Education

UNILAG reduces school fees after meeting with protesting students

Published

2 years ago

September 15, 2023

UNILAG

UNILAG reduces school fees after meeting with protesting students

Following Thursday’s meeting with the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), the management of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, has announced a review of its new fees.

The management of the university led by its Vice-Chancellor, Folasade Ogunsola, met with the student leaders on Thursday.

The students were led by the President of NANS, Usman Barambu, and the meeting was part of efforts to address the lingering crisis over the fees.

The university had increased the payable fees from N26,000 and about N76,000 to between N120,750 and N240,250 depending on the courses of study and year of admission, forcing students to protest over the action.

However, in a statement on Friday morning by the university’s spokesperson, Adejoke Alaga-Ibrahim, the institution announced the reduction of the obligatory fees for students, utility bills, convocation fees and others.

According to the statement, the utility charges for all categories of students have been reduced to N15,000 from N20,000 and convocation fees to be paid by all final-year students were reduced to N27,000 from N30,000.

The obligatory fees for new undergraduate students were reviewed from N126,325 to N116,325 for courses without lab/studio and N176,325 to N166,325 for courses with lab/studio.

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Also, the obligatory fees for returning undergraduate students were reviewed from N100,750 to N80,750 for courses without lab/studio; N140,250 to N120,250 for courses with lab/studio; and from N190,250 to N170,250 for medical / pharmacy students and students in health professions.

The hostel fees were also reviewed. for undergraduate hostels in the Akoka and Yaba campuses, the fees were reduced to N43,000 from N90,000; for hostels in Idi-Araba campus, from N120,000 to N65,000; while the fees for Sodeinde Hall were reduced to N135,000 from N250,000.

Apart from the reversal of the obligatory fees, the university noted in the statement that the NANS President also demanded the reinstatement of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) in UNILAG.

According to the statement, Mr Barambu observed that the absence of SUG in UNILAG had adversely affected communication between the students and management.

He also noted that students would be able to channel their grievances appropriately through the SUG.

The vice-chancellor will commence the process of reinstating students’ union activities in the university, the spokesperson said.

The university in 2016 dissolved the student union of the institution as a reaction to a protest by the students.

The statement also noted that Mrs Ogunsola reiterated her commitment to the actualisation of measures put in place to ameliorate the negative impacts of the obligatory fee review.

The vice-chancellor had initially explained that the measures to ease the payment of fees include an instalment payment option, scholarship, revitalisation of a work-study programme, assistance to indigent students, and partnership with Lagos Bus Rapid Transport System.

She also reiterated that “No UNILAG student would drop out of the institution due to fees.”

UNILAG reduces school fees after meeting with protesting students

Education

FG approves NYSC mobilisation for all full-time HND graduates

Published

3 days ago

March 21, 2025

Trends Admin

FG approves NYSC mobilisation for all full-time HND graduates

The Federal Government has approved the mobilisation of all full-time Higher National Diploma (HND) graduates for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), ending years of exclusion from the scheme.

Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced the decision on Thursday in Abuja, stating that only graduates of full-time HND programs would be eligible for mobilisation. The policy shift follows consultations with the Director-General of the NYSC and is aimed at promoting fairness in the education sector.

“The Federal Ministry of Education remains committed to equity, fairness, and inclusivity in Nigeria’s education system,” Alausa said in a statement released by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo.

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To ensure smooth implementation, the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has been directed to compile data on eligible HND graduates. A circular has also been issued to polytechnic rectors, instructing them to upload the necessary graduate records to a newly established HND admission portal, which will serve as the official database for NYSC mobilisation.

However, the minister clarified that part-time HND graduates remain ineligible for the scheme.

“This decision applies strictly to those who completed a full-time HND programme,” Alausa reiterated.

He urged all qualified graduates to take advantage of the opportunity and begin their mobilisation process immediately.

The move is expected to address long-standing concerns among polytechnic graduates and enhance their participation in national development through the NYSC scheme.

FG approves NYSC mobilisation for all full-time HND graduates

Education

Romanian university offers fully funded scholarships to non-EU and non-EEA students for 2025

Published

1 week ago

March 16, 2025

Trends Admin

Romanian university offers fully funded scholarships to non-EU and non-EEA students for 2025

Transylvania University in Brașov, Romania, has announced the availability of fully funded scholarships for international students from non-EU and non-EEA countries.

The 2025 Transylvania Academica Scholarship offers recipients the opportunity to study bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree programs at the university, covering tuition, accommodation, and living expenses.

The Transylvania Academica Scholarship is an initiative driven by Transylvania University to attract international students to Romania. The scholarship not only covers tuition fees and accommodation but also provides a monthly stipend to help with living expenses.

As stated by the institution, “Transilvania Academica Scholarship is designed as a competition for international students from non-EU or non-EEA countries.”

