Kenule Beeson Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, commonly referred to as KENPOLY and formerly known as Rivers State Polytechnic, is a state-owned tertiary institution located in Bori City, Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State. The polytechnic runs National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes across four schools, and it is one of the main destinations for students in the Niger Delta region who want practical, technical, and vocational training. This article sets out the full list of courses offered at KENPOLY, their school fees for the 2026/2027 academic session, and the other charges students should expect to budget for.
About Kenule Beeson Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic
The institution was established by the Rivers State Government and began operations under the name Rivers State Polytechnic. It was later renamed Kenule Beeson Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic in honour of the writer and environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, a son of Ogoni land where the institution is based. KENPOLY is accredited by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), which means its ND and HND certificates carry full national recognition for employment and further studies.
The polytechnic operates from more than one location. Its main academic activities run from the Bori campus, while some departments and part-time or weekend programmes are also delivered through additional centres, including a Port Harcourt-based arrangement for select programmes. Full-time ND and HND programmes at the Bori campus run for a minimum of three academic sessions, each made up of two semesters, while some part-time and evening programmes run on a slightly different structure depending on the centre.
Schools and Courses Offered at KENPOLY
KENPOLY groups its academic departments under four schools. Each school runs both ND and HND versions of its programmes, and in several departments, the HND stage carries specific options or areas of specialisation. The full breakdown is as follows:
School of Applied Sciences
- Computer Science (ND and HND)
- Science Laboratory Technology (ND, with HND options in Biology/Microbiology, Chemistry/Biochemistry, and Physics/Electronics)
- Statistics (ND and HND)
School of Engineering
- Civil Engineering (ND and HND)
- Electrical/Electronic Engineering (ND, with HND options in Telecommunication and Electronics, and Power and Machine)
- Mechanical Engineering (ND, with HND options in Manufacturing and Power Plant)
- Architectural Engineering
- Welding and Fabrication Engineering
- Industrial Safety and Environmental Engineering Technology
School of Environmental Technology
- Architecture
- Estate Management and Valuation
- Surveying and Geo-informatics
- Urban and Regional Planning
- Industrial Safety and Environmental Engineering Technology
School of Management Sciences
- Accountancy (ND and HND)
- Banking and Finance (ND and HND)
- Business Administration and Management (ND and HND)
- Marketing (ND and HND)
- Office Technology and Management (ND and HND)
- Insurance (ND and HND)
- Mass Communication (ND and HND)
- Public Administration
Beyond these four schools, KENPOLY also runs short professional diploma and certificate programmes with a shorter duration of about six to twelve months, aimed at candidates who want targeted, skill-specific training rather than a full ND or HND certificate. Admission into the HND stage of any department is open to candidates who already hold a relevant National Diploma with at least a Lower Credit grade, along with a completed one-year industrial training and the required O’Level credits, since HND is treated as a direct-entry-style continuation of the ND programme rather than a fresh start.
School Fees at KENPOLY
Like most state-owned polytechnics in Nigeria, KENPOLY charges different tuition rates for indigenes of Rivers State and non-indigene students, with indigenes paying a subsidised rate. Fees also differ slightly depending on the school and department a student is registered under, since some programmes — particularly those in Engineering and Environmental Technology — involve more practical and laboratory-based coursework than programmes in Management Sciences.
Based on the most recently published fee schedules, National Diploma students who are indigenes of Rivers State pay a tuition figure in the region of ₦48,000 per session, while non-indigene ND students pay a higher figure, closer to ₦66,500 per session. This differential reflects the standard subsidy that state governments extend to their own residents at state-owned tertiary institutions, a pattern that is consistent across most Nigerian state polytechnics and colleges of education.
The table below summarises the general fee pattern by category. Exact figures can shift slightly from one session to another depending on management review, so students should treat these as a guide and confirm the specific current amount through the official KENPOLY school fees portal before making payment.
| Category | Student Type | Approximate Fee (per session) |
|---|---|---|
| National Diploma (ND) | Rivers State indigene | ₦48,000 |
| National Diploma (ND) | Non-indigene | ₦66,500 |
| Higher National Diploma (HND) | Rivers State indigene | Similar bracket to ND indigene rate, with departmental variation |
| Higher National Diploma (HND) | Non-indigene | Similar bracket to ND non-indigene rate, with departmental variation |
| Hostel accommodation | All students (subject to availability) | ₦25,000 |
| Part-time ND/HND programmes | All students | Charged at a different structure from full-time programmes |
Students should also note that KENPOLY permits fee payment in instalments, allowing tuition to be split into two payments across a session rather than a single lump sum. This arrangement is useful for students who need more time to raise the full amount, though it typically requires that the first instalment be paid before a student can complete course registration, and the balance settled before the semester examinations.
