Everything you need to know about studying at SBF-CIET.
SBF-CIET is a state-of-the-art institute that combines science, technology, and design. The institution offers courses taught by industry leaders and visiting professors from top universities worldwide, providing foundational education for careers in technology, design, and entrepreneurship.
Programmes emphasise practical skill development through mentorship by industry professionals, applied projects, and internships to ensure graduates are industry-ready. The curriculum includes both technical and professional development — covering communications, teamwork, and leadership skills alongside technical coursework.
SBF-CIET offers a unique blend of an academic programme, start-up accelerator, venture builder, and real-world experience designed to prepare students for careers in high-tech and entrepreneurship. The institution emphasises challenging and rewarding academic programmes where every bit of material presented will require a significant investment of talent, focus, and dedication to learn.
We bring in experts in design and technology with boundary-challenging vision from around the world to share industry knowledge. Students gain practical experience by forming interdisciplinary teams that work on real-world startup companies — these teams receive mentorship, and successful ones pitch ideas to investors.
We invite the best experts in academia and industry with boundary-challenging vision and future-defining influence from around the world to come to SBF-CIET and share their knowledge, experience, and network with our students directly. The institution recruits distinguished professors who are top scholars from prestigious universities and successful companies — including global leaders in their respective fields.
All SBF-CIET programmes are taught in English. Proficiency in written and spoken English is required in order to keep up with the classes as well as to actively participate in class discussions.
SBF-CIET offers twelve different degree-awarding programmes: Computer Science, Data Science, Cyber Security, Front-end Development, Applied Data and Computer Science, High-tech Entrepreneurship, Digital Marketing, Interaction Design, Product Management, Digital Transformation, International Business, and Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.
Most programmes are available at both National Diploma and Higher National Diploma levels. The institution also provides a one-year Foundation programme that grants access to SBF-CIET as well as other first-class tech universities around the world.
All courses are delivered face-to-face using an intensive three-week module format with one subject at a time. Classes meet three hours a day, five days a week, for a total of 45 contact hours, including examinations.
The pedagogical approach combines lectures, presentations, group discussions, case studies, team projects, and a personal capstone project, along with opportunities to collaborate with partner companies on real-world challenges.
Programmes commence in September, with enrolment possible approximately every three weeks. National Diploma degrees can be completed in two years, while Higher National Diploma degrees take an additional two years. There are several one-week vacation periods per year as well as a long winter and summer break, plus breaks designed to allow students to take on internships.
Class attendance and participation are considered integral parts of teaching and learning at SBF-CIET. Regular class attendance is required for all students, and attendance records are kept for each class. Students are also expected to be in class on time. Late arrivals are seen as being discourteous to the instructor and other students.
SBF-CIET welcomes students from all over the world who are keen to study. We are a global academic institution catering to students of all nationalities, genders, and cultural backgrounds.
Candidates for National Diploma programmes are most often secondary school graduates and transfer students. Successful candidates demonstrate the highest intellectual capabilities with strong results in sciences, mathematics, computers, or technology.
Candidates for the Higher National Diploma programme typically have already gone through the National Diploma programme and many have accumulated professional experience. These candidates are expected to be familiar with the area they intend to study and have a well-founded desire to deepen their skills.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis — there is no fixed application deadline. The institution will continue accepting applications until full enrolment has been reached. Prospective students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible to ensure a place is available within their chosen programme and to allow adequate time for any required documentation processing.
Applicants must propose a project idea as part of the application process. The proposal should be a 1–2 page document clearly stating the project idea, its significance, reasons for interest, and how studying at SBF-CIET will help implement it.
Applicants are encouraged to find ideas they are genuinely passionate about and to be ambitious — avoiding projects they already know how to complete. The institution provides years of training from professors and mentors to help realise these ideas.
As all of our courses are taught in English, we require that our students speak and comprehend English well. While we take work experience and standardised test scores into consideration, we do not have a specific set of requirements. Your ability to convey your thoughts in English and whether you will be able to engage effectively during the courses will be mainly evaluated during the interview.
