The College of Nursing Sciences at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe (FTH Gombe), trains students for careers in general nursing under a structured diploma programme recognised by national nursing regulatory bodies. Anyone planning to apply for the 2026/2027 academic session needs accurate information on the programmes on offer, the admission criteria, the cost of study, and the steps involved in applying. This article covers all of that in a direct, practical format.
About the College of Nursing Sciences, FTH Gombe
The College of Nursing Sciences operates as the training institute attached to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, within the Institute of Health Sciences (IHS) structure of the hospital. It is sometimes referred to as CONS-IHS-FTHG. The college trains nursing students within a full-fledged teaching hospital environment, giving learners hands-on clinical exposure alongside classroom instruction. Training follows the curriculum framework approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), and graduates become eligible to register with the council and practice as licensed nurses after passing the national qualifying examination.
Unlike some nursing colleges attached to teaching hospitals that admit purely on the basis of an internal entrance exam, the College of Nursing Sciences at FTH Gombe requires candidates to have sat for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME/JAMB), in addition to meeting O’level requirements. This makes the admission pathway closer to that of a polytechnic or degree-awarding institution than to some other hospital-based nursing schools.
Programmes Offered
The College of Nursing Sciences, FTH Gombe, runs the following programme:
- National Diploma/Higher National Diploma (ND/HND) in General Nursing — a four-year continuous programme structured as two years for the ND stage and two years for the HND stage. This is the main entry-level programme for candidates coming in fresh from secondary school.
The hospital may also run Post Basic Nursing programmes from time to time, intended for candidates who are already registered nurses seeking further specialisation. These programmes typically require candidates to hold current practicing licences with the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and, in some cases, a minimum of one year of post-qualification work experience.
Applicants should note that the general ND/HND Nursing programme and Post Basic programmes are announced separately, and forms are sold at different periods depending on when the hospital opens each admission cycle.
Admission Requirements
Admission into the ND/HND General Nursing programme at the College of Nursing Sciences, FTH Gombe, rests on three main pillars: a UTME score, O’level credit requirements, and an age condition. The requirements are summarised below.
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| UTME/JAMB Score | Minimum of 150 points, with the college selected as first choice |
| O’level Credits | Minimum of 5 credits in English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics |
| Examination Bodies Accepted | WAEC, NECO, NABTEB, GCE O’level, or equivalent |
| Number of Sittings | Not more than 2 sittings |
| Age Requirement | 16 years and above as at the date of the admission notice |
| Physical/Medical Fitness | Candidates must be physically and medically fit for nursing training |
A candidate whose O’level credits come from NABTEB cannot combine that result with WAEC or NECO results to make up the required five credits; NABTEB results must stand on their own or be paired with another NABTEB sitting.
For Post Basic Nursing admission, the requirements differ because the programme targets practicing nurses rather than fresh school leavers:
- The candidate must already be a Registered Nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and must hold a current practicing licence.
- The candidate must still possess the underlying O’level requirement of five credits, including English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, obtained in not more than two sittings.
- At least one year of post-qualification working experience is often listed as an advantage, though not always a strict condition.
Candidates who meet the basic eligibility criteria for the ND/HND programme are shortlisted to sit for the college’s Post-UTME screening exercise or oral interview, which forms part of the final admission decision alongside the UTME score and O’level results.
Application Process
Applying to the College of Nursing Sciences, FTH Gombe, generally follows these steps:
- Confirm eligibility. Check that your UTME score, O’level credits, and age meet the published cut-off before applying.
- Obtain the application form. Forms are sold at the Office of the Registrar, College of Nursing Sciences, Institute of Health Sciences, Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, or through the hospital’s official website via the college’s online application platform.
- Pay the non-refundable application fee. The application fee is paid through the REMITA platform into the hospital’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) account. This fee is non-refundable regardless of the outcome of the application.
- Complete the form and upload documents. Candidates fill in personal and academic details and attach scanned or photocopied versions of required documents, including passport photographs, O’level results, and UTME result slip.
- Await the screening/interview invitation. The college notifies shortlisted candidates of the date for the Post-UTME screening exercise or oral interview, usually conducted at the hospital premises.
- Attend the screening exercise. Candidates present their original credentials for verification and may sit for a written or oral assessment.
