The University of Ibadan is Nigeria’s first and oldest university, and for many students, it remains the ultimate dream school. If UI is your goal for the 2026 admission cycle, this guide is exactly what you need.
Knowing the JAMB cut-off mark for UI in 2026 is just the beginning. This full guide breaks down the general cut-off, the aggregate cut-off for every department, how UI calculates your admission score, and what you must do to actually get in.
What Is the JAMB Cut-Off Mark for UI 2026?
The University of Ibadan has released its approved departmental JAMB cut-off marks for the 2026 admission exercise. The general JAMB cut-off mark for admission into the institution remains 200.
This means any candidate who scores 200 and above in JAMB and chooses UI as their first choice is eligible to register for the UI Post-UTME screening.
However, scoring 200 alone will not get you admitted into a competitive course. If you are aiming for top-tier courses, you should not be thinking about 200, you should be targeting 250 to 320 and above, depending on your course.
Quick Summary:
- UI General JAMB Cut-Off: 200
- Post-UTME Minimum Score: 50
- Recommended JAMB for Science Courses: 250+
- Recommended JAMB for Medicine/Law/Pharmacy: 290–320+
- UI accepts first-choice candidates only
Understanding UI’s Three Admission Categories
Before looking at the cut-off tables, you need to understand how UI classifies candidates. Unlike most universities that use only one cut-off, UI uses three categories:
- Merit: The general cut-off applicable to all candidates from any state in Nigeria. This is the most competitive threshold.
- Catchment: UI gives preference to candidates from its designated catchment states in the Southwest geopolitical zone, Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Ekiti, and Lagos. Candidates from these states may gain admission with a slightly lower score than the merit cut-off.
- ELDS (Educationally Less Developed States): Candidates from states classified as educationally disadvantaged benefit from the lowest threshold in each department.
Knowing your category helps you understand whether your aggregate is competitive or not.
UI Departmental Cut-Off Marks 2026 Full Table
UI uses an aggregate score system (explained in the next section). The cut-off figures below represent the minimum aggregate score required for admission by department and category.
College of Medicine
| Course | Merit | Catchment | ELDS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medicine & Surgery | 79.000 | 79.000 | 72.125 | |
| Nursing Science | 72.500 | 72.500 | 67.125 | |
| Dentistry | 72.875 | 72.875 | 72.875 | |
| Physiotherapy | 68.625 | 68.625 | 63.375 | |
| Medical Laboratory Science | 67.125 | 67.125 | 61.625 | |
| Pharmacy | 69.625 | 69.625 | 65.500 | |
| Physiology | 63.500 | 63.500 | 58.750 | |
| Biochemistry | 61.500 | 61.500 | 55.500 | |
| Human Nutrition & Dietetics | 57.750 | 57.750 | 57.375 | |
| Environmental Health Science | 50.375 | 50.375 | 50.375 |
Faculty of Law
| Course | Merit | Catchment | ELDS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Law (LLB) | 67.250 | 67.250 | 62.625 |
Faculty of Arts
| Course | Merit | Catchment | ELDS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Communication & Language Arts (Mass Comm.) | 63.750 | 63.750 | 58.375 |
| English Language & Literature | 61.875 | 61.875 | 60.500 |
| Linguistics | 60.250 | 60.250 | 58.625 |
| Theatre Arts | 57.500 | 57.500 | 52.750 |
| European Studies – German | 51.000 | 51.000 | 51.000 |
| Philosophy | 50.000 | 50.000 | 50.000 |
| History | 50.000 | 50.000 | 50.000 |
| Archaeology | 50.000 | 50.000 | 50.000 |
| Music | 50.000 | 50.000 | 50.000 |
| Religious Studies | 50.000 | 50.000 | 50.000 |
| Arabic Language & Literature | 50.000 | 50.000 | 50.000 |
| European Studies – French | 50.000 | 50.000 | 50.000 |
| European Studies – Russian | 50.000 | 50.000 | 50.000 |
| Islamic Studies | 50.000 | 50.000 | 50.000 |
| Anthropology | 50.000 | 50.000 | 50.000 |
Faculty of Economics & Management Sciences
| Course | Merit | Catchment | ELDS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economics | 60.000 | 60.000 | 59.250 |
| Banking and Finance | 55.000 | 55.000 | 55.000 |
| Accounting | 51.500 | 51.500 | 51.500 |
| Marketing & Consumer Studies | 50.000 | 50.000 | 50.000 |
Faculty of Education (Selected)
| Course | Merit | Catchment | ELDS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education & English | 60.000 | 60.000 | 59.500 |
| Education & Comm. & Language Arts | 53.625 | 53.625 | 53.625 |
| Education & Arabic Studies | 53.000 | 53.000 | 53.000 |
| All other Education courses | 50.000 | 50.000 | 50.000 |
Faculty of Environmental Design & Management
| Course | Merit | Catchment | ELDS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Architecture | 50.750 | 50.750 | 50.750 |
| Estate Management | 50.000 | 50.000 | 50.000 |
| Urban & Regional Planning | 50.000 | 50.000 | 50.000 |
| Quantity Surveying | 50.000 | 50.000 | 50.000 |
Faculty of Agriculture
| Course | Merit | Catchment | ELDS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agricultural Economics | 55.000 | 55.000 | 55.000 |
| All other Agriculture courses | 50.000 | 50.000 | 50.000 |
Note: These are the officially released UI departmental aggregate cut-off marks based on the 2025/2026 admission cycle, which directly guides the 2026/2027 session. Always verify the latest figures on ui.edu.ng and JAMB CAPS.
