Many prospective nursing students search for a private nursing school in Bayelsa State because private options often mean more flexible admission requirements or additional intake windows compared to government-run institutions. As of the 2026/2027 academic session, there is no privately owned nursing training institution accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) currently operating within Bayelsa State. Every nursing training institution recognized in the state is government-owned, run either by the Bayelsa State Ministry of Health or as part of a state university. This article explains the accredited nursing training options actually available in Bayelsa State, their fees, and what applicants should know before choosing where to apply, since accuracy on this point matters more than repeating a search term that does not reflect the current situation on ground.
Why There Is No Private Nursing School in Bayelsa State
Nursing education in Nigeria operates under strict regulatory oversight from the NMCN, which maintains the official register of approved schools of nursing, schools of midwifery, and departments of nursing sciences across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. A search of the Council’s state-by-state approved list shows that Bayelsa State’s registered nursing training institutions are all government-established, reflecting the pattern common to many South-South states where nursing training has historically been anchored around state teaching hospitals and state health ministries rather than private proprietors. This differs from states like Lagos or Ogun, where private hospitals and mission-affiliated institutions run several NMCN-accredited private schools of nursing alongside government-owned ones.
Accredited Nursing Training Institutions in Bayelsa State
Since a private option is not currently available within the state, applicants interested in studying nursing in Bayelsa should focus on the accredited government-owned institutions that do exist. These include:
- Bayelsa State College of Nursing Sciences (BYSCONS), located in Tombia-Ekpetiama
- Bayelsa State School of Nursing and Basic Midwifery, operating under the Bayelsa State Ministry of Health
- Bayelsa Medical University (BMU), located in Yenagoa, which runs a full Nursing degree programme alongside its Medicine and Surgery and other health science courses
Each of these institutions is state-owned rather than privately owned, but they remain the legitimate, NMCN-recognized pathway into professional nursing practice for anyone targeting Bayelsa State specifically.
Bayelsa State College of Nursing Sciences (BYSCONS)
BYSCONS runs an NMCN-accredited four-year programme leading to the award of HND Nursing, Registered Nurse (RN), Registered Midwife (RM), and Registered Public Health Nurse (RPHN) certifications. Admission requires a minimum UTME score of around 140, along with five credit passes in English Language, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, obtained from WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB in not more than two sittings. Applicants must be at least 17 years old at the point of application.
The college charges an application/Post-UTME form fee in the range of ₦20,000 to ₦25,000, and a separate acceptance fee of ₦10,000 payable once admission is confirmed. Beyond these, BYSCONS structures its school fees by residency status and programme track, with tuition and related charges split across multiple designated bank accounts for different fee categories, including tuition, a Bayelsa State Nursing and Midwifery Committee fee of ₦10,000, and a Student Union Government fee of around ₦2,200. Non-indigene students pay noticeably more than indigenes across most fee categories, with total charges for non-indigenes in certain programme tracks reported in the range of ₦240,000 per session once tuition and all mandatory charges are combined, while indigenes pay a considerably lower total.
Bayelsa State School of Nursing and Basic Midwifery
This institution operates as the umbrella name covering the state’s dedicated School of Nursing and its School of Basic Midwifery counterpart, both accredited by the NMCN to run three-year professional training programmes. Admission requirements mirror those at BYSCONS, requiring five credit passes in relevant science subjects and a satisfactory entrance examination score. Since this school runs under the Bayelsa State Ministry of Health rather than a college structure, its fee schedule tends to track closely with what BYSCONS charges, though specific figures should be confirmed directly from the Ministry of Health or the school’s admissions office each session, since fee schedules for state-run nursing schools are reviewed periodically.
Bayelsa Medical University Nursing Programme
Bayelsa Medical University, established in Yenagoa, expanded its academic offerings to include a full Bachelor’s degree programme in Nursing alongside its Medicine and Surgery, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Optometry, Medical Laboratory Science, and Public Health programmes. As a university-level nursing degree rather than a diploma-track school of nursing, BMU’s Nursing programme sits within its Faculty of Health Sciences and follows the university’s broader tuition structure, which is generally higher than what a standalone school of nursing charges, reflecting the university’s classification and its status as a state-owned but degree-awarding institution. Applicants interested in a university degree route into nursing, as opposed to the RN/RM diploma route offered by BYSCONS, should treat BMU as the relevant option within Bayelsa State.
