Obafemi Awolowo University OAU cut-off mark 2026/2027 – updated
This page has been updated for the 2026/2027 admission cycle. At the JAMB Policy Meeting on Admissions into Tertiary Institutions, held in Abuja on 11 May 2026 and chaired by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, stakeholders agreed the national minimum admissible UTME scores for the new session. Anything you read on other sites quoting a 2022 or 2023 benchmark is out of date.
National minimum cut-off marks for 2026/2027
| Institution type | National minimum UTME score (out of 400) |
|---|---|
| Universities (federal, state and private) | 150 |
| Colleges of Nursing Sciences | 150 |
| Polytechnics and monotechnics | 100 |
| Colleges of education | 100 |
Obafemi Awolowo University OAU is a university, so the national floor that applies to it is 150. That number is the absolute minimum JAMB will allow — it is not the score that gets you admitted.
General cut-off mark vs departmental cut-off mark — the difference that costs people admission
There are two separate numbers, and confusing them is the single most common reason candidates lose a place.
- The general (institutional) cut-off mark is the minimum score Obafemi Awolowo University OAU will accept before it will even look at your application or invite you for screening. It can never be lower than the national minimum of 150, but the institution is free to set it higher.
- The departmental (course) cut-off mark is the score you actually need for the specific course you chose. Competitive courses — Medicine and Surgery, Nursing, Law, Pharmacy, Computer Science, Accounting, Mass Communication and Engineering — routinely sit far above the general cut-off, often in the 230–280 range at popular institutions, and sometimes higher.
JAMB stated plainly at the 2026 policy meeting that the approved scores are national minimum benchmarks only and do not guarantee admission. Institutions may adopt higher cut-off marks based on how competitive a course is, but they cannot admit anyone below the national floor.
How Obafemi Awolowo University OAU actually decides who gets admitted
Meeting the cut-off mark puts you in the pool. Selection is then made on a combination of:
- Your UTME score — usually weighted 50%.
- Your Post-UTME or screening score — usually the other 50%, where screening is conducted.
- Your O’Level result — five credit passes including English Language and Mathematics for most courses, plus the subject combination your course requires. Some institutions convert your O’Level grades into points and add them to the aggregate.
- Catchment area and educationally less developed states quotas, which apply to federal and state institutions.
- Whether Obafemi Awolowo University OAU was your first choice on the JAMB form. First-choice candidates are considered before second-choice candidates in almost every case.
How to check the Obafemi Awolowo University OAU departmental cut-off mark for your course
Do not rely on figures copied between blogs. Check the source:
- Log in to the JAMB eFacility portal at efacility.jamb.gov.ng with the email and password you used to register.
- Open CAPS (Central Admission Processing System) and check your admission status there. CAPS is the only official record of whether you have been offered a place.
- Visit the official Obafemi Awolowo University OAU website and look under Admissions, Post-UTME or Screening for the current session’s advertised requirements.
- Call or email the Obafemi Awolowo University OAU admissions office directly if the site has not been updated. Departmental figures are frequently released only after screening closes.
One important caveat: many departmental cut-off marks are set after the fact. The institution ranks everyone who applied for the course, admits down the list until the places are filled, and the score of the last person admitted becomes that year’s departmental cut-off. That is why last year’s figure is a guide, not a promise.
2026/2027 admission deadlines you must not miss
- Public universities: admissions must be concluded on or before 31 October 2026.
- Private universities: 30 November 2026.
- Polytechnics, monotechnics and colleges of education: 31 December 2026.
- Accepting your offer: once an offer appears on CAPS you have four weeks to accept it. Offers not accepted within that window are withdrawn.
As a university, Obafemi Awolowo University OAU works to the 31 October 2026 deadline. Check CAPS regularly from the moment results are released — candidates lose admission every year simply because nobody told them an offer was sitting there.
New for 2026/2027: NCE and agricultural ND candidates no longer need UTME
A significant change was announced at the 2026 policy meeting. Candidates seeking admission into the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) programme with a minimum of four credit passes are no longer required to sit the UTME. The same applies to candidates seeking National Diploma admission in non-technology agricultural and agriculture-related courses.
These candidates must still register with JAMB, and their credentials are screened, verified and certified before admission letters are issued through CAPS. The stated aim is to widen access to teacher education and agriculture while easing pressure on the UTME system.
What to do if your score is below the Obafemi Awolowo University OAU cut-off mark
A low score is a setback, not the end of the process. Realistic options:
- Change of course. Switch to a less competitive course in the same institution. A score that will not carry Medicine may comfortably carry a related science course.
- Change of institution. Use the JAMB change of institution/course service on your eFacility profile. State institutions and newer federal institutions typically have lower departmental cut-offs than the older, well-known ones.
- Polytechnic route. With a national minimum of 100, polytechnics are open to far more candidates. Do ND, then HND, then a top-up — many employers do not distinguish.
- NCE route. From 2026/2027 you can enter NCE with four O’Level credits and no UTME at all, then progress to a degree.
- IJMB, JUPEB or a pre-degree programme. These give direct entry into 200 level and bypass the UTME cut-off entirely, though they cost money and take a year.
- Part-time, sandwich or distance learning programmes at NUC-accredited institutions.
- Sit the UTME again. If your target course is genuinely worth it, one more attempt with proper preparation beats four years in a course you will not finish.
Mistakes that cost candidates admission every year
- Choosing Obafemi Awolowo University OAU as second choice, then expecting first-choice treatment.
- Missing the Post-UTME or screening registration window entirely.