How to Calculate Your UI Aggregate Score
Admission to the University of Ibadan is not based solely on JAMB score. Instead, it uses an aggregate system that combines both UTME and Post-UTME scores. The formula used is:
Aggregate = (JAMB Score ÷ 8) + (Post-UTME Score ÷ 2)
Step-by-Step Example
Say your JAMB score is 280 and your Post-UTME score is 72 out of 100:
- JAMB component: 280 ÷ 8 = 35
- Post-UTME component: 72 ÷ 2 = 36
- Aggregate = 35 + 36 = 71
Compare your aggregate against the departmental cut-off for your course. An aggregate of 71 would qualify you for Medicine (cut-off: 79? No, you’d need to score higher in JAMB or Post-UTME). But it comfortably clears Law (67.25), Pharmacy (69.625), and Physiotherapy (68.625).
Key Insight: Both JAMB and Post-UTME carry roughly equal weight in UI’s formula. This means a strong Post-UTME performance can significantly boost a moderate JAMB score and vice versa.
What JAMB Score Do You Need?
Here’s a quick guide to the JAMB score range you should target based on your course:
| Target Course | Recommended JAMB Score | |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine & Surgery | 300+ | |
| Nursing, Dentistry, Physiotherapy | 280+ | |
| Pharmacy, Medical Lab Science | 270+ | |
| Law | 260+ | |
| Economics, Biochemistry, Physiology | 250+ | |
| English, Mass Communication | 240+ | |
| Education, Agriculture, Arts | 200–230 |
Courses Offered at UI
The University of Ibadan runs programmes across 17 faculties and over 95 departments. Key faculties include:
- College of Medicine: Medicine & Surgery, Nursing, Pharmacy, Dentistry, Physiotherapy, Medical Laboratory Science, Biochemistry, Physiology, Human Nutrition & Dietetics, Environmental Health Science
- Faculty of Law: Law (LLB)
- Faculty of Arts: English, Mass Communication (Communication & Language Arts), Linguistics, Theatre Arts, History, Philosophy, Archaeology, Music, French, German, Russian, Arabic, Islamic & Religious Studies
- Faculty of Science: Computer Science, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Botany, Zoology, Microbiology, Geology
- Faculty of Economics & Management Sciences: Economics, Accounting, Banking & Finance, Marketing
- Faculty of Education: Over 25 teaching combinations across subjects
- Faculty of Environmental Design: Architecture, Estate Management, Urban Planning, Quantity Surveying
- Faculty of Agriculture: Crop Science, Animal Science, Agricultural Economics, Soil Resources Management
- Faculty of Social Sciences: Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Geography
- Faculty of Technology: Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Food Technology, Industrial & Production Engineering
UI Admission Requirements 2026
To be eligible for UI admission in 2026, you must meet all of the following:
1. JAMB Score & First Choice
UI only accepts first-choice candidates. The university will not consider candidates who chose UI as their second choice, regardless of how high their JAMB score is. You must score 200 and above in UTME.
