The College of Nursing Sciences, Yola (also known as the Adamawa State College of Nursing and Midwifery, or ASCNM) is a state-government-owned institution located along Fufore Road, Yola Bypass, close to the Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital, formerly the Federal Medical Centre, Yola. The college trains students in nursing and midwifery through several structured programmes, ranging from basic general nursing to community health-focused courses and post-basic specialisation. This article explains the full admission requirements, the programmes on offer, and the school fees structure for the 2026/2027 academic session, so prospective applicants can plan their application and finances properly.
About the College of Nursing Sciences, Yola
The college sits within Adamawa State’s broader network of health training institutions and works closely with the teaching hospital nearby, which gives students direct clinical exposure during their training. It is one of the older and more established nursing training centres in northeastern Nigeria, and it produces graduates who go on to work in hospitals, primary healthcare centres, and community health posts across the state and beyond.
Unlike university-based Bachelor of Nursing Science (B.N.Sc.) programmes, the College of Nursing Sciences, Yola runs diploma-level and certificate-level training that leads to registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN). This distinction matters for applicants: a student graduating from the college becomes a Registered Nurse (RN) or Registered Midwife (RM) through NMCN licensing, not through a university degree certificate, although some graduates later proceed to university for a B.N.Sc. to advance their qualification.
Programmes Offered
The College of Nursing Sciences, Yola runs the following training programmes:
- Basic General Nursing — a three-year programme open to candidates who meet the standard science-based entry requirements, leading to registration as a Nurse.
- Basic Midwifery — a programme for candidates interested in midwifery practice, structured similarly to the general nursing course in terms of entry requirements.
- Community Health Nursing — a programme with slightly reduced subject requirements compared to Basic Nursing, focused on primary healthcare and community-level health service delivery.
- Community Midwifery — parallel to Community Health Nursing but focused on maternal and midwifery care at the community level.
- Post-Basic Nursing Programme — a two-year advanced programme open to candidates who are already registered nurses or midwives and want to specialise further or add another qualification.
- Return Programmes — short conversion or refresher programmes for licensed community nurses and community midwives who want to upgrade to the basic (general) cadre.
Each of these programmes has its own entry requirements, application procedure, and duration, so applicants should be clear about which specific programme they intend to apply for before purchasing a form.
Admission Requirements
Entry into the College of Nursing Sciences, Yola depends on the specific programme a candidate is applying for. The requirements differ mainly in the number and combination of O’Level credit passes required.
For the Basic General Nursing and Basic Midwifery programmes, a candidate needs:
- A minimum of five (5) credit passes in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), National Examinations Council (NECO), or the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB).
- The five credits must include English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.
- These credits must be obtained in not more than two sittings.
- The candidate must be at least 17 years of age at the point of admission.
For the Community Health Nursing and Community Midwifery programmes, the entry bar is slightly lower:
- A minimum of four (4) credit passes, which must include English Language, Biology, and any two other subjects from the list used for the Basic Nursing requirement (Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics).
- These credits must also be obtained in not more than two sittings.
For the Post-Basic Nursing Programme, applicants must already hold a valid registration as a Nurse or Midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria before they are considered eligible to apply. This programme is designed for practising professionals seeking to add a specialised qualification rather than first-time entrants into the nursing profession.
Candidates applying under the Return Programme for community nurses and community midwives must similarly hold an existing licence in their current cadre and are seeking to convert or upgrade to the basic (general) nursing or midwifery cadre.
The table below summarises the entry requirements by programme:
| Programme | Minimum Credits Required | Compulsory Subjects | Additional Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic General Nursing | 5 credits | English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics | Minimum age of 17 |
| Basic Midwifery | 5 credits | English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics | Minimum age of 17 |
| Community Health Nursing | 4 credits | English, Biology + 2 others from Maths/Chemistry/Physics | Not more than 2 sittings |
| Community Midwifery | 4 credits | English, Biology + 2 others from Maths/Chemistry/Physics | Not more than 2 sittings |
| Post-Basic Nursing | Not applicable (professional entry) | N/A | Must be a registered Nurse or Midwife with NMCN |
| Return Programme (Community to Basic) | Not applicable (professional entry) | N/A | Must hold existing community-level licence |
How to Apply
The application process for the College of Nursing Sciences, Yola follows a fairly standard sequence used by many state-owned nursing schools in Nigeria:
- Visit the official Remita platform to generate a Remita Retrieval Reference (RRR) for the application form payment.
