Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, commonly abbreviated as UDUS or UDUSOK, is a federal university established in 1975 and one of the twelve pioneer federal universities in Nigeria. Its College of Health Sciences, supported by the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, trains students across Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, and several allied health science fields. This article covers the medical and health-related courses offered at UDUS and the school fees attached to each for the 2026/2027 academic session.
About the College of Health Sciences, UDUS
The College of Health Sciences at UDUS runs a full collegiate system, structured into faculties that separate the preclinical, clinical, dental, and allied health training pathways. This structure was formally adopted in 2014, when the Faculty of Clinical Sciences was established to handle the clinical component of medical training. The College works closely with the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), located in Sokoto, which serves as the primary clinical training site for students in Medicine, Nursing, Radiography, and related programmes. The Medicine (MBBS) programme holds full accreditation from both the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), while Nursing Sciences and Radiography hold accreditation from the NUC alongside their respective professional regulatory bodies, the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) and the Radiographers Registration Board of Nigeria (RRBN).
Medical Courses Offered at UDUS
The College of Health Sciences at UDUS is organized into distinct faculties, each responsible for a specific group of medical and health-related courses:
Faculty of Clinical Sciences
- Medicine and Surgery (MBBS)
- Nursing Sciences (BNSc)
- Radiography (BRad)
Faculty of Dentistry
- Dentistry and Dental Surgery (BDS)
Faculty of Allied Health Sciences
- Medical Laboratory Sciences
- Physiotherapy
- Nutrition and Dietetics
- Optometry
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Pharmacy (PharmD/B.Pharm)
Medicine and Surgery runs as a six-year programme, including a mandatory internship year, and covers preclinical subjects such as Anatomy, Physiology, and Biochemistry in the earlier years before moving into clinical rotations across Internal Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Paediatrics, Psychiatry, and other specialties in the later years. Dentistry and Dental Surgery, Nursing Sciences, and the allied health science programmes each run for durations typically between four and six years depending on the specific course, with all programmes including a significant clinical or practical training component conducted within the university teaching hospital and affiliated health facilities.
School Fees for Medical Courses at UDUS 2026/2027
UDUS, as a federal university, keeps its tuition significantly lower than private universities offering similar medical and health science programmes, in line with the broader pattern across Nigeria’s federal university system. Medical and health-related courses at UDUS are billed at a higher tier than general arts and social science courses, but the gap remains modest compared to what students would pay at a private medical school. The table below outlines the general fee pattern for newly admitted students in medical and health-related courses.
| Course | School Fees for New Students (₦) |
|---|---|
| Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) | 53,300 – 65,700 |
| Dentistry and Dental Surgery (BDS) | 60,400 – 65,700 |
| Nursing Sciences (BNSc) | 53,300 – 65,700 |
| Radiography | 53,300 – 65,700 |
| Pharmacy | 53,300 – 65,700 |
| Medical Laboratory Sciences | 91,550 – 99,050 |
| Physiotherapy | 53,300 – 65,700 |
| Nutrition and Dietetics | 53,300 – 65,700 |
| Optometry | 53,300 – 65,700 |
These figures reflect the tuition and core charges billed to newly admitted students and can shift slightly from one session to the next as the university reviews its fee schedule. Returning students in these same courses generally pay a slightly lower figure than freshers, since certain one-time charges such as matriculation and initial registration fees apply only in the first year. As with most federal universities, non-clinical courses in the arts, social sciences, and general sciences are billed at a noticeably lower rate than the medical and health-related courses listed above.
Why Medical Courses Cost More Than Other Programmes at UDUS
Medical and health-related courses at UDUS attract higher fees than arts, social science, or general science programmes because of the additional cost of running clinical training, laboratory sessions, and specialized equipment required for these fields. Programmes like Medicine and Surgery, Dentistry, and Medical Laboratory Sciences depend heavily on access to teaching hospital facilities, laboratory consumables, and smaller staff-to-student ratios during clinical years, all of which raise the cost of delivering the programme compared to a lecture-based arts or social science course. This pattern is consistent across nearly every Nigerian university, whether federal, state, or private, and is not unique to UDUS.
What the School Fees Cover
Tuition for medical and health-related courses at UDUS covers the core academic and administrative requirements for the session, including:
- Course registration and academic levies
- Examination processing
- Laboratory and practical training sessions
- Access to library and study resources
- Basic administrative and student support services
Clinical training conducted within the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital is generally coordinated as part of the academic programme rather than billed as a separate standalone charge, though students should still budget for personal clinical materials, such as lab coats and basic instruments, which are typically arranged independently of the core tuition figure.
Additional Charges to Budget For
Beyond the core school fees listed above, students in medical and health-related courses at UDUS should plan for a few additional costs, particularly in their first year:
- Acceptance Fee — a one-time charge paid by newly admitted students after receiving an offer of admission, required before proceeding to pay tuition.
- Matriculation Fee — a one-time charge applicable to fresh students during their first-year registration.
- Hostel Accommodation — optional, and only applicable to students who secure a place in university-managed hostel facilities rather than living off-campus in Sokoto.
- Clinical/Practical Materials — items such as lab coats, basic clinical instruments, and uniforms, which students in Medicine, Nursing, and the allied health science courses typically source independently.
Admission Requirements for Medical Courses at UDUS
Admission into medical and health-related courses at UDUS 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 health-related courses.
- JAMB Cut-Off Mark — candidates must meet both the national minimum cut-off mark set by JAMB and the specific departmental cut-off mark set by UDUS for their chosen course, which is generally higher for Medicine and Dentistry than for the allied health science programmes.
- Post-UTME/Screening — candidates who meet the cut-off mark are required to participate in the university’s post-UTME screening exercise, which plays a role in the final admission decision alongside the UTME score and O’level results.
Candidates should confirm the exact departmental cut-off mark and subject combination for their intended course through the university’s admission portal, since these figures are reviewed and published ahead of each admission cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
What medical courses does Usmanu Danfodiyo University offer?
UDUS offers Medicine and Surgery (MBBS), Dentistry and Dental Surgery (BDS), Nursing Sciences, Radiography, Pharmacy, Medical Laboratory Sciences, Physiotherapy, Nutrition and Dietetics, and Optometry, all coordinated under its College of Health Sciences and Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
How much is Medicine and Surgery school fees at UDUS?
School fees for newly admitted Medicine and Surgery students generally fall between ₦53,300 and ₦65,700, though the exact figure can be reviewed between sessions.
Are medical course fees higher than other courses at UDUS?
Yes. Medical and health-related courses are billed at a higher tier than most arts and social science programmes, reflecting the additional cost of clinical training and laboratory work.
Does UDUS require post-UTME screening for medical courses?
Yes. Candidates who meet the departmental cut-off mark for Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, and other health-related courses must participate in the university’s post-UTME screening exercise before final admission.
Where can students confirm the exact current fees for their course?
Exact, up-to-date fee figures should be confirmed directly through the UDUS official admission portal or bursary office, since fees are reviewed at the start of each academic session.