5 things to know about studying in UNICAL (and more)

Studying in UNICAL is a great way to earn that degree you have always desired.

The University of Calabar, fondly called UNICAL is one of the most prestigious universities in Nigeria. Among other things, the university is a centre of excellence.

Moreover, UNICAL is home to nearly 50,000 Nigerian students. And each year, about 35,000 aspirants make UNICAL first choice in JAMB. All to struggle for the 9,000 admission slots of the university.

Therefore as one of UNICAL aspirant, you would like to know more about studying in UNICAL.

What is studying in UNICAL like? Is UNICAL a good school? Such questions and others perhaps dominate your mind.

It is for this same reason of finding answers to all your questions that I wrote this post.

Being a student of UNICAL myself, its more a natural thing telling you all you need to know about studying here. So I like you to brace yourself up as you will be learning more about our great university.

What is studying in UNICAL like?

The University of Calabar is just a perfect example of what studying in a federal university in Nigeria look like. The atmosphere, the lecturers, the classrooms, the procedures, and lest I forget…the hostels.

But what you can expect is that you will work for your degree. That is, you’ll have to earn it.

Because UNICAL is a very stressful school to study, there is generally no easier way to go about things.

From registration to attending lectures.

From doing assessments to writing examinations.

Studying in UNICAL is one pack of stress. Though you wouldn’t mind as you are chasing a worthwhile cause.

Having had a great idea what studying in University of Calabar looks like, let me expose you to life inside the school.

Here are 5 things you should know about studying in UNICAL.

1. UNICAL school fees is one of the lowest in Nigeria

UNICAL is one of the cheapest universities to study in Nigeria. That’s majorly due to its low tuition fees.

For many students from poor and middle class background, this is the most remarkable thing about studying in UNICAL.

In fact, about 40% of the aspirants who chose UNICAL in JAMB each year do so with the knowledge of its tuition fee from relatives and friends.

Besides, in a country like Nigeria, school fees is a major consideration when looking up a university to attend. UNICAL fits the bill of a low tuition-fee university.

Though all courses in UNICAL don’t pay the same amount in fees, the highest school fees is still less than ₦45,000 per academic session (year).

Check out UNICAL school fees here and compare with school fees of other federal universities in Nigeria. You’d be glad you’re choosing UNICAL.

2. UNICAL is one of the safest schools to study

The old proverb, “when there is life, there is hope” still holds true today. The University of Calabar study environment fits well into that wise saying.

One of the most important considerations when looking up a university to attend is security. After all, na who dey alive dey attend lectures.

UNICAL campus is arguably the safest school environment in Nigeria. The days when the campus was hot has long past.

Gone are the days when students were shot at on campus in UNICAL. Gone are the days of open cultism in the University of Calabar.

Few years ago, cultism and other nefarious activities were common sight in Nigerian universities. UNICAL was no exception that time.

Intimidation and harassment of fellow students anywhere on campus in the name of gangsterism were normal practices. It was once a case of only fittest surviving in school. You either beat them or you join them were popular sayings few years ago on campus.

Fast forward to 2020, and its a different story. Its safe to say the University of Calabar has experienced a great amount of peace and tranquillity in the last five years. Thanks to the UNICAL security unit (fondly called UNICAL surveillance).

To further increase security on campus, a police station was established at the start of 2020.

So you can expect to be safe while studying in UNICAL, though God remains our ultimate security.

3. UNICAL is the second most beautiful campus

In terms of campus beauty, UNICAL is one of the most beautiful campuses in Nigeria, second only to the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU-Ife) campus.

However, the serenity of the campus is second to none.

There are times when you’d like to have some quietness, perhaps under a tree reading. A time to even perfect an idea. UNICAL has the environment that supports these times.

Good enough, UNICAL is not a highway to anywhere. That is, anyone who enters the campus actually came to the university.

The sight of the well arranged trees everywhere makes it even more comforting. No wonder many photo shoots in Calabar starts from UNICAL campus.

So you’ll have plenty of room to take as many photos as possible. Just check the gallery of an average student of UNICAL and all you’ll see are photos with amazing background.

You can expect to study in one of the most serene environments if you’re coming to UNICAL.

4. You will have to earn your degree in UNICAL

Studying in UNICAL is a great way to express the real challenges of a Nigerian student. Simply put, schooling in UNICAL is tough.

Tough because you’ll have to work for every bit of your degree. There is no easier way to go about things in the University of Calabar.

From the stressful school fees payment process to GSS registrations. From learning in packed lecture halls without sound systems to the experience on UNICAL shuttle bus.

The experience of going through UNICAL and earning a degree is one of its kind. There might be stress in other schools, but UNICAL’s stress is unique.

The university has even been fondly called UNICASH by students, that’s because of the tendency to spend money at every turn once enrolled.

In fact, its very challenging to study in UNICAL, though you can chose to see it as fun, like some of us did. So go and earn your degree and start your life.

5. You can gain admission into UNICAL through multiple ways

Perhaps one of the most remarkable things about University of Calabar is the flexibility in gaining entry into the school.

Whether you just left secondary school or have sought admission for long, or a mature adult who want to continue school, UNICAL has a program that suits your need.

You can gain admission into UNICAL through UTME (JAMB) or Direct Entry (DE). You can as well gain entry through Predegree, JUPEB, CES (degree) programs of the university.

In the case of Predegree, JUPEB and CES degree, you can only gain admission into selected courses. Check out the.

The university also runs sandwich and diploma programs in various courses. Most universities don’t run these specialized programs.

So depending on your academic need, a program that suits you is definitely available in UNICAL.

Check out the 5 ways to gain admission into UNICAL without JAMB 2022/23.

Wrapping things up

In a nutshell, here are 5 things to know about studying in UNICAL.

1. UNICAL school fees is one of the lowest in Nigeria.
2. UNICAL is one of the safest schools to study.
3. UNICAL is the second most beautiful campus.
4. You will have to earn your degree in UNICAL.
5. You can gain admission into UNICAL through multiple ways.

As I mentioned earlier, studying in UNICAL is a great way to experience life in a Nigerian federal university. You learn, stress, and have fun.

Though this list is not exhaustive, it certainly gives you an eagle view into studying in UNICAL. Your journey to my alma mata (UNICAL) only just began.

See you in school!

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Maxwell Tega

Maxwell is a Dietitian with passion for showing people hope. With nearly a decade experience helping people make key decisions on education and career, you can find him almost everywhere on this site. From answering admission and scholarship questions to creating tutorials and helping others live their best lives though nutrition. Connect with me on Twitter.