Choosing the right subject combination for the JAMB UTME 2026 is crucial for your admission success. A wrong choice can lead to disqualification, even with a high score. The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) requires four subjects: Use of English (compulsory for all) plus three others that align with your chosen course. These combinations are outlined in the official JAMB Brochure, accessible via the Integrated Brochure and Syllabus System (IBASS) on jamb.gov.ng. For 2026, there are no major changes from previous years, but always verify via IBASS or the brochure PDF during registration (January–February 2026).
This guide provides a comprehensive list of subject combinations for all major courses, categorized by faculties (e.g., Sciences, Social Sciences, Arts). It’s based on the official 2026/2027 combinations released by JAMB. We’ve highlighted popular courses like Medicine, Law, Engineering, Nursing, Accounting, and Education with extra tips. Remember, O’Level requirements (e.g., 5 credits including English and Math for most) must also match—check the full brochure for details.
How to Choose Your JAMB Subject Combination
Consult the JAMB Brochure: Download the free PDF from myschool.ng or IBASS. Search for your course and institution to confirm.
Align with Your Course: Subjects must relate to your field (e.g., sciences need Physics/Chemistry).
Consider O’Level Strengths: Your UTME subjects should match your strong WAEC/NECO areas.
Direct Entry Candidates: DE uses similar combos but includes advanced qualifications.
Common Pitfalls: Avoid mismatches (e.g., no Literature for Law). If unsure, use JAMB’s eligibility checker on IBASS.
Now, the complete list. All include Use of English + three others.
Science and Technology Faculties
These are for STEM courses, emphasizing Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Math.
Agriculture and Related Courses
Agriculture: Chemistry, Biology/Agriculture, and Physics/Mathematics.
Agricultural Economics: Chemistry, Biology/Agricultural Science, and Mathematics.
Agricultural Extension: Chemistry, Biology/Agricultural Science, and Mathematics/Physics.
Agronomy: Chemistry, Biology/Agriculture, and Physics/Mathematics.
Animal Production and Science: Chemistry, Biology/Agric Science, and Physics/Mathematics.
Crop Production and Science: Chemistry, Biology/Agriculture, and Mathematics/Physics.
Fisheries: Chemistry, Biology/Agricultural Science, and any other Science subject.
Food Science and Technology: Chemistry, Mathematics/Physics, and Agricultural Science.
Forestry: Chemistry, Biology/Agriculture, and Physics/Mathematics.
Soil Science: Chemistry, Biology/Agricultural Science, and Mathematics/Physics.
Tip: For agriculture-based careers, these combos prepare you for universities like Michael Okpara University of Agriculture (Umudike), known for strong programs.
Biological Sciences
Biochemistry: Biology, Physics, and Chemistry.
Biological Sciences: Biology, Chemistry, and Physics/Mathematics.
Botany: Biology, Chemistry, and any other Science subject.
Microbiology: Biology, Chemistry, and Physics/Mathematics.
Physiology: Biology, Physics, and Chemistry.
Zoology: Biology, and any two of Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics.
Physical Sciences
Chemistry: Chemistry, and two of Physics, Biology, Mathematics.
Geology: Any three of Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Biology, Geography.
Industrial Chemistry: Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics/Biology/Agricultural Science.
Mathematics: Mathematics, and any two of Physics, Chemistry, Economics, Biology, Agricultural Science.
Physics: Physics, Mathematics, and Chemistry/Biology.
Pure and Applied Mathematics: Mathematics, Physics, and Biology/Agricultural Science/Chemistry/Geography.
Statistics: Mathematics, and any two of Physics/Chemistry/Economics.
Engineering (Popular: Engineering)
Agricultural Engineering: Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry.
Chemical Engineering: Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry.
Civil Engineering: Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry.
Computer Engineering: Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry.
Electrical Engineering: Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry.
Electronic Engineering: Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry.
Marine Engineering: Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry.
Mechanical Engineering: Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry.
Metallurgical and Materials Engineering: Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry.
Petroleum and Gas Engineering: Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry.
Production and Industrial Engineering: Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry.
Structural Engineering: Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry.
Systems Engineering: Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry.
Tip for Engineering: Aim for 250+ in JAMB for competitive schools like FUTA or UNILAG. These combos are standard; focus on Math/Physics prep.
Environmental Sciences
Architecture: Physics, Mathematics, and Chemistry/Geography/Art/Biology/Economics.
Building: Physics, Mathematics, and Chemistry/Geography/Art/Biology/Economics.
Estate Management: Mathematics, Economics, and one other subject.
Quantity Surveying: Physics, Mathematics, and Chemistry/Geography/Art/Biology/Economics.
Surveying and Geoinformatics: Physics, Mathematics, and Chemistry/Geography/Art/Biology/Economics.
Urban and Regional Planning: Mathematics, Geography, and Economics/Physics/Chemistry.
