The University of Ilorin has announced the commencement of applications into its Postgraduate School for the 2025/2026 Rain Semester, with admission strictly open to Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) programmes.
The University clarified that the Rain Semester application window is exclusively for qualified candidates seeking admission into advertised Ph.D. programmes, as no other postgraduate options are available during this period.
Applicants are therefore advised to apply only for programmes listed in the current advertisement.
According to the institution, the postgraduate academic session runs for twelve calendar months, from October to August, while the 2025/2026 Rain Semester is scheduled to commence on April 7, 2026. Ph.D. programmes have a duration of 36 to 60 months for full-time candidates and 48 to 72 months for part-time candidates, subject to university regulations.
Eligibility criteria released by the Postgraduate School indicate that prospective applicants must possess a relevant Master’s degree with a minimum of 60% or a 4.0 CGPA on a 5-point scale from the University of Ilorin or any other recognized institution.
In addition, candidates are required to have at least five O’Level credit passes, including English Language and Mathematics. However, applicants who obtained their O’Level results before 2015 may be allowed a pass in either subject, depending on the programme.
The University further stated that applicants must present NYSC discharge or exemption certificates dated on or before January 5, 2026. Candidates who graduated from foreign universities where English is not the medium of instruction are also required to provide valid evidence of English language proficiency.
Applications are to be completed online, after which applicants must submit hard copies of their completed application forms and supporting documents to the Secretary of the Postgraduate School between January 12 and January 23, 2026. Academic transcripts should be sent directly to the appropriate Heads of Department, as the University will not be responsible for any misdirected documents.
Shortlisted candidates will participate in qualifying interviews and assessments conducted by their respective departments. However, international applicants applying from outside Nigeria are exempted from the qualifying examination but must submit a research proposal of not more than five pages to the Postgraduate School via email on or before January 30, 2026.
The non-refundable application fee is ₦25,000 for Nigerian applicants and $200 for international candidates. The deadline for submission of applications is January 23, 2026, while the final date for receipt of supporting documents is January 30, 2026.
Applicants are advised to provide valid phone numbers and email addresses, as all official communication will be conducted electronically. Successful candidates will be notified through the University of Ilorin application portal.
Interested candidates are encouraged to visit the official University of Ilorin website (www.unilorin.edu.ng) for detailed information on the available programmes. The announcement was signed by the Registrar, A. Alfanla, and published in The Nation newspaper on January 5, 2026.
