Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila-Orangun (FUHSI) sits in Ila-Orangun, Osun State, and operates as a specialized federal institution dedicated entirely to health, medical, and nutrition-related education. The Federal Government establishes it in 2021 to expand Nigeria’s capacity to train healthcare professionals and reduce dependence on medical tourism. Professor Akeem Olawale Lasisi serves as the university’s pioneer Vice-Chancellor.
Unlike conventional universities that run departments across arts, sciences, and social sciences, FUHSI concentrates its academic structure on three faculties: Allied Health Sciences, Basic Medical Sciences, and Clinical Sciences. This focus allows the institution to channel its facilities, teaching hospital access, and laboratory resources directly into producing graduates equipped for clinical practice, diagnostic work, and biomedical research.
Medical and Health Science Courses Offered at FUHSI
FUHSI runs full-time undergraduate programmes only; part-time options are not yet available. The courses fall under the three faculties mentioned above, and the university also runs a JUPEB pre-degree programme for students who need an alternative route into 100 level.
Faculty of Clinical Sciences
- Medicine and Surgery (MBBS)
- Nursing Science
Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences
- Anatomy
- Physiology
- Biochemistry
- Pharmacology
- Microbiology
Faculty of Allied Health Sciences
- Medical Laboratory Science
- Physiotherapy (Doctor of Physical Therapy)
- Nutrition and Dietetics
- Environmental Health Sciences
- Audiology
- Prosthetics and Orthotics
- Information Technology and Health Informatics
This spread covers both direct patient-care disciplines (Medicine, Nursing, Physiotherapy) and diagnostic, laboratory, and research-oriented disciplines (Biochemistry, Microbiology, Medical Laboratory Science). Students interested in emerging fields such as health informatics also find a dedicated programme rather than having to study it as a minor component of Computer Science.
Admission Requirements for FUHSI Courses
Every applicant sits the UTME and selects FUHSI as their first-choice institution on the JAMB portal. A candidate who initially chose a different institution must perform a Change of Institution on JAMB CAPS before FUHSI considers the application.
The standard O’Level requirement across programmes is five credit passes, including English Language, Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, and Biology, obtained from WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB. For Medicine and Surgery, Nursing Science, Medical Laboratory Science, and Physiotherapy specifically, the university insists these five credits come from a single sitting. Other programmes accept credits obtained across a maximum of two sittings.
The recommended UTME subject combination for most science-based courses is English Language, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
FUHSI does not admit on UTME score alone. It combines the JAMB score with O’Level grades to produce a Post-UTME Screening Aggregate out of 100%, calculated as follows:
| Component | Weight | Calculation |
|---|---|---|
| JAMB (UTME) Score | 70% | (UTME Score ÷ 400) × 70 |
| O’Level Grades | 30% | (Total O’Level Points in 5 core subjects ÷ 40) × 30 |
| Total Aggregate | 100% | Sum of both components |
Each O’Level grade earns points on an official point scale, with a maximum of 8 points per subject and 40 points across the five core subjects. A candidate with strong WAEC or NECO grades therefore has a real chance of improving a modest UTME score during screening, since the O’Level component carries meaningful weight in the final aggregate.
Course-specific cut-off marks vary each admission cycle, with Medicine and Surgery typically requiring the highest UTME score among all programmes, followed by Nursing Science and Medical Laboratory Science. Courses such as Environmental Health Sciences, Audiology, and Health Informatics generally carry lower cut-offs. FUHSI also applies a catchment area policy that gives preferential consideration to applicants from Osun, Oyo, Ondo, Ekiti, Ogun, and Lagos states, in line with federal university admission guidelines.
FUHSI School Fees for Medical Courses
FUHSI fee structures differ by programme because clinical and laboratory-heavy courses require more equipment, clinical placement arrangements, and specialist instruction than theory-based programmes. Medicine and Surgery consistently attracts the highest charges, while courses like Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Nutrition and Dietetics sit at the lower end.
Freshers (100 level students) pay more in their first session because the fee includes a one-time registration charge and, in some programmes, other take-off costs that returning students do not pay. From the second year onward, students pay a reduced fee that covers tuition, ICT charges, examination fees, and departmental dues only.