Fee Comparison Table
The table below summarizes what is currently known about the fee brackets across Bayelsa State’s accredited nursing training institutions.
| Institution | Programme Type | Indigene Fee (Per Session, Estimate) | Non-Indigene Fee (Per Session, Estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bayelsa State College of Nursing Sciences (BYSCONS) | ND/HND Nursing, RN, RM, RPHN | Lower bracket, typically below ₦150,000 | Around ₦240,000 |
| Bayelsa State School of Nursing and Basic Midwifery | Basic Nursing/Midwifery (3-year) | Comparable to BYSCONS, subject to Ministry of Health review | Comparable to BYSCONS, subject to Ministry of Health review |
| Bayelsa Medical University (BMU) | BNSc Nursing (University Degree) | Higher than diploma-track schools, follows general university tuition structure | Higher than diploma-track schools, follows general university tuition structure |
These figures should be treated as a general guide rather than a fixed invoice, since fee schedules at all three institutions are subject to periodic review, and applicants should confirm the exact current amount directly with the relevant institution before making any payment.
What the Nursing School Fee Typically Covers
Regardless of which accredited institution a student chooses, the total fee paid each session generally bundles several components together rather than representing a single tuition charge:
- Tuition/school fee – the core academic charge for the nursing or midwifery programme
- Acceptance fee – a one-time payment confirming admission after an offer is received
- Committee/professional body fee – charges tied to the Nursing and Midwifery Committee overseeing standards within the state
- Registration and departmental fees – covers course registration, ID processing, and departmental materials
- Student union dues – union levy applicable to all students regardless of programme
- Practical/clinical posting fee – covers hospital-based nursing practicum and community-based midwifery practicum central to the training
Additional Costs Nursing Students Should Plan For
Beyond the core fee structure, students training in nursing or midwifery in Bayelsa State should budget for a few recurring costs tied specifically to clinical training:
- Nursing uniforms and clinical equipment – stethoscopes, uniforms, and other clinical tools are typically purchased directly by students rather than included in the general fee.
- Textbooks and clinical manuals – nursing coursework relies on regularly updated reference materials across the duration of the programme.
- Accommodation – hostel accommodation is billed separately from tuition at institutions that offer it, including BYSCONS, which provides hostel facilities for its students.
- Transportation to clinical posting sites – students posted to hospital wards or community health centres for practicum sometimes cover their own transportation costs.
- Professional examination and licensing fees – graduates preparing to sit NMCN’s licensing examination pay separate registration charges to the Council once their training is complete.
How to Apply
Applicants interested in any of Bayelsa State’s accredited nursing training institutions should apply directly through the institution’s official admissions channel: BYSCONS runs its application process through its own admissions portal, the Bayelsa State School of Nursing and Basic Midwifery processes applications through the state Ministry of Health, and Bayelsa Medical University processes nursing degree applications through the standard university JAMB and Post-UTME admission route. In every case, application and acceptance fees should only be paid into the official bank accounts published by the institution to avoid falling victim to unofficial agents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there any privately owned nursing school in Bayelsa State?
No. As of the 2026/2027 academic session, all NMCN-accredited nursing training institutions in Bayelsa State are government-owned, run either by the Bayelsa State Ministry of Health or as part of a state university.
What is the closest alternative if I specifically want a private nursing school?
Applicants who specifically want a privately owned NMCN-accredited school of nursing should look toward neighboring states such as Rivers State or Delta State, where private hospital-affiliated nursing schools do exist, since Bayelsa currently has none.
How much does BYSCONS charge non-indigene students?
Recent figures place non-indigene fees at BYSCONS around ₦240,000 per session once tuition and mandatory charges are combined, considerably higher than what indigenes pay for the same programme.
Does Bayelsa Medical University’s Nursing programme differ from BYSCONS?
Yes. BMU offers a full university Bachelor’s degree in Nursing (BNSc), while BYSCONS runs a diploma-track programme leading to RN, RM, and RPHN certifications. The two follow different curricula, durations, and fee structures.
Where can I confirm the exact current fee for a nursing programme in Bayelsa State?
The official BYSCONS admissions portal, the Bayelsa State Ministry of Health, and the Bayelsa Medical University admissions office are the most reliable sources for confirming exact, up-to-date fee figures before making any payment.