Study in Nigeria
Who this applies to
Students (incl. international/West African) at Nigerian universities. English-medium; federal + state + huge private sector.
Governing authority
National Universities Commission (NUC) — accredits & regulates; JAMB runs UTME admissions.
Degree system
Bachelor 4 yrs (5–6 medicine/engineering/law) · Master · PhD. English-medium.
Admission
- How
- UTME (Unified Tertiary Matriculation Exam) via JAMB + post-UTME screening + O-level (WAEC/NECO) credits; international students apply directly.
- Language
- English.
Tuition
- Federal
- Low (historically heavily subsidized; fees rising since 2023 student-loan reforms).
- State
- Moderate (varies by state).
- Private
- High (Covenant, Babcock, Afe Babalola, etc.).
- Source
- NUC; WENR
Student visa & residence permit
Student visa (STR) for non-nationals (ECOWAS freer movement).
Scholarships
Federal/state scholarships; NELFUND student loans (2024); TETFund-supported institutions.
Sources & references
- NUC/system — https://www.nuc.edu.ng/ (2026-06-12)
- counts — https://wenr.wes.org/archive/an-overview-of-education-in-nigeria/ (2026-06-12)
Universities in Nigeria
~250–300 universities (NUC-accredited): ~50 federal, ~60 state, ~150+ private; largest HE system in Africa by institution count. institutions, 10 profiled
University of Ibadan (UI)
Ibadan
University of Lagos (UNILAG)
Lagos
Ahmadu Bello University (ABU)
Zaria
Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU)
Ile-Ife
University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN)
Nsukka
Covenant University
Ota
Bayero University Kano (BUK)
Kano
University of Ilorin (UNILORIN)
Ilorin
University of Benin (UNIBEN)
Benin City
Lagos State University (LASU)
Ojo (Lagos)