CALL FOR APPLICATIONS FOR ADMISSIONS INTO POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMMES
IN THE 2025/2026 RAIN SEMESTER ACADEMIC SESSION (Ph.D. ONLY)
Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for admission into various Ph.D. degree programmes only at the University of Ilorin.
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
(i) Only Ph.D. programmes are available for the rain semester session and only courses available are advertised. As such, candidates are advised to select courses available in this advertisement.
(ii) Candidates are advised to PRINT out the advertisement and STUDY thoroughly before COMMENCING the application procedure.
(iii) Applicants are to note that the University will not be liable or responsible for any mistake made arising from a wrong application.
(iv) The Postgraduate academic session for Postgraduate programmes is 12 calendar months, commencing on 2nd October and ending on 31st August of the following year. The 12 calendar months start to count automatically from the date of first registration. The rain semester session shall however commence on 7th April.
(v) Applicants are to note that programmes automatically lapse at the expiration of the prescribed maximum duration for each programme. A candidate may, however, apply for an extension of not more than 12 months, in the first instance, subject to a maximum of two such extensions.
POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMMES OFFERED
Ph.D. Degree Programmes
These are available to holders of M.A.; M.Ed.; M.Eng.; M.Sc.; LL.M; and MPH degrees, with a minimum score of 60% or a minimum of 4 points on a 5 points Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) scale in their Master degree programmes. A Ph.D. degree programme runs for a minimum period of 36 calendar months and a maximum period of 60 calendar months for full-time candidates OR a minimum period of 48 calendar months and a maximum period of 72 calendar months for part-time candidates. Relevant Courses will be taken for the Ph.D. studies where prescribed, and a Thesis is required at the end of the Ph.D. programme.
ELIGIBILITY FOR ACADEMIC PROGRAMMES
General Requirements:
All entry certificate requirements shall be available at the point of purchasing the application form. The National Youth Service Corp Discharge Certificate OR Exemption Certificate should be dated and presented on or before January 5th, 2026.
Applicants are expected to submit their application forms online, together with scanned copies of their credentials.
iii. After the submission of the application forms online, as stated in (ii) above, all supporting documents in (i) above and the hard copy of the application form should be forwarded to the Secretary, Postgraduate School, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria between Monday, 12th January 2026 and Friday, 23rd January 2026, while the submission of Transcripts of Academic Records should be addressed and forwarded to the Head of Department where the admission is being sought. The Postgraduate School will not be held liable for any misdirected transcript.
All applicants must have 5 O/L Credit passes in the relevant subjects, which must include English Language and Mathematics. In line with Senate directives, applicants who had their O/L results before the year 2015, may have a pass in English or Mathematics depending on the programme applied for.
Applicants for the Ph.D. degree programme shall have obtained a relevant Master degree of the University of Ilorin or from other recognized Universities, with an average weighted score of at least 60% or a 4.0 points CGPA on a 5-point scale. Short-listed applicants would be required to satisfy the Postgraduate School in the qualifying interviews and assessments by the relevant Department. Applicants are, therefore, expected to interact with the department to which they have applied to ascertain the interview date for the Ph.D. degree programme. Regardless of the institution where the Master degree was obtained, all candidates must apply early for the official copy of their academic transcripts to be sent to the Head of Department where the admission is being sought for the purpose of this admission and before the expiration of the stated deadline. Applicants must note that the Postgraduate School will not be responsible for any misdirected transcript.
All Higher Degree applicants that attended foreign Universities, where English language is not the medium of instruction, should submit to the Head of Department where the admission is being sought, evidence of their English Language proficiency, e.g. TOEFL or IELTS scores obtained within the validity period of such certifications.
vii. International applicants (who are domiciled outside Nigeria and non-Nigerians applying from outside the country) shall be exempted from the qualifying examination irrespective of the class of degree. All applicants are requested to submit a proposal of not more than 5 pages, giving details of their intended areas of research interests. This should be sent electronically to pgschool@unilorin.edu.ng no later than Friday 30th January 2026.
viii. Applicants applying for any of the full-time programmes of the University are expected to present a letter of release from their employers at the point of registration.
APPLICATION FEES
The non-refundable application fee for all programmes is N25,000.00 (Twenty-five Thousand Naira) only for applicants within Nigeria OR $200.00 only for international applicants.
PLEASE NOTE:
While this advertisement serves as an invitation for the Qualifying Interview at a date to be communicated by the respective Departments, all applicants are strongly advised to provide their functional GSM number and e-mail addresses for further information and necessary communication. The University shall not be held responsible for any disappointment occasioned by wrong information on the part of applicants. You are hereby required to be checking your e-mails and phones frequently.
METHOD OF APPLICATION
Application forms are to be completed online and will close on Friday January 23rd 2026. Note that the latest date for receipt of supporting documents is Friday, 30th January 2026. Successful applicants will be notified through their University of Ilorin application portal.
Interested applicants are advised to check the University website: www.unilorin.edu.ng for details on available programmes.
M.A. Alfanla
Registrar
