The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has abolished application fees for all its academic programmes, making admission applications free for prospective students.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Uduma Oji Uduma, announced the decision at the end of the university’s 127th Management Meeting held on Tuesday, November 10, 2026.
Uduma said the policy reflects the university’s commitment to inclusive education and its mandate to eliminate barriers that prevent Nigerians from accessing tertiary education.
Under the new arrangement, prospective students seeking admission into undergraduate, Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) and Master’s programmes will no longer be required to pay application fees.
The policy takes immediate effect and will be implemented from the 2027_1 admission exercise.
The move is expected to make higher education more accessible, particularly for prospective students who may be discouraged by the financial requirements associated with the admission process.
NOUN, a federal government-owned open and distance learning institution, provides flexible learning opportunities for Nigerians seeking to pursue higher education without the restrictions of conventional university systems.
