Thomas Adewumi University (TAU), located in Oko-Irese, Kwara State, is one of Nigeria’s newer private universities, having received its licence from the National Universities Commission in April 2021. Since it opened its doors, TAU has become a popular choice for students in medicine, nursing, engineering, computing, law, and the social sciences. Naturally, one of the first questions prospective and returning students ask is: how much does it actually cost to study there?
This article breaks down the official TAU school fees structure, explains how the fees differ by programme and academic level, and covers the extra charges you should budget for beyond tuition.
Overview of Thomas Adewumi University School Fees
TAU’s fee structure is not same for all courses. Instead, it is tiered by faculty and programme, with science based, clinical, and professional courses attracting the highest charges, and arts, social science, and management courses sitting at the lower end. Fees also typically decrease slightly as students move from 100 Level into higher levels, since first-year students pay certain one-off charges such as development and registration fees which returning students do not.
Based on the university’s published 2025/2026 school fees and accommodation structure, tuition ranges from around ₦405,700 for the most affordable programmes up to ₦4,200,000 for Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) at the entry level. Fee schedules are reviewed and republished at the start of each academic session, so the figures below reflect the most recently published official structure, always confirm the current session’s figures on the TAU student portal before making payment.
100 Level (Fresh Students) School Fees
Freshers typically pay the highest fees in their academic journey because first year charges include development levies, registration, and other one-time costs bundled into the total. According to the official 2026/2027 fee schedule, 100 Level fees are as follows:
| Programme | Total fee (₦) |
|---|---|
| MBBS (Medicine and Surgery) | 4,200,000 |
| Nursing Science | 1,900,000 |
| Medical Laboratory Science / Doctor of Physiotherapy | 1,150,000 |
| Law | 1,650,000 |
| Radiography | 750,000 |
| Engineering (Communications, Computer, Civil, Electrical & Electronics, Mechanical) | 930,000 |
| Computer Science, Software Engineering, Cyber Security | 550,000 |
| Mass Communication | 450,700 |
| Public Health & Environmental Health | 522,700 |
| Biochemistry, Microbiology, Anatomy, Physiology, Mathematics, English & Literary Studies, Chemistry, Physics with Electronics | 450,000 |
| Accounting, Business Administration, Criminology & Security Studies, Economics | 405,000 |
As you can see, the Faculty of Basic Medical and Health Sciences particularly Medicine, Nursing, and allied health courses commands the highest fees, reflecting the cost of clinical training, laboratory equipment, and medical facilities.
200 Level School Fees
Returning students in their second year generally see a modest reduction compared to 100 Level, since some one-off first-year charges no longer apply.
| Programme | Total fee (₦) |
|---|---|
| Nursing Science | 1,392,000 |
| Medical Laboratory Science / Doctor of Physiotherapy | 897,000 |
| Law | 1,110,000 |
| Engineering programmes | 680,000 |
| Computer Science, Software Engineering | 469,700 |
| Mass Communications | 369,700 |
| Public Health, Environmental Health | 425,000 |
| Biochemistry, Microbiology, Anatomy, Physiology, Mathematics, English, Chemistry, Physics with Electronics | 369,700 |
| Accounting, Business Administration, Criminology & Security Studies, Economics | 369,700 |
300 Level School Fees
At 300 Level, TAU differentiates fees slightly for Direct Entry (DE) students, who join at a more advanced stage than UTME candidates. The official structure lists total fees alongside a separate DE rate.
| Programme | UTME fee (₦) | DE fee (₦) |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing Science | 912,000 | 962,000 |
| Medical Laboratory Science / Doctor of Physiotherapy | 862,000 | 912,000 |
| Law | 1,052,000 | 1,102,000 |
| Engineering programmes | 622,000 | 672,000 |
| Computer Science, Software Engineering | 702,000 | 752,000 |
| Mass Communications | 502,000 | 552,000 |
| Public Health, Environmental Health | 405,000 | 455,000 |
| Biochemistry, Microbiology, Anatomy, Physiology, Mathematics, English, Chemistry, Physics with Electronics | 602,000 | 652,000 |
| Accounting, Business Administration, Criminology & Security Studies, Economics | 402,000 | 452,000 |
The DE surcharge generally reflects an adjustment for students who are absorbed directly into 200 or 300 Level without completing the full track from 100 Level, helping balance total tuition paid across the course duration.
400 Level and 500 Level School Fees
By the time students reach 400 Level, fees for most programmes stabilise close to the 300 Level rate.
| Programme | Total fee (₦) |
|---|---|
| Nursing Science | 912,000 |
| Medical Laboratory Science | 862,000 |
| Doctor of Physiotherapy | 862,000 |
| Computer Science, Software Engineering | 702,000 |
| Law | 1,052,000 |
| Mass Communications | 502,000 |
| Biochemistry, Microbiology, Anatomy, Physiology, Mathematics, English, Chemistry, Physics with Electronics | 602,000 |
| Accounting, Business Administration, Criminology & Security Studies, Economics | 402,000 |
For 500 Level, which applies to longer-duration programmes such as Nursing, Medical Laboratory Science, and Physiotherapy, fees remain broadly consistent with 400 Level: ₦912,000 for Nursing Science, and ₦862,000 each for Medical Laboratory Science and Doctor of Physiotherapy.
