties and colleges, all fully NUC-accredited. Founded by Very Rev. Fr. Professor E.M.P Edeh, the university positions itself around a Christian, values-based approach to higher education alongside rigorous academic scholarship. Postgraduate admission is coordinated through the School of Postgraduate Studies, based at the Elele campus, and programmes can be pursued full-time or part-time.

Available Madonna University Postgraduate Courses

Here’s the full current programme catalogue by faculty.

Faculty of Education and Arts

Business Education offers PGD, M.Ed., and PhD, while English runs PGD, M.A., and PhD.

Faculty of Health Sciences

Medical Laboratory Science runs PGD, M.Sc., and PhD, with specialisation options in Clinical Chemistry/Toxicology, Haematology/Blood Transfusion Science, Medical Microbiology/Mycology, and Histopathology/Cytology, giving applicants a genuinely specific lab-science pathway rather than a single generalist track. Nursing Science offers PGD, M.Sc., and PhD, and Public Health runs PGD, MPH, and PhD.

Faculty of Management and Social Sciences

This is Madonna University’s broadest postgraduate faculty, covering eleven departments. Accounting offers PGD, M.Sc., and PhD, with specialisation into M.Sc. Accounting or M.Sc. Taxation. Banking and Finance runs PGD and M.Sc. in Banking and Finance, plus a PhD in Finance specifically. Business Administration, Economics, Entrepreneurship, International Relations & Diplomacy, Library and Information Science, Political Science, Psychology, Public Administration, and Sociology each run the standard PGD, M.Sc., and PhD progression, while Mass Communication and Philosophy run PGD, M.A., and PhD instead. This breadth makes the faculty a natural fit for applicants weighing several related social science or management disciplines against each other, since the entry-level structure is consistent even where the subject matter differs.

Also read: EBSU Postgraduate Courses and Admission Requirements 2026/2027

Faculty of Sciences

Biochemistry, Computer Science, and Industrial Chemistry each offer PGD, M.Sc., and PhD. Microbiology runs PGD and M.Sc. (without a PhD track at the time of the most recent published notice), with seven specialisation areas: Environmental Microbiology and Bioremediation, Epidemiology and Infectious Diseases, Food Microbiology and Biotechnology, Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology, Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Molecular Microbiology and Bioinformatics, and Public Health Microbiology, a level of specificity that mirrors what’s on offer in the Health Sciences faculty, since several of these areas overlap with medical and public health applications.

Madonna University Postgraduate Admission Requirements

This is the core of what most applicants are searching for.

General Requirements (All Levels)

Every applicant needs a credit pass in five relevant O’Level subjects, including English Language, obtained in not more than two sittings. If your O’Level results predate 2016, the university requires your original certificates rather than a statement of results or result slip. An NYSC Completion Certificate (Discharge Certificate), Exemption Certificate, or Exclusion Certificate is required from all applicants. If you obtained your first degree through a Remedial Programme, you’ll need to show evidence of having remedied the relevant subjects for your intended programme externally, through WASCE, NECO, or NABTEB. In addition to these general conditions, applicants are also expected to meet the specific departmental requirements for their chosen programme, a point worth taking seriously rather than treating as a formality.

Postgraduate Diploma (PGD)

Open to graduates of Madonna University or any other recognised university, holders of a qualification deemed equivalent to a first degree, or holders of a recognised Higher National Diploma. This makes PGD the most accessible entry point for candidates whose first-degree result doesn’t yet clear the bar for direct Master’s admission.

Master’s Degree

Requires a minimum of Second Class Honours from your first degree. This is a slightly higher bar than some Nigerian universities that also accept a Third Class degree with a bridging Postgraduate Diploma, so candidates just below Second Class should check directly with their target department whether an alternative pathway exists.

PhD

Requires a Master’s degree (completed with a dissertation) from Madonna University or another recognised university, with an overall average score of at least 60% (Grade B). This dissertation requirement at Master’s level is worth noting, since not every university expects one before PhD eligibility.

Transcripts and References

Your official academic transcript(s) and three letters of reference must be forwarded under confidential cover directly to the Secretary, School of Postgraduate Studies, Madonna University, Elele Campus, Rivers State. Admission will not normally be offered without both the transcripts and the reference letters in place, so it’s worth arranging these well ahead of any deadline rather than close to it.

Why the General Requirements Aren’t the Whole Picture

Meeting the university-wide minimum for your qualification level, Second Class Honours for a Master’s, for instance doesn’t automatically guarantee admission into your specific department. Madonna University’s own guidance is explicit that applicants are expected to meet departmental requirements for their programme on top of the general conditions, so a discipline with limited intake or a competitive specialisation (such as one of Medical Laboratory Science’s four sub-areas) may set a higher bar in practice than the published baseline. Confirming this directly with your target department before applying can save you from an otherwise avoidable rejection.