2. O’Level Requirements
- A minimum of five (5) credit passes in relevant subjects including English Language and Mathematics, obtained in not more than two (2) sittings
- For Medicine, Sciences, and Engineering: credits in Chemistry, Biology/Physics, and Mathematics are compulsory
- Law requires credits in Literature or Government alongside English
3. Post-UTME Screening
- The UI Post-UTME minimum score is 50. Candidates must score at least 50 in the Post-UTME CBT screening exercise to remain in contention for admission
- The Post-UTME is a computer-based test covering three subjects from your UTME combination
- Your Post-UTME score contributes significantly to your aggregate and cannot be neglected
4. Age Requirement
- There is no stated age limit, but candidates are expected to meet standard academic eligibility criteria
How to Gain Admission into UI in 2026, Practical Tips
Getting into UI is tough but very possible. Here is how to give yourself the best shot:
- Make UI your first and only choice. UI does not process second-choice applications. If you want UI, commit to it fully on JAMB.
- Target a JAMB score of 250 and above. Even for less competitive courses, a higher JAMB score gives you a larger buffer in your aggregate. Aim for 280–320 for science-based and professional courses.
- Score above 70 in Post-UTME. Since Post-UTME carries roughly 50% of your aggregate, a score of 70+ combined with a strong JAMB result puts you in a comfortable position for most courses.
- . Know your admission category. If you are from a catchment state (Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Ekiti, Lagos) or an ELDS, your cut-off threshold is slightly lower. Use this advantage if you are on the borderline.
- Consider your realistic options. If your JAMB score is below 220, avoid applying for Medicine, Law, Nursing, or Pharmacy. Look at Education, Agriculture, or Arts where the cut-off is 50.0 much more achievable.
- Practice rigorously with Post-UTME past questions. The UI Post-UTME is known to be detailed and time-pressured. Use past questions from at least 3–5 years back.
- Upload correct O’level results on JAMB CAPS. Ensure your WAEC or NECO results are uploaded and your subject combinations match your chosen course exactly.
- Monitor the UI admission portal. Check ui.edu.ng regularly after Post-UTME results are out. Admission lists are usually released in batches.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the JAMB cut-off mark for UI 2026?
The general JAMB cut-off mark for UI is 200 for the 2026/2027 academic session. Scoring 200 qualifies you to register for Post-UTME, but most competitive departments require much higher aggregate scores.
2. Can I gain admission into UI with 200 in JAMB?
Yes, but only for less competitive courses like Education or Agriculture. For Medicine, Law, Nursing, Pharmacy, and most science-based courses, 200 will not be enough to produce a competitive aggregate.
3. What is the UI aggregate cut-off for Medicine and Surgery 2026?
The UI aggregate cut-off mark for Medicine and Surgery is 79.000 for merit and catchment candidates, and 72.125 for ELDS candidates. This is the highest departmental cut-off in the university and reflects just how competitive MBBS is at UI.
4. What is the UI cut-off mark for Law 2026?
The UI aggregate cut-off mark for Law is 67.250 for merit and catchment candidates, and 62.625 for ELDS candidates.
5. How does UI calculate aggregate scores?
UI aggregate score formula is: (JAMB Score ÷ 8) + (Post-UTME Score ÷ 2). For example, if a candidate scored 240 in UTME and 70 in Post-UTME, the aggregate would be 30 + 35 = 65.
6. Does UI accept candidates from all states?
Yes. Any Nigerian candidate who meets the merit cut-off can gain admission regardless of state of origin. However, candidates from catchment states (Southwest states) and ELDS states benefit from slightly lower thresholds in most departments.
7. Is UI Post-UTME compulsory?
Yes. Even if you score 350 in JAMB, you must sit for the UI Post-UTME. Missing it means automatic disqualification from the admission process.
Conclusion
The University of Ibadan deserves its reputation as Nigeria’s number-one university and gaining admission there in 2026 is a goal worth fighting for. Now that you understand the JAMB cut-off mark for UI 2026, the departmental aggregate figures, and how the scoring system works, you are far better prepared than most candidates.
Score high in JAMB. Score high in Post-UTME. Know your category. And aim well above the minimum.
Your next steps:
- Visit the official UI portal at ui.edu.ng for the latest updates
- Check your aggregate using the formula: (JAMB ÷ 8) + (Post-UTME ÷ 2)
- Start practising UI Post-UTME past questions immediately
- Log in to JAMB CAPS at jamb.gov.ng to confirm your first-choice institution
UI admission is competitive, but with the right preparation, it is absolutely within your reach. All the best!
