The University of Calabar (UNICAL), located in Cross River State, sets a nursing-specific admission benchmark that sits far above the university’s general JAMB requirement. For the 2026/2027 academic session, a UTME score of 200 is the minimum a candidate needs to be eligible for Post-UTME screening in Nursing Science, but eligibility is not the same as a realistic admission chance. In practice, candidates who secure a nursing seat at UNICAL typically present UTME scores well above 200, often in the 220–270 range, because Nursing Science is one of the most oversubscribed courses at the university. This article breaks down the exact figures, how the admission process works, and what a candidate needs beyond the cut-off mark itself.
UNICAL General Cut Off Mark vs Nursing Departmental Cut Off Mark
UNICAL applies two separate thresholds during admission. The first is the general institutional cut-off mark, which is the minimum UTME score every applicant to the university must reach before being allowed to sit the Post-UTME screening exercise. For the 2026/2027 session, this general mark sits at 150. The second threshold is the departmental cut-off mark, which is course-specific and reflects how competitive a particular programme is. Nursing Science, because it leads to a licensed healthcare profession and receives a very high volume of applications every year, carries a departmental threshold of 200 and above, well ahead of the university-wide minimum.
| Requirement | UTME Score |
|---|---|
| UNICAL general JAMB cut-off (all courses) | 150 |
| Nursing Science eligibility minimum | 200 |
| Realistic UTME range for actual nursing admission | 220 – 270 |
| Law | 200 |
| Pharmacy | 180 |
| Mass Communication | 160 |
| Microbiology | 150 |
| Computer Science | 140 |
A candidate scoring between 150 and 199 clears the general UNICAL cut-off and can gain Post-UTME eligibility for many other courses, but does not qualify for Nursing Science screening. Only a score of 200 or higher opens the door to the nursing admission process.
Why 200 Is Only the Starting Point, Not the Safe Score
Meeting the 200 mark makes a candidate eligible to participate in the nursing Post-UTME screening exercise. It does not guarantee a seat. UNICAL’s College of Medical Sciences, under which Nursing Science falls, receives applications from candidates across Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Rivers, Benue, Anambra, and many other states, all competing for a fixed and limited number of nursing slots each session. Because admission is based on a merit list built from candidates’ aggregate scores, the practical cut-off point that actually secures a seat rises well above the official eligibility minimum.
Candidates who are eventually offered nursing admission at UNICAL commonly present UTME scores in the region of 220 to 270, combined with a strong Post-UTME screening result. A candidate who scores exactly 200 is technically eligible to apply and sit the screening but stands a much weaker chance in the final merit ranking compared to candidates who score considerably higher. For this reason, students preparing for UNICAL Nursing Science should treat 200 as the floor for eligibility, not as a target score.
How the Aggregate Score Is Calculated
UNICAL admission into Nursing Science does not rely on the UTME score in isolation. The university combines the UTME score with the candidate’s Post-UTME screening score and O’Level result to arrive at an aggregate score, and this aggregate determines the final ranking of applicants. While the exact weighting formula can be adjusted by the university from session to session, the general principle remains consistent: a candidate needs strong performance across all three components — UTME, O’Level grades, and Post-UTME screening — rather than relying on the UTME score alone. A candidate with an average UTME and O’Level result who performs exceptionally well at the Post-UTME screening can still improve their position on the final admission list, and the reverse is also true.
O’Level Requirements for Nursing Science at UNICAL
Beyond the UTME score, a candidate needs at least five credit passes in the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE), obtained in not more than two sittings, through WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB. For Nursing Science, these credits must typically include:
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Physics
Candidates should also be at least sixteen years old by the time of admission, and Direct Entry candidates applying with an ND, HND, JUPEB, IJMB, or an equivalent qualification must present a strong grade in a relevant field to be considered.
UTME Subject Combination for Nursing Science
To be eligible for Nursing Science at UNICAL, a candidate must register the following subjects for UTME:
- English Language (compulsory)
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Physics
Registering a different subject combination disqualifies a candidate from nursing admission consideration at UNICAL, regardless of the total score obtained.
Steps to Apply for Nursing Science at UNICAL
- Select UNICAL as first-choice institution on the JAMB portal during UTME registration, with Nursing Science indicated as the intended course of study and the correct subject combination registered.
- Sit the UTME examination and aim for a score comfortably above the 200 eligibility mark, since a higher score strengthens the final aggregate ranking.
- Confirm eligibility through the JAMB portal once UNICAL releases its cut-off mark for the admission cycle.
- Register for UNICAL’s Post-UTME screening exercise, submitting O’Level results and other required documents within the registration period announced by the university.
- Sit the Post-UTME screening, which the university uses together with the UTME score and O’Level grades to compute the aggregate score for ranking.
- Monitor the admission list on the JAMB Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) portal and the UNICAL admission portal once results are released.
- Accept the offer through JAMB CAPS and proceed with UNICAL’s registration and acceptance fee payment steps.
What Happens If You Score Below the Nursing Cut Off
A candidate who scores below 200 in UTME but still wants to study at UNICAL has a few realistic options. The candidate can apply for a course with a lower departmental cut-off mark and consider an internal change of course into Nursing Science after completing a session, subject to the department’s policy on internal transfers and the availability of nursing slots. Alternatively, a candidate who did not originally choose UNICAL but meets the nursing eligibility mark can use JAMB’s change of institution and change of course window, which typically opens shortly after UTME results are released, to switch to UNICAL and select Nursing Science, provided the required score is met.
Does the UNICAL Nursing Cut Off Mark Change Every Session?
UNICAL reviews its departmental cut-off marks at the beginning of every admission cycle, and the figure for Nursing Science can shift slightly depending on the volume of applications received, the number of available slots in the College of Medical Sciences, and broader guidance from JAMB and the National Universities Commission (NUC) regarding minimum benchmarks for health science programmes. The 200 eligibility minimum has remained fairly stable across recent sessions, but the realistic admission range has tended to rise as competition for nursing seats increases. Candidates should always confirm the exact figures on the official UNICAL admission portal or the JAMB CAPS portal once the university formally publishes them for the 2026/2027 session, rather than relying only on figures from earlier sessions.
FAQs
What is the UNICAL cut off mark for Nursing Science in 2026/2027?
The eligibility minimum is 200 in UTME, but candidates who actually secure admission typically score between 220 and 270, since Nursing Science is highly competitive at UNICAL.
Can I apply for UNICAL Nursing Science with a UTME score of 190?
No. A score of 190 falls below the 200 eligibility mark for Nursing Science, so the candidate cannot participate in the Post-UTME screening for that department, though the score may qualify for other courses with a lower cut-off.
Does scoring 200 guarantee admission into Nursing Science at UNICAL?
No. A score of 200 only confirms eligibility for Post-UTME screening. Final admission depends on the aggregate score built from the UTME score, O’Level results, and Post-UTME screening performance, ranked against other applicants for the limited nursing slots.
What subjects are required for UNICAL Nursing Science admission?
Candidates need UTME subjects of English Language, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, along with five O’Level credit passes that typically include English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.
Where can I confirm the official UNICAL cut off mark for the current session?
The UNICAL official admission portal and the JAMB CAPS portal are the most reliable sources, since both are updated once the university finalises its cut-off marks for each admission cycle.