If you are planning to study for a postgraduate degree at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), one of the first things you will want to know is how much the programme will cost. Understanding the OAU postgraduate school fees before applying can help you prepare your budget and avoid confusing application charges with the actual cost of studying.
Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, offers postgraduate programmes at different levels, including Postgraduate Diploma (PGD), Master’s, M.Phil. and Ph.D. programmes. However, postgraduate fees are not necessarily the same for every programme. The amount a student eventually pays can depend on the programme, type of study and other charges approved by the university.
For the 2026/2027 academic session, OAU’s official postgraduate application portal lists many available programmes and their application fees. It is important to point out that these figures are application processing fees, not the complete postgraduate school fees for the programme.
This guide explains what prospective students should know about OAU postgraduate fees, application charges, possible additional costs and how to confirm the correct amount before making payment.
OAU Postgraduate School Fees: What You Need to Know
There is no single amount that applies to every postgraduate student at OAU.
The university’s postgraduate application portal currently displays different programmes and corresponding application fees. For many regular postgraduate programmes, the application fee shown is ₦20,000, while a number of professional programmes have an application fee of ₦25,000. Some programmes have different charges, including certain doctoral and specialised programmes.
This distinction matters because someone searching for “OAU postgraduate school fees” may see an amount online and assume it is the tuition fee. In reality, the amount displayed beside a programme on the application portal may be the fee required to process an application.
Therefore, prospective students should not treat the application fee as the total cost of postgraduate study.
The safest approach is to confirm the actual school charges applicable to your programme after admission and through the university’s official payment channels.
OAU Postgraduate Application Fee for 2026/2027
Before discussing tuition and other charges, it is useful to understand the application fee.
For the current postgraduate admission process, OAU’s official application information states that fees vary according to the category of programme. The postgraduate application portal lists examples such as:
| Programme category | Application fee shown |
|---|---|
| Regular/research and many PG Diploma programmes | ₦20,000 |
| Professional programmes | ₦25,000 |
| Some specialised programmes | Different amounts may apply |
| DBA and DPA programmes | ₦50,000 |
| Geospatial/Land Administration programmes | US$100 for applicable listings |
| International applicants | US$100 |
These are application-related charges, rather than a complete school-fee schedule.
For example, the 2026/2027 programme listings show ₦20,000 application fees for numerous M.Sc., M.Phil., Ph.D. and PGD programmes. Some professional Master’s programmes are listed at ₦25,000, while certain Doctor of Business Administration and Doctor of Public Administration programmes are listed at ₦50,000.
Because fees can change, applicants should check the official postgraduate portal before paying.
Does the OAU Postgraduate Application Fee Cover School Fees?
No.
The application fee is paid so that your application can be processed. It should not be confused with tuition or other charges that may become payable after admission.
Think of the process in simple terms:
Application fee → Admission process → Acceptance/registration requirements → School and other approved charges
Paying the application fee does not mean that you have paid your postgraduate school fees.
This is one of the most important things prospective students should understand when searching for OAU postgraduate school fees online.
The official OAU postgraduate application system also warns applicants about payments and states that no individual is authorised to receive payment on behalf of the university. Applicants are directed to make payments through the official online process using the Remita payment platform.
OAU Postgraduate Fees for PGD Programmes
A Postgraduate Diploma, commonly called PGD, is one of the postgraduate study options available at OAU.
The cost of a PGD programme can differ according to the particular course. The official 2026/2027 application listings show several PGD programmes with an application fee of ₦20,000.
Examples include PGD programmes in areas such as Computer Science, Public Administration, Estate Management, Agricultural Economics, Urban and Regional Planning and other disciplines.
It is important not to describe the ₦20,000 amount as the “PGD school fees.” It is the application fee attached to the programme listing.
The actual amount required for tuition and other student charges should be confirmed through OAU’s official postgraduate and student payment channels.
OAU Master’s School Fees
OAU offers several Master’s programmes, including M.A., M.Sc., M.Ed., M.Tech., M.Phil. and professional Master’s programmes.
The cost is not automatically the same for every Master’s programme.
For example, the official 2026/2027 application portal lists many standard M.Sc. and M.A. programmes with an application fee of ₦20,000. However, some professional and executive programmes are listed with an application fee of ₦25,000.
This means that students should check the specific programme they intend to study instead of relying on a general figure found on a third-party website.
Another important point is that some specialised postgraduate programmes can have substantially different tuition charges.