This move, according to the university, is part of efforts harnessed to build a network of global ambassadors and increase its international visibility.

Scholarship coverage and benefits

The scholarship covers several expenses for selected students. Tuition fees, including registration and graduation costs, are fully paid for. Students will also receive free accommodation in the university’s dormitories, even during holidays.

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Details inform that each scholarship recipient will receive a monthly allowance of 800 lei, which is approximately 170 USD, to help cover living expenses. However, candidates are responsible for their travel expenses and visa costs to Romania.

Eligibility and application requirements

To apply for the Transylvania Academica Scholarship, candidates must meet specific eligibility criteria. The scholarship is open to students from non-EU and non-EEA countries.

Applicants are required to submit an online application and provide several documents, including a curriculum vitae that highlights their academic achievements. Link to application form:http://tas.unitbv.ro/?page_id=4
A one-page motivation letter, and three letters of recommendation.

All documents must be submitted in English, and incomplete applications will be rejected.

Selection process and timeline

The institution informs that an evaluation board whose members are appointed by the Rector of Transilvania University of Brasov will be in charge of the candidates’ selection.

The selection criterion is the quality of the documents submitted in the application file.

Timeline:

February 17th, 2025 – April 25th, 2025: Candidates are required to register by filling out the online application form.
April 28th, 2025 – May 28th, 2025: Application files will be evaluated.
May 29th, 2025 – May 30th, 2025: The list of selected candidates, including a pending list, will be approved.
June 2nd, 2025: Selected candidates will be notified via email.

Only successful applicants will be contacted by email.

The selected candidates for the Transilvania Academica Scholarship will be subject to the Romanian academic studies admission procedure available at https://www.unitbv.ro/en/prospective-students/admission/admission-information-for-non-eu-citizens.html

Romanian university offers fully funded scholarships to non-EU and non-EEA students for 2025

Education

New Zealand university offers up to $10,000 scholarship for international students

Published

1 week ago

March 14, 2025

Trends Admin

New Zealand university offers up to $10,000 scholarship for international students

Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand, is offering the Tongarewa International Scholarship, which provides financial assistance of up to $10,000 to international students for their first year of study.

The scholarship seeks to support students in covering part of their tuition fees at the university.

The Tongarewa International Scholarship is available to international students starting their studies at Victoria University of Wellington in Trimester 2 or Trimester 3 of 2025.

This partial fee-based scholarship is open to both undergraduate and postgraduate students, offering a maximum award of $10,000.

“This is a partial fee-based scholarship that will go towards tuition fees for one year of study. It is designed for new international students, who are entering their first year of undergraduate or postgraduate studies at Victoria University of Wellington,” the institution informs.

“Scholarships are awarded competitively on the basis of academic excellence”

Eligibility criteria for the scholarship

To be eligible for the Tongarewa International Scholarship, applicants must:

Be new international students
Students must also hold a Conditional or Unconditional Offer of Place for an eligible program at Victoria University of Wellington
New students to Victoria University of Wellington
Selected by the scholarship award panel (upon scholarship application)

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Applicants are not eligible for this scholarship if they:

Completed their secondary education at a New Zealand school;
Completed the English for Academic Purposes (EAP) or the Victoria University of Wellington Foundation Studies programme;
Are a Study Abroad or Exchange student or a Twinning student from one of the institution’s overseas partner universities;
Are in their second trimester or year of study in the same degree programme (returning students) at Victoria University of Wellington

Application process

Students interested in applying for the scholarship must submit an application demonstrating academic achievement and leadership potential.

Scholarship requirements

The following documentation must be provided as part of the online scholarship application:

A personal statement of up to 500 words outlining why the applicant wishes to study at Victoria University of Wellington, their academic goals and why they merit the scholarship
Applicants should also include any leadership positions and details of their involvement in their school or community

According to the institution, “this is a partial fee-based scholarship which is awarded competitively based on academic excellence and the student’s personal statement. A panel comprising appropriate Wellington University International staff will review the applications and award the scholarships.”

Details further inform that the amount of the stipend will be awarded as either $2,500; $5,000; $7,500 or $10,000.

The scholarship amount, according to the institution, will be credited to students’ accounts two weeks after the programme begins. It cannot be paid out before this date.

Once the scholarship is awarded, the decision is final and cannot be appealed.

“Should the recipient withdraw from Victoria University of Wellington during the tenure of this scholarship or fail to achieve satisfactory progress, partial repayment of the Scholarship will normally be expected. Recipients must advise the Scholarships Office if they intend to withdraw,” the institution states.

Important deadlines

The deadline to apply for the scholarship is May 1st, 2025 for Trimester 2 and 1 August 2025 for Trimester 3. Applications must be submitted on the respective deadline dates.

For more details or to apply, students can visit the Victoria University of Wellington website.