Why Fees Vary So Much Across Programmes
If you’re wondering why a Nursing or Medicine student pays several times more than someone studying Accounting or Economics, it comes down to a few key factors:
Equipment and facilities
Clinical and laboratory-based courses (Medicine, Nursing, Medical Laboratory Science, Physiotherapy) require specialised equipment, simulation labs, and access to teaching hospitals or clinical sites, all of which are expensive to maintain.
Accreditation and regulatory requirements
Programmes like Medicine, Nursing, and Law are regulated by external professional bodies: the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, the Council of Legal Education that impose strict standards on staffing, facilities, and training hours, driving up delivery costs.
Class sizes and staffing ratios
Clinical courses often require smaller student-to-lecturer ratios and more hands-on supervision than lecture-based social science courses.
Duration of the programme
Courses like Medicine (6 years) and Nursing (4–5 years) span longer periods, and universities often front-load some costs into early-level fees to support infrastructure investment.
Other Charges to Budget For
Beyond the core tuition listed above, TAU students should budget for several additional fees that are either bundled into the “total fee” figure or charged separately depending on the session:
- Acceptance fee: A one-time fee paid by newly admitted students to confirm their place, historically around ₦20,000, though this should be reconfirmed each admission cycle.
- Hostel/accommodation fee: TAU guarantees on-campus accommodation for new students, offered in single, double, or quadruple-occupancy rooms, with fees varying by room type.
- Development levy: A contribution toward infrastructure and campus development, usually built into the first-year total fee.
- Library and ICT fees: Cover access to library resources, e-learning platforms, and computer labs.
- Medical/health insurance fee: Provides students with access to campus or affiliated medical facilities.
- Caution fee (refundable): A security deposit held by the university and typically refunded when a student graduates or withdraws, provided there are no outstanding liabilities.
- Departmental/practical fees: Particularly relevant for laboratory-based, clinical, and engineering programmes, covering consumables and practical sessions.
How Payment Works at TAU
Private universities in Nigeria, including TAU, generally require fees to be paid to designated university bank accounts rather than in cash. TAU does not typically offer an installment payment plan for tuition. fees are expected in a single lump sum at the start of each session, except where the university management makes special exceptions. Students and parents should always verify current payment channels, deadlines, and any available payment plans directly through the official TAU student portal at portal.tau.edu.ng to avoid falling victim to scams or outdated third-party information.
Comparing TAU Fees to Other Nigerian Private Universities
TAU’s tuition sits in the mid range compared to other private Nigerian universities. Programmes like Accounting, Business Administration, and Economics priced around ₦400,000–₦600,000 depending on level and are relatively accessible compared to older, more established private institutions where similar courses can cost significantly more. On the other end, TAU’s Medicine and Surgery programme, at over ₦4 million for the first year, is broadly in line with what other private medical schools in Nigeria charge, given the high cost of delivering clinical medical education.
For students choosing between TAU and other institutions, it’s worth weighing not just the headline tuition figure, but also accommodation costs, distance from home, accreditation status of the specific programme, and the availability of scholarships or bursaries, TAU has indicated it offers scholarship and student loan schemes to help offset costs for qualifying students.
Tips for Prospective and Returning TAU Students
- Always confirm fees for the current session. Fee schedules are updated yearly (sometimes with notable increases), so a figure from a previous session or from a third-party blog may no longer be accurate.
- Budget for the “total fee,” not just tuition. The published figures above are total fees inclusive of levies like registration, library, and development charges, but hostel accommodation is typically billed separately.
- Check DE-specific rates if applicable. Direct Entry students should note that their fees at 300 Level and above may differ from UTME-admitted students in the same programme.
- Watch for scholarship and bursary announcements. These can meaningfully reduce the cost burden, particularly for high fee programmes like Medicine and Law.
- Use official channels only. Payments should only be made through TAU’s designated bank accounts as communicated via the official portal and never through third-party agents claiming to process payments on your behalf.
You can read our other articles on different school’s school fees here;
- Achievers University School Fees 2026/2027: Complete Breakdown & Payment Guide
- Philomath University School Fees 2026/2027: Complete Breakdown by Faculty and Course
- Bells University School Fees 2026/2027: Undergraduate Fees, Acceptance Fee and Payment Guide
Final Thoughts
Thomas Adewumi University’s fee structure reflects a fairly typical pattern among Nigerian private universities: arts, social science, and management courses remain the most affordable, while clinical, medical, and engineering programmes carry substantially higher costs due to specialised training requirements. Whether you’re eyeing an Accounting degree at around ₦400,000 per year or considering the significant investment required for Medicine and Surgery at over ₦4 million in the first year, the most important step is to verify current fees directly with TAU’s admissions office or student portal before making any payment, since fee schedules are revised for each new academic session.