What Is the UNN Cut Off Mark for 2026/2027?
The official UNN cut off mark for the 2026/2027 academic session is 160. This was confirmed by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka’s Office of the Registrar in its 2026/2027 Screening Exercise notice, released on July 13, 2026. Any candidate who chose UNN as their first choice institution in the 2026 UTME and scored 160 or above is eligible to register for the Post UTME screening exercise.
That figure of 160 is the general JAMB cut off mark. It’s simply the minimum score you need to qualify to apply for screening. It isn’t the same thing as the departmental cut off mark, which is specific to each course, tends to be much more competitive, and only gets released after Post UTME screening, alongside the admission list.
SEE ALSO:UNN Post-UTME Form 2026/2027: Registration Dates, Eligibility & How to Apply
This guide covers what prospective candidates actually need to know: the official UNN JAMB cut off mark, how departmental cut offs work, historical departmental trends by course, and how to calculate your UNN aggregate score.
UNN Departmental Cut Off Marks: How They Actually Work
Unlike the general cut off mark of 160, UNN doesn’t publish a single fixed departmental cut off for each course ahead of time. Departmental cut off marks are worked out after the Post UTME screening exercise, and they depend on a few things:
- The number of applicants for that particular course
- The available admission slots (or carrying capacity) in that department
- Candidates’ aggregate scores, combining JAMB, Post UTME, and O’Level performance
- How competitive that specific admission cycle turns out to be
This means the departmental cut off mark for Medicine, Law, or Computer Science this session will only be known once UNN releases its admission list, usually alongside or shortly after the merit list comes out.
Historical Departmental Cut Off Trends (For Guidance Only)
The numbers below come from recent admission cycles. They are not confirmed figures for 2026/2027. Use them to get a sense of how competitive a course tends to be, not as a guaranteed benchmark.
| Course/Faculty | Typical Competitiveness | Historical Cut Off Trend Range |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine & Surgery (MBBS) | Extremely high | 250 to 314 |
| Law (LLB) | Very high | 290 to 300 |
| Pharmacy | Very high | 220 to 295 |
| Nursing Science | High | 220 to 290 |
| Dentistry | Very high | 250 to 300 |
| Engineering (all disciplines) | High | 200 to 260 |
| Computer Science | High | 200 to 260 |
| Mass Communication | Moderate to high | 220 to 265 |
| Accounting / Business Admin | Moderate | 180 to 220 |
| Arts, Social Sciences, Education | Moderate | 160 to 200 |
Medicine, Law, Pharmacy, Nursing, and Dentistry consistently draw the highest number of applicants at UNN, which is why their departmental cut off marks tend to sit well above the general baseline of 160. Arts, Education, and less competitive Social Science programmes usually stay closer to that baseline.
How to Calculate Your UNN Aggregate Score
UNN combines your JAMB UTME score, your Post UTME screening score, and your O’Level results to rank candidates for admission. The commonly used aggregate formula is:
Aggregate Score = (JAMB Score ÷ 8) + (Post UTME Score ÷ 2)
Your JAMB score, out of 400, is divided by 8, which gives you up to 50 points. Your Post UTME score, typically out of 100, is divided by 2, giving you up to 50 points as well. Add the two together and you get your aggregate score out of 100.
For example, say you scored 240 in JAMB and 70 in your UNN Post UTME screening. Your JAMB portion works out to 30 (240 ÷ 8), and your Post UTME portion works out to 35 (70 ÷ 2). That puts your aggregate score at 65.
The higher your aggregate score, the better your chances, particularly for competitive departments like Medicine, Law, and Pharmacy, where an aggregate of 70 or above is often what it takes.
It’s worth noting that some past UNN publications have referenced a 60:40 JAMB to Post UTME weighting instead of the formula above. Since the exact weighting can change from one session to the next, it’s best to confirm the current formula through the official UNN admissions portal once Post UTME results are out.
General Admission Requirements for UNN
Meeting the cut off mark is just one part of the picture. Every candidate also needs to satisfy these baseline requirements:
- At least five credit passes in relevant O’Level subjects, including English Language and Mathematics, obtained in no more than two sittings (WAEC, NECO, GCE, or an equivalent)
- UNN selected as the candidate’s first choice institution in JAMB
- A minimum age of 16 years by the stipulated cut off date
- Consistent names across WAEC/NECO results and JAMB registration details
- Participation in, and satisfactory performance at, the Post UTME screening exercise
- For Direct Entry candidates: at least two passes at IJMB, Cambridge A Level, JUPEB, or an equivalent recognized programme, plus three relevant O’Level credits
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UNN cut off mark for 2026/2027? The official general cut off mark is 160, as confirmed by the UNN Registrar’s Office.
Can I gain admission into UNN with exactly 160 in JAMB? Scoring 160 makes you eligible to apply for Post UTME screening. It doesn’t guarantee admission on its own. What actually gets you in depends on your Post UTME performance, your O’Level results, and how competitive your chosen department is that year.
Is the UNN departmental cut off mark the same for every course? No. It varies a lot from one course to another, and it’s only confirmed after screening, based on demand and the number of available slots in that department.
What is the UNN cut off mark for Medicine and Surgery? UNN doesn’t announce departmental cut offs ahead of time, but Medicine has historically required some of the highest aggregate scores at the university, simply because competition for the limited slots is so intense.
Can Direct Entry candidates apply with a different cut off? Direct Entry candidates are assessed based on their A Level, IJMB, JUPEB, or equivalent results rather than a UTME score.
What happens if my JAMB score is below 160? You won’t meet UNN’s general cut off mark for the 2026/2027 session, which means you won’t be eligible for admission consideration.
Final Thoughts
The one number worth holding onto for 2026/2027 is 160. That’s UNN’s official general cut off mark, straight from the Registrar’s Office. Everything else, like departmental thresholds for Medicine, Law, Pharmacy, Engineering, and other courses, will only be confirmed once Post UTME screening closes and the admission list comes out. Until then, treat any specific departmental figure you find online as an estimate based on past trends rather than something set in stone.
For the most accurate and current information, check the official UNN admissions portal at unn.edu.ng rather than relying only on third party sites.
Sources: University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Office of the Registrar, “2026/2027 Screening Exercise for Admission,” published July 13, 2026.