As a prospective student interested in attending the prestigious Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) in Bauchi, Nigeria, one of the most pressing questions on your mind is likely to be about the school fees and other costs.

Having a clear understanding of your financial obligations allows you to plan your budget effectively.

In this blog post, I provide comprehensive information on the key aspects of ATBU school fees, ranging from the current tuition rates, additional mandatory fees, availability of financial aid and scholarships, payment plans and deadlines, to the acceptance of various banking channels for fee payment.

Whether you are a Nigerian or an international student, I cover all the pertinent details around ATBU’s billing system and highlight potential additional costs to factor in like accommodation, late charges, and retakes.

Read on to get all the vital clarification around paying your way through ATBU.

What is the tuition fee for new students at ATBU?

The tuition fee for new students at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University is determined by your course of study and category of admission.

For undergraduate programs, most courses have a tuition fee of about 35,000 Naira per session for new students.

However, courses like Medicine and other science-based degree programs have slightly higher fees of about 40,000 to 50,000 Naira per session.

For postgraduate programs like Masters and PhD degrees, the tuition fees at ATBU typically range from 150,000 to 300,000 Naira depending on the specific program.

Some postgraduate programs focused on the sciences can be more expensive, going up to 500,000 Naira per session.

When budgeting your school fees at ATBU, be sure to confirm the exact amount with the school fees schedule for your particular faculty and study program to have the right figure.

The fees could differ across various combinations of degree types and focus areas.

What additional fees do students have to pay at ATBU besides tuition?

In addition to the main tuition fees at ATBU, students also have to pay some mandatory supplementary charges every session:

• Registration/Verification Fee: A standard fee paid per session during the registration process – usually 5,000 Naira.
• Faculty Dues: Ranges from 3,000 to 5,000 Naira depending on your faculty. Caters to faculty-specific academic costs.
• Examination Fee: Typically 2,000 Naira per session. Covers costs related to administering exams.
• Library Fee: Ranges from 2,000 to 3,000 Naira per session. Helps maintain university library services.
• JAMB Revalidation Fee: A one-time 2,500 Naira fee paid in the first year. Revalidates JAMB admission details with ATBU.
• ICT Fee: Between 5,000 to 10,000 Naira per session for Internet services and e-learning platforms.
• Medical Consultation Fee: Around 3,500 Naira once per session. Provides basic healthcare access.

So in total, students at ATBU pay roughly 20,000 to 35,000 Naira per session in additional charges besides just tuition fees.

Does ATBU offer scholarships or financial aid to students?

Yes, ATBU does provide some scholarship and financial assistance programs to support eligible students:

Federal Scholarships – Awarded by Federal agencies like PTDF, NDDC, CBN and NNPC to qualified undergrad/grad students. Covers tuition and accommodation. Competitive selection process based on academic merit.

NUGA Scholarship – For gifted athletes participating in NUGA competitions. Offers 25% to 100% tuition remission plus stipend for sports equipment and nutrition.

Needy Student Fund – Supported by philanthropic donors and groups. Provides partial tuition assistance for students facing financial adversity but have decent grades.

Faculty Scholarships – Certain faculties offer a 25% discount on fees for the best-performing student of the previous graduating class.

While limited, these grant avenues do help cushion costs for deserving and outstanding students pursuing degrees at ATBU. Students facing hardship can explore eligibility for needs-based aid options.

Is there a difference in school fees between Nigerian students and international students at ATBU?

Yes, ATBU charges differential higher fees for international students from non-Nigerian countries compared to native Nigerian students. This fee disparity exists for both undergraduate and postgraduate programs across faculties.

For undergraduate courses, international students generally pay around twice the rate of the fees for Nigerian students. So while native students pay approximately 35,000 to 50,000 Naira per session for common programs, foreign students have to pay between 80,000 to 100,000 Naira annually.

Similarly, postgraduate programs for international students can be two to three times more expensive. So instead of 150,000 to 300,000 for Nigerians, foreign students might pay 250,000 to 600,000 Naira in tuition per session.

The rationale is that as foreign students come from outside the country, they are not subsidized by the Nigerian government. So the increased fee allows the university to recover higher costs incurred towards facilities usage and administrative processes.

What is the estimated total cost per session including accommodation at ATBU?

If you factor in living expenses at ATBU along with the academic costs, the estimated total cost per session is:

• Nigerian Students
  • Tuition + Additional Fees: ~50,000 to 80,000 Naira
  • Accommodation: ~30,000 to 60,000 Naira
  • Total Cost: ~80,000 to 140,000 Naira
• International Students
  • Tuition + Additional Fees: ~150,000 to 250,000 Naira
  • Accommodation: ~30,000 to 60,000 Naira
  • Total Cost: ~180,000 to 310,000 Naira

These amounts cover decent shared hostel accommodations along with food, supplies, transport and other personal expenses. Total costs can be higher if aiming for more premium hostels with individual rooms and amenities. As an international student, you need to account for 2-3 times more cost compared to what local Nigerian students pay.

When is the deadline for paying school fees for each session at ATBU?

ATBU publishes a defined academic calendar before the start of each new session with clear payment deadlines for school fees. Typically students have to complete their fee payment processes:

• First Semester: Within the first 6 weeks from resumption
• Second Semester: Within the first month from resumption

If fees are not fully paid by these deadlines, you may not be allowed to write exams or attend lectures as per official rules.

