If you are planning to study for a postgraduate degree at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), one of the first things you will want to know is how much the programme will cost. Understanding the UNICAL postgraduate school fees can help you prepare your budget, avoid unexpected expenses and complete your registration without unnecessary delays.
The University of Calabar offers postgraduate programmes at different levels, including Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma (PGD), Master’s and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programmes. The amount payable can depend on the programme, faculty, study mode and student category.
For the 2026/2027 academic session, UNICAL has confirmed that postgraduate admission applications are available. However, applicants should be careful when relying on old fee figures circulating online because postgraduate charges can be reviewed by the university from one academic session to another.
This guide explains what you should know about UNICAL postgraduate school fees, additional charges, payment procedures and how to confirm the exact amount applicable to your programme.
UNICAL Postgraduate School Fees 2026/2027
The most important point to understand is that there is no single postgraduate school fee that applies to every UNICAL postgraduate student.
The University of Calabar’s College of Postgraduate Studies provides different programmes across several faculties and institutes. As a result, fees may differ according to the programme and category of student.
The current UNICAL postgraduate portal confirms that postgraduate programmes are available for the 2026/2027 academic session, covering postgraduate certificates, PGD, Master’s and PhD programmes.
Students should therefore check the official fee schedule or their student portal before making payment.
This is especially important because some websites publish figures from previous academic sessions as though they are current. A fee schedule that was applicable several years ago should not automatically be used for the 2026/2027 session.
How Much Is UNICAL Postgraduate School Fees?
The exact UNICAL postgraduate school fees for an individual student depend on the programme and the charges approved for the relevant academic session.
UNICAL’s postgraduate fee information has historically been structured according to factors such as:
- Programme type
- Faculty
- Full-time or part-time study
- New or returning student status
- Nigerian, African or non-African student category
- Special programme-related charges
- Other approved university charges
For example, an MBA student may not necessarily pay the same amount as a student studying for an M.Sc., while a PGD student may have a different fee structure from a PhD student.
Therefore, prospective students should not assume that one amount represents the UNICAL postgraduate school fees for all courses.
Important note about old fee schedules
An older fee schedule published through the UNICAL postgraduate portal contains different amounts for programmes such as M.Sc., PhD, MBA, MPA/MPAS and various PGD programmes. That schedule also distinguishes between full-time, part-time, African and non-African students.
Because those figures are from an older publication, they should be treated as historical information rather than the confirmed 2026/2027 UNICAL postgraduate school fees.
The safest approach is to confirm the amount generated for your own programme through the university’s official payment system before making payment.
UNICAL Postgraduate Programmes
One reason postgraduate fees differ is the wide range of programmes available at the University of Calabar.
The College of Postgraduate Studies lists programmes across areas including Agriculture, Arts, Basic Medical Sciences, Biological Sciences, Clinical Sciences, Education, Environmental Science, Law, Management Sciences, Medical Laboratory Science, Oceanography, Physical Sciences and Social Sciences.
There are also programmes offered through institutes such as the Institute of Education, Institute of Oceanography and Institute of Public Policy and Administration.
Depending on your academic background and career plans, you may apply for a PGD, Master’s or PhD programme.
Some examples of postgraduate fields available at UNICAL include:
- Accounting
- Banking and Finance
- Business Management
- Marketing
- Public Administration
- Economics
- Political Science
- Sociology
- Computer Science
- Mathematics
- Statistics
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Microbiology
- Biochemistry
- Nursing Science
- Public Health
- Law
- English and Literary Studies
- History and International Studies
- Agricultural Economics
- Fisheries and Aquaculture
- Environmental Resource Management
- Education
- Oceanography
The availability of a particular programme and its specific requirements should always be checked against the current UNICAL postgraduate prospectus.
UNICAL Postgraduate Application Fee
It is important to separate the postgraduate application fee from the postgraduate school fees.
For the 2026/2027 academic session, the University of Calabar College of Postgraduate Studies states that applicants are required to pay a non-refundable ₦40,000 application fee for the postgraduate application form.