All applicants are required to attend a personal interview which can be organised face-to-face or as a video conference at your convenience. You will receive all details about the interview once your application is submitted.
No. We accept students of all ages. However, if you are under 18, a parent or guardian must sign your application and the consent form to study at SBF-CIET.
No, your financial status will not impact your chances of being admitted to SBF-CIET. We have a need-blind admissions policy and will notify you of your acceptance before we inquire about your financial ability.
Yes. There is a fixed non-refundable application fee for all programmes that must be paid by all applicants. The application will only be considered after payment. The fee guarantees we can process every single application fairly and maintain the highest possible standard of assessment.
You may contact our Admissions Team directly via the Contact Admissions page, or send an email to admissions@sbf-ciet.com.
Tuition fees vary depending on the programme type and duration. The tuition does not cover learning materials, out-of-class excursions, or living expenses. A non-refundable application fee is required for all programmes. Payment options include credit card or bank transfer. Please contact our admissions team for a personalised cost breakdown.
We offer flexible payment options. Payments can be made by bank wire transfer or by credit card (American Express, MasterCard, or Visa). Your invoice will include detailed payment information.
SBF-CIET is dedicated to supporting exceptional students regardless of financial circumstances through endowed scholarships. Financial aid is granted based on three criteria:
No separate application is required. The Admissions Officer will inform you about whether you are entitled to financial aid and its terms in the admission decision.
SBF-CIET also offers apprenticeship opportunities through industry partnerships, including scholarships that combine work experience with industry partners and potential employment upon graduation.
SBF-CIET can assist you in obtaining a student loan by providing proof of study and other necessary documentation, but students are responsible for arranging the loans. If you are considering a student loan, we strongly encourage you to thoroughly research individual loan programmes to learn about interest rates, fees, repayment terms, and other factors you should consider.
To book a place in a programme, students must pay either the full tuition fee or a deposit. All deposits received are for the sole purpose of reserving a place in the programme and are non-refundable, except in cases where a student visa is refused and the student complies with the School's Visa Refusal Refund Policy. This means that if a student changes their mind after enrolling, the deposit payment cannot be refunded.
The majority of our students receive multiple job offers at the end of the second academic year of their National Diploma programme and at the end of the first academic year of their HND programme. The best applicants receive an offer from our industrial partners.
We require all National Diploma students to complete an internship. For HND level students, it is not mandatory. We work with the most exciting and innovative startups, technology, and design companies to make sure our students join the best teams.
The SBF-CIET team acts as a personal talent agency. In addition to unlimited consultation sessions, the team of experts provides networking, publicity, and entrepreneurial support. These coordinated services increase the visibility of your achievements and propel your career forward.
SBF-CIET will assist students in finding the most optimal mentor for the Capstone Project but is not responsible for the outcome. Please note that mentors are not assigned but are instead courted. As a rule, it will take a while to convince the best mentors to become advisors on your project — the more developed the project is when the mentor is contacted, the higher the chances of success.
Every member of our teaching faculty can become a mentor based on their past experiences, so be conscious about this while taking courses, and impress visiting faculty with your work ethic, passion and commitment.
Students from outside Nigeria may be required to obtain a student visa. A student visa permits the holder to remain in the country to pursue studies, research, or training programmes. Please contact our admissions office for country-specific guidance on visa requirements.
Our main administrative office is located at No 1 Startup Business Foundation Crescent off Mcc Uratta Road Owerri, Imo State. Please contact us for specific campus addresses and directions.
Accommodation is not provided directly by SBF-CIET. However, our student services team offers to add students to accommodation groups and provides guides and recommendations for student organisations that assist with housing searches near each campus.
SBF-CIET does not determine the acceptance of transfer credits by other institutions. Any student who wishes to receive academic credit for work completed at our programmes will receive an official transcript indicating the number of class hours and credits completed along with an overall grade for performance.
Our admissions team is happy to help with anything not covered above.