Overview
Founded in 1980, the Rivers State University is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the urban setting of the metropolis of Port Harcourt (population range of 1,000,000-5,000,000 inhabitants), Rivers.
This institution also has branch campuses in Emouha, Ahoada, Etche and Sakpenwa. Officially recognized by the National Universities Commission of Nigeria, Rivers State University (RSU) is a very large-sized coeducational Nigerian higher education institution.
Rivers State University (RSU) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as bachelor's degrees, master's degrees and doctorate degrees in several areas of study. This 44-year-old Nigerian higher-education institution has a selective admission policy based on entrance examinations.
The acceptance rate range is 10-19% making this Nigerian higher education organization an extremely selective institution.
International students are welcome to apply for enrollment. RSU also provides several academic and non-academic facilities and services to students including a library, housing, sports facilities, as well as administrative services.
Location & Contact
Rivers State University's campus location, postal address, and admissions contact channels are below.
Academic Details
Rivers State University's student body, faculty composition, and recognition framework are below.
Academic Structures
The academic units of Rivers State University are listed below.
Unit 20 items
- Advancement and Linkages Centre
- Centre for Continuing Education
- Centre for Information Technology
- College of Medical Sciences
- Faculty of Agriculture
- Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences
- Faculty of Basis Medical Sciences
- Faculty of Clinical Sciences
- Faculty of Engineering
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences
- Faculty of Humanities
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Management Sciences
- Faculty of Science
- Faculty of Social Sciences
- Faculty of Technical and Science Education
- Institute for Pollution Studies
- Institute of Agricultural Research
- Institute of Foundation Studies
- Institute of Geoscience and Space Technology
Degrees
Also Professional Master of Science (PMS) (24 months) and Professional Doctorate Science Degree (PDSD) (36 months) in Water and Sanitation; Doctorate of Public Health (DrPH)
Bachelor's 12 programs
- Agriculture
- Arts and Humanities
- Business Administration
- Engineering
- Environmental Studies
- Law
- Management
- Mathematics and Computer Science
- Medicine
- Natural Sciences
- Social Sciences
- Surgery
Master's 138 programs
- Accountancy
- Administration
- Adult Education
- Agricultural Economics
- Agricultural Education
- Agricultural Engineering
- Agriculture
- Analytical Chemistry
- Anatomy
- Animal Husbandry
- Applied Mathematics
- Aquaculture
- Architecture
- Archiving
- Banking
- Biochemistry
- Biology
- Biotechnology
- Botany
- Business Education
- Cell Biology
- Chemical Engineering
- Chemistry
- Civil Engineering
- Communication Studies
- Community Development
- Community Health
- Computer Science
- Crop Production
- Cultural Studies
- Curriculum
- Development Studies
- Ecology
- Econometrics
- Economic and Finance Policy
- Economics
- Education
- Educational Administration
- Educational Psychology
- Educational Sciences
- Educational Technology
- Educational Testing and Evaluation
- Educational and Student Counselling
- Electronic Engineering
- Embryology and Reproduction Biology
- Endocrinology
- English
- Entomology
- Environmental Engineering
- Environmental Management
- Environmental Studies
- Epidemiology
- Farm Management
- Finance
- Fishery
- Food Science
- Food Technology
- Forestry
- French
- Gender Studies
- Genetics
- Geological Engineering
- Geophysics
- Government
- Haematology
- Health Administration
- Health Education
- Health Sciences
- Histology
- History
- Horticulture
- Human Resources
- Hygiene
