Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), formerly Anambra State University, runs its Medicine and Surgery programme through a dedicated College of Medicine based at its Awka (Amaku) campus, alongside the university’s teaching hospital. Because COOU operates a multi-campus structure with fees that differ significantly by faculty, prospective medical students need a clear picture of what Medicine and Surgery specifically costs, separate from the general fee figures often quoted for the university as a whole. This article breaks down the fee structure for Medicine and Surgery at COOU for the 2026/2027 academic session and explains how it compares with other programmes at the university.
COOU’s Campus Structure and Where Medicine Is Taught
COOU spreads its faculties across three campuses in Anambra State. The Igbariam campus houses Arts, Law, Management Sciences, and Agriculture. The Uli campus hosts Engineering, Physical Sciences, and Natural Sciences, along with the preclinical stage of medical training under Basic Medical Sciences. The Awka campus, specifically at Amaku, is home to the College of Medicine and the university’s teaching hospital, where students in the clinical years of Medicine and Surgery receive hands-on hospital-based instruction. This structure matters for fee purposes because Medicine and Surgery students transition between campuses as they progress through the programme, from preclinical coursework to full clinical training, and the fee schedule reflects the added cost of maintaining laboratory and hospital-based facilities dedicated to the College of Medicine.
Overall Fee Range at COOU
COOU’s school fees vary widely depending on faculty and department, which is why the university does not operate a single flat tuition figure. Across all courses, new students pay anywhere from approximately ₦127,465 to ₦401,815 per session, while returning students pay a slightly reduced range of roughly ₦113,315 to ₦401,315, since returning students skip some of the one-time charges that apply only to freshers. Medicine and Surgery falls at the upper end of this range, alongside other resource-intensive professional courses such as Pharmacy and Engineering, reflecting the added cost of laboratory equipment, dissection materials, and clinical training infrastructure that the programme requires.
Medicine and Surgery Fee Estimate
Given that COOU’s general fee ceiling for the most expensive departments sits close to ₦401,815 for new students, Medicine and Surgery is positioned at or near this upper bracket rather than the lower end reserved for arts and general social science courses. A new Medicine and Surgery student at COOU should budget for a total fee close to this upper range once tuition, laboratory charges, and other mandatory fees are combined, while returning students in the clinical years pay a marginally lower figure that still reflects the practical and hospital-based components attached to the programme.
Fee Comparison Table
The table below places Medicine and Surgery within COOU’s broader fee structure, comparing it against the general fee bracket that applies to less resource-intensive courses.
| Category | New Students (Per Session) | Returning Students (Per Session) |
|---|---|---|
| General courses (Arts, Social Sciences, Management) | ₦127,465 – ₦180,000 | ₦113,315 – ₦160,000 |
| Science and Engineering-based courses | ₦180,000 – ₦300,000 | ₦160,000 – ₦280,000 |
| Medicine and Surgery / Pharmacy (Professional/Clinical courses) | ₦300,000 – ₦401,815 | ₦280,000 – ₦401,315 |
These figures represent the overall span reported across COOU’s fee schedule and should be used as a planning guide. The exact amount for a specific level within Medicine and Surgery depends on whether the student is in the preclinical stage at Uli or the clinical stage at the Amaku campus, since clinical years attract additional charges tied to hospital-based training.
Acceptance Fee and Medical Fee
All newly admitted COOU students, including those admitted into Medicine and Surgery, pay a standard acceptance fee of ₦26,315 to confirm their admission before proceeding to school fee payment. This acceptance fee does not vary by faculty, meaning medical students pay the same amount as students in any other department at this stage. Separately, every COOU student pays a medical fee of ₦10,000 per semester, which covers basic healthcare services such as consultations, routine medications, and laboratory tests available through the university’s health services. For Medicine and Surgery students, this semester-based medical fee is distinct from the clinical training charges attached to their programme once they begin hospital-based coursework.
