The real fun of being a student of the University of Lagos is staying in the school hostel, but there is another side to it. Getting hostel allocation all begins from an online process where students have to apply, then complete a documentation process to finally have a bedspace to themselves.
The University of Lagos (UNILAG) is known for its balloting system in allocating hostels to students. It is based on randomness and luck, so students have to struggle and introduce personal tactics just to secure a spot.
If you are still confused about the necessary information about the UNILAG hostel allocation, read carefully so as not to miss any vital information that might cause you to lose your chance of securing a bedspace for yourself.
Is UNILAG Hostel Application Portal Live for the 2025/2026 Session?
As announced by the school management, the UNILAG 2025/2026 hostel application portal is open and will run till Thursday, November 20th, 2025, at 11:59 PM. After this, the window for balloting kicks off on Friday, November 21st, 2025.
Here is the most vital aspect of the announcement on the 2025/2026 UNILAG hostel allocation;
The eligibility criteria for students who are to apply are students in 200L to 500L. Newly admitted students are not to take part, as there is a special allocation window designed for them.
To be able to apply, you must have successfully paid the UNILAG school fee for the 2025/2026 academic session and also carried out your course registration for the first semester.
The application window is stipulated from Monday, 17th November, to Friday, 21st November, 2025. The application process is to take place at the university portal. Once this window closes, the balloting system will commence, giving bedspace to eligible students randomly.
Important Dates to Remember:
Application Start Date: Monday, November 17, 2025
Application End Date: 11:59 PM, Thursday, November 20, 2025
Balloting Date: Friday, November 21, 2025
Payment Deadline: Friday, November 28, 2025 (a week after allocation)
Movement into Hall of Residence: Saturday, November 22, 2025
Note: Students in El Kannemi Hall 2, Gbajabiamila, Women's Society, and other hostels in this category around campus are not eligible to participate in the balloting exercise.
The student affairs division has the list of students living in these hostels, and any student who violates this directive will face the students’ disciplinary board for social misconduct.
List of UNILAG Hostels and Prices for the 2025/2026 Session
Male Hostels:
HOSTEL | PRICE |
|---|---|
King Jaja Hostel | 80,000 |
Mariere Hall | 80,000 |
Eni Njoku Hall | 80,000 |
Saburi Biobaku Hall | 80,000 |
El-Kanemi Hall | 80,000 |
Female Hostel:
HOSTEL | PRICE |
|---|---|
Moremi Hall | 80,000 |
Queen Amina Hall | 80,000 |
Kofo Ademola Hall | 80,000 |
Madam Tinubu Hall (MTH) | 80,000 |
Fagunwa Hall | 80,000 |
Makama Hall | 80,000 |
Honours Hall | 80,000 |
Premium & Special Category Hostels:
HOSTEL | PRICE |
|---|---|
Sodeinde Hall (Male) | 250,000 |
Moremi Hall Extension (Female | 500,000 |
Medical Student Hostels (Idi Araba Campus) | 65,000 - 100,000 |
Private Partnership (PPP) & Off Campus Hostels:
HOSTEL | PRICE |
|---|---|
Femi Gbajabiamila Hall | 700,000 – 1,000,000 |
UNILAG Women Society (ULWS) Hostel | 500,000 – 850,000 |
El-Kanemi Hall 2 | 250,000 – 300,000 |
Emerald Suites (Opposite Main Gate) | 800,000 – 1,200,000 per year |
Important Payment Notice
If you are allocated a space in the 80,000 Naira category, you must pay within 7 days, or the portal will revoke the allocation and give it to a student on the waiting list.
Some halls may require an additional refundable caution fee of 5,000 – 10,000 for maintenance.
A mandatory utility charge of 15,000 Naira is usually included in your obligatory school fees, but some hostels may charge a small maintenance levy at the hall level.
How to Pay UNILAG Hostel Fee for 2025/2026 Session
A step by step guide to pay.
Log in to studentportal.unilag.edu.ng
Navigate to the accommodation or hostel tab
Once you see your allocated hall, click on generate RRR
This will produce a slip with a remita retrieval reference (RRR) number
Print the RRR slip and take it to any commercial bank in Nigeria. Ask to make a payment for "UNILAG Accommodation" using remita.
If you paid at the bank, log back into the portal and click confirm payment
Once successful, download and print your official accommodation receipt.
Phase 2 (Two)
Payment alone does not grant you entry. You must take the following to your assigned hall of residence:
Three (3) copies of the accommodation receipt printed from the hostel portal
Two (2) copies of your course form signed by your head of department
Passport photographs (usually 4–6 copies).
A copy of your student biodata form.
After submitting the needed forms, you will be given a mattress and signed into the hostel.
UNILAG Balloting Phase Breakdown
After the normal window for hostel allocation closes in UNILAG, almost immediately, the ballot phase kicks off, where students are randomly allocated bedspaces.
However, UNILAG balloting is broken down into fractures, 70% to random students who apply, and the other 30% are reserved for;
First class students
Student athletes representing the school
Students with disabilities or verified health challenges.
Rules and Regulations in UNILAG Hostels
Hot plates, gas cylinders, and kerosene stoves are strictly forbidden. Students are only allowed to use small electric kettles in some halls.
Possession of alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs within the hostel premises is a major offence.
Independently hosting a friend without official approval is a crime. If caught, the owner of the bed space loses it for the rest of their time in UNILAG, and the squatter may face suspension.
Visitors are generally allowed between 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM
Male students are never allowed in female rooms, and vice versa. Meetings must happen at the Porters' lodge or common areas.
Most hostels lock their main gates by 10:00 PM or 11:00 PM. If you are outside after this time, you may have to sleep at the security post or explain yourself to the hall warden.
All students living in the hostel must maintain good hygiene, keeping the environment clean and organised at all times.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Can I stay with a friend in the hostel if I failed to secure a hostel space?
A. The rule is the rule; squatting is a major offence in UNILAG.
Q. What happens if I misplace my hostel receipt?
A. No need to worry, you can always print another from your portal.
Q. Can I swap hostels with another student?
A. It's not allowed, swapping, selling, or trading of any sort. The name on the receipt must be the person staying in the room.
Q. Can I choose my specific room or bed?
A. No, you can only choose the hall of residence. The specific room and bed number are assigned randomly if you are successful.
A. How long do I have to pay after being allocated a space?
A. You must pay within one week (7 days). If you miss this deadline, your space is automatically revoked and reallocated.
Q. Can I stay in the hostel during holidays?
A. Standard allocation is for the duration of the academic session. You are usually expected to pack out during long vacations.
Q. Will the UNILAG hostel be open on resumption day?
A. Yes, the hostel will open on resumption day only to students who have completed their hostel documentation and clearance.