For instance, OAU’s Energy Systems Science and Engineering postgraduate programme currently publishes tuition of ₦650,000 for its M.Sc. programme and ₦650,000 for its M.Tech. programme, while its PGD tuition is listed as ₦450,000. This is a good example of why it would be misleading to give one “OAU Master’s school fee” and suggest that it applies to every Master’s programme.
OAU Ph.D. School Fees
Doctor of Philosophy, or Ph.D., programmes are also available in many disciplines at OAU.
The official 2026/2027 postgraduate programme listings include Ph.D. options in fields such as Education, Agriculture, Science, Engineering, Public Administration, Sociology, Zoology and several other areas.
Many of the Ph.D. programme listings currently show an application fee of ₦20,000, although some professional doctoral programmes have higher application charges. For example, the portal lists Doctor of Business Administration and Doctor of Public Administration programmes at ₦50,000 application fees.
Again, these figures should not be interpreted as the full cost of a Ph.D.
Ph.D. students may have programme-specific academic, research, registration and other approved charges. The exact amount should therefore be confirmed from the relevant university authority before payment.
Why OAU Postgraduate Fees Vary
Many students expect a university to have one postgraduate fee that applies to everyone. That is not always how postgraduate education works.
There are several reasons why fees can differ.
1. Programme type
A regular academic programme may have different charges from an executive or professional programme.
For example, OAU’s official portal lists some regular programmes at ₦20,000 for application, while various professional programmes are listed at ₦25,000.
2. Level of study
PGD, Master’s, M.Phil. and Ph.D. students do not necessarily have identical financial obligations.
Each level can involve different academic requirements and associated charges.
3. Specialised programmes
Specialised programmes can have their own tuition arrangements. The Energy Systems Science and Engineering programme is one example where the published tuition differs considerably from the application fees shown for many conventional postgraduate programmes.
4. Professional programmes
Professional and executive programmes may have different pricing structures because of their programme design and delivery.
The official application portal reflects this difference in several of its 2026/2027 listings.
Other Costs to Budget for When Studying at OAU
When planning for postgraduate education, tuition should not be the only amount in your budget.
A student may need to consider other expenses such as:
- Application fee
- Acceptance-related charges where applicable
- Registration charges
- Tuition or school fees
- Examination charges
- Departmental or faculty charges
- Research expenses
- Thesis or dissertation expenses
- Accommodation
- Transportation
- Books and learning materials
- Internet and data
- Printing and photocopying
- Academic conferences or research-related travel where necessary
Not every student will pay every item listed above, and the amounts can change.
Your programme and current university fee schedule should therefore determine your actual budget.
How to Confirm the Correct OAU Postgraduate Fees
Because postgraduate fees can change, the best way to confirm your financial obligations is to use official OAU sources.
Start with the OAU Postgraduate College and the official postgraduate application portal. The application portal currently provides information about available 2026/2027 programmes and application charges.
When checking your fees, follow these steps:
Step 1: Identify your programme
Know the exact name of your PGD, Master’s, M.Phil. or Ph.D. programme.
Step 2: Check the official postgraduate portal
Look for your department and programme on OAU’s postgraduate application platform.
Step 3: Separate application fees from school fees
Do not assume that the amount beside your programme is the total amount you will pay for your studies.
Step 4: Check your admission instructions
Once admitted, carefully read the instructions given to you regarding registration and payments.
Step 5: Use official payment channels
Avoid sending money to individuals who claim to be agents or representatives of the university. OAU’s official postgraduate portal specifically warns applicants about unauthorised payment recipients.
How to Avoid Fake OAU Postgraduate Fee Information
Postgraduate admission is an area where applicants need to be particularly careful.
You may find websites, social media posts and messages claiming that “OAU postgraduate school fees are ₦X.” Such information may be outdated, incomplete or may actually refer to an application fee rather than tuition.
Before paying anything, ask yourself:
- Is the information from OAU?
- Does it clearly identify the academic session?
- Does it identify the programme?
- Is the amount described as tuition, application fee or another charge?
- Is the payment method an official university channel?
- Can the information be verified on the OAU postgraduate platform?
These simple checks can help prevent unnecessary financial loss.
OAU’s postgraduate application portal currently carries a fraud alert and says that payments should be made through the website using the Remita payment platform.
OAU Postgraduate Programmes Available in 2026/2027
Prospective students have a wide range of programmes to choose from.
