Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, houses one of the oldest and largest medical training institutions in Nigeria, the College of Medical Sciences, alongside a separate Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and a Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. This article sets out the medical and health science courses available at ABU for the 2026/2027 session, explains the fee structure for each category of course, and clarifies the admission requirements a prospective student needs to meet.
Overview of ABU’s College of Medical Sciences
Ahmadu Bello University was established in 1962, and its College of Medical Sciences followed in 1967 as the first full-fledged college of medicine in northern Nigeria. Today, the college is the largest academic unit within the university, spanning 17 departments across several constituent faculties, including the Faculty of Medicine, the Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, and allied health science departments. The college trains students in Medicine and Surgery, Dentistry, and a wide range of allied health disciplines, while the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine operate as separate but closely related academic units within the wider university structure.
ABU’s medical training programmes are recognized by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), and the university’s medical programme is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools, which confirms its recognition for graduates seeking to practise or pursue further training internationally.
Medical and Health Science Courses Offered at ABU
The table below sets out the medical and health-related courses currently offered across the College of Medical Sciences, the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Ahmadu Bello University.
| Faculty/College | Courses Offered |
|---|---|
| Faculty of Medicine | Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) |
| Faculty of Dentistry | Dentistry (BDS) |
| Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences | Chemical Pathology; Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics; Haematology and Blood Transfusion; Medical Microbiology; Pathology (Morbid Anatomy) |
| Allied Health Departments (College of Medical Sciences) | Nursing Science; Medical Laboratory Science; Radiography; Physiotherapy; Medical Rehabilitation; Anatomy; Physiology; Biochemistry |
| Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences | Pharmacy (B.Pharm) |
| Faculty of Veterinary Medicine | Veterinary Medicine (DVM) |
A candidate applying to any of these programmes selects a specific department at the point of UTME registration or Direct Entry application, since each department carries its own subject combination, admission cut-off mark, and, in most cases, a slightly different fee schedule reflecting the practical and clinical training components built into the curriculum.
School Fees for Medicine and Surgery (MBBS)
Medicine and Surgery is the most competitive and closely watched course within ABU’s College of Medical Sciences in terms of fee inquiries, given the six-year duration of the programme and its heavy reliance on clinical training and hospital exposure. For the current session, fresh Medicine and Surgery students at ABU pay approximately ₦82,625 in tuition and related charges, while returning students in the programme pay approximately ₦95,750. These figures cover the core tuition, registration, and standard institutional levies bundled into the session invoice, though the exact amount can shift slightly from one session to another as the university’s management reviews its fee schedule, so candidates should always confirm the current figure directly from the official ABU student portal before making payment.
Despite its reputation as one of Nigeria’s leading medical training institutions, ABU keeps its Medicine and Surgery tuition considerably lower than what obtains at many private universities offering the same course, where session fees for medicine frequently run into several million naira. This makes ABU one of the more financially accessible pathways into a medical degree for Nigerian students who meet its competitive admission standards.
Fees for Other Medical and Health Science Courses
Fee levels for the allied health and basic medical science departments generally track closely with the Medicine and Surgery fee schedule, since all of these programmes fall under the same College of Medical Sciences fee structure, with only modest variation based on the specific practical, laboratory, and clinical placement components attached to each department. The table below gives a general sense of how fees compare across the different course categories at ABU.
| Course Category | Approximate Session Fee Range (Indigene/Nigerian Students) |
|---|---|
| Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) | ₦82,625 (fresh) – ₦95,750 (returning) |
| Dentistry (BDS) | Comparable to Medicine and Surgery, given similar clinical training structure |
| Nursing Science, Medical Laboratory Science, Physiotherapy, Radiography | ₦70,000 – ₦100,000 per session |
| Pharmacy (B.Pharm) | ₦70,000 – ₦100,000 per session |
| Basic medical science departments (Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Pathology-related departments) | ₦65,000 – ₦95,000 per session |
| Veterinary Medicine (DVM) | Comparable to Medicine and Surgery, given its extended clinical and practical training structure |
These figures represent the general range reported across recent admission cycles and should be treated as a guide rather than an exact, unchanging figure. ABU reviews its fee schedule periodically, and the definitive amount for any given department and level is the one published on the university’s official fee portal at the point a student is due to pay.
