The Federal University of Health Sciences and Technology, Tsafe (FUHSATT) is a specialized federal institution located in Tsafe, Zamfara State, dedicated to training professionals in health sciences, medical sciences, and health-related technology. The university is one of Nigeria’s newer generation of health-focused federal universities, similar in structure to the Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila-Orangun, and the Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare. This article explains the medical and health-related courses currently approved at FUHSATT, the general admission requirements, and what prospective students should expect regarding school fees.
About the University
FUHSATT sits along Zaria Road in Tsafe, Zamfara State. It was set up as a federal government institution with a specific mandate to provide specialized education, research, and training in health sciences and technology-related disciplines. As a federal university, all its academic programmes require accreditation from the National Universities Commission (NUC) and, where applicable, additional regulatory approval from professional bodies such as the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), and the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), since these bodies license graduates to practise in their respective fields.
Medical and Health Science Courses Offered
In July 2026, the NUC formally approved 18 full-time undergraduate degree programmes for FUHSATT, effective from the 2026/2027 academic session. This approval followed a resource verification exercise in which the Commission assessed the university’s staffing, facilities, and infrastructure. The approved list covers both core medical/health courses and supporting technology courses, since the university’s mandate combines health sciences with technology training.
The medical and health-related courses now approved at FUHSATT include:
| Course | Degree Awarded | Typical Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine and Surgery | MBBS | 6 years |
| Dentistry | BDS | 6 years |
| Nursing Science | B.NSc | 4–5 years |
| Medical Laboratory Science | BMLS | 4–5 years |
| Physiotherapy | DPT | 5 years |
| Pharmacy | D.Pharm | 5 years |
| Radiography | B.Rad. | 5 years |
| Occupational Therapy | B.OT | 4–5 years |
| Environmental Health Sciences | B.EHS | 4 years |
| Health Information Management | B.HIM | 4 years |
| Human Nutrition and Dietetics | B.Sc. | 4 years |
| Medicinal Chemistry | B.Sc. | 4 years |
| Complementary and Alternative Medicine | B.Sc. | 4 years |
Alongside these health-focused courses, the same NUC approval also covers a set of technology-oriented programmes that support the university’s combined health-and-technology identity:
- B.Sc. Computer Science
- B.Sc. Software Engineering
- B.Sc. Data Science
- B.Sc. Artificial Intelligence
- B.Sc. Biotechnology
These technology courses are not medical courses in the clinical sense, but they form part of the same batch of newly approved degrees and often attract students interested in health informatics, medical technology, and biomedical data work, which are increasingly linked to modern healthcare delivery.
Because this is the university’s first full cohort of approved programmes at this scale, admission into most of these courses formally begins with the 2026/2027 academic session. Some courses, particularly MBBS, BDS, Pharmacy, and Nursing Science, require additional accreditation checks from their respective professional regulatory bodies before students can be registered for professional licensing examinations, so applicants should confirm the current accreditation status of a specific course directly from the university before applying, especially for clinically regulated programmes like Medicine and Dentistry.
Admission Requirements
UTME (Direct Entry into 100 Level)
For most of the health science and medical courses at FUHSATT, admission through the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) generally requires:
- Five (5) O’Level credit passes obtained at not more than two sittings, in WASSCE, NECO, or an equivalent examination.
- The credits must include English Language, Mathematics, and three other subjects relevant to the chosen course.
- For courses like Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing Science, and Pharmacy, the relevant subjects typically include Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.
- For technology courses like Computer Science, Data Science, or Software Engineering, relevant subjects usually include Mathematics, Physics, and one other science subject.
- Candidates must select FUHSATT in their UTME registration and meet the university’s departmental cut-off mark, which is set separately for each course and session, with clinically competitive courses like Medicine typically requiring a considerably higher score than less competitive courses.
- Candidates then proceed to the university’s Post-UTME screening exercise, where academic records are verified and, depending on the course, a screening test or interview may be conducted.
Direct Entry (Admission into 200 Level)
Applicants seeking Direct Entry admission — meaning they already hold a relevant qualification and wish to skip 100 level — apply through JAMB’s Direct Entry portal. Acceptable qualifications generally include:
- A relevant National Diploma (ND) or Higher National Diploma (HND) with an acceptable grade.
- ‘A’ Level, IJMB, or JUPEB passes in relevant subjects, usually at specified minimum grades.
- For courses like Nursing Science, a prior ND in a related health field may also be considered, depending on the department’s specific entry rules for that session.
