How to gain admission to universities 2025

A Comprehensive Guide to Gaining University Admission in Nigeria for 2025

Securing admission into a Nigerian university is a competitive journey that requires careful planning, dedication, and a clear understanding of the process. The entire exercise is a multi-stage marathon, not a sprint. Here’s a detailed breakdown of each crucial phase to help you prepare for success in 2025.

The first major hurdle in your path is the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). This computer-based test is the primary gateway for admission into almost all tertiary institutions in the country.

You are absolutely right that scoring 200 and above is the standard benchmark for aspiring university students. While the official JAMB cut-off mark might be lower (e.g., 160 or 170), this is just the minimum score required for universities to even consider you for their post-exam screening.

• Highly Competitive Courses: For sought-after programs like Medicine, Law, Engineering, Pharmacy, and Accounting in federal universities (like the University of Ibadan, UNILAG, OAU), you should aim for scores well above 250. In some cases, candidates need scores of 270 or higher to be competitive.

• General Competitiveness: A score of 200 puts you in a relatively safe zone for many courses in federal, state, and private universities. It makes your application strong enough to proceed confidently to the next stage.

• The Aggregate Score: Your JAMB score is a major component of your final aggregate score, which universities use to rank candidates. A higher JAMB score gives you a significant advantage from the start.

Tips to Excel in JAMB:

• Start