Fees for Non-Indigene and International Students
ABU applies a different, generally higher fee structure for non-indigene Nigerian students and international students across its programmes, including its medical courses. While indigene and standard Nigerian students pay the tuition figures outlined above, non-indigene and international applicants can expect a considerably higher session charge, which in some faculties spans a wide range depending on the specific programme and the student’s country of origin. Any international candidate considering a medical or health science programme at ABU should request the specific international student fee schedule directly from the university’s admissions office, since this differs meaningfully from the domestic fee structure and is reviewed independently of it.
What the Session Fee Covers
Across ABU’s medical and health science departments, the session fee generally bundles the following components into a single payment:
- Tuition — the core academic charge covering lectures, coursework, and departmental instruction.
- Registration — administrative processing of course forms and academic records for the session.
- Library and laboratory charges — access to library resources and laboratory materials, which typically range from ₦5,000 to ₦15,000 depending on the practical intensity of the course.
- Health and insurance fee — covers basic health services provided to students on campus, generally between ₦5,000 and ₦10,000.
- Administrative and examination fees — a standard charge, usually between ₦5,000 and ₦10,000, covering general administrative processing and internal examinations.
Costs that typically fall outside the session fee include hostel accommodation, which is charged separately at approximately ₦90,000 per year plus a maintenance fee of about ₦7,000, and a one-time acceptance fee paid by fresh students after confirming their admission offer.
Admission Requirements for Medical Courses at ABU
Gaining admission into any medical or health science course at ABU requires meeting both the university’s general entry requirements and the specific departmental requirements for the chosen course. At the O’Level stage, candidates need a minimum of five credit passes, including English Language, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, obtained in not more than two sittings from WAEC, NECO, or an equivalent examination body.
For UTME candidates, ABU’s general minimum cut-off mark currently stands at 180, but this figure only qualifies a candidate to participate in the university’s Post-UTME screening process; it does not guarantee a place in a specific department. Medicine and Surgery, being the most competitive course in the college, carries a considerably higher departmental cut-off, currently set at 240 for the present admission cycle. Other departments within the College of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine set their own departmental cut-off marks, which generally sit above the university’s general minimum but below the figure required for Medicine and Surgery, reflecting differences in applicant competition across departments.
Candidates applying through Direct Entry typically need three relevant A-Level or IJMB passes, commonly in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology or Zoology, depending on the specific department, and Direct Entry admission generally places a candidate directly into a later year of the programme rather than the first year.
How ABU Determines Admission Beyond the Cut-Off Mark
ABU does not admit candidates purely on the basis of UTME score. The university uses a three-tier admission framework consisting of Merit admission, which is open nationwide; Catchment admission, reserved for candidates from designated northwestern states; and admission for candidates from Educationally Less Developed States (ELDS). This means two candidates with identical UTME scores can have different admission outcomes into the same medical department depending on which of these three categories they fall under, alongside their overall Post-UTME and O’Level performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current school fee for Medicine and Surgery at ABU?
Fresh students in the Medicine and Surgery programme pay approximately ₦82,625, while returning students pay approximately ₦95,750, though this should be confirmed on the official ABU portal before payment.
Does ABU charge the same fee for all medical and health science courses?
No. While the fees across the College of Medical Sciences fall within a broadly similar range, Medicine and Surgery, Dentistry, and Veterinary Medicine tend to carry slightly higher charges than allied health courses like Nursing Science or Medical Laboratory Science, due to differences in clinical and practical training intensity.
What is the JAMB cut-off mark for Medicine at ABU?
The departmental cut-off mark for Medicine and Surgery is currently set at 240, well above the university’s general minimum UTME requirement of 180.
Do non-indigene and international students pay the same fees as Nigerian indigene students?
No. Non-indigene and international students pay a higher fee structure, which varies by department and should be confirmed directly from ABU’s admissions office.
Can a student gain admission into a medical course at ABU through Direct Entry?
Yes. Direct Entry candidates typically need three relevant A-Level or IJMB passes in appropriate science subjects and are usually admitted directly into a later year of the programme.