Medical and Health Sciences (Popular: Medicine, Nursing)
Anatomy: Mathematics, Biology, and Chemistry/Physics.
Medicine and Surgery: Biology, Physics, and Chemistry.
Medical Laboratory Science: Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
Medical Rehabilitation: Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
Nursing: Physics, Biology, and Chemistry.
Pharmacy: Biology, Physics, and Chemistry.
Radiography: Biology, Physics, and Chemistry.
Tip for Medicine & Surgery: Highly competitive (300+ often needed). Biology/Physics/Chemistry is fixed; excel in sciences. Top schools: UI Ibadan, UNILAG.
Veterinary Medicine: Biology, Physics, and Chemistry.
Social Sciences and Management Faculties
Focus on Economics, Government, and Math.
Administration (Popular: Accounting)
Accountancy: Mathematics, Economics, and any other Social Science subject.
Banking and Finance: Mathematics, one Social Science subject, and any other subject.
Business Administration: Mathematics, Economics, and any other Social Science subject.
Business Management: Mathematics, Economics, and one other subject.
Human Resources Management: Economics, Government, and any other relevant subjects.
Industrial Relations: Mathematics, Economics, and one other relevant subject.
Insurance: Mathematics, Economics, and one other subject.
Marketing: Mathematics, Economics, and one other relevant subject.
Tourism: Mathematics, Economics, and any other subject.
Tip for Accounting: Math/Economics are key; add Government/Commerce. Good for UNILORIN or LASU.
Social Sciences
Cooperative and Rural Development: Mathematics, Economics, and one other subject.
Demography and Social Statistics: Mathematics, Economics/Geography, and any other subject.
Economics: Mathematics, Economics, and Government/History/Geography/Literature/French/CRK/IRK.
Geography: Geography, and two other Arts/Social Science subjects.
International Relations: Economics, Literature in English, and Geography/Government/History.
Library Science: Any three Arts/Social Science subjects.
Philosophy: Government, and any other two subjects.
Political Science: Government/History, and two other Social Science/Arts subjects.
Psychology: Any three subjects from Arts/Social Science.
Public Administration: Government, Economics, and any other subject.
Religious Studies: CRK/IRS, and any two other subjects.
Social Work: Mathematics, Economics/Geography, and any other subject.
Sociology and Anthropology: Three Social Science/Arts Subjects.
Mass Communication: Literature in English, Economics, and Government/CRK/IRK.
Arts and Humanities Faculties (Popular: Law, Education)
Arabic and Islamic Studies: Arabic, and two subjects from Arts/Social Sciences.
Christian Religious Studies: Two Arts subjects including Christian Religious Knowledge, and any other subject.
English and Literary Studies: Literature in English, Government/History, and one other Arts subject.
Fine and Applied Arts: Fine Art, and two other Arts/Social Science subjects.
Foreign Languages and Literature: Fine Art, and two other Arts/Social Science subjects.
French: French, and any other two Arts/Social Sciences subjects.
Hausa: Hausa, Literature in English, and Economics/Government/History/Arabic.
History and International Studies: History/Government, and any other two Arts/Social Science subjects.
Law: Literature, Economics, and any other Art Subject.
Linguistics: Two relevant Arts subjects, and any other subject.
Theatre Arts: Literature in English, and two other relevant subjects.
Igbo: Igbo, and two Arts/Social Sciences subjects.
Music: Music, one other Arts subject, and any other subject.
Yoruba: Yoruba, and two other Arts/Social Sciences subjects.
Tip for Law: Literature/Economics/Government is common; 280+ needed for top schools like UNILAG or OAU.
Education (Popular: Education Courses)
Education courses typically require subjects related to the teaching field + any two relevant ones. Examples:
Education and Biology: Biology, and two other subjects from Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics.
Education and Chemistry: Chemistry, and two other subjects chosen from Physics, Biology, Agricultural Science, Health Science, Geography.
Education and Mathematics: Mathematics, and any two of Physics, Chemistry, Biology.
Education and Physics: Physics, Mathematics/Chemistry, and one other subject.
Guidance and Counseling: Any three Arts/Social Science subjects.
Teacher Education Science: Subjects depend on specialization (e.g., Biology for Science Ed).
Tip for Education: Often less competitive; good for Colleges of Education like Adeyemi or Alvan Ikoku.
Common Mistakes and Tips for Success
Mistakes: Picking irrelevant subjects (e.g., no Biology for Medicine) or exceeding two sittings in O’Level.
Tips: Use CBT apps to practice; change combo during registration if needed (fee applies). For DE, add A’Level subjects.
2026 Updates: No changes noted, but check IBASS for institution-specific variations.
Conclusion
This guide covers all major JAMB 2026 subject combinations to help you register confidently. Link this to your chosen institution from our pillar article. For the full brochure, visit jamb.gov.ng or download PDFs. Prepare well success awaits!