- Information Management
- Information Sciences
- Inorganic Chemistry
- International Economics
- International Relations and Diplomacy
- Laboratory Techniques
- Labour Law
- Labour and Industrial Relations
- Law
- Library Science
- Literature
- Logistics Management
- Management
- Marine Biology
- Marine Engineering
- Marine Transport
- Marketing
- Mass Communication
- Mathematics Education
- Mechanical Engineering
- Microbiology
- Mineralogy
- Molecular Biology
- Natural Resources
- Naval Architecture
- Neurosciences
- Nursing
- Occupational Health
- Organic Chemistry
- Pathology
- Peace and Disarmament
- Petroleum and Gas Engineering
- Philosophy
- Physical Chemistry
- Physics
- Physiology
- Plant Pathology
- Power Engineering
- Protective Services
- Public Administration
- Public Health
- Publishing and Book Trade
- Real Estate
- Regional Planning
- Religious Studies
- Rural Planning
- Rural Studies
- Sanitary Engineering
- Science Education
- Social Work
- Sociology
- Soil Science
- Statistics
- Surveying and Mapping
- Sustainable Development
- Taxation
- Technology Education
- Telecommunications Engineering
- Theatre
- Town Planning
- Transport Engineering
- Transport Management
- Waste Management
- Water Science
- Wildlife
Doctoral 137 programs
- Accountancy
- Administration
- Adult Education
- Agricultural Economics
- Agricultural Education
- Agricultural Engineering
- Agriculture
- Analytical Chemistry
- Anatomy
- Animal Husbandry
- Applied Mathematics
- Aquaculture
- Architecture
- Archiving
- Astronomy and Space Science
- Astrophysics
- Banking
- Biochemistry
- Biology
- Biotechnology
- Botany
- Business Education
- Chemical Engineering
- Chemistry
- Civil Engineering
- Civil Law
- Commercial Law
- Community Development
- Community Health
- Comparative Law
- Computer Science
- Constitutional Law
- Criminal Law
- Crop Production
- Cultural Studies
- Curriculum
- Ecology
- Econometrics
- Economic and Finance Policy
- Economics
- Educational Administration
- Educational Psychology
- Educational Sciences
- Educational Technology
- Educational Testing and Evaluation
- Educational and Student Counselling
- Electronic Engineering
- Embryology and Reproduction Biology
- Endocrinology
- English
- Entomology
- Environmental Engineering
- Environmental Management
- Environmental Studies
- Epidemiology
- Farm Management
- Finance
- Fishery
- Food Science
- Food Technology
- Forestry
- Gender Studies
- Genetics
- Geological Engineering
- Geophysics
- Government
- Haematology
- Health Administration
- Health Education
- Health Sciences
- History
- Horticulture
- Human Resources
- Human Rights
- Information Management
- Information Sciences
- Inorganic Chemistry
- International Economics
- International Law
- International Relations and Diplomacy
- Laboratory Techniques
- Labour Law
- Labour and Industrial Relations
- Law
- Library Science
- Literature
- Logistics Management
- Management
- Marine Biology
- Marine Engineering
- Marine Transport
- Marketing
- Mass Communication
- Mathematics Education
- Mechanical Engineering
- Microbiology
- Mineralogy
- Molecular Biology
- Natural Resources
- Naval Architecture
- Neurosciences
- Nursing
- Occupational Health
- Organic Chemistry
- Pathology
- Peace and Disarmament
- Petroleum and Gas Engineering
- Philosophy
- Physical Chemistry
- Physics
- Physiology
- Plant Pathology
- Power Engineering
- Private Law
- Protective Services
- Public Administration
- Public Health
- Publishing and Book Trade
- Real Estate
- Religious Studies
- Rural Studies
- Sanitary Engineering
- Science Education
- Social Work
- Sociology
- Soil Science
- Statistics
- Surveying and Mapping
- Sustainable Development
- Taxation
- Technology Education
- Telecommunications Engineering
- Theatre
- Transport Engineering
- Waste Management
- Water Science
- Wildlife
Faculties & Divisions
All faculties operate under National Universities Commission of Nigeria.