- Check the admission list. Successful candidates are published on an official admission list, typically released in batches, and notified through the college’s official communication channels.
- Pay acceptance and tuition fees. Once offered admission, candidates proceed to pay the required acceptance fee and tuition to secure their place before the resumption date.
Candidates are consistently warned to apply only through the official hospital website or the Registrar’s office, since unofficial phone numbers and third-party agents claiming to sell forms or guarantee admission are a common source of scams around nursing admission cycles in Nigeria. The college does not authorise private individuals to process admission on its behalf outside its verified channels.
School Fees Structure
Fees for the College of Nursing Sciences, FTH Gombe, are structured into distinct categories: the application/screening fee paid before admission, the acceptance fee paid after being offered a place, and the tuition and other compulsory charges paid before resumption. Because the ND/HND General Nursing programme runs for four continuous years, students should plan a budget that covers the full duration, not just the first session.
| Fee Type | Approximate Amount (₦) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Application/Screening Fee (ND/HND Nursing) | 10,000 | Paid via REMITA before screening; non-refundable |
| Application Fee (Post Basic Nursing) | Around 10,000–20,000 | Varies by session and programme type |
| Acceptance Fee | Determined at point of admission offer | Paid once, after being offered a place |
| Tuition and Compulsory Charges (per session) | Roughly 100,000 – 200,000 | Covers tuition, practicals, medicals, library, ID card, and related charges |
| Hostel Accommodation (optional) | Varies by availability | Self-contained rooms typically cost more than shared rooms |
These figures reflect the general pattern the college and similar federal teaching hospital nursing colleges have followed in recent admission cycles. Exact figures for the 2026/2027 session are subject to review by the hospital’s management and should be confirmed directly from the Registrar’s office, the official FTH Gombe website, or the admission notice published at the start of the session before any payment is made. Fee schedules for tertiary health training institutions in Nigeria are reviewed periodically to reflect running costs, so relying on outdated figures from a previous session can lead to underpayment or confusion during registration.
Programme Duration and Structure
The ND/HND General Nursing programme runs as an uninterrupted four-year programme, broken into two stages: the National Diploma (ND) stage, which takes two years, and the Higher National Diploma (HND) stage, which takes a further two years. Students move from the ND to the HND stage without a separate admission process, provided they meet the internal progression requirements set by the college. Post Basic Nursing programmes, in contrast, are shorter, generally structured to run for about two years, since they build on skills the candidate already has as a registered nurse.
Documents Required at Screening
Candidates invited for physical screening or interview typically need to present the following:
- Original and photocopies of O’level result(s) (WAEC, NECO, NABTEB, or GCE)
- Original and photocopy of UTME result slip
- Recent passport-sized photographs
- Birth certificate or age declaration
- Local Government Indigene/Origin certificate, where applicable
- Any additional documents specified in the official admission notice for that session
Only original documents are typically accepted for verification at the point of physical screening; printed download copies of results are generally accepted only where explicitly permitted in the admission guidelines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the College of Nursing Sciences, FTH Gombe, require a UTME/JAMB score?
Yes. Unlike some other hospital-based nursing colleges that admit through an internal entrance exam only, the ND/HND General Nursing programme at FTH Gombe requires a minimum UTME score, generally set at 150 points, with the college listed as the candidate’s first choice institution.
What is the minimum O’level requirement?
Candidates need five credit passes in English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics from WAEC, NECO, NABTEB, or GCE O’level, obtained in not more than two sittings.
How long does the ND/HND Nursing programme take to complete?
The programme runs for four continuous years: two years for the ND stage and two years for the HND stage.
Can a candidate combine NABTEB results with WAEC or NECO results?
No. NABTEB results must stand alone or be combined only with another NABTEB sitting; they cannot be mixed with WAEC or NECO results to make up the required credits.
Who is eligible for the Post Basic Nursing programme?
Only candidates who are already Registered Nurses with the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, holding a current practicing licence, and who meet the underlying O’level requirement, are eligible to apply for Post Basic Nursing.
How much should a fresh student budget for school fees?
A fresh ND/HND Nursing student should budget roughly ₦100,000 to ₦200,000 for tuition and compulsory charges per session, in addition to the application fee and acceptance fee. Candidates should always confirm the current, exact figures with the college before making payment.