The Katsina State Institute of Technology and Management, commonly written as Katsina Institute of Technology and Management or shortened to KSITM, is a state-owned Innovation Enterprise Institution located in Katsina, Katsina State. It was set up under Katsina State Law No. 8 of 2013 to train technicians and business-ready graduates for the ICT and business sectors, and it now runs both National Diploma (ND) programmes and National Innovation Diploma (NID) programmes accredited by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE). This article explains the courses currently on offer at the institute, how the fee structure works, and what an intending student needs to gain admission for the 2026/2027 session.
What Kind of Institution Is KSITM?
Unlike a conventional polytechnic, KSITM was designed from the start as an Innovation Enterprise Institution, a category of tertiary institution built to combine classroom instruction with hands-on, enterprise-oriented training. Its academic structure is organised into two main schools — the School of Technology and the School of Management — alongside a separate stream called the School of Technology and Management, which now runs conventional ND programmes in areas such as Accountancy, Library and Information Science, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, and Computer Engineering Technology. This dual structure means the institute offers both the traditional ND pathway that other Nigerian polytechnics run and the newer NID pathway that is more closely tied to enterprise and innovation training.
The institute reports to the Katsina State Government and receives support from bodies such as the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), which formally listed it as a beneficiary of TETFund interventions from the 2024 intervention year. Because it is state-funded, tuition at KSITM is generally more affordable than what students would pay at fully private polytechnics, though it still carries standard administrative and departmental charges common to Nigerian tertiary institutions.
Courses Offered at Katsina Institute of Technology and Management
KSITM’s course offerings fall into two categories: the National Diploma (ND) programmes under the School of Technology and Management, and the National Innovation Diploma (NID) programmes split between the School of Technology and the School of Management.
National Diploma (ND) Programmes
- Accountancy — trains technician-level manpower for accounting functions in both public and private organisations.
- Library and Information Science — prepares students for middle-level roles in libraries, archives, and information centres.
- Electrical Engineering — produces electrical engineering technicians for manufacturing, power generation and distribution, telecommunications, and related industries.
- Computer Science — trains diplomates in the application of computing across different professional areas.
- Computer Engineering Technology — trains technicians who install, maintain, and repair computer hardware, software, and peripherals.
National Innovation Diploma (NID) Programmes — School of Technology
- Computer Software Engineering (CSE) — focused on systematic software development and large-scale software systems.
- Networking and System Security (NSS) — covers the design, installation, and management of local, wide-area, and wireless network environments.
- Multimedia Technology (MMP) — equips students with creative and design skills for digital media careers.
- Computer Hardware Engineering Technology (CHE) — trains hardware engineers to handle the design, installation, and repair of computer hardware.
- Business Informatics (BI) — combines information technology skills with business application knowledge.
- Security Management and Technology (SMT) — trains security technicians to apply modern technology to security operations.
National Innovation Diploma (NID) Programmes — School of Management
- Banking Operations (BOP) — prepares students for entry-level roles in banking institutions.
- Islamic Banking and Finance (IBF) — trains manpower for institutions offering Islamic financial services.
Both CHE and BI, along with SMT, are indicated by the institute as newly approved courses, which means intending applicants should confirm current accreditation status with the admissions office before selecting one of these three as a first choice, since newly approved programmes sometimes go through additional NBTE review before full intake begins.
Admission Requirements by Programme
Admission into any KSITM programme requires both a UTME score that meets the specific subject-combination cut-off for that course and five O’Level credit passes obtained in not more than two sittings. Because each NID and ND programme has its own subject combination and minimum UTME score, the requirements differ noticeably from one course to another. The table below summarises the general pattern across the technology-focused programmes.
| Programme | Minimum UTME Score (approx.) | Core O’Level Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Software Engineering (CSE) | 120 and above | English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry + 1 relevant subject |
| Networking and System Security (NSS) | 110 and above | English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry + 1 relevant subject |
| Multimedia Technology (MMP) | 100 and above | English, Mathematics + 3 relevant subjects |
| Computer Hardware Engineering Technology (CHE) | 100 and above | Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, English + 1 relevant subject |
| Business Informatics (BI) | 110 and above | English, Mathematics, Economics/Commerce + 2 relevant subjects |
| Security Management and Technology (SMT) | 110 and above | English, Mathematics + 3 relevant subjects |
| Banking Operations (BOP) | 110 and above | English, Mathematics, Economics + 1 relevant subject |
| Islamic Banking and Finance (IBF) | 110 and above | English, Mathematics + 3 relevant subjects |
For Islamic Banking and Finance specifically, the institute also accepts candidates who already hold an ND, HND, or bachelor’s degree and wish to re-skill, as well as candidates with a related certificate in financial or business studies who have relevant work experience in banking or finance, even without meeting the standard UTME route.