This payment is for the application process. It is not the same thing as the tuition or school fees you will pay after admission.
According to the official postgraduate admission information, applicants can obtain the application PIN through the approved E-Transact process and then use the generated PIN to access the online application.
Applicants should keep their payment information safe and follow the instructions on the official postgraduate portal.
UNICAL Postgraduate Acceptance Fee
Another cost that prospective postgraduate students should distinguish from school fees is the acceptance fee.
The UNICAL College of Postgraduate Studies currently provides an acceptance-fee payment process for admitted postgraduate students. The official acceptance payment page states an acceptance fee of ₦40,000.
This means that the acceptance fee is separate from the postgraduate application fee and separate from the actual school fees.
There is also a separate charge for obtaining the postgraduate admission letter. The official postgraduate acceptance information currently states that applicants are required to pay ₦5,000 for the admission letter PIN through the approved E-Transact process.
Before paying any fee, make sure you are paying for the correct item. Application fees, acceptance fees, admission-letter charges and school fees serve different purposes.
Other Costs to Budget For
When planning for UNICAL postgraduate studies, it is better to think beyond tuition or school fees.
Your total cost of studying may include other expenses such as:
1. Application fee
This is paid when applying for postgraduate admission. For the 2026/2027 session, the official UNICAL postgraduate portal lists the application fee as ₦40,000.
2. Acceptance fee
This is paid after admission and is separate from the application fee.
3. Admission letter fee
Students may also need to pay the applicable charge for processing their admission letter.
4. School fees
This is the main academic payment and varies according to the student’s programme and category.
5. Registration-related charges
Depending on the applicable fee schedule, students may have other registration or administrative charges.
6. Research expenses
Master’s and PhD students should budget for research-related expenses. Depending on the subject, this may include data collection, laboratory work, fieldwork, printing, binding and other research materials.
7. Accommodation and transportation
Students who live outside Calabar may also need to consider rent, transportation, feeding and other living expenses.
Planning for these costs early can make postgraduate study much easier financially.
How to Pay UNICAL Postgraduate School Fees
Once you have been admitted and the appropriate fee has been generated for your programme, use the university’s approved payment process.
A typical process involves the following steps:
- Visit the official UNICAL postgraduate portal.
- Log into the appropriate student or payment section.
- Select the relevant payment option.
- Confirm your academic session and programme.
- Check the amount displayed before proceeding.
- Generate the required payment reference where applicable.
- Complete the payment through the approved payment channel.
- Confirm that the payment has been successfully recorded.
- Print or save your payment receipt.
Do not pay into a personal bank account or use payment details supplied by an unverified third party.
If someone sends you a different fee amount, compare it with the amount displayed through the official university system before making payment.
Is UNICAL Postgraduate School Fee the Same for New and Returning Students?
Not necessarily.
University fee structures can distinguish between new students and returning students. Historically, UNICAL’s postgraduate fee schedules have used separate categories for new and returning students.
A new student may have charges associated with registration and admission that a returning student does not have in the same way.
For this reason, searching for only “UNICAL postgraduate fees” may not be enough to determine what you personally need to pay.
Your student status, programme and academic session all matter.
Full-Time and Part-Time Postgraduate Fees
UNICAL offers postgraduate programmes in different study formats, and fees may differ between full-time and part-time students.
The official postgraduate portal also notes that many programmes are designed to accommodate working professionals, with some programmes offered through full-time or part-time arrangements and different forms of learning.
If you are working while studying, check whether your chosen programme is available on a part-time basis before applying.
Do not assume that part-time fees are automatically cheaper than full-time fees. The actual amount depends on the university’s approved fee schedule for the programme and academic session.
UNICAL Postgraduate Admission Requirements
Knowing the fees is only one part of planning for postgraduate admission.
The College of Postgraduate Studies provides different academic requirements depending on the level of study.
For PGD programmes, the current postgraduate admission information specifies a minimum CGPA requirement, while Master’s and PhD applicants have higher requirements.
