The University of Benin, commonly abbreviated as UNIBEN, is a federal university in Benin City, Edo State, and its College of Medical Sciences is one of the older and more established medical training centres in Nigeria. As a federal university, UNIBEN keeps its overall fee structure comparatively low, though medical and science-based courses are still billed at a higher rate than arts and social science programmes. This article covers the medical courses offered at UNIBEN and the school fees attached to each for the 2026/2027 academic session.
About the College of Medical Sciences, UNIBEN
UNIBEN’s College of Medical Sciences is organized into three schools and an institute: the School of Medicine, the School of Dentistry, the School of Basic Medical Sciences, and the Institute of Child Health. The School of Medicine was established in 1973 and runs the six-year Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme, making it one of the longer-standing medical schools in the country. The School of Basic Medical Sciences came later, launched in January 2004, and now houses seven departments covering a broad range of allied health science fields. Clinical training for UNIBEN’s medical and health science students takes place largely at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), which offers internship and clinical placement across medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing, physiotherapy, radiography, medical laboratory science, and several other health-related fields.
Medical Courses Offered at UNIBEN
The College of Medical Sciences and its associated schools run the following medical and health-related undergraduate programmes:
School of Medicine
- Medicine and Surgery (MBBS)
School of Dentistry
- Dentistry (Bachelor of Dental Surgery, BDS)
School of Basic Medical Sciences
- Anatomy
- Medical Biochemistry
- Physiology
- Medical Laboratory Science (BMLS)
- Nursing Science (BNSc)
- Physiotherapy
- Radiography and Radiation Science
Faculty of Pharmacy (administratively separate from the College of Medical Sciences, but closely linked to it)
- Pharmacy
Medicine and Surgery remains the flagship six-year programme within the college, combining preclinical instruction in the early years with hospital-based clinical rotations from the third year onward. Dentistry follows a broadly similar structure, culminating in the award of the Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree. The departments within the School of Basic Medical Sciences, including Nursing Science, Physiotherapy, Radiography, and Medical Laboratory Science, generally run for a shorter duration than Medicine and Dentistry, though all include a substantial practical and clinical training component delivered through UBTH.
School Fees for Medical Courses at UNIBEN 2026/2027
As a federal university, UNIBEN does not charge tuition in the way private universities do; instead, students pay a set of consolidated charges covering examination, laboratory, library, ICT, utility, and development-related fees. These charges are tiered by faculty, with the College of Medical Sciences billed at a noticeably higher rate than other faculties due to the additional laboratory and clinical infrastructure required for medical training. The table below sets out the general fee pattern for fresh and returning students.
| Category | Fresh Students (₦) | Returning Students (₦) |
|---|---|---|
| College of Medical Sciences (Medicine, Dentistry, and related courses) | 90,000 – 115,000 | 60,000 – 85,000 |
| Other Science-Based Faculties | 70,000 – 95,000 | 45,000 – 60,000 |
| Non-Science Faculties (Arts, Law, Social Sciences) | 50,000 – 85,000 | 40,000 – 56,500 |
In addition to these general school charges, the acceptance fee for newly admitted students in the College of Medical Sciences is set higher than for other faculties, generally falling between ₦73,000 and ₦115,000, compared to ₦60,000 for students in most other faculties. UNIBEN does not typically accept installment payment of school fees, except for students benefiting from an approved bursary or scholarship arrangement, so students and their sponsors should plan to pay the full session’s charges at once. Because UNIBEN reviews its consolidated fee schedule from time to time, candidates should confirm the exact, current figures directly through the university’s official student portal before making any payment.
Why Medical Courses Cost More Than Other Programmes at UNIBEN
Students in the College of Medical Sciences pay more than students in most other faculties at UNIBEN because medical and health-related training carries additional costs that a lecture-based arts or social science course does not. Medicine, Dentistry, and the departments under the School of Basic Medical Sciences all depend on laboratory access, anatomy and physiology practicals, and clinical placement within UBTH, all of which raise the overall cost of running these programmes. This additional charge appears in UNIBEN’s fee schedule as a college-specific development levy and higher laboratory and clinical fees, on top of the general charges every student across the university pays regardless of faculty.
What the School Fees Cover
The consolidated charges paid by students in the College of Medical Sciences at UNIBEN are structured to cover a range of academic and administrative needs, including:
- Examination processing
- Laboratory access and practical training
- Library and ICT services, including portal access
- Utility charges covering general campus services
- Medical, health insurance, and life insurance-related charges (TSHIP/NHIS/Life Insurance)
- College-specific development levies that support the additional infrastructure needs of medical training
- Sports, counselling, and general student welfare services
Accommodation, application fees, and the acceptance fee are billed separately from these consolidated charges and are not included in the figures shown in the table above.
Additional Charges to Budget For
Beyond the consolidated school fees, students in UNIBEN’s medical and health-related courses should plan for a few additional costs, particularly in their first year:
- Acceptance Fee — ₦73,000 to ₦115,000 for College of Medical Sciences students, paid once after receiving an admission offer.
- Academic Gown Rental — a small charge applicable during matriculation for new students.
- Forensic ID Card and Certificate Screening Charges — one-time administrative charges for newly admitted students.
- Hostel Accommodation — optional, and billed separately for students who secure a place in university-managed hostel facilities rather than living off-campus in Benin City.
- Personal Clinical Materials — items such as a stethoscope, lab coats, and dissection kits, which Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, and Physiotherapy students typically source independently as they progress into their practical and clinical years.
Admission Requirements for Medical Courses at UNIBEN
Admission into UNIBEN’s medical and health-related courses follows the standard requirements applied across Nigerian federal universities, with each course specifying its own subject combination:
- O’level Requirements — a minimum of five credit passes in WAEC, NECO, or an equivalent examination, including English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, obtained in not more than two sittings.
- UTME Subject Combination — English Language, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics for Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, and most other courses within the College of Medical Sciences.
- JAMB Cut-Off Mark — UNIBEN’s general baseline cut-off mark sits around 200, and Medicine and Dentistry are among the most competitive courses at the university, requiring candidates to score well above this baseline to be seriously considered.
- Post-UTME/Screening — candidates who meet the departmental cut-off mark are required to participate in UNIBEN’s post-UTME screening exercise, with performance in this screening playing a significant role in the final admission decision alongside O’level results.
Frequently Asked Questions
What medical courses does the University of Benin offer?
UNIBEN offers Medicine and Surgery (MBBS), Dentistry (BDS), Pharmacy, Nursing Science, Physiotherapy, Radiography and Radiation Science, and Medical Laboratory Science, along with basic medical science programmes in Anatomy, Medical Biochemistry, and Physiology.
How much are school fees for Medicine and Surgery at UNIBEN?
Fresh Medicine and Surgery students generally pay between ₦90,000 and ₦115,000 in consolidated charges, plus an acceptance fee that can range from ₦73,000 to ₦115,000, depending on the session.
Why are College of Medical Sciences fees higher than other faculties at UNIBEN?
Medical and health-related courses require laboratory access, practical training, and clinical placement within the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, all of which cost more to deliver than classroom-based arts or social science courses.
Can students pay UNIBEN medical school fees in installments?
Generally, no. UNIBEN does not accept installment payment of school fees except for students on an approved bursary or scholarship arrangement.
Where can students confirm the exact current fees for medical courses?
Exact, up-to-date fee figures should be confirmed directly through the UNIBEN official student portal or bursary office, since the university periodically reviews its consolidated fee schedule.