Bayero University Kano (BUK) is one of the leading federal universities in northern Nigeria for health-related training. Its College of Health Sciences, based at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital complex, runs several medical and allied health programmes through four faculties: the Faculty of Clinical Sciences, the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, the Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences. This article lists the medical courses BUK offers, their duration, admission cut-off marks, and the school fees students should expect to pay.
Medical and Health-Related Courses Offered at BUK
BUK’s College of Health Sciences trains students across a wide range of medical disciplines. The main programmes include:
- Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) – offered by the Department of Medicine and Surgery
- Dental Surgery (BDS) – Bachelor of Dental Surgery
- Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) – offered by the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Nursing Science (B.NSc) – offered by the Department of Nursing
- Medical Laboratory Science (BMLS)
- Physiotherapy (BPT) – Bachelor of Physiotherapy
- Radiography (B.Sc.) – Medical Radiography
- Optometry (OD) – Doctor of Optometry
- Environmental Health Science (B.Sc.)
- Anatomy (B.Sc.)
- Human Physiology (B.Sc.)
- Veterinary Medicine (DVM) – Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, offered under the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
Each of these courses leads to a professional qualification recognised by the relevant regulatory body. Medicine and Surgery and Dentistry graduates register with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), Pharmacy graduates register with the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), Nursing graduates register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), and other allied health courses have their own respective professional councils that graduates must register with before practising.
Course Duration for Each Medical Programme
The number of years spent on each course depends on the structure of the programme and whether the student enters through UTME (100 level) or direct entry.
| Course | Duration (UTME Entry) | Duration (Direct Entry) |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) | 6 years | 5 years |
| Dental Surgery (BDS) | 6 years | 5 years |
| Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) | 6 years | 5 years |
| Nursing Science | 5 years | 4 years |
| Medical Laboratory Science | 5 years | 4 years |
| Physiotherapy | 5 years | 4 years |
| Radiography | 5 years | 4 years |
| Optometry | 6 years | 5 years |
| Environmental Health Science | 5 years | 4 years |
| Anatomy | 4 years | 3 years |
| Human Physiology | 4 years | 3 years |
| Veterinary Medicine | 6 years | 5 years |
Students in Medicine and Surgery and Dentistry spend the first two years on pre-clinical courses (Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry) before moving into clinical training at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital. Allied health students such as those in Nursing, Physiotherapy, Radiography, and Medical Laboratory Science follow a similar pattern, spending early years on basic medical sciences before proceeding to their specific departments for clinical exposure.
Admission Requirements for BUK Medical Courses
To gain admission into any medical course at BUK, a candidate must meet the following minimum requirements:
- O’Level Requirement: Five credit passes in relevant subjects (English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics) at not more than two sittings in WAEC, NECO, or an equivalent examination.
- UTME Requirement: A candidate must sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination with Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and English Language as the required subject combination for most medical courses.
- Post-UTME Screening: Candidates who meet the UTME cut-off must proceed to BUK’s post-UTME screening exercise, which usually tests knowledge of the core science subjects.
- Cut-off Marks: Medicine and Surgery has one of the highest cut-off marks at BUK, typically around 250 in UTME. Other medical and allied health courses such as Nursing, Pharmacy, and Medical Laboratory Science generally require a UTME score in the range of 200 and above, though this varies from session to session depending on competition for available slots.
- Direct Entry: Candidates applying through direct entry are required to hold a relevant A-Level, ND, HND, or NCE qualification with the required grades, in addition to the O’Level credit requirements.
Because competition for medical courses is high, meeting the minimum cut-off mark does not guarantee admission. Candidates are advised to score well above the stated cut-off to improve their chances, since admission is often based on a merit list drawn from the highest-scoring candidates who choose BUK as their first choice.
School Fees for Medical Courses in BUK
BUK, being a federal university, charges relatively low tuition compared to private universities offering similar medical programmes. However, students in the College of Health Sciences pay more than students in other faculties because of the practical, laboratory-based, and clinical nature of medical training.
