The old campus is located just outside the ancient walls of kano city. It houses 4 faculties i.e the Faculties of;

Physical Sciences

Life Sciences

Basic medical sciences

Pharmaceutical sciences.

There is a center; Centre for Biotechnology Research, and an annex of the Center for Information technology.

The central laboratory complex is also located at the old campus as well as some sections of the main library, university health services clinic, and the consultancy services unit. In addition, it contains 19 blocks of hostels with 48 rooms each for students, 167 senior staff houses and 47 units of junior/intermediate staff houses. There are large lecture theartres, halls and sporting facilities. There are commercial services including banking services.