The official 2026/2027 listings include programmes in areas such as:
- Accounting
- Business Administration
- Computer Science
- Public Administration
- Education
- Engineering
- Agriculture
- Sociology
- Zoology
- Soil Science
- Urban and Regional Planning
- Estate Management
- Quantity Surveying
- English
- Public Health
- Technology Management
- Energy Systems Science and Engineering
- Many other disciplines
The university’s application portal provides programme-specific information, including the available qualifications and application fees.
Because new programmes and admission information can be added or changed, applicants should always check the current official listing before making a decision.
What You Should Budget Before Applying
A practical way to plan is to divide your postgraduate budget into three categories.
Category 1: Application expenses
This includes the application processing fee and any other costs required to submit your application.
For many 2026/2027 OAU postgraduate programmes, the official portal lists ₦20,000, while several professional programmes are listed at ₦25,000. Other specialised programmes may have different application fees.
Category 2: Academic expenses
This is the bigger part of your budget and can include tuition, registration, examinations, research and other approved university charges.
The exact amount depends on your programme.
Category 3: Living and research expenses
If you will relocate to Ile-Ife, you should also budget for accommodation, food, transportation, data, books and other personal expenses.
Research students should also consider the potential cost of fieldwork, laboratory work, printing, data collection and thesis preparation where applicable.
Is OAU Postgraduate Education Affordable?
Affordability depends on the programme and the student’s financial situation.
One advantage of checking the programme-specific cost is that you can compare your options before applying. A regular academic programme may have a different financial requirement from a professional or specialised programme.
Rather than asking only, “How much is OAU postgraduate school fees?”, a better question is:
“How much will my specific OAU postgraduate programme cost from application to graduation?”
That approach gives you a more realistic picture.
For example, a student should not budget only for the application fee. The application fee is just one part of the overall cost of postgraduate study. Specialised programmes may publish their own tuition figures, as demonstrated by OAU’s Energy Systems Science and Engineering programme.
Frequently Asked Questions About OAU Postgraduate School Fees
How much is OAU postgraduate application fee for 2026/2027?
The official postgraduate portal lists ₦20,000 for many regular/research and PG Diploma programmes and ₦25,000 for many professional programmes. Certain specialised programmes have different fees, including some doctoral and international application categories.
Is ₦20,000 the OAU postgraduate school fee?
No. For the programmes where ₦20,000 is shown on the application portal, that amount is an application processing fee. It is not the complete tuition or school-fee cost of the programme.
How much is OAU Master’s school fee?
There is no single Master’s fee that applies to every OAU programme. Fees can vary by programme. Some specialised programmes publish their own tuition charges, so students should confirm the amount for their specific course.
How much is OAU Ph.D. school fee?
Ph.D. costs can vary by programme. The ₦20,000 shown for many Ph.D. listings on the 2026/2027 application portal is an application fee, not the total cost of a Ph.D. programme.
Does OAU offer PGD programmes?
Yes. OAU’s 2026/2027 postgraduate listings include several PGD programmes across different departments.
Where can I apply for OAU postgraduate admission?
Applications are handled through OAU’s official postgraduate application platform. Applicants should use the official portal and follow the instructions provided there.
Can someone pay OAU postgraduate fees for me?
You should be extremely careful with third-party payment requests. OAU’s official postgraduate portal warns that no individual is authorised to receive payment on behalf of the university and directs applicants to make payments through its online process.
Final Thoughts on OAU Postgraduate School Fees
The cost of postgraduate study at Obafemi Awolowo University depends on the programme you choose and the charges applicable to that programme.
For the 2026/2027 admission cycle, OAU’s official postgraduate portal provides current programme listings and application fees. Many regular programmes show a ₦20,000 application fee, while several professional programmes show ₦25,000, with some specialised programmes carrying different application charges.
However, these figures should not be mistaken for the full OAU postgraduate school fees.
The most reliable way to determine your actual cost is to identify your programme, check the official OAU postgraduate information, review your admission and registration instructions, and confirm the approved charges before making payment.
If you are budgeting for postgraduate study, remember to consider more than tuition. Application costs, registration, research, accommodation, learning materials and other personal expenses can all affect the amount you eventually spend.
Most importantly, rely on official OAU information when making payment decisions. Fees can change between academic sessions and can differ considerably between programmes. Checking the latest information before payment is the simplest way to avoid relying on an outdated figure or paying the wrong person.
