UNILAG DLI Courses, Fees and Admission Requirements (2026): Distance Learning Institute Guide
All UNILAG Distance Learning Institute (DLI) courses, admission requirements by programme, application fee, how to apply without UTME, and what you pay.
Quick summary:
The University of Lagos Distance Learning Institute (DLI) offers 15 degree programmes by distance learning: Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, Public Administration, Finance, and ten Education degrees, plus a PGDE. There is no UTME exam: you register as a part-time candidate on JAMB CAPS (₦3,500), then apply on applications.unilag.edu.ng. UNILAG announced a ₦20,000 application fee for 2026, with a deadline of 31 December 2026. You need five O'level credits including English and Mathematics. Degrees take four to five years from Year 1, or less if you enter at Year 2 or 3.
UNILAG's Distance Learning Institute lets you earn a University of Lagos degree while you work. It is one of Nigeria's oldest and largest distance learning centres: DLI says it has enrolled more than 71,000 students and graduated more than 11,000 since 2014.
This guide uses DLI's official website (dli.unilag.edu.ng) and UNILAG's 2026 admission announcement, checked on 14 November 2026.
UNILAG DLI courses
Management and Social Sciences
- B.Sc. Accounting
- B.Sc. Business Administration
- B.Sc. Finance
- B.Sc. Economics
- B.Sc. Public Administration
Education
- B.Sc. (Ed.) Biology
- B.Sc. (Ed.) Chemistry
- B.Sc. (Ed.) Physics
- B.Sc. (Ed.) Mathematics
- B.Sc. (Ed.) Economics
- B.Sc. (Ed.) Business Studies
- B.Sc. (Ed.) Early Childhood Education
- B.A. (Ed.) English
- B.Ed. Educational Management
- B.Ed. Guidance and Counselling
Postgraduate
- Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE)
DLI also lists proposed programmes, including B.Sc. Transportation Management, several PGDs, an MBA and MPA, but says they are subject to approval and not yet open for application.
How long does UNILAG DLI take?
- Year 1 entry: four to five years
- Year 2 or Year 3 entry: shorter, if you have a degree, HND, ND, NCE, A Level or a professional qualification in a related field
- PGDE: two academic sessions
UNILAG DLI admission requirements
Everyone must have five O'level credits (WASSCE, SSCE, GCE or NECO) including English Language and Mathematics, in not more than two sittings. Each programme adds its own subjects. Examples from DLI's requirements:
| Programme | Year 1 O'level credits | Higher entry (Year 2 or 3) |
|---|---|---|
| B.Sc. Accounting | English, Mathematics, Economics + 2 others | Year 2: relevant degree, ND (lower credit), NCE, A Level, or ICAN ATS III. Year 3: good honours degree, HND (lower credit), or ACA, ANAN, ACCA and similar |
| B.Sc. Public Administration | English, Mathematics, Government or History + 2 others | Relevant degree, ND (lower credit), NCE (merit) |
| B.Sc. (Ed.) Biology | English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry + 1 other | Degree, NCE (merit), ND including Laboratory Technology, A Level, JUPEB or IJMB |
| B.Ed. Early Childhood Education | English, Mathematics + 3 others | Relevant degree, NCE (merit), ND, A Level, JUPEB or IJMB |
| PGDE | Bachelor's degree (minimum third class) or HND (minimum lower credit), plus NYSC certificate or exemption |
Other rules from DLI:
- You must be at least 16 years old by 31 October of the admission year.
- Online printouts of O'level results are not accepted at registration. For results from before 2020, you need the certificate, not the statement of result.
- Candidates awaiting results are not eligible.
- Year 2 and Year 3 applicants must have transcripts sent directly by their previous institution.
The full requirement for each programme is on DLI's admission requirements page.
How to apply to UNILAG DLI (no UTME)
Stage 1: JAMB part-time registration
- Go to the JAMB CAPS website and register as a part-time candidate.
- Pay the JAMB fee (₦3,500) to get your registration number.
Stage 2: UNILAG application
- Go to applications.unilag.edu.ng and click Start Fresh Application.
- Choose Distance Learning Institute, then enter your names, JAMB registration number, phone and email.
- Pay the application fee online or with a Remita payment advice at a bank.
- Return to the portal, click Continue Application, and log in with your payment reference and your surname in lower case.
- Fill in your details, upload your documents, submit and print a copy.
Documents to upload: testimonial, birth certificate (or an affidavit dated before the admission advert), O'level certificate(s) and other qualifications, NYSC certificate or exemption (direct entry), and for married women, a marriage certificate and newspaper publication.
UNILAG DLI fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| JAMB part-time registration | ₦3,500 |
| Application fee (2026, as announced by UNILAG) | ₦20,000 |
| Course modules | ₦3,500 per module |
| Transcript and verification of results | ₦10,000 |
| WES transcript | ₦15,000 |
School fees (tuition): DLI does not publish its tuition on its website. Your fees for each session appear on your admission and registration portal. Do not rely on figures from unofficial websites, and never pay anyone directly: DLI warns that it has no connection with people who call applicants asking for payment, and that all payments go through its official portal and Remita.
Application deadline for 2026
UNILAG announced in June 2026 that applications for DLI close on 31 December 2026. Confirm on the application portal before you pay.
Does UNILAG DLI write projects?
Yes. Like on-campus students, DLI degree students complete a final year project. If you get there, the MonoEd FYP Generator helps you plan and draft your chapters in the standard Nigerian format.
Other distance learning options
- ABU Distance Learning Centre courses and fees
- List of accredited open universities in Nigeria (including all 34 NUC-approved distance learning centres)
- Miva Open University courses and school fees
FAQs
Does UNILAG DLI require JAMB?
You do not write UTME, but you must register on JAMB CAPS as a part-time candidate (₦3,500) to get a registration number for your UNILAG application.
How much is the UNILAG DLI application form?
UNILAG announced ₦20,000 for 2026. The 2024/2025 advert listed ₦17,500.
How much is UNILAG DLI school fees?
DLI does not publish tuition on its website. You see your fees on the portal after admission.
What courses does UNILAG DLI offer?
Accounting, Business Administration, Finance, Economics, Public Administration, ten Education degrees and the PGDE.
Is UNILAG DLI certificate the same as regular UNILAG?
DLI is UNILAG's approved distance learning institute, listed by NUC, and its graduates earn a University of Lagos degree.
How many years is UNILAG DLI?
Four to five years from Year 1. Entry at Year 2 or Year 3 shortens it. The PGDE takes two sessions.
About the Author
Mohammad-Jamiu B. Balogun, GMNSE
Founder & Product Architect, MonoEd Africa
Mohammad-Jamiu is a First-Class Telecommunications Engineer and Best Graduating Student of Bayero University, Kano (Class of 2024), and the founder of MonoEd Africa. An AI engineer and product architect, he designs and builds MonoEd's guided workflows for SIWES logbooks and reports, final year projects and academic tools such as the GPA calculator, helping students produce better work and build the skills the AI era demands. MonoEd's tools have reached more than 20,000 students across Nigeria.
