Many prospective applicants search for “Medicine and Surgery school fees at UNICROSS” expecting a straightforward tuition figure, the way they would for Anatomy or Physiology. The honest and useful answer requires a bit more context: as of the 2026/2027 admission cycle, the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS), Calabar, does not run a full clinical Medicine and Surgery (MBBBS/MBBS) degree programme with its own faculty of clinical sciences. What UNICROSS currently offers, under its Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, are pre-clinical and basic medical science courses — Human Anatomy, Physiology, and Medical Biochemistry — rather than the six-year MBBS pathway that produces a fully licensed medical doctor. This article explains exactly what UNICROSS offers in the medical sciences space, what those related courses cost for the 2026/2027 session, and what an applicant who genuinely wants a Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) degree needs to know before choosing UNICROSS.
Does UNICROSS Offer Medicine and Surgery (MBBS)?
UNICROSS, formerly known as Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH) before its 2021 renaming, restructured itself into a full conventional university to offer more professional courses beyond its original technology focus. Despite this expansion, the university’s academic structure, organised under ten faculties including the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, does not list a standalone “Medicine and Surgery” or MBBS programme among its degree offerings. Instead, the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences runs three closely related departments: Medical Biochemistry, Human Anatomy, and Physiology.
These three courses are genuine science degrees in their own right, and graduates typically go on to careers in medical laboratory science, biomedical research, physiology-related fields, teaching, or further postgraduate study. Some students also use a strong result in these courses as a stepping stone toward gaining direct entry into a clinical MBBS programme at another university that runs the full six-year Medicine and Surgery degree, though this route depends on the admission policy of the receiving institution and is not a guaranteed transfer pathway. Anyone whose specific goal is to become a medical doctor through a continuous MBBS programme should treat UNICROSS’s basic medical science courses as adjacent fields of study rather than the Medicine and Surgery degree itself, and should confirm directly with the university’s admissions office whether a full clinical programme has been introduced by the time they apply, since universities occasionally add new professional programmes once they secure the required regulatory accreditation.
School Fees for Medical Biochemistry, Human Anatomy, and Physiology (2026/2027)
Since these three departments are the closest equivalent UNICROSS currently has to a medical sciences track, the table below sets out their approved fee structure for new and returning students, split by residency status.
| Course | New Students – Indigene (₦) | New Students – Non-Indigene (₦) | Returning Students (₦) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Biochemistry | 190,000 | 215,000 | 170,000 |
| Human Anatomy | 190,000 | 215,000 | 170,000 |
| Physiology | 185,000 | 210,000 | 165,000 |
These figures place the basic medical science courses among the higher-cost programmes at UNICROSS, alongside Microbiology, Computer Science, and Software Engineering, largely because of the laboratory-intensive nature of the coursework. They sit below what a full clinical MBBS programme would typically cost at a university that runs one, since MBBS fees generally carry additional charges for clinical postings, teaching hospital attachment, and specialised equipment that a purely basic-science curriculum does not require.
What Makes Up the Fee for These Courses
The published figure for Medical Biochemistry, Human Anatomy, or Physiology at UNICROSS is not a single tuition charge; it bundles several components into one payment collected through the university’s student portal. These generally include:
- Tuition fee — covers lectures, coursework, and departmental academic activities.
- Laboratory fee — covers use of anatomy, biochemistry, and physiology laboratories, including dissection materials, reagents, and specimens where relevant.
- Registration and matriculation charges — covers formal enrolment into the university’s academic records each session.
- ICT and library fee — covers access to the university’s digital learning resources and library materials.
- Medical and health services fee — supports the campus clinic available to all registered students.
- Faculty and departmental dues — smaller charges collected by the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences for departmental activities and administrative running costs.
Hostel accommodation is not part of this figure. UNICROSS charges hostel fees separately, at approximately ₦90,000 per session depending on the hostel and room type, and accommodation is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis rather than being compulsory.
