The National Open University of Nigeria has announced the abolition of application fees, removing an upfront charge for prospective students seeking admission into its undergraduate, postgraduate diploma and master’s programmes.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Uduma Oji Uduma announced the decision following the university’s 127th Management Meeting on Tuesday, 10 November 2026. He said the measure supports NOUN’s commitment to inclusiveness and wider access to tertiary education.
The university describes the decision as taking immediate effect, with implementation beginning with the 2027_1 admission exercise.
What the change means for applicants
The application fee is the charge paid when applying to study at the university. Removing it reduces the initial cost of submitting an application, particularly for prospective students who must also budget for internet access, documents and subsequent registration.
Before the announcement, NOUN’s published FAQ listed application fees of ?5,000 for undergraduate programmes and ?7,500 for postgraduate diploma and master’s programmes. Those figures provide the background to the new waiver; they should no longer be presented as the charges for the affected 2027_1 applications.
Application-fee waiver does not mean every study expense is free
Prospective students should distinguish the cost of applying from the charges associated with studying after admission.
The announcement does not provide a revised schedule of semester, course-registration or examination charges. Applicants should therefore continue to budget for their studies and check the applicable university-approved fees before registering.
Likewise, a free application should not be treated as automatic admission. Candidates should still check the requirements for their chosen programme and prepare the necessary qualifications and supporting documents. NOUN’s official application guidance directs applicants to review programme requirements before proceeding.
What about PhD applicants and payments already made?
Although the announcement opens with the phrase “all its programmes”, its detailed list names undergraduate, postgraduate diploma and master’s programmes. It does not explicitly identify PhD programmes. Doctoral applicants should seek clarification before assuming that their application charge has also been removed.
The notice also does not explain whether earlier application payments will be refunded. Applicants who have already paid should retain their receipts and obtain official guidance rather than assuming that a reversal will happen automatically.
What prospective students should do now
Applicants planning to join NOUN should:
- Start through NOUN’s official website? and follow its admissions links.
- Check the entry requirements for their intended programme.
- Confirm that they are applying under the relevant admission exercise.
- If an application-fee demand appears inconsistent with the announcement, ask the university to clarify it before paying.
Prospective students can contact the NOUN Information and Call Centre through centralinfo@noun.edu.ng or +234 908 290 7092, as published on the university’s website.
Applicants should be cautious of anyone demanding an “activation fee” to unlock the waiver or promising guaranteed admission. Keep passwords and verification codes private, and verify unexpected payment instructions directly with the university.
