AbdulIf you are planning to study at the University of Ibadan in the 2025/2026 academic session, the first thing you should do is stop treating a single fee figure as the “real” cost.
UI’s fee structure has two faces: the headline number that people quote and the smaller levies that quietly turn the headline into the actual amount you must pay. Below I break both of those down and show you how to avoid nasty last-minute shocks.
Read Also: What to Do When You Can’t Afford School Fees After Admission: Real Solutions for Nigerian Students
The short version you can tell your parents
- New undergraduate students generally pay around ₦34,000 to ₦37,000 as the bundled freshers academic fees for the session. Edusko+1
- Returning undergraduates usually pay less per session, typically in the ballpark of ₦20,000 to ₦32,000 depending on faculty and level. Edusko+1
- New postgraduate students have wider variation, approximately ₦75,000 to over ₦120,000 depending on programme. Some professional or lab-heavy masters programmes may be higher. Accolade+1
- The non-refundable acceptance fee for admitted undergraduates was reported at ₦50,000 for recent intakes. Double-check the portal for the exact amount tied to your admission year. Legit.ng – Nigeria news.
Those numbers give you a working budget. But now let us expand the picture.
What “school fees” actually include
When people say “UI school fees,” they usually mean the bundled academic levies that cover things like registration, library, ICT, medical, and basic student services. The university publishes payment guidelines and a breakdown for fresh students on its portal and in PDFs you can download. The official documents detail which items are rolled into the bundle and which are charged separately. University of Ibadan+1
What is often excluded from the headline:
- Hostel or accommodation fees. On-campus rooms are limited and cost extra.
- Departmental or faculty-specific levies, which are common for science, clinical, and studio courses.
- Special lab, fieldwork, or studio charges for programmes in engineering, medicine, architecture, etc.
- Fines for late registration or lost ID cards.
So the bundled fee is the base. Your programme and lifestyle will determine the rest.
Freshers versus returning students
Freshers usually pay a one-time set of bundled fees that are slightly higher than what returning students pay. That’s because freshers pay additional items such as matriculation and certain orientation levies in their first session. The University of Ibadan publishes specific payment guides for fresh students on its site and through the student portal, and those guides are the best source for the exact breakdown per faculty. University of Ibadan+1
Returning students typically see lower sessional fees but may still face extra charges when they move between levels or when there are new departmental requirements.
Postgraduate fees and acceptance particulars
Postgraduate fees vary much more than undergraduate rates because departments set a lot of the specifics. The Postgraduate College provides pages that list programme fees and funding options, and it also states the acceptance payments for newly admitted PG students. For some recent intakes, successful indigenous postgraduate candidates were asked to pay specific acceptance fees (for example ₦30,200 posted on the PG College admissions page). If you are a prospective postgraduate, check the Postgraduate College pages for a programme-level fee checker. Postgraduate College+1
Payment channels and how to avoid scams
UI uses a formal online payment process, and many official payments go through TSA/Remita for federal collections. The university’s finance and payment pages explain how to make legitimate online payments, which is especially important to avoid third-party scammers who promise “discounts” or “faster clearance.” Always pay only via Remita or via the university’s student portal instructions. Hold on to your payment receipts and screenshot everything. University of Ibadan+1
Practical steps:
- Log in to the official UI student portal at student-portal.ui.edu.ng to see your exact fee breakdown. student-portal.ui.edu.ng
- Use the Remita pathway when instructed, selecting University of Ibadan as the MDA and the precise fee item. University of Ibadan
- Save PDF receipts and email them to yourself and to any guardian for records.
How much to budget, realistically
Let us build two scenarios so you can plan.
Conservative student – on-campus aim
- Headline freshers fee: ₦36,000
- Hostel deposit and first-term accommodation: ₦30,000 to ₦80,000 (varies widely with room type)
- Books and course materials: ₦10,000 to ₦25,000 per session
- Contingency and departmental levies: ₦10,000 to ₦30,000
Total first-session realistic budget: ₦86,000 to ₦171,000
Commuter student – lives off-campus
- Headline freshers fee: ₦36,000
- Transport and daily costs: ₦20,000 to ₦60,000 per session
- Books and materials: ₦10,000 to ₦25,000
- Contingency and departmental levies: ₦10,000 to ₦30,000
Total: ₦76,000 to ₦151,000
Numbers above use the published fee ranges and common accommodation estimates drawn from recent fee breakdowns and guides. Exact totals vary by faculty and lifestyle. Edusko+1
Scholarships, concessions and payment plans
UI sometimes offers scholarships, bursaries, and staff-dependent concessions. The student affairs office and the Postgraduate College publish application windows for financial support. There are also external scholarships and student loans you can explore. If budget is tight, apply early for bursaries and ask your department about any hardship funds they manage.
Common mistakes students make
- Assuming the headline fee is the entire cost for the session. It rarely is.
- Paying through unofficial channels or individuals who promise “fast-tracking.” Always use the portal or Remita. University of Ibadan+1
- Forgetting to budget for department levies and specialized course costs.
- Missing deadlines and then paying fines.
Quick checklist before any payment
- Confirm the exact fee item on the student portal. student-portal.ui.edu.ng
- Verify acceptance fee amount on the admissions portal, especially if you were recently admitted. For some recent intakes the acceptance fee was set at ₦50,000. Legit.ng – Nigeria news.
- Use Remita or the UI online payment instructions for the exact MDA code. University of Ibadan
- Keep screenshots and PDF receipts.
- Ask your department for a confirmed breakdown of any program-specific charges.
Final thoughts
The University of Ibadan remains one of Nigeria’s most respected public universities and its fees are, in broad terms, competitive compared with private alternatives. However, the headline numbers are not the whole story. If you want to walk into that first lecture without anxiety, calculate beyond the headline, lock in accommodation options early, and pay through official channels.
Abdul