Candidates applying to KSITM must select the institute as their first choice on their JAMB profile. Anyone who did not do so at the point of registration is required to carry out a change of institution on the JAMB portal before applying. After applying through the institute’s admission portal, eligible candidates are invited to a post-UTME screening exercise, and a non-refundable screening payment is required to complete the application. This fee is separate from tuition and is paid before an admission decision is made.
School Fees at Katsina Institute of Technology and Management for 2026/2027
As a Katsina State-owned institution, KSITM’s tuition is subsidised in the way most state polytechnics and innovation enterprise institutions in Nigeria are, which keeps its charges considerably lower than what a fully private institution would charge for a comparable course. However, the exact naira figure a student pays is not fixed across the board — it depends on the specific programme, the student’s level (year one or year two of the two-year NID/ND cycle), and whether the student is an indigene of Katsina State or a non-indigene, since state-funded institutions commonly apply different tuition brackets for the two categories.
Because the institute reviews and communicates its fee schedule internally each session rather than publishing a single static figure for all courses, this article sets out the fee components students should expect to budget for, instead of quoting numbers that may already be outdated by the time a new session begins. Prospective students should always confirm the current session’s exact figures on the institute’s official admission portal or from the bursary department before making any payment.
| Fee Component | Who Pays | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Post-UTME Screening Fee | All applicants | A non-refundable fee paid to sit the post-UTME screening exercise |
| Acceptance Fee | Newly admitted students | Confirms an admission offer once screening is passed |
| Tuition/School Fees | All students, per session | Varies by programme and by indigene/non-indigene status |
| Registration Fee | Fresh students | Covers matriculation and institutional registration |
| ICT and Library Fee | All students | Covers access to computer labs, internet, and library resources |
| Departmental/Practical Fee | Technology-based programmes (CSE, NSS, MMP, CHE, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering) | Covers workshop materials, software licences, and lab consumables |
| Medical Fee | All students | Covers access to the institute’s clinic |
| SIWES/Industrial Attachment Fee | Second-year (NID II) students | Covers registration for mandatory industrial training |
Indigene students of Katsina State typically pay a lower tuition bracket than non-indigene applicants, which is standard practice across most state-owned tertiary institutions in Nigeria, so applicants from outside Katsina State should budget for a higher tuition component even though other charges such as the ICT fee, medical fee, and departmental fee are usually applied at the same rate regardless of state of origin.
How Payment Is Made
Payments to KSITM, including the post-UTME screening fee, are made through the payment gateway on the institute’s official admission portal. The institute has previously indicated designated bank account details for state government-related payments, and students are advised to generate any required payment reference through the official portal rather than transferring money directly to third parties, since impersonation and fake payment requests are a recurring risk around Nigerian tertiary admission periods. Once a payment is completed, students should retain their receipt and application slip, since these are typically required for verification during registration and screening.
Why NID and ND Fees Are Not Identical
Students sometimes assume that all programmes at the same institution cost the same amount, but that is rarely accurate at KSITM or at comparable innovation enterprise institutions. Programmes that depend heavily on computer labs, networking equipment, or hardware workshops — such as Computer Hardware Engineering Technology, Networking and System Security, and Computer Engineering Technology — typically carry a departmental or practical fee on top of standard tuition, because the equipment used in these programmes needs regular maintenance and replacement. Programmes built more around classroom instruction and case studies, such as Business Informatics, Banking Operations, and Islamic Banking and Finance, generally carry a lighter departmental charge, since they rely less on physical lab consumables.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is KSITM the same as a regular polytechnic?
KSITM is officially registered as an Innovation Enterprise Institution rather than a conventional polytechnic, though its ND programmes follow the same NBTE framework that regular polytechnics use, and its certificates are recognised for further academic progression and employment purposes.
Can a candidate apply for KSITM without choosing it as first choice on JAMB?
No. The institute requires candidates to select it as their first choice. Anyone who selected another institution first must carry out a change of institution on their JAMB profile before applying to KSITM.
Do non-indigenes of Katsina State pay more?
Yes, in line with common practice among state-funded tertiary institutions in Nigeria, non-indigene students generally pay a higher tuition bracket than students who are indigenes of Katsina State.
Are all the NID programmes currently open for admission?
Some NID programmes, including Computer Hardware Engineering Technology, Business Informatics, and Security Management and Technology, are indicated by the institute as newly approved courses, so applicants should confirm current intake status for these specific programmes with the admissions office before applying.
How is the post-UTME screening fee paid?
It is paid online through the institute’s official admission portal as a non-refundable charge, and candidates are advised to keep their payment receipt for reference during the screening exercise.