Pre-Degree Programme
FUHSATT also runs a Pre-Degree programme, which serves as a preparatory pathway for candidates who need to strengthen their science subjects before proceeding into a full degree programme. Eligibility for the Pre-Degree programme generally follows the same baseline O’Level requirement of five credit passes, including English Language and Mathematics, at not more than two sittings.
How to Apply
- Check the current admission announcement. FUHSATT releases separate notices for UTME/Post-UTME, Direct Entry, and Pre-Degree intakes, so confirm which application window is currently open for the specific course of interest.
- Register or verify JAMB details. For UTME-based admission, ensure FUHSATT is selected as the institution of choice and that the subject combination matches the requirements of the intended course.
- Complete the university’s application/screening form. This is done through the university’s official application portal, where personal details, academic records, and course preference are submitted.
- Attend screening. Shortlisted candidates may be invited for document verification, a written test, or an interview, depending on the course and the university’s process for that session.
- Check the admission list. Once released, the admission list is published through the university portal and, for UTME candidates, also reflected on the JAMB Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS).
- Accept admission and complete registration. Admitted students accept their offer on JAMB CAPS (where applicable), then proceed to the university for physical or online registration, medical screening, and payment of fees.
School Fees
As a federal university, FUHSATT is expected to charge tuition within the generally moderate range typical of federal institutions, which is usually lower than what private universities charge for similar health science courses. However, because the university only recently received NUC approval for its expanded list of programmes, a single, fixed, published fee schedule covering all 18 courses for the 2026/2027 session had not been widely circulated at the time of this publication.
Based on the pattern seen at comparable federal health science universities, students should expect the following general cost structure, understanding that clinically intensive courses such as Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmacy typically attract higher charges than non-clinical courses because of laboratory, equipment, and clinical placement costs:
| Cost Item | Applies To | General Expectation |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance Fee | All newly admitted students | Paid once, usually a fixed amount around ₦20,000–₦40,000 |
| Tuition/School Fees | All enrolled students | Varies by course; clinical courses (Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nursing) usually cost more than non-clinical courses |
| Registration/ICT Fee | All students, per session | A recurring charge for course registration and portal access |
| Accommodation Fee | Students using campus hostels | Optional, paid separately from tuition |
| Laboratory/Clinical Fee | Science-based and clinical courses | Covers practicals, equipment use, and clinical postings |
| Departmental/Faculty Dues | All students | Small recurring charge specific to the department |
Because FUHSATT is still expanding its programme offerings and because government-approved universities frequently review their fee structures once new courses take full effect, prospective students should treat any figure not obtained directly from the university’s bursary department or official portal as provisional. The safest approach is to contact the university’s admissions office or check the official FUHSATT website once an admission offer is received, since exact fees are usually only confirmed and published after an admission list is out for a given session.
Why Course Availability and Fees May Still Be Changing
FUHSATT’s NUC approval for its 18 undergraduate programmes came through only in July 2026, ahead of the 2026/2027 academic session. This means the university is in an active phase of scaling up its facilities, staffing, and clinical partnerships to support courses like Medicine and Dentistry, which require teaching hospital access and extensive clinical exposure for accreditation by bodies such as the MDCN. Prospective students, particularly those interested in Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, and Nursing Science, should confirm whether a specific course has commenced active admission and full accreditation status for the session they are applying to, since a professional course can be NUC-approved while still working through separate accreditation steps with its professional regulatory body.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does FUHSATT offer Medicine and Dentistry?
Yes. MBBS (Medicine and Surgery) and BDS (Dentistry) are both part of the 18 programmes approved by the NUC for FUHSATT, effective from the 2026/2027 academic session.
What subjects are required for Medicine or Nursing Science at FUHSATT?
Generally, five O’Level credits including English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, obtained at not more than two sittings, plus the correct UTME subject combination and the university’s set cut-off mark for that course.
Is FUHSATT a federal or state university?
FUHSATT is a federal government-owned university, distinct from Zamfara State’s own health training institutions also located in Tsafe.
How much are the school fees at FUHSATT?
Fees vary by course, with clinical programmes such as Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmacy typically higher than non-clinical courses. Since the university’s expanded course list only took effect from the 2026/2027 session, the most accurate and current fee schedule should be obtained directly from the university’s bursary or official portal.
Can I gain admission through Direct Entry?
Yes. Candidates with an ND/HND, IJMB, JUPEB, or A-Level qualification in relevant subjects can apply for Direct Entry into 200 level for eligible courses.