Al-Qalam University, Katsina (AUK), located along Dutsinma Road in Katsina State, is Nigeria’s first Islamic university and the country’s only not-for-profit private university. Before a candidate can access the university’s post-UTME screening process, they need to meet the minimum JAMB score AUK has approved for the session. This article explains the university’s cut-off mark for 2026/2027, how it applies across its various colleges and courses, and what other requirements a candidate needs to satisfy.
About Al-Qalam University, Katsina
Al-Qalam University was established in 2005 and is owned by the Muslim Community (Ummah) rather than by an individual proprietor, which distinguishes it from most other private universities in Nigeria. The university does not receive subventions or grants from any tier of Nigerian government, and it operates as a fully self-sustaining institution built around Islamic values, academic excellence, and community-oriented education.
AUK runs six colleges: the College of Social and Management Sciences, the College of Natural and Applied Sciences, the College of Education, the College of Humanities, the College of Post Graduate Studies, and the School of Basic and Remedial Studies. The university has also expanded in recent years to include a College of Allied Health Sciences and a College of Computing, reflecting a growing emphasis on health and technology-related programmes alongside its more established Arts, Education, and Social Science offerings. AUK currently enrolls more than 7,000 students and runs around 40 undergraduate programmes accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC).
Al-Qalam University’s General JAMB Cut-Off Mark for 2026/2027
Al-Qalam University’s approved minimum JAMB cut-off mark for the 2026/2027 academic session is 140. This figure has remained consistent across the university’s recent admission cycles, including the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 sessions, making AUK one of the more accessible private universities in Nigeria for candidates whose scores fall in the moderate range rather than at the very top end of the national distribution.
Candidates who score 140 or above in the 2026 UTME are eligible to apply for AUK’s post-UTME screening exercise, though meeting this baseline score does not by itself guarantee admission. The university still evaluates candidates on their post-UTME performance, O’Level results, and departmental competition before finalizing admission offers.
Al-Qalam University Cut-Off Mark by Course
While 140 serves as AUK’s general baseline across most of its programmes, certain courses, particularly those in the newer College of Allied Health Sciences and more competitive Science and Computing programmes, typically require scores above this baseline to be genuinely competitive. The table below summarizes the pattern across the university’s major course groupings for the 2026/2027 session.
| College/Course Group | Sample Courses | Typical Cut-Off Mark |
|---|---|---|
| College of Education | Education combined with Chemistry, English, Hausa, Islamic Studies, Mathematics, Physics | 140 |
| College of Humanities | Arabic Studies, Islamic Studies, English Language | 140 |
| College of Social and Management Sciences | Accounting, Business Administration, Economics | 140 – 150 |
| College of Natural and Applied Sciences | Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics | 140 – 160 |
| College of Computing | Computer Science and related programmes | 150 – 180 |
| College of Allied Health Sciences | Health science-related programmes under the university’s newer health faculty | 160 – 200 |
Candidates aiming for Computing or Allied Health Sciences courses specifically should not rely on the university’s general 140 baseline alone, since these newer and more resource-intensive programmes tend to attract stronger competition and, in the case of Allied Health Sciences, carry additional entry conditions tied to the professional regulatory framework that governs health science training in Nigeria.
Additional Admission Requirements Beyond the Cut-Off Mark
Meeting AUK’s JAMB cut-off mark only qualifies a candidate to proceed to the university’s post-UTME screening process. Admission is not automatic at that score, and candidates also need to satisfy the following conditions:
- A minimum of five credit passes in the SSCE (WAEC or NECO) obtained at one sitting, or six credit passes obtained across not more than two sittings, in English Language, Mathematics, and other subjects relevant to the intended course of study.
- Candidates combining results across two sittings, such as WAEC and NECO together, must present a minimum of six credit passes rather than the standard five required for a single-sitting result.
- All relevant O’Level results must be uploaded to the JAMB Central Admission Processing System (CAPS) as part of the standard national verification process.
- Candidates must attain the qualifying UTME score through the standard national admission process, since AUK, like every accredited Nigerian university, participates in the centralized JAMB admission system rather than operating an entirely independent entry route.
