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The short answer
A master's degree in Nigeria costs more than its tuition: there is an application fee (UNILAG charged ₦40,000 for its 2026/2027 postgraduate form), acceptance and registration charges, tuition per session, project costs, books, transport and often lost earnings. Fees differ widely by university and programme, so get the school's current schedule and save for the application first, then the first session. NELFund's student loans are not open to postgraduates, according to its managing director in March 2025.
What a master's actually costs
The tuition figure people quote is only one line. A realistic budget for a programme at a Nigerian university includes:
- Application form. Paid before admission and usually non-refundable.
- Acceptance fee once admitted.
- Tuition and registration per session, sometimes payable in instalments.
- Departmental and faculty charges.
- Project or dissertation costs: fieldwork, data, printing and binding.
- Books, a laptop and data.
- Transport or accommodation, especially for full-time students.
- Lost income, if you reduce your working hours or leave a job.
One university's published figures
The University of Lagos School of Postgraduate Studies' notice for the 2026/2027 session, posted on 6 April 2026, is a useful example of what is published up front:
| Item | UNILAG 2026/2027 notice |
|---|---|
| Application form and charges | ₦40,000, non-refundable |
| Editing the form after submission | ₦2,500 |
| Form sales | 7 April to 24 July 2026 |
| Online submission deadline | 31 July 2026 |
| Study modes | Full time, part time, executive and open distance learning, as applicable |
| Tuition and acceptance fees | Not stated in the notice |
Tuition is typically published separately, by programme, after admission or in the school's fee schedule. Ask the postgraduate school or department for the current schedule for your programme before setting a target; figures circulated on third-party websites are often out of date.
Funding: what is and is not available
Many prospective students hope the federal student loan will help. It does not cover postgraduate study: the Guardian reported on 24 March 2025 that NELFund's managing director, Akintunde Sawyerr, said postgraduate students cannot apply, with plans for them later but not a priority. Check NELFund's current position before you plan, but do not build your budget on it.
Other routes worth asking about:
- Employer sponsorship. Some employers pay part of the fees, often with a bond requiring you to stay for a period.
- Scholarships and departmental awards. Ask the department; deadlines often fall before the session starts.
- Part-time study, which lets you keep earning and spread the cost.
- Instalment payment of tuition, if the university allows it.
A labelled timeline and plan
Example only. The tuition and other figures below are invented to show the method; replace them with your university's schedule. A working graduate plans to apply in the next admission cycle and start a two-year part-time master's about 14 months from now.
| Line | Example amount | When needed (example) |
|---|---|---|
| Application form | ₦40,000 | Month 4 |
| Acceptance fee | ₦50,000 | Month 10 |
| First-session tuition and charges | ₦600,000 | Month 14 |
| Laptop and books | ₦400,000 | Month 14 |
| Second-session tuition and charges | ₦600,000 | Month 26 |
| Project and dissertation | ₦150,000 | Month 34 |
| Transport and data (two years) | ₦360,000 | Spread over the programme |
The amount needed before the programme starts is ₦1,090,000 (₦40,000 + ₦50,000 + ₦600,000 + ₦400,000). Over 14 months that is about ₦77,857 a month. Keep saving after you start: the second session and project total ₦750,000, which over the 12 months from month 14 to month 26 is ₦62,500 a month, alongside about ₦15,000 a month for transport and data (₦360,000 ÷ 24).
Use two pots
Separate the near-term money from the tuition money. The application and acceptance fees fall due on dates you cannot move, so keep them in flexible savings. Tuition for a session a year away can sit in fixed savings timed to mature before the payment date, which protects it from everyday spending.
Weighing the cost against the return
Before committing, test the plan against what the degree is for. If a promotion or a career change depends on it, ask people already in that role whether the qualification made the difference, and whether a professional certification might do the same job for less. If your employer values it, ask whether they will contribute. A clear answer makes the monthly saving easier to keep up, because you know exactly what it is buying. If the answer is unclear, saving for a year before applying costs nothing and leaves the money available for whichever route you choose.
What to check first
- The current fee schedule for your exact programme and mode.
- Whether tuition can be paid in instalments, and the dates.
- Application and acceptance deadlines for the next cycle.
- Your employer's sponsorship or study-leave policy.
- Whether the programme's timetable fits your job, if studying part time.
Where Pryme fits
Pryme's Naira Savings Boxes suit the two-pot method: a Flexible Box for the application and acceptance fees and a Fixed Box timed to each session's payment date. Through Pryme's partnership with VerifyDoc.ai you can generate a verifiable receipt for each fee payment, useful if an employer reimburses you (receipts). For the general method, see how much to save each month for a goal; corps members can start early with saving during your NYSC year.
Questions people ask
How much is a master's degree in Nigeria?
It varies by university and programme. Get the current fee schedule from the postgraduate school, and add application, acceptance, project, books and transport costs.
How much is the UNILAG postgraduate form?
UNILAG's 2026/2027 notice set the application form and charges at ₦40,000, non-refundable, with ₦2,500 to edit a submitted form.
Can I get NELFund loan for a master's degree?
Not at present. NELFund's managing director said in March 2025 that postgraduate students cannot apply, though there were plans for them later.
Is part-time master's cheaper in Nigeria?
Not always in tuition, but it lets you keep earning, which often makes the total cost easier to manage. Compare the fee schedules for both modes.
Sources
- University of Lagos: Notice of admissions to postgraduate programmes, 2026/2027 session (6 Apr 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- The Guardian: Why postgraduate students aren't eligible for FG's loan scheme, by NELFUND (24 Mar 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
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