Why Medicine and Surgery Sits at the Top of COOU’s Fee Bracket
Medicine and Surgery costs more than most other courses at COOU because of what the programme physically requires to run. During the preclinical years, students use anatomy laboratories, cadaver materials, microscopes, and other equipment tied to subjects such as anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry. Once students progress into the clinical years at the Amaku campus, training shifts to hospital wards at the university’s teaching hospital, where clinical supervision, patient-based assessments, and coordination between the College of Medicine and the hospital administration add further cost. Pharmacy follows a broadly similar pattern, which is why it sits close to Medicine and Surgery in COOU’s fee structure, while Engineering and other science-based courses occupy a middle bracket above general arts and management courses but below the clinical professional courses.
Admission Requirements for Medicine and Surgery at COOU
Medicine and Surgery is one of COOU’s professional courses, and admission into it requires a considerably higher UTME score than the university’s general cut-off. While most regular courses at COOU accept a minimum UTME score of 150, professional courses including Medicine, Law, Nursing, Medical Laboratory Science, and Pharmaceutical Science require a minimum score of 200. Candidates also need at least five O’Level credits in relevant subjects, including English Language, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, from WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB, obtained in not more than two sittings. Because Medicine and Surgery draws a large pool of applicants each session, candidates should treat the 200-mark threshold as a baseline rather than a guarantee, since actual admission often depends on how competitive that particular admission cycle turns out to be.
Additional Costs Medical Students Should Plan For
Beyond the core school fee, acceptance fee, and semester medical fee, students in Medicine and Surgery at COOU should budget for a few recurring expenses tied specifically to their programme:
- Laboratory and dissection materials – Preclinical students purchase items such as lab coats and dissection kits that are not always bundled into the general school fee.
- Medical textbooks and reference manuals – Medicine and Surgery relies on frequently updated textbooks across both the preclinical and clinical years, and these are typically bought independently by students.
- Transportation between campuses – Since preclinical training happens at Uli and clinical training happens at Amaku, students may incur transportation costs when transitioning between the two campus locations as they advance through the programme.
- Accommodation – Hostel fees are charged separately from tuition, and students choosing off-campus housing near either the Uli or Amaku campus budget for rent independently.
- Clinical and project fees – Students in the final clinical years pay additional charges connected to hospital-based assessments, project supervision, and clearance before graduation.
How to Pay COOU School Fees
COOU processes all fee payments, including the acceptance fee and school fees, through its centralized student portal and mobile application. New students log in with their JAMB registration number or admission credentials to confirm their status, after which the acceptance fee becomes payable first. Once this reflects, the portal generates the applicable school fee invoice specific to the student’s faculty, department, and level. Payment is completed through the approved banking or online payment channels linked to the portal, and students print a receipt for departmental clearance. COOU processes school fees as a single-installment payment rather than splitting it across the two semesters, so medical students should plan to have the full amount ready before the payment deadline each session, since late payment attracts additional penalty charges.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medicine and Surgery the most expensive course at COOU?
Yes. Medicine and Surgery, along with Pharmacy, sits at the top of COOU’s fee bracket due to the cost of laboratory equipment, dissection materials, and clinical training at the university’s teaching hospital.
Where does clinical training for Medicine and Surgery take place?
Clinical training takes place at the College of Medicine and Teaching Hospital located at the Amaku campus in Awka, while preclinical coursework happens at the Uli campus.
What UTME score is required for Medicine and Surgery at COOU?
Candidates need a minimum UTME score of 200, higher than the general baseline of 150 that applies to most other courses at the university.
Is the school fee paid in installments at COOU?
No. COOU requires school fees to be paid in a single installment rather than splitting the amount across semesters.
Where can I confirm the exact current fee for Medicine and Surgery at COOU?
The official COOU student portal or mobile app generates the exact fee once a student logs in with valid admission credentials, since the amount depends on faculty, department, and level. Figures quoted in this article should be confirmed against the portal before payment is made.