The University of Ibadan (UI), Nigeria’s Premier University, is the country’s oldest and consistently most prestigious institution of higher learning. Founded in 1948 as a college of the University of London and granted full independence in 1962, UI receives over 65,000 applicants annually but admits only a small fraction, making its cut-off marks some of the most scrutinized admission benchmarks in Nigeria.
Merit, Catchment, and ELDS UI’s Three-Tier Admission System
UI admits students under three categories. Understanding your category is essential for realistic admission planning:
Merit
Open to all Nigerian candidates regardless of state of origin, based purely on aggregate score. The Merit cut-off is the highest and most competitive threshold in each department.
Catchment Area
Candidates from UI’s defined catchment states receive a slight advantage. UI’s catchment area covers: Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ogun, Lagos, Edo, Delta, and Kwara States. For most courses, the catchment cut-off equals the Merit cut-off; the advantage is more pronounced in tightly competitive courses.
ELDS (Educationally Less Developed States)
Candidates from states with lagging educational infrastructure qualify for ELDS consideration with a slightly lower aggregate threshold. UI’s ELDS states include: Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Jigawa, Yobe, Taraba, Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Nasarawa, Kogi, and Ebonyi.
UI Departmental Aggregate Cut-Off Marks All Faculties 2025/2026
How to read this table: Your aggregate score = (JAMB ÷ 8) + (Post-UTME ÷ 2). You must reach or exceed the Merit score for your category (Merit, Catchment, or ELDS) to be competitive for admission.
| Faculty | Course / Programme | JAMB Min. | Merit | Catchment | ELDS |
| College of Medicine | Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) | 200 | 78.875 | 78.875 | 77.375 |
| College of Medicine | Dentistry (BDS) | 200 | 68.625 | 68.625 | 66.750 |
| College of Medicine | Nursing Science | 200 | 71.375 | 71.375 | 67.875 |
| College of Medicine | Medical Laboratory Science | 200 | 63.250 | 63.250 | 60.250 |
| College of Medicine | Physiotherapy | 200 | 65.125 | 65.125 | 61.625 |
| College of Medicine | Biochemistry | 200 | 53.125 | 53.125 | 53.125 |
| College of Medicine | Physiology | 200 | 55.750 | 55.750 | 55.500 |
| College of Medicine | Environmental Health Science | 200 | 51.250 | 51.250 | 51.250 |
| College of Medicine | Human Nutrition and Dietetics | 200 | 55.625 | 55.625 | 52.250 |
| Pharmacy | Pharmacy | 200 | 69.125 | 69.125 | 62.875 |
| Veterinary Medicine | Veterinary Medicine (DVM) | 200 | 57.125 | 57.125 | 57.125 |
| Law | Law (LLB) | 200 | 70.875 | 70.875 | 67.625 |
| Computing / Science | Computer Science | 200 | 63.500 | 63.500 | 53.500 |
| Technology | Civil Engineering | 200 | 63.250 | 63.250 | 57.000 |
| Technology | Electrical / Electronics Engineering | 200 | 70.000 | 70.000 | 58.875 |
| Technology | Mechanical Engineering | 200 | 70.500 | 70.500 | 60.125 |
| Technology | Petroleum Engineering | 200 | 62.750 | 62.750 | 57.125 |
| Technology | Agricultural & Environmental Engineering | 200 | 56.875 | 56.875 | 56.875 |
| Technology | Biomedical Engineering | 200 | 55.375 | 55.375 | 55.375 |
| Technology | Industrial & Production Engineering | 200 | 51.625 | 51.625 | 51.625 |
| Technology | Food Technology | 200 | 51.125 | 51.125 | 51.125 |
| Technology | Wood Products Engineering | 200 | 51.000 | 51.000 | 51.000 |
| Technology | Automotive Engineering | 200 | 51.500 | 51.500 | 51.500 |
| Economics & Management Sciences | Economics | 200 | 58.125 | 58.125 | 53.625 |
| Economics & Management Sciences | Accounting | 200 | 68.500 | 68.500 | 66.125 |
| Economics & Management Sciences | Banking and Finance | 200 | 51.875 | 51.875 | 51.875 |
| Economics & Management Sciences | Marketing and Consumer Studies | 200 | 50.875 | 50.875 | 50.875 |
| Social Sciences | Political Science | 200 | 55.375 | 55.375 | 55.375 |
| Social Sciences | Psychology | 200 | 54.500 | 54.500 | 54.500 |
| Social Sciences | Sociology | 200 | 51.000 | 51.000 | 51.000 |
| Social Sciences | Geography | 200 | 50.000 | 50.000 | 50.000 |
