Shehu Sule College of Nursing Sciences, Damaturu (also referred to as Shehu Sule College of Nursing and Midwifery, or informally as the College of Nursing Sciences, Damaturu) is a Yobe State-owned health training institution based in Damaturu, the state capital. Established in 1993, the college trains students for careers in nursing and midwifery under the regulation of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN). This article sets out what a prospective student needs to know for the 2026/2027 admission cycle: the programmes on offer, the admission requirements, the application process, and the fees involved.
About Shehu Sule College of Nursing Sciences, Damaturu
The college is one of three tertiary institutions based in Damaturu, alongside Yobe State University and the Federal Polytechnic Damaturu. As a state-owned institution, it operates under the oversight of the Yobe State Government and is accredited by the NMCN, the professional body responsible for setting and enforcing training standards for nurses and midwives across Nigeria. Graduates of the college who complete their programme and pass the NMCN licensing examination are registered as qualified nurses or midwives and can practise in hospitals, clinics, and public health facilities across the country.
The college runs its programmes on a full-time, in-person basis at its Damaturu campus, and admission into most of its courses is tied to the national JAMB/UTME process, since it participates in the centralised university and college admission system administered by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board.
Programmes Offered at the College
The college runs four main programmes, split between the Basic (also called Direct) track, which typically requires a UTME score, and the Community track, which is a separate professional pathway.
| Programme | Duration | Gender Eligibility | Entry Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Nursing | 3 years | Male and female | UTME + Post-UTME screening |
| Basic Midwifery | 3 years | Female only | UTME + Post-UTME screening |
| Community Nursing | 2 years | Male and female | Direct application/screening |
| Community Midwifery | 2 years | Female only | Direct application/screening |
The Basic Nursing and Basic Midwifery programmes are the college’s flagship courses and require candidates to have sat the UTME and scored above the college’s minimum benchmark. The Community Nursing and Community Midwifery programmes are shorter, more specialised pathways generally intended for candidates who already hold a relevant qualification or want a faster route into community-level nursing and midwifery practice; these two programmes are typically advertised and screened separately from the UTME-based Basic Nursing and Basic Midwifery intake.
Admission Requirements
Admission requirements differ slightly depending on the specific programme, but the general academic requirements that apply across the board are as follows:
- A minimum of five credit passes in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), National Examinations Council (NECO), or National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) results, obtained in not more than two sittings.
- The five credits must include English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, since these are the core science subjects the NMCN requires for nursing and midwifery training.
- Candidates applying through NABTEB results are typically required to have obtained their credits in a single sitting rather than combined sittings, which is a stricter standard than WAEC or NECO.
- For the Basic Nursing and Basic Midwifery programmes, candidates must have sat the UTME for the relevant admission year and scored at least 180, which is the college’s commonly applied cut-off mark for these two programmes.
- Candidates must also participate in the college’s Post-UTME screening exercise, which the college conducts as part of the admission process for the Basic Nursing and Basic Midwifery intake.
Age requirements are also enforced, in line with the general minimum age policy for tertiary admission in Nigeria, which currently sets 16 years as the minimum admissible age for candidates entering degree and diploma-level programmes. Applicants should confirm the specific age policy applied by the college for the 2026/2027 session, since minor adjustments to national admission age policy occur periodically.
How to Apply for Admission
The application process for the college follows a fairly standard sequence, and prospective students should follow these steps in order:
- Generate a payment reference or teller. Applicants typically pay the non-refundable application fee either through a designated bank (with a teller submitted to the college’s bursary department) or through the REMITA platform, depending on which method the college activates for that admission cycle.
- Collect the application PIN. After payment, applicants take proof of payment to the bursary department (for bank payments) or receive the PIN electronically (for REMITA payments) to unlock the online application form.
- Complete the online application form. Applicants visit the college’s official application portal to fill in their personal details, academic qualifications, and choice of programme.
- Submit and print the acknowledgment slip. Once the form is completed and submitted, applicants print an acknowledgment slip as proof of application, which they retain for the screening exercise.
- Sit for Post-UTME screening. For the Basic Nursing and Basic Midwifery programmes, applicants attend the college’s Post-UTME screening exercise on the scheduled date. For the Community Nursing and Community Midwifery programmes, applicants may instead sit an entrance examination organised directly by the college.