- An O’Level subject combination that does not match the course requirement — a common one is applying for a science course without Physics or Further Mathematics.
- Never logging in to CAPS, so an offer expires unaccepted.
- Paying “admission agents” who promise a place. Obafemi Awolowo University OAU does not sell admission, and JAMB has repeatedly warned that CAPS is the only legitimate channel. If someone asks you for money to secure admission, it is a scam.
- Uploading O’Level results late. Results not uploaded to your JAMB profile are treated as if they do not exist.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Obafemi Awolowo University OAU cut-off mark for 2026/2027?
The national minimum applicable to Obafemi Awolowo University OAU is 150. The institution may set a higher general cut-off, and individual departments almost always require more. Confirm the current figure on the official Obafemi Awolowo University OAU admissions page before applying.
Does scoring above the cut-off mark guarantee admission?
No. JAMB stated at the 2026 policy meeting that the approved scores are minimum benchmarks and not automatic admission. Places are limited and awarded by ranking.
Can Obafemi Awolowo University OAU admit someone below 150?
No. Institutions may go above the national minimum but are not permitted to admit below it.
Where can I see the official departmental cut-off marks?
On the official Obafemi Awolowo University OAU website under Admissions or Post-UTME, and through your JAMB CAPS profile. Blog figures are historical estimates.
When will Obafemi Awolowo University OAU conclude admissions for 2026/2027?
By 31 October 2026, in line with the deadlines set at the 2026 JAMB policy meeting.
How long do I have to accept an offer?
Four weeks from the date the offer appears on CAPS. After that it is withdrawn and the place goes to another candidate.
Do I still need the UTME for NCE?
Not from 2026/2027 if you hold at least four O’Level credit passes. You must still register with JAMB so your credentials can be verified through CAPS.
Related guides
Cut-off marks are set afresh each admission cycle and departmental figures change year to year. Always confirm the current requirement on the official Obafemi Awolowo University OAU website or through JAMB CAPS before you apply or pay for anything.
Obafemi Awolowo University OAU Cut Off Mark for 2026/2027
We are glad to bring to your notice the OAU Cut-Off Mark for 2026/2027. If you selected Obafemi Awolowo university as a first or second choice, you will be interested in this post as it concerns you.
If you have been searching for the Obafemi Awolowo university OAU cut-off mark for 2026/2027, then you are on the right page to read the full details about this topic.
Obafemi Awolowo University OAU JAMB cut-off mark for the 2026/2027 session is 180
The JAMB cut-off mark for Obafemi Awolowo university is 180 and you are expected to beat this cut-off mark
Listed below are the cut-off marks for the 2026/2027 session for the departments In Obafemi Awolowo university as released officially by the management of the school
- Sociology and Anthropology…………………….242.5
- Psychology…………………….244
- Political Science…………………….268
- Geography…………………….216
- Economics…………………….271.5
- Demography and Social Statistics…………………….209
- Architecture…………………….229
- Building…………………….214
- Urban and Regional Planning…………………….208.5
- Quantity Surveying…………………….215.5
- Fine Arts…………………….200
- Estate Management…………………….218.5
- Zoology….…………………200
- Physic…………………….200
- Microbiology…………………….234
- Statistics…………………….200
- Mathematics…………………….200
- Industrial chemistry…………………….200
- Geology…………………….236
- Engineering Physics…………………….200
- Chemistry…………………….200
- Botany…………………….200
- Biochemistry…………………….200
- Applied Geophysics…………………….200
- Agricultural Economics…………………….200
- Animal Science…………………….200
- Agricultural Extension and Rural Sociology…………………….200
- Family Health and Nutrition…………………….200
- Crop Production and Protection…………………….200
- Education, Maths and Integrated Science…………………….200
- Education and Physics…………………….215
- Education/Chemistry…………………….212
- Education and Biology…………………….211
- Physical and Health Education…………………….200
- Education and Guidance and Counselling…………………….212
- Education and Language Arts…………………….210
- Education and Social Studies…………………….208
- Education and Political Science…………………….243
- Education and geography…………………….200
- Education and Economics…………………….240
- Education and History…………………….200
- Education and French…………………….220
- Education and CRS…………………….200
- Education and Music…………………….200
- Education and Fine Arts…………………….200
- Education and Yoruba…………………….200
- Education and English…………………….275
- Drama…………………….269.5
- English…………………….270.5
- Literature In English…………………….253
- French…………………….259
- German…………………….249.5
- Portuguese…………………….226
- History and International Relations…………………….252
- Linguistics…………………….258.5
- Yoruba…………………….200
- Music…………………….236
- Philosophy…………………….260
- Religious Studies…………………….239
- Pharmacy…………………….252
- Civil Engineering…………………….250
- Mechanical Engineering…………………….248
- Material Science and Engineering…………………….200
- Food Science and Technology…………………….200
- Food Engineering…………………….200
- Electrical/Electronics Engineering…………………….252
- Computational mathematics…………………….250
- Computer Economics…………………….217
- Computer Engineering…………………….250
- Chemical Engineering…………………….250
- Agricultural Engineering…………………….200
- Medicine…………………….275
- Dentistry…………………….260
- Medical Rehabilitation…………………….248
- Nursing…………………….249.5
- Management and Accounting…………………….253
- Internation Relations…………………….233
- Law…………………….291.5
- Local Government Studies…………………….210
After reading the cut-off marks, it will interest you to know that the OAU post utme is out, so kindly check for the update about that on our site here.
This university conducts post utme exams which you are expected to register and sit for. Read and do your best as this will increase your chances greatly.