The table below gives an indicative breakdown of what fresh and returning students pay per session, based on the fee structures the university has published in recent sessions. Because FUHSI revises its fee schedule from one academic session to the next, treat these figures as a guide and confirm the exact current amount on the official portal before making any payment.
| Programme | Fresh Students (Approx.) | Returning Students (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) | ₦400,000 – ₦500,000 | ₦300,000 – ₦400,000 |
| Nursing Science | ₦300,000 – ₦380,000 | ₦230,000 – ₦300,000 |
| Medical Laboratory Science | ₦350,000 – ₦412,000 | ₦280,000 – ₦350,000 |
| Physiotherapy (DPT) | ₦300,000 – ₦380,000 | ₦230,000 – ₦300,000 |
| Pharmacology | ₦265,000 – ₦300,000 | ₦215,000 – ₦250,000 |
| Nutrition and Dietetics | ₦265,000 – ₦300,000 | ₦215,000 – ₦250,000 |
| Microbiology / Biochemistry | ₦249,000 – ₦280,000 | ₦200,000 – ₦235,000 |
| Environmental Health Sciences | ₦260,000 – ₦300,000 | ₦210,000 – ₦250,000 |
| Audiology | ₦260,000 – ₦300,000 | ₦210,000 – ₦250,000 |
On top of tuition, every fresh student pays a registration fee of about ₦35,000 and an acceptance fee that ranges from ₦20,000 to ₦40,000 depending on the programme. The acceptance fee confirms a candidate’s decision to take up the admission offer and is non-refundable once paid, in line with the practice at most Nigerian federal universities. Students requiring on-campus accommodation pay a separate hostel fee, which has stood at roughly ₦100,000 per session in recent schedules, while off-campus lodging in Ila-Orangun costs less but adds transportation and feeding expenses that hostel residents avoid.
Why FUHSI Fees Are Lower Than Private Alternatives
FUHSI benefits from federal government subvention, which keeps tuition significantly below what private universities charge for equivalent programmes. Medicine and Surgery at a private Nigerian university commonly costs between ₦2,000,000 and ₦5,000,000 per session, while FUHSI charges a fraction of that amount for the same MBBS qualification. This fee gap makes FUHSI an attractive option for students who want a medical or allied health qualification without the financial burden that private medical schools impose on families.
Students at FUHSI also have access to several forms of financial support that further ease the cost burden, including federal government scholarships awarded on merit, state government bursaries for indigenes of participating states, TETFUND support for science and health-related courses, and scholarships from corporate or NGO sponsors that periodically open applications to students in health-related fields.
How to Apply for Admission
- Register for UTME and select Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila-Orangun as your first-choice institution.
- Meet the minimum O’Level requirement of five credits in English Language, Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, and Biology.
- Wait for FUHSI to release its Post-UTME screening notice, then complete registration on the official admissions portal.
- Submit O’Level results and UTME details for aggregate scoring during screening.
- Check the admission portal for your status once the university releases its admission list.
- Pay the acceptance fee to confirm your offer, then proceed to pay school fees and complete registration before the stated deadline.
FUHSI has repeatedly warned prospective students against unofficial admission “agents” who claim they can guarantee admission for a fee. The university does not use individual agents, and all genuine transactions happen only through fuhsi.edu.ng or the official admissions subdomain.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is FUHSI Ila-Orangun a federal university?
Yes. The Federal Government of Nigeria established FUHSI in 2021, and it operates as a federal institution accredited by the National Universities Commission.
Which course is the most expensive at FUHSI?
Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) carries the highest school fees among FUHSI programmes, reflecting the clinical training, equipment, and hospital placement costs associated with the course.
Does FUHSI offer Pharmacy as a full degree programme?
FUHSI currently runs Pharmacology rather than a full Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm) programme. Applicants specifically seeking a Pharmacy degree should confirm the latest programme list on the official website, as the university continues to expand its academic offerings.
Can a student with credits obtained in two sittings apply for Medicine at FUHSI?
No. Medicine and Surgery, Nursing Science, Medical Laboratory Science, and Physiotherapy require the five O’Level credits to come from a single sitting. Other programmes at FUHSI accept credits from a maximum of two sittings.
How often do FUHSI school fees change?
FUHSI reviews its fee schedule at intervals rather than on a fixed annual basis. Prospective and returning students should check the official portal each session rather than relying on figures from a previous year.