The application form fee has historically ranged from approximately ₦5,500 to ₦7,500 depending on the specific programme and the admission cycle, and this fee is non-refundable regardless of the outcome of the application. The college has repeatedly warned prospective applicants that it does not use agents for admission, and candidates are advised to apply only through the college’s official portal and to be cautious of anyone claiming to guarantee admission in exchange for private payments.
School Fees for the 2026/2027 Session
Nursing and midwifery training colleges in Nigeria that are state-owned generally keep their fees more affordable than private nursing schools, since the state government subsidises part of the running cost as a public health training investment. Based on the fee pattern typically applied by NMCN-accredited state colleges of nursing and midwifery of this kind, students at Shehu Sule College of Nursing Sciences should budget within the general range below, while confirming the exact approved figure through the college’s bursary office once the official 2026/2027 fee schedule is released.
| Fee Component | Estimated Amount (₦) | Applies To |
|---|---|---|
| Application/screening form | 5,500 – 7,500 | All new applicants, one-time |
| Acceptance fee | 10,000 – 20,000 | Newly admitted students only |
| Tuition and departmental charges (per session) | 50,000 – 100,000 | All students, per academic session |
| Practical/clinical posting fee | 10,000 – 20,000 | Students in clinical years |
| Hostel accommodation (optional) | 15,000 – 30,000 | Students who choose on-campus housing |
These figures are indicative rather than officially confirmed for the 2026/2027 session, since the college, like most state-owned nursing colleges, reviews its fee schedule periodically and communicates the approved figures directly to newly admitted and returning students through its bursary department. Prospective students should treat this table as a budgeting guide and verify the exact amount before making any payment.
What the School Fees Typically Cover
The tuition and departmental charges collected each session by a college of nursing sciences generally bundle together several components rather than representing one flat academic charge. These typically include:
- Tuition fee — covers classroom instruction, coursework, and general academic administration.
- Clinical and practical fee — covers supervised clinical postings in affiliated hospitals and health facilities, which form a core part of nursing and midwifery training.
- Laboratory and equipment fee — covers use of the college’s nursing skills laboratory, mannequins, and demonstration equipment.
- Library and ICT fee — covers access to the college’s library resources and any digital learning materials.
- Medical screening fee — covers the mandatory health screening new students undergo before being cleared for clinical placement, since nursing and midwifery students work directly with patients.
- Uniform and badge charges — covers the standard nursing or midwifery uniform, name badge, and related identification items required during clinical postings.
Why NMCN Accreditation Matters
Because the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria regulates entry into the nursing and midwifery profession nationally, a candidate’s choice of training institution has a direct bearing on their eligibility to sit the NMCN licensing examination after graduation. Attending an NMCN-accredited college, such as Shehu Sule College of Nursing Sciences, ensures that the curriculum, clinical training hours, and examination standards meet the requirements for professional registration. Prospective students should confirm that the specific programme they are applying for, whether Basic Nursing, Basic Midwifery, Community Nursing, or Community Midwifery, carries current NMCN accreditation at the time of admission, since accreditation status is reviewed periodically by the council.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the College of Nursing Sciences, Damaturu the same as Shehu Sule College of Nursing and Midwifery?
Yes. The institution is officially known as Shehu Sule College of Nursing and Midwifery, Damaturu, and is commonly referred to informally as the College of Nursing Sciences, Damaturu.
What is the minimum UTME score required for admission?
For the Basic Nursing and Basic Midwifery programmes, candidates typically need a minimum UTME score of 180, in addition to meeting the O’Level credit requirements.
Is Basic Midwifery open to male candidates?
No. Basic Midwifery, along with Community Midwifery, is open to female candidates only. Basic Nursing and Community Nursing are open to both male and female candidates.
Does the college accept applicants through agents?
No. The college has stated clearly that it does not process admission through agents, and applicants are advised to apply only through the official college portal to avoid fraud.
Are the school fees the same for Basic Nursing and Community Nursing programmes?
Fees can differ slightly between the Basic (UTME-based) and Community (direct entry) tracks, since they follow different admission routes and duration. Applicants should confirm the exact figure for their specific programme with the college’s bursary department.