For the current academic session, tuition for students in the College of Health Sciences, including Medicine and Surgery, Dentistry, Nursing, Physiotherapy, Medical Laboratory Science, Radiography, Optometry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, is significantly higher than tuition charged in faculties such as Arts, Social Sciences, or Education. While non-medical faculties pay tuition in the region of ₦400,000 per session, students admitted into the College of Health Sciences, including Pharmaceutical Sciences, pay around ₦600,000 per session in tuition alone.
In addition to tuition, every student, regardless of course, pays a set of general charges that apply university-wide. These include:
- Acceptance fee: Paid once by every newly admitted student before screening, usually between ₦5,000 and ₦10,000.
- Registration and general charges: Cover ID cards, library access, medical screening, students’ union dues, ICT/portal charges, and other administrative costs.
- Departmental or faculty-specific charges: Medical and allied health students pay extra for practicals, laboratory manuals, clinical materials, and consumables. For example, Pharmaceutical Science students pay additional charges for induction and laboratory consumables, while Anatomy and Human Physiology students pay separate peculiar charges for dissection and laboratory use.
- Hostel accommodation fee: This is optional and applies only to students who secure a bed space in university hostels. Hostel charges at BUK range from roughly ₦12,000 for a basic bed space to over ₦300,000 for premium hostel rooms with better facilities.
Estimated Fee Breakdown Table
| Fee Component | Approximate Amount (₦) | Applies To |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance fee | 5,000 – 10,000 | All new students, one-time payment |
| Tuition (College of Health Sciences) | 600,000 per session | Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, Pharmacy, and other health courses |
| Tuition (other faculties, for comparison) | 400,000 per session | Non-medical courses |
| General registration charges | Varies, typically a few thousand naira | All students |
| Departmental/practical charges | 2,000 – 20,000 | Course-specific (labs, field trips, manuals) |
| Hostel accommodation (optional) | 12,000 – 300,000+ | Students allocated bed space |
These figures represent tuition and compulsory charges only; they do not include feeding, transportation, textbooks, and other personal upkeep costs, which students must budget for separately. Because school fees are reviewed periodically, prospective and returning students should always confirm the exact current figures through the official BUK student portal before making any payment, as fees can change from one academic session to the next.
How BUK Medical Course Fees Compare to Other Nigerian Universities
Compared to private universities, where Medicine and Surgery or Pharmacy programmes can cost several million naira per session, BUK’s tuition for medical courses remains far more affordable because it is a federal institution that receives government subvention. Among federal universities offering medical programmes, BUK’s fee structure is fairly typical, generally sitting in a similar range to other federal teaching universities such as Ahmadu Bello University and University of Maiduguri, though exact figures differ slightly across institutions based on internally generated revenue policies and state of infrastructure.
Students eligible for the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) can also apply for tuition and upkeep support, which has made it easier for indigent students to cover the cost of studying medicine and allied health courses at BUK without paying the full amount upfront.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does BUK offer Medicine and Surgery?
Yes. BUK runs a full MBBS programme through the Department of Medicine and Surgery under the College of Health Sciences, with clinical training conducted at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital.
What is the cut-off mark for Medicine and Surgery at BUK?
The UTME cut-off mark for Medicine and Surgery at BUK is typically around 250, making it one of the highest cut-off requirements in the university.
How much is BUK Medicine and Surgery tuition per session?
Tuition for Medicine and Surgery, along with other courses under the College of Health Sciences, is about ₦600,000 per session, in addition to acceptance fees, general registration charges, and departmental practical fees.
Can direct entry candidates apply for medical courses at BUK?
Yes. Candidates with qualifying A-Level results, ND, HND, or NCE qualifications can apply through direct entry, which typically shortens the duration of the programme by one year.
Does BUK offer Nursing and Pharmacy as separate courses?
Yes. Nursing Science is offered under the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences (Department of Nursing), while Pharmacy is offered as a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) programme under the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences.