Everything You Need To Know About Umaru Musa Yar’Adua University, Katsina (Umyu) (Updated 2025)

So you’re eyeing UMYU, or maybe you’ve already secured admission and want the lowdown. You’re in the right place. Grab your beverage—zobo, malt, or chilled water—and let’s explore this rising star of Northern Nigeria’s academic scene.

Origins and Mission: From Katsina State University to UMYU

Back in September 2006, the Katsina State House of Assembly passed the law to establish Katsina State University. Academic programmes began in January 2007 across three initial faculties: Education, Humanities, and Natural & Applied Sciences. By April 2009, the institution was renamed to honour Katsina’s own President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua—and UMYU was born.

UMYU was designed to produce skilled human capital, driving Katsina State’s socio-economic and political development. It delivers both face-to-face and distance learning from day one. In just under two decades, it has grown into a full-fledged multi-faculty university, a model among Nigerian state universities.

Campus Setting: An Urban Hub in Katsina

UMYU is located in Batagarawa, just outside Katsina city—close enough for city thrills, yet peaceful enough for academic focus. The campus is urban, meaning it’s accessible and embedded in the rhythm of the city—suya joints, buses, and local markets included. It’s a campus that feels alive yet studious.

Academic Structure: Faculties, Courses & Programmes

UMYU offers a wide range of accredited programmes. From the original three faculties, it has expanded to eight core faculties plus Colleges of Health Sciences and Postgraduate Studies, with plans for 13 faculties and over 236 programmes by 2026.

Faculties include:

• Natural & Applied Sciences

• Humanities

• Education

• Social & Management Sciences

• Law

• Agriculture

• Earth & Environmental Sciences

• Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences plus College of Health Sciences (offering Medicine & Surgery for example)

• Faculty of Agriculture

• Faculty of Law 

Popular undergraduate programmes:

• BSc in Biochemistry, Biology, Computer Science, Microbiology, Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, Pure & Industrial Chemistry

• BSc in Accounting, Business Administration, Public Administration, Local Government & Development Studies

• BA in Arabic Studies, English, French, Hausa, History, Islamic Studies

• LLB in Islamic Law and Common Law

• BSc Agriculture, Fisheries & Aquaculture, Forestry & Wildlife Management

• BSc Geography, Environmental Management, Meteorology

• MBBS (Medicine & Surgery) commenced recently in a new College of Health 

Postgraduate programs (2024/25):

UMYU offers PGD, MSc, MEd, MLIS, MBA, and PhD programmes across Education, Humanities, Management Sciences, Social Sciences, and Applied Sciences.

Continuing & Remedial Education:

The university runs a School of Pre‑Degree & Remedial Studies and a School of Continuing Education offering part-time degrees in education, humanities, management, and social sciences.

Admission Requirements — Getting In the Right Way

Here’s how admission works, laid out simply:

UTME Admission:

• Must have five relevant O‑level credits, including English and Mathematics

• Meet departmental UTME cut‑offs via JAMB

• Successfully complete UMYU’s Post‑UTME screening via the official portal

Direct Entry:

• Apply via ND, NCE, A-level, HSC, or IJMB with relevant passes

• O'Levels still required

• You may enter at 200 level depending on qualifications 

Part-time Programmes:

Similar O’Level requirements apply; the program runs over flexible lecture periods with a minimum and maximum number of academic contacts (15 weeks lecture +3 exam weeks +2 vacation weeks per contact).

Fees & Financial Obligations

UMYU’s fee schedule is moderate, especially when compared to federal universities:

According to its official About page, the institution maintains transparent programme fees, though specifics vary per course and year.

Expect tuition fees plus sessional levies, with higher charges for sciences and professional programmes like Law and Medicine. Part-time programmes require bursary of ₦4,000 to apply.

Although exact numbers are not publicly listed, student feedback and comparison with similar schools suggest fees in public state university range (~₦70,000–₦150,000) depending on faculty and indigene status.

Facilities & Student Support Systems

UMYU offers a range of infrastructure and student services:

• Central and Faculty Libraries with thousands of physical books and e-resources 

• Hostels for undergraduate, postgraduate and medical students constructed under TETFund initiatives during Professor Sunusi Mamman’s administration 

• Counselling and Disabled Student Support Unit to ensure inclusive learning

• Campus Wi-Fi and ICT labs, transport services, and functional road network linking departments 

• Sports Complex and Recreational Facilities, including pool, tennis, basketball, volleyball, athletics, dance studio, and club sports like rugby, cricket, and chess

UMYU also publishes academic journals, such as Al‑Hikma Journal of Islamic Studies, in addition to supporting research with international and local funding .

Leadership & Institutional Vision

UMYU’s recent Vice Chancellor, Professor Shehu Salihu Muhammad, assumed office in May 2023. Under predecessor Professor Sunusi Mamman (2017–2022), the university saw rapid infrastructure development—hostels, postgraduate facilities, and expansion across faculties .

UMYU is on a phased development plan—spanning 25 years across four phases—aiming for 13 faculties and 236 academic programmes by its culmination .

Campus Life: What It Feels Like to Be a Student

UMYU offers more than academic rigour—it comes with vibrant Nigerian student life:

• Student Union Government (SUG): Active leadership, politics, and campaigns

• Clubs & Societies: Religious groups, departmental associations, academic, drama, and entrepreneurship clubs

• Sporting Culture: Inter-departmental games and competitions, championships in athletics, football, basketball, rugby, swimming, etc. with scholarship opportunities for athletes 

• Social Integration: The campus invites a hospitable environment with easy friendships, quiet study spots, occasional late-night group readings, and local food culture

Katsina is safe and historically rich—students enjoy cultural exposure, community integration, and occasional market shuttles back home.

Strengths & Challenges: The Honest Truth

Strengths:

• Relatively affordable tuition with transparent academic offerings

• Strong academic expansion strategy and clear vision

• Robust student support systems including sports, counseling, and research encouragement

• Stable structure—state-driven university with fewer national disruptions

• Accredited programmes across many disciplines; high employability rating of graduates

Challenges:

• Fee details aren’t fully laid out online—applicants must contact admin for specifics

• Hostel capacity may be strained during peak intake

• Infrastructure remains under growth, especially across remote faculties

• Part-time programmes require time investment—balance may be tricky for working students

Not fatal issues, but areas where students and parents should plan wisely.

Why Should You Pick UMYU?

If you’re a student seeking:

• A state university with expanding academic offerings

• A balanced mix of science, humanities, law, agriculture, education, and medicine

• Moderate fees and transparent structure

• A campus that integrates student welfare with research and practical learning

• A location with culture, connectivity, and safety—then UMYU warrants serious thought

This is a place where you can graduate without losing time, support your local economy, and return to your community with skills that matter.

Conclusion

Umaru Musa Yar’Adua University, Katsina is not just about a certificate—you’re joining an institution designed for development, research, and societal impact. With 13 faculties, a postgraduate school, and future expansions in engineering, veterinary science, and more, the university is clearly thinking ahead.

So prepare your JAMB scores, polish your certificate copies, and get mentally ready for life in Katsina—where knowledge meets service, and your academic journey feels human, practical, and purpose-driven.