For example, the current admission information provides minimum CGPA thresholds for PGD, Master’s and PhD programmes. However, individual departments may have additional requirements, so applicants should consult the current prospectus for their specific programme.
PhD applicants may also be required to provide a concept note as part of the application process.
For the 2026/2027 application process, UNICAL states that Master’s candidates should prepare a concept note of up to one page, while PhD candidates should prepare a concept note of up to two pages.
UNICAL Postgraduate Screening
Applicants should also pay attention to the postgraduate screening process.
For the 2026/2027 academic session, the official UNICAL postgraduate admission page states that the screening test includes a Computer-Based Test covering areas such as English Language, Logic, Mathematics, ICT and General Knowledge.
Master’s and PhD candidates may also have an oral interview based on their subject area and concept note.
The university states that there is no oral interview for MBA, MPAS and PGD programmes.
Applicants should monitor the official postgraduate portal for changes to examination dates, deadlines and other admission announcements.
Frequently Asked Questions About UNICAL Postgraduate School Fees
How much is UNICAL postgraduate school fees?
There is no single fee applicable to every postgraduate student at UNICAL. The amount depends on the programme, study category, student status and other charges approved by the university.
For the 2026/2027 academic session, students should confirm the amount generated for their particular programme through the official UNICAL postgraduate payment system.
How much is the UNICAL postgraduate application fee?
The official UNICAL postgraduate admission information currently lists the application fee for the 2026/2027 academic session as ₦40,000. This payment is non-refundable.
How much is UNICAL postgraduate acceptance fee?
The official College of Postgraduate Studies acceptance payment page currently lists the postgraduate acceptance fee as ₦40,000.
Is the application fee the same as school fees?
No. The application fee is paid when applying for admission. School fees are academic charges payable after admission and registration.
Does UNICAL offer PGD, Master’s and PhD programmes?
Yes. The College of Postgraduate Studies offers postgraduate certificate, PGD, Master’s and PhD programmes across several faculties and institutes.
Can I pay UNICAL postgraduate fees online?
UNICAL provides online payment options through its postgraduate portal. Students should use the official payment system and verify the amount generated for their account before making payment.
Are UNICAL postgraduate fees subject to change?
Yes. University charges can be reviewed from one academic session to another. This is why applicants should confirm the current fee schedule rather than relying on old figures found on blogs or social media.
How to Avoid Paying the Wrong UNICAL Fee
One of the easiest ways to make a costly mistake is to rely on an old fee schedule.
Before making payment, check these five things:
First, check the academic session.
Make sure the information applies to the session for which you have been admitted.
Second, check your programme.
An MBA, PGD, M.Sc. and PhD programme may have different charges.
Third, check your student category.
New and returning students may have different obligations.
Fourth, use the official portal.
The amount displayed for your account is more useful than an unverified figure on social media.
Finally, keep your receipt.
Save electronic copies and print a copy where necessary. Your receipt may be needed during registration or when resolving a payment issue.
Final Thoughts on UNICAL Postgraduate School Fees
The cost of postgraduate education is an important consideration, but applicants should not choose a programme based on an unofficial fee figure.
For the 2026/2027 academic session, the University of Calabar has opened postgraduate applications for programmes leading to postgraduate certificates, PGD, Master’s and PhD qualifications. The official application fee is currently ₦40,000, while the postgraduate acceptance fee is listed as ₦40,000. The admission-letter PIN is separately listed at ₦5,000.
The actual UNICAL postgraduate school fees, however, depend on the programme and applicable fee category. Prospective students should therefore confirm the current amount through the official College of Postgraduate Studies portal before making payment.
If you are preparing to study at UNICAL, budget for more than just school fees. Consider application and acceptance charges, registration costs, accommodation, transportation, research expenses and other personal expenses.
Most importantly, always verify fee information directly with the university before paying. This helps you avoid outdated figures, fraudulent payment requests and unnecessary financial problems during your postgraduate registration.
With the right information and proper financial planning, you can prepare confidently for your postgraduate studies at the University of Calabar.