Additional Costs Beyond Tuition
The published school fee at KENPOLY covers the core tuition, library access, and general academic charges for the session, but students should budget for several other costs that are billed separately:
- Acceptance fee, a one-time charge paid by newly admitted students to confirm their offer of admission before proceeding to full registration.
- Departmental and laboratory levies, which apply mainly to students in the School of Engineering, School of Applied Sciences, and School of Environmental Technology, where practical sessions require the use of laboratory equipment, drawing materials, or workshop tools.
- Industrial Training (SIWES) fee, applicable to students preparing for their mandatory Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme placement, usually undertaken between the ND and HND stages.
- ID card and accreditation charges, covering student identification and departmental accreditation-linked costs.
- Hostel accommodation, priced at around ₦25,000 per session and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis due to limited bed spaces.
- Examination and result processing fees, charged per semester in addition to the main tuition.
Because KENPOLY is a technical institution with a strong emphasis on practical training, students in courses such as Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Architecture, and Science Laboratory Technology should expect their total sessional cost to run somewhat higher than students in purely theory-based Management Sciences courses, once laboratory and workshop levies are added to the base tuition.
How to Pay KENPOLY School Fees
Fee payment at KENPOLY follows the standard portal-based process used by most Nigerian polytechnics. Students log in to the official school fees portal using their registration or matriculation details, generate an electronic invoice for the relevant session, and complete payment either through a designated bank or an approved online payment channel linked to the portal. After payment, the system typically generates a receipt that a student needs for course registration and, later, for examination clearance.
Students who fail to pay their fees within the stipulated period may face consequences such as an inability to sit for semester examinations, extra late-payment charges, or in more serious cases, the risk of losing their admission slot for that session. For this reason, it is advisable for both fresh and returning students to complete their tuition payment as early as possible after resumption rather than waiting close to the deadline, since bank processing delays and portal congestion tend to increase as deadlines approach.
Admission Requirements Overview
While this article focuses primarily on fees, it is useful to note briefly what KENPOLY expects from applicants, since fees and admission requirements go hand in hand for prospective students. To gain admission into the ND programme, a candidate generally needs five credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language and Mathematics, obtained at not more than two sittings in WASSCE, NECO, NABTEB, or GCE O’Level. Candidates also need to meet or exceed the departmental JAMB UTME cut-off mark, which stands at a baseline of 100 for most courses, though more competitive departments such as Computer Science and Civil Engineering may require a higher score for a realistic chance of admission. For HND admission, applicants need an ND certificate with at least a Lower Credit grade in a relevant discipline, along with evidence of completed industrial training and the same category of O’Level credits required at the ND level.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does KENPOLY charge the same fees for indigenes and non-indigenes of Rivers State?
No. Non-indigene students pay a higher tuition rate than indigenes of Rivers State. For the National Diploma programme, indigenes pay roughly ₦48,000 per session while non-indigenes pay roughly ₦66,500 per session, though this figure can be reviewed by the school management from one session to another.
Can students pay KENPOLY school fees in instalments?
Yes. KENPOLY allows tuition to be paid in up to two instalments per session, which gives students more flexibility than a single full-payment requirement, though course registration and examination eligibility are still tied to meeting the instalment deadlines.
Which courses at KENPOLY typically cost more than others?
Courses with heavy laboratory or workshop components, such as Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Architecture, and Science Laboratory Technology, usually attract additional departmental and laboratory levies on top of the base tuition, making their total sessional cost higher than purely theory-based courses in the School of Management Sciences.
Is hostel accommodation compulsory at KENPOLY?
No. Hostel accommodation is available but not compulsory, and it is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis due to limited bed spaces. Students who do not secure a hostel space typically arrange accommodation off-campus.
How can a student confirm the exact current school fees for their department?
The most accurate and up-to-date fee figures are available directly on the official KENPOLY school fees portal, since fees are subject to periodic review by the polytechnic management and may vary slightly by department and session.