Programme Duration

Programme	Duration
Postgraduate Diploma	Minimum 2 semesters, maximum 4
Master’s Degree	Minimum 4 semesters, maximum 6
PhD	Minimum 6 semesters, maximum 8

Documents You’ll Need to Prepare

• Original O’Level certificates (if your results predate 2016) or your statement of results/result slip (if after 2016)
• NYSC Completion, Exemption, or Exclusion Certificate
• Photocopies of relevant credentials for your application package
• Evidence of externally remedied subjects, if your first degree came through a Remedial Programme
• Your official transcript request submitted to your previous institution, and three referees lined up early

Also read: Full IMSU Postgraduate Courses and Admission Requirements for 2026/2027 Academic Session

Application Fee and How to Apply

The application form is accessed online for a fee of ₦10,000.

1. Access the application form through Madonna University’s official postgraduate admission page. https://www.madonnauniversity.edu.ng/admissions
2. Complete the form with accurate personal and academic details, taking care with your programme and specialisation selection where one applies.
3. Pay the ₦10,000 application fee as instructed.
4. Gather photocopies of your relevant credentials and a duplicate copy of your payment receipt.
5. Arrange for your official transcripts and three reference letters to be sent under confidential cover directly to the Secretary, School of Postgraduate Studies — this step often takes the longest, so start it as early as possible.
6. Forward your completed application form, along with the photocopies and payment receipt, to the Secretary at the Elele Campus address.
7. Confirm your submission has been received and monitor for updates on your admission status, following up with the relevant campus contact if you haven’t heard back within a reasonable time.

For enquiries, contact the Elele Campus Registrar’s office (09035055624 or 08135955826) or Admission line (08148396740), the Okija Campus Admission line (08078129083), or the Akpugo Campus Deputy Registrar (08158055206) or Admission line (08058143616).

Scam Prevention & Safety Tips

Given that Madonna University requires physical or postal submission of transcripts and reference letters alongside the online application, applicants should be careful about who they involve in that process. Keep the following in mind:

• Only pay the application fee through the official Madonna University portal, never through a third party or unofficial agent promising to secure your admission.
• Since transcripts and references must be sent under confidential cover directly by your institution and referees, be wary of anyone offering to “arrange” or hand-deliver these on your behalf, as this could compromise the confidentiality the university requires.
• Keep a copy of your payment receipt and application form, since both are required as part of your physical submission package, and losing either can delay your admission processing.
• Direct all postgraduate admission enquiries to the official campus contacts listed above rather than an unofficial source, particularly given how many campuses and departments are involved.

Also read: Rivers State University Postgraduate Courses and Admission Requirements (2026/2027 Session)

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the general admission requirements for Madonna University postgraduate programmes? Five O’Level credit passes including English Language (in no more than two sittings), an NYSC Completion, Exemption, or Exclusion Certificate, and for remedial-programme graduates — evidence of having externally remedied the relevant subjects.

What’s required for a Master’s degree at Madonna University? A minimum of Second Class Honours from your first degree, alongside the general requirements above.

What’s required for a PhD at Madonna University? A Master’s degree completed with a dissertation, with an overall average score of at least 60% (Grade B), from Madonna University or another recognised university.

Can HND holders apply for postgraduate admission at Madonna University? Yes, for the Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) route specifically, a recognised HND qualifies you for PGD admission.

How much is the Madonna University postgraduate application form? ₦10,000, accessed and paid for online through the university’s postgraduate admission page.

Does Madonna University offer part-time postgraduate study? Yes, postgraduate programmes can be pursued full-time or part-time.

How long does a PhD take at Madonna University? A minimum of six semesters and a maximum of eight.

Which faculties at Madonna University offer postgraduate programmes? The Faculty of Education and Arts, Faculty of Health Sciences, Faculty of Management and Social Sciences, and Faculty of Sciences, spread across the university’s Elele, Okija, and Akpugo campuses.

Do I need to submit my transcripts personally when applying to Madonna University? No, your transcripts must be sent directly by your previous institution, under confidential cover, along with three reference letters, straight to the Secretary, School of Postgraduate Studies.

Does Microbiology at Madonna University offer a PhD? Based on the most recently published programme list, Microbiology runs to PGD and M.Sc. level, without a PhD track, confirm with the department directly if this has since changed.

What happens if my O’Level results are from before 2016? You’ll need to provide your original certificates rather than a statement of results or result slip, since Madonna University treats pre-2016 results differently for verification purposes.

Is Madonna University in Nigeria the same as the Madonna University in the United States? No — Madonna University, Nigeria (Elele, Okija, and Akpugo campuses) is a separate institution from Madonna University in Livonia, Michigan, USA. This guide covers the Nigerian university specifically.

Conclusion

Madonna University postgraduate admission requirements follow a fairly consistent pattern across its four faculties: a first-degree-equivalent or HND qualification gets you into a Postgraduate Diploma, a Second Class Honours degree into a Master’s programme, and a completed Master’s with at least 60% into a PhD. Whichever of Madonna’s many departments you’re targeting, from Public Health to Political Science to Computer Science, make sure your transcripts and reference letters are arranged well in advance, since admission won’t normally be offered without them, and confirm your specific department’s current requirements and closing date directly with the School of Postgraduate Studies before applying.

Given the university’s three-campus structure, it’s also worth confirming upfront which campus runs your specific programme, since not every department necessarily operates identically across Elele, Okija, and Akpugo.

Stay updated on Madonna university 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 Madonna university are released.