Medicine and Surgery is the course to study to be a physician in any of the respected specialties in Medicine. Hence, many candidates mostly aspire to study it whenever they enroll for the Unified Tertiary and Matriculation Examination (UTME). Due to its competitive nature, most candidates who seek to study medicine and surgery are desperately curious to know about the JAMB cut off mark for Medicine and Surgery, which is the reason you appeared here!.
This blog post takes you through the cut off marks and the list of schools offering Medicine and Surgery as a course in Nigeria.
This gives candidates of the Unified Tertiary and Matriculation Examination (UTME) who want to study medicine and surgery to know their chances and possibilities to get admitted into it.
Before diving into the discourse, this post concisely gives an insight into what a cut-off mark or benchmark is and why it is important.
What does Cut off Mark/Benchmark mean?
Cutoff mark/benchmark, as the name implies, is the minimum or least score required from a candidate of the Unified Tertiary and Matriculation Examination (UTME) to be eligible for consideration into the university’s admission list. The university’s management is responsible for determining the cut-off mark, which is mostly dependent on the candidates’ performance in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and the Post-UTME screening exercise conducted by the varsity for candidates.
Kindly note that some schools do not conduct POST-UTME examination and screening exercise and these schools include:
- Usman Danfodio University Sokoto
- Bayero University Kano
- Federal University Dutsinma, Katsina State
- University of Maiduguri and many others.
JAMB Cut Off Mark for Medicine and Surgery 2026/2027
Following the directive of the Joint Admission and Matriculation (JAMB) pegging the minimum cutoff mark at 150 for the 2026/2027 academic session, managements of some of the tertiary universities have decided to peg its general cut off mark higher than the one generally announced by JAMB, and this may vary for different courses, which is inline with the directive of the board that institutions must not peg their cut off marks below 150.
Therefore, applicants who score above 150 in the 2026 UTME are eligible and meet the varsity’s requirements for admission into medicine and surgery, taking into consideration other requirements concerning O’level results, but this is very dependent on the school.
Departmental Cut Off Marks for Medicine and Surgery
Aside from the university’s general cut off mark, faculties/departments have their own cut off mark, which may be the same as the general cut off mark or higher than the general cut-off mark.
Below are list of varsities offering medicine and surgery and their respective departmental cutoff marks:
| S/N | University | Cut Off Mark |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Calabar, Calabar Cross River State (UNICAL) | 290 |
| 2 | University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu State (UNN) | 290 |
| 3 | Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State (UNIZIK) | 300 |
| 4 | University of Lagos, Lagos Nigeria (UNILAG) | 280 |
| 5 | University of Maiduguri, Borno State (UNIMAID) | 240 |
| 6 | Bayero University Kano, Kano State (BUK) | 270 |
| 7 | Usmanu Danfodio University Sokoto (UDUS) | 260 |
| 8 | Kaduna State University, Kaduna State (KASU) | 240 |
| 9 | Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Kaduna State (ABU) | 280 |
| 10 | Federal University of Lafia, Nasarawa State (FULafia) | 230 |
| 11 | Evangel University Ebonyi State | 240 |
| 12 | Gregory University Abia State | 240 |
| 13 | University of Benin, Edo State (UNIBEN) | 240 |
| 14 | Lead City University Ibadan, Oyo State | 250 |
| 15 | Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State (FUOye) | 240 |
| 16 | Federal University Dutsinma, Katsina State (FUDMA) | 220 |
| 17 | Alqalam University Katsina State | 160 |
| 18 | University of Medical Sciences Ondo State (UNIMED) | 240 |
| 19 | Achievers University Ondo State | 160 |
| 20 | Osun State University, Osun State (UNIOSUN) | 260 |
| 21 | Federal University of Technology Owerri, Imo State (FUTO) | 260 |
| 22 | University of Uyo, Akwaibom State (UNIUYo) | 275 |
| 23 | University of Ilorin, Kwara State (Unilorin) | 310 |