| Arts | Communication and Language Arts (Mass Communication) | 200 | 61.000 | 61.000 | 58.500 |
| Arts | English Language and Literature | 200 | 56.500 | 56.500 | 53.375 |
| Arts | Linguistics | 200 | 56.875 | 56.875 | 56.875 |
| Arts | Theatre Arts | 200 | 56.000 | 56.000 | 52.250 |
| Arts | Arabic Language and Literature | 200 | 53.500 | 53.500 | 53.500 |
| Arts | History | 200 | 50.000 | 50.000 | 50.000 |
| Arts | Philosophy | 200 | 50.000 | 50.000 | 50.000 |
| Arts | Religious Studies | 200 | 50.000 | 50.000 | 50.000 |
| Arts | Classical Studies | 200 | 50.000 | 50.000 | 50.000 |
| Arts | Islamic Studies | 200 | 50.000 | 50.000 | 50.000 |
| Arts | Music | 200 | 50.000 | 50.000 | 50.000 |
| Arts | European Studies (French) | 200 | 50.000 | 50.000 | 50.000 |
| Arts | European Studies (German) | 200 | 50.000 | 50.000 | 50.000 |
| Arts | European Studies (Russian) | 200 | 50.000 | 50.000 | 50.000 |
| Arts | Archaeology | 200 | 50.000 | 50.000 | 50.000 |
| Arts | Anthropology | 200 | 50.000 | 50.000 | 50.000 |
| Arts | Linguistics (Igbo / Yoruba options) | 200 | 50.000 | 50.000 | 50.000 |
| Science | Geology | 200 | 51.000 | 51.000 | 51.000 |
| Science | Industrial Chemistry | 200 | 51.000 | 51.000 | 51.000 |
| Science | Mathematics | 200 | 51.000 | 51.000 | 51.000 |
| Science | Microbiology | 200 | 50.500 | 50.500 | 50.500 |
| Science | Statistics | 200 | 50.000 | 50.000 | 50.000 |
| Science | Botany | 200 | 50.000 | 50.000 | 50.000 |
| Science | Chemistry | 200 | 50.000 | 50.000 | 50.000 |
| Science | Physics | 200 | 50.000 | 50.000 | 50.000 |
| Science | Zoology | 200 | 50.000 | 50.000 | 50.000 |
| Science | Geography | 200 | 50.000 | 50.000 | 50.000 |
| Education | Education and English | 200 | 53.125 | 53.125 | 52.250 |
| Education | Education and Economics | 200 | 50.000 | 50.000 | 50.000 |
| Education | All other Education programmes | 200 | 50.000 | 50.000 | 50.000 |
| Environmental Design | Architecture | 200 | 50.750 | 50.750 | 50.750 |
| Environmental Design | Estate Management | 200 | 50.000 | 50.000 | 50.000 |
| Environmental Design | Urban and Regional Planning | 200 | 50.000 | 50.000 | 50.000 |
| Environmental Design | Quantity Surveying | 200 | 50.000 | 50.000 | 50.000 |
| Agriculture | Agricultural Economics | 200 | 51.375 | 51.375 | 51.375 |
| Agriculture | All other Agriculture programmes | 200 | 50.000 | 50.000 | 50.000 |
| Renewable Natural Resources | All programmes | 200 | 50.000 | 50.000 | 50.000 |
Important: The aggregate figures above are based on verified UI admission data from recent sessions. They may shift slightly year to year depending on applicant numbers and performance. Always verify current cut-off marks at admissions.ui.edu.ng for each academic session.
Tips to Maximize Your UI Admission Chances
- Aim significantly above the minimum: 200 is the floor. For Medicine, target 300+. For Law/Engineering, target 270+. For general sciences and social sciences, target 240+.
- Take Post-UTME extremely seriously: UI weights Post-UTME at 50% of your final aggregate. A strong Post-UTME can compensate for a moderate JAMB score, and a weak Post-UTME can eliminate a strong JAMB score.
- Make UI your first choice without exception: UI strictly prioritizes first-choice candidates. Second-choice candidates are not admitted in the regular cycle.
- Verify your O-Level subject combination: Wrong subjects in JAMB or missing O-Level credits for your course will disqualify you regardless of your aggregate score.
- Study with UI Post-UTME past questions: UI’s CBT follows consistent patterns. Familiarise yourself with the format and question style.
- Apply for Post-UTME early: Submit in the first week of opening. Late submissions often encounter system congestion.
- Use catchment or ELDS advantage: If you are from Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ogun, Lagos, Edo, Delta, or Kwara, you may qualify under the catchment cut-off. If you are from an ELDS state, the ELDS threshold is lower for competitive courses like Medicine.
- Consider less competitive courses if your score is moderate: Scores of 200–230 realistically access Education, Agriculture, Religious Studies, and some Arts programs. Do not apply for Medicine or Law with 220.
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