Basic Clinical Sciences (College) 8 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Anatomy
- Haematology
- Immunology
- Medical Parasitology
- Microbiology
- Parasitology
- Pathology
- Pharmacology
Basic Medical Sciences (College) 10 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Anatomy
- Biochemistry
- Medicine
- Nursing
- Pharmacology
- Physical Therapy
- Physiology
- Public Health
- Radiology
- Surgery
Clinical Science (College) 5 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Community Health
- Medicine
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology
- Paediatrics
- Surgery
Administration and Management (Faculty) 8 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Accountancy
- Business Administration
- Finance
- Human Resources
- Information Management
- Logistics Management
- Management
- Marketing
Agriculture (Faculty) 9 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Agricultural Economics
- Agricultural Engineering
- Agriculture
- Animal Husbandry
- Crop Production
- Fishery
- Food Science
- Food Technology
- Soil Science
Communication and Media Studies (Faculty) 7 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Advertising and Publicity
- Cinema and Television
- Communication Studies
- Journalism
- Printing and Printmaking
- Public Relations
- Radio and Television Broadcasting
Education (Faculty) 8 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Business Education
- Education
- Educational Administration
- Information Sciences
- Library Science
- Science Education
- Technology Education
- Vocational Education
Engineering (Faculty) 10 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Agricultural Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Computer Engineering
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- Engineering
- Environmental Engineering
- Marine Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Petroleum and Gas Engineering
Entrepreneurial Studies (Faculty) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Entrepreneurship
Environmental Science (Faculty) 7 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Architecture
- Environmental Management
- Geography
- Real Estate
- Regional Planning
- Surveying and Mapping
- Town Planning
Humanities (Faculty) 10 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Cultural Studies
- English
- Film
- French
- History
- International Relations and Diplomacy
- Literature
- Philosophy
- Religious Studies
- Theatre
Law (Faculty) 6 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Civil Law
- Commercial Law
- International Law
- Law
- Private Law
- Public Law
Medical Laboratory Science (Faculty) 6 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Applied Chemistry
- Cell Biology
- Haematology
- Histology
- Microbiology
- Pathology
Science (Faculty) 11 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Biochemistry
- Biology
- Biotechnology
- Botany
- Chemistry
- Computer Science
- Geology
- Marine Science and Oceanography
- Mathematics
- Microbiology
- Physics
Social Sciences (Faculty) 5 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Economics
- Political Sciences
- Psychology
- Social Work
- Sociology
Business (School) 1 subject offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Business Administration
Postgraduate Studies (School) Faculty details available
Specialisations & Subjects
No specified subjects listed.
Programs Offered
The full set of programmes Rivers State University offers is searchable and grouped by level below.
74 programmes on record. Each level below shows a sample. Compare these on the programs page All programs in Nigeria
Bachelor's Degree 74 programmes
Showing 10 of 74.
How to apply to Rivers State University
What applying to Rivers State University involves, in five steps.
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1
Browse the programme catalogue
Rivers State University's catalogue includes 74 programmes. Browse by level, identify candidates matching your prior qualifications, and note their entry requirements for the next step.
-
2
Check eligibility for your chosen programme
Entry requirements vary by programme and degree level. Verify academic minimums, language tests (if international), and any additional documents required for Rivers State University's admissions process.
-
3
Get your documents ready
Typical documents include academic transcripts, identity proof (passport or national ID), language proficiency test scores, a personal statement or motivation letter, and recommendation letters. International applicants should account for translation and notarisation time.
-
4
Apply through the official channel
Submit your completed application through Rivers State University's official website at www.ust.edu.ng. Most institutions use an online portal — register an account, complete the application form, and upload your prepared documents. Keep copies of all submissions and confirmation receipts.
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5
Reach out and track your application
Follow up to confirm your application was received and is being processed. Reach the institution by phone at +234 (709) 541 5002. Admissions teams may request interviews or additional documents — respond promptly to keep your application active.
Frequently Asked Questions about Rivers State University
Quick answers to common questions about Rivers State University.
When did Rivers State University open?
Rivers State University traces its founding to 1972 (approximately 54 years ago).
Where can I find Rivers State University?
The institution is located in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Is Rivers State University public or private?
Rivers State University is a public institution.
How many students does Rivers State University have?
The institution has a student body of 20,000.
What qualification levels does Rivers State University offer?
Programmes at Rivers State University cover bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes.
How is Rivers State University organised academically?
The institution comprises 20 academic units.
Who recognises Rivers State University?
Rivers State University is accredited by National Universities Commission (NUC).
Where can I learn more about Rivers State University?
You can find Rivers State University online at www.ust.edu.ng.
Top-Ranked Universities in Nigeria
Top universities in Nigeria differ from flagship status: top is rankings-defined; flagship is often historically defined. The lists may overlap but are not identical.
Members of Association of African Universities (AAU)
Rivers State University and the universities below are both members of Association of African Universities (AAU).
Faculties at nearby universities
Universities located near Rivers State University are listed below.
Where Else to Study Business & Management
Business & Management is also taught at these universities in Nigeria.
Universities Compared with Rivers State University
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