Specific calendar dates on the fee payment deadlines are available on the university portal before the start of each session. Please consult the most updated academic calendar for your program’s precise payment due dates every year.

Can the school fees be paid in instalments at ATBU?

Yes, ATBU does allow students to pay their tuition fees in instalments if needed instead of one lump-sum full payment every session. An educational bank called Academic Platoon is now integrated with the ATBU payment system to enable flexible instalments.

With Academic Platoon, you can divide your total fees for the session into 3 or 6-month installments. The instalments are automatically deducted from the linked debit card per the chosen tenure. This helps students manage cash flows instead of paying over 100,000 Naira upfront if parents cannot afford it.

A small processing fee of about 5% to 7% of the total amount is charged for using the Academic Platoon instalment service. But this provides the flexibility of paying fees in chunks while continuing your program uninterrupted.

Is there a penalty for late payment of fees at ATBU?

Yes, ATBU imposes substantial late penalties if students fail to pay their tuition fees in full within the stipulated due dates for the currently enrolled session:

• Up to 6 Weeks Delay: 5% fine on outstanding fees
• 6-10 Weeks Delay: 10% fine on outstanding amount
• Beyond 10 Weeks: Student records and course registration will be deactivated. Must pay a 20% reactivation fine along with full fees to continue enrollment.

The fines are cumulative, so a 20-week delay would attract 5% plus 10% plus 20% charges on unpaid fees. This can result in huge penalties so all students must prioritize adhering to the ATBU fee payment timelines.

Which bank(s) can students use to pay their school fees?

ATBU accepts school fee payments online through any of these approved banks in Nigeria:

• United Bank for Africa (UBA)
• First Bank
• Ecobank
• Unity Bank
• Polaris Bank

Both current and savings accounts can be used across any of the above banks for online transfers of tuition and other relevant academic fees each session.

Besides bank transfers, ATBU also collects physical cash/cheque payments on specified dates. But online modes are preferred. Students should initiate payments from their or their parents’ bank account registered under their personal information.

What are the charges for extra courses or retaking examinations at ATBU?

If students need to enroll in special elective courses beyond the normal program curriculum or have to retake failed exams, additional charges are applicable as follows:

• Extra Course Fee: 2,500 Naira per extra course unit registered
• Supplementary Exam Fee: 5,000 Naira per paper
• Direct Entry Level Exam: 15,000 Naira one-time fee

So for instance if you registered 2 additional courses worth 6 credits and retook exams in 3 papers, you would need to pay 2,500 x 6 credits = 15,000 Naira in extra course fees plus 15,000 Naira in supplementary exam charges. These are fairly typical additional costs.

Key Takeaways

• Tuition Fees at ATBU range from 35,000 to 50,000 Naira per session for most undergraduate programs. Postgraduate fees vary from 150,000 to 500,000 Naira based on the program.
• Additional Fees like registration, faculty dues, exams etc. add about 20,000 to 35,000 Naira per session.
• Available Scholarships and Financial Aid provide 25% to 100% help for eligible students facing economic hardship.
• International Students pay almost double to triple the tuition and costs compared to native Nigerian students.
• Including accommodation, total average annual costs are ~100,000 Naira for Nigerians and ~250,000 Naira for International students.
• ATBU allows payment in installments through Academic Platoon albeit at a 5% to 7% processing fee.
• Severe late penalties like 5% to 20% fines are imposed for delayed fee payments beyond deadlines.
• School fees can be paid conveniently via UBA, First Bank, Ecobank, Unity Bank, and Polaris Bank.

Conclusion

• Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) delivers quality higher education accredited programs at reasonable tuition rates for Nigerian students.
• With average fees as low as 80,000 to 140,000 Naira annually including accommodation, ATBU offers access to careers with high growth prospects.
• Although international students pay almost double the fees, ATBU provides a launch pad for global opportunities at just a third of the costs for foreign universities with similar quality.
• Students enjoy the flexibility of instalment payments through Academic Platoon along with the availability of needs-based partial fee waivers.
• By equipping students with critical analytical abilities and interpersonal skills, ATBU prepares future leaders to better serve Nigeria and humanity.
• For more information about the school, visit their official website here.

FAQs

Q: What are the ATBU school fees for the Medicine program?

A: The ATBU school fees for the Bachelor of Medicine program is around 50,000 Naira per session for Nigerian students while International students pay around 100,000 Naira annually.

Q: Does ATBU offer hostel accommodation for all students?

A: Yes, ATBU has hostel facilities in Damboa, Kashim Ibrahim and Manoma camps to provide subsidized accommodation for all students but you need to apply in time before rooms finish.

Q: How can parents/sponsors directly pay school fees on behalf of students?

A: Parents can visit any ATBU-approved bank branch with their admission details and unique identity number. Ask the bank to initialize a school fee transaction via ATBU virtual account numbers available to facilitate smooth third-party payments.

Q: Can final-year ATBU students pay fees in installments?

A: Unfortunately, the Academic Platoon installment payment option is currently only available for 100 to 500-level undergraduate students and postgraduate students. Final-year undergraduates have to pay full fees upfront before graduation.

Q: Which faculty has the lowest school fees rate in ATBU?

A: The Education and Arts and Social Sciences faculties tend to have the lowest school fee structure at ATBU starting at around 38,000 per session for Nigerian undergraduates in courses like English, History, Religion Studies, Economics and Business Management.