- Specific colleges or programmes at AUK may set additional entry conditions beyond the general university-wide requirements, so candidates should confirm any programme-specific conditions directly with the relevant college.
How AUK’s Post-UTME Screening Works
Al-Qalam University uses a mandatory online application and screening process managed through its Student Information System (SIS) portal. The general admission sequence for candidates who meet the JAMB cut-off mark follows this pattern:
- The candidate accesses the AUK Student Information System portal and generates a Remita Retrieval Reference (RRR) for the screening fee payment.
- The candidate completes payment of the screening fee using the generated RRR through an approved bank or online payment channel.
- The candidate uploads their JAMB result slip, O’Level results, and other required credentials to the portal for the university’s screening team to evaluate.
- Participation in AUK’s screening exercise is strictly compulsory for every candidate seeking admission, regardless of how strong their JAMB score is.
- Successful candidates are notified of their provisional admission status and proceed to acceptance fee payment and registration ahead of resumption.
Because AUK conducts its screening process online through document verification and credential evaluation rather than a physical written examination, candidates do not need to travel to Katsina until their admission is confirmed and the academic session is set to begin.
Al-Qalam University’s Cut-Off Mark Compared to the National Baseline
JAMB’s national minimum cut-off mark for university admissions in the 2026/2027 cycle stands at 150. Al-Qalam University’s own published baseline of 140 sits slightly below this national floor, which places AUK among the more accessible institutions for candidates whose scores fall in the lower-to-middle range. As with any Nigerian university that sets an internal threshold below the national floor, candidates should understand that a score between 140 and 149 may allow entry into AUK’s own screening process, but final admission approval still depends on reconciliation with JAMB’s overarching national minimum through the JAMB CAPS system.
This positions AUK as a reasonably accessible option among Nigeria’s private universities, particularly compared to institutions that set their baseline well above 160 or 180, while its Computing and Allied Health Sciences programmes remain considerably more selective in practice, consistent with the pattern seen across most Nigerian universities for technology and health-related courses.
Points to Confirm Before Applying
- Confirm the exact current cut-off mark for your specific course directly on the AUK Student Information System portal, since departmental thresholds for newer programmes such as Computing and Allied Health Sciences can shift between admission cycles as these colleges continue to expand.
- Confirm whether your O’Level results, if combined across two sittings, meet the six-credit requirement AUK applies to combined results, rather than assuming the standard five-credit threshold applies.
- Complete the mandatory online screening process on the SIS portal promptly after meeting the cut-off mark, since participation is compulsory and cannot be skipped regardless of JAMB score strength.
- If applying for Allied Health Sciences programmes specifically, confirm any additional professional accreditation-related entry conditions directly with the College of Allied Health Sciences.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the JAMB cut-off mark for Al-Qalam University for 2026/2027?
Al-Qalam University’s approved general JAMB cut-off mark for the 2026/2027 session is 140, a figure that has remained consistent across the university’s recent admission cycles.
Does the cut-off mark differ by course at AUK?
Yes. While 140 serves as the general baseline for most Education, Humanities, and Social Science courses, programmes under the College of Computing and the newer College of Allied Health Sciences typically require higher scores to be genuinely competitive, often ranging from 150 to 200 depending on the specific programme.
Does Al-Qalam University conduct a written post-UTME exam?
No. AUK uses a mandatory online application and screening process through its Student Information System portal, where candidates upload their credentials for evaluation rather than sitting a physical written test.
Is Al-Qalam University’s cut-off mark higher or lower than the JAMB national minimum?
AUK’s published baseline of 140 sits slightly below JAMB’s national minimum of 150 for the 2026/2027 cycle, though final admission still requires reconciliation with the national floor through the JAMB CAPS system.
Can I combine WAEC and NECO results for admission into AUK?
Yes. AUK accepts a maximum of two sittings, but candidates combining results across two different examination bodies, such as WAEC and NECO, must present a minimum of six credit passes rather than the standard five required for a single-sitting result.