- Take the RRR to any designated bank, or pay directly online, to complete the transaction.
- Return to the college’s application portal, use the payment confirmation to unlock the online form, and complete it with accurate personal and academic details.
- Upload the required documents, which typically include an O’Level result (WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB), a birth certificate, an indigene letter (for candidates applying under the indigene fee category), a primary school testimonial, and passport photographs.
- Print the required number of copies of the completed form, usually three, and submit them physically at the college along with the e-receipt of payment to obtain an Examination Screening Card.
- Sit for the entrance examination on the scheduled date, and attend an interview if shortlisted.
The application form fee for the college is a modest, non-refundable amount charged through the Remita platform. Past sessions have recorded form fees in the range of roughly ₦5,700 to ₦10,700, though this figure is adjusted periodically by the college management and should be confirmed directly at the point of application, since Remita transaction charges and inflation-linked reviews can shift the exact amount from one session to another.
School Fees Structure
School fees at the College of Nursing Sciences, Yola vary depending on the specific programme a student is enrolled in, and in many state nursing schools across Nigeria, fees also differ between indigenes of the state and non-indigene applicants, with indigenes typically paying a lower rate. As a state-government-owned institution, the college’s fees remain considerably lower than what a private university nursing programme would charge, making it one of the more accessible routes into the nursing profession for students in Adamawa State and the wider northeastern region.
Based on the most recently published fee schedules, the Community Nursing and Community Midwifery programmes are the most affordable options at the college, with sessional fees starting from around ₦40,000. The Basic General Nursing and Basic Midwifery programmes, which run for three years and carry a heavier academic and clinical training load, typically attract a higher sessional fee than the community-level programmes, reflecting the additional practical training, laboratory use, and clinical posting components built into the curriculum.
Students should budget for the following categories of cost across their programme, since these are separate from the base tuition fee:
- Acceptance fee, paid once by newly admitted students to confirm their place.
- Practical and clinical training levy, which covers laboratory sessions, clinical posting supervision, and use of teaching hospital facilities.
- Uniform and clinical kit costs, including nursing uniforms, caps, aprons, and basic clinical instruments such as a stethoscope and thermometer.
- Medical screening fee, required before resumption to confirm the student’s fitness for clinical practice.
- Accommodation, where hostel space is available and a student chooses to reside on campus rather than off-campus.
- NMCN registration and licensing fees, payable at the point of qualification rather than during the training itself, but worth budgeting for in advance since practising as a nurse or midwife requires this professional registration.
Because fees at state-owned nursing colleges are reviewed periodically and can change from one admission cycle to the next, applicants should always confirm the exact current figures directly from the college’s admissions office or official communication channels before making any payment, rather than relying solely on previously published amounts.
Duration of Study
The Basic General Nursing and Basic Midwifery programmes run for three years, split into structured academic terms combined with supervised clinical postings at the teaching hospital and affiliated health facilities. The Community Health Nursing and Community Midwifery programmes typically run over a similar multi-year structure, though with a curriculum weighted more heavily toward primary healthcare delivery than hospital-based specialist care. The Post-Basic Nursing Programme runs for two years and is open only to candidates who already hold a nursing or midwifery qualification.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum age to apply to the College of Nursing Sciences, Yola?
Candidates applying for the Basic General Nursing and Basic Midwifery programmes must be at least 17 years old at the point of admission.
Can a candidate apply with four credits instead of five?
Yes, but only for the Community Health Nursing and Community Midwifery programmes, which require a minimum of four credits including English Language and Biology. The Basic Nursing and Basic Midwifery programmes require five credits, including Mathematics, Chemistry, and Physics in addition to English and Biology.
Is the College of Nursing Sciences, Yola a university?
No. It is a state-government-owned nursing training college that awards diploma-level and certificate-level qualifications leading to NMCN registration, not a university degree. Students who want a Bachelor of Nursing Science (B.N.Sc.) degree would need to apply to a university nursing programme instead, such as the one offered at Modibbo Adama University.
Does the college offer a post-basic programme for already-registered nurses?
Yes. The Post-Basic Nursing Programme runs for two years and is designed for candidates who already hold registration as a Nurse or Midwife and want to add a specialised qualification.
Where can applicants confirm the current school fees?
The most accurate and up-to-date fee information comes directly from the college’s admissions office or its official application portal, since fees are subject to periodic review and may differ between indigene and non-indigene applicants.