| 24 | Federal University of Health Sciences Azare, Bauchi State (FUHSA) | 230 |
| 25 | Baze University Abuja | 200 |
| 26 | Benue State University, Benue State | 250 |
| 27 | Confluence University of Science and Technology Osara, Kogi State (CUSTECH) | 220 |
| 28 | Lagos State University, Lagos State (LASU) | 270 |
| 29 | Enugu State University of Science and Technology | 250 |
| 30 | Maduka University Enugu, Enugu State | 210 |
| 31 | Tansian University Enugu, Enugu State | 200 |
| 32 | NOK University Kachi | 230 |
| 33 | PAMO University of Medical Sciences | 215 |
| 34 | Coal City University Enugu State | 200 |
| 35 | Bingham University | 230 |
| 36 | El-Razi University Kano State | 200 |
| 37 | State University of Medical and Applied Sciences | 220 |
| 38 | Caritas University Enugu | 190 |
| 39 | Sumaila University Kano | 200 |
| 40 | Federal University Lokoja, Kogi State | 260 |
| 41 | Gombe State University | 230 |
| 42 | University of Abuja (Uniabuja) | 250 |
| 43 | University of Ilorin Kwara State | 310 |
| 44 | Afe Babalola University | 220 |
| 45 | University of Jos, Plateau State | 280 |
| 46 | University of Ibadan, Oyo State | 300 |
| 47 | Obafemi Awolowo University Ife | 260 |
| 48 | Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State | 245 |
| 49 | Edo State University Iyamo | 250 |
| 50 | Ambrose Ali University Ekpoma | 270 |
| 51 | Delta State University, Abraka | 240 |
| 52 | University of Portharcourt, Rivers State | 270 |
| 53 | Ladoke Akintola University | 280 |
| 54 | Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila-Iragun | 240 |
| 55 | King David Federal University of Health Sciences, Ebonyi State | 250 |
JAMB Subject Combinations for Medicine and Surgery
One of the other requirements to consider if you plan to apply for Medicine and Surgery in 2026 is knowing the compulsory JAMB four (4) subjects you will select during the JAMB registration that you will sit for in the UTME. Below are the subjects required for Medicine and Surgery:
- English Language
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Physics
O’level Requirements for Medicine and Surgery
This is the second requirement you must meet. You must have at least five credit passes in your O’Level results. These credits should be obtained in WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB, and must include the following subjects:
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Biology
These credits should be achieved in not more than two sittings in any of the SSCE exam options listed above.
Cut Off Mark Implications for Medicine and Surgery
Meeting the required cut off mark is very important for aspirants; however, it doesn’t guarantee admission into the varsity, as other factors such as O’level results, number of available slots in the department and Post UTME screening would be thoroughly considered.
Applicants who are unable to meet the required cut off mark are automatically not eligible for admission into the course of his or her choice unless considered by other departments that they may meet their benchmark.
What to do in order to avoid not meeting the required Cut Off Mark
Aspirants/applicants seeking to meet the required cut off mark of their preferred institution and course must first know the benchmark, then study judiciously and prepare diligently for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and POST UTME for schools that conduct it.
Applicants should make sure they do the following:
- Start preparing at an early hour
- Use relevant study materials as recommended by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB)
- Practice with explicit past questions
- Develop a study plan
- Remain focused
In Conclusion
Candidates of the Unified Tertiary and Matriculation Examination (UTME) aspiring to study Medicine and Surgery at any of the tertiary institutions in Nigeria must know before sitting for exams and must score above the required cut off mark of his or her institution of choice to be guaranteed admission into Medicine and Surgery.
Candidates of the Unified Tertiary and Matriculation Examination (UTME) should also make sure they have at least a credit in English and Mathematics, and at least a Credit in 3 other courses related to Medicine and Surgery (Biology, Physics and Chemistry)