Indigene and Non-Indigene Fee Difference
As with most Nigerian state universities, UNICROSS charges Cross River State indigenes a lower fee than students from other states, since the state government subsidises part of the cost for its own residents. Based on the current schedule, the gap between indigene and non-indigene rates for the basic medical science courses is ₦25,000 per session. To benefit from the indigene rate, an applicant needs a valid certificate of origin or an indigene certificate issued by a local government area in Cross River State, which is typically required during the registration process. Students who cannot provide this documentation are billed at the non-indigene rate regardless of where they currently reside.
Acceptance Fee and Matriculation Charges
Newly admitted students at UNICROSS pay a non-refundable acceptance fee before they can access their official admission letter and the detailed school fee chart for their department. This fee currently stands at ₦20,000 and must be paid through the university’s Edu-Portal using the Student Payment Code (SPC) generated after logging in with the JAMB registration number. In addition, first-year students are billed a separate matriculation fee, fixed at ₦10,000, which is tied to completing registration and participating in the official matriculation ceremony. Both charges are one-time payments and apply only to a student’s first year; returning students in 200 Level and above are not billed for either.
Payment Structure for New and Returning Students
Students generate a Student Payment Code (SPC) through the UNICROSS Edu-Portal before making any payment, whether for the acceptance fee, matriculation fee, or the main school fees. Returning students are required to clear any outstanding balance from a previous session before the portal allows payment for the current session, so students who owe from an earlier semester should settle that first to avoid registration delays. Payment can be completed online with a debit card or through a bank deposit linked to the payment code, and the university advises against making payment through any channel other than the official portal.
Factors That Affect the Exact Fee a Student Pays
Several factors explain differences in the amount two students at UNICROSS, even within the same department, end up paying:
- Residency status: Cross River State indigenes pay less than non-indigenes across every course, including Medical Biochemistry, Human Anatomy, and Physiology.
- Year of study: First-year students carry the one-time acceptance fee and matriculation fee that returning students do not pay again.
- Course of study: Laboratory-intensive courses in the basic medical sciences cost more than courses in education, the arts, or the social sciences.
- Late registration penalties: Students who register after the university’s stated deadline may be required to pay an additional charge before their registration is accepted.
What to Do If Your Goal Is a Full Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) Degree
Applicants whose primary goal is a full, continuous Medicine and Surgery degree leading to registration as a medical doctor should be clear-eyed about what UNICROSS currently offers before applying. If the intention is genuinely to study the full MBBS programme, the safer path is to apply directly to a university with an established, accredited Faculty of Clinical Sciences and College of Medicine, since these institutions run the complete pre-clinical and clinical training required for full medical licensure. Applicants who are specifically interested in Human Anatomy, Physiology, or Medical Biochemistry as standalone science degrees, whether for a career in biomedical research, medical laboratory science, or as a foundation for later postgraduate specialisation, will find UNICROSS’s Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences a genuine and reputable option, provided the fee structure and course content match their career goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does UNICROSS have a Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) programme?
No. As of the 2026/2027 session, UNICROSS does not run a standalone clinical Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) degree. Its Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences offers Medical Biochemistry, Human Anatomy, and Physiology instead.
How much does Human Anatomy or Physiology cost at UNICROSS?
New indigene students pay approximately ₦185,000 to ₦190,000, while non-indigene students pay approximately ₦210,000 to ₦215,000, depending on the specific course. Returning students pay less, since they are not billed the one-time first-year charges.
What is the UNICROSS acceptance fee?
The acceptance fee is ₦20,000, paid once by newly admitted students before they can access their admission letter and detailed fee chart.
Is hostel accommodation included in the school fees?
No. Hostel accommodation is billed separately, at approximately ₦90,000 per session, and is not compulsory. Students can choose to live off campus instead.
Can a student transfer from UNICROSS’s basic medical science courses into a full MBBS programme elsewhere?
Some students use strong results in Human Anatomy, Physiology, or Medical Biochemistry to pursue direct entry into a clinical MBBS programme at another institution, but this depends entirely on the admission policy of the receiving university and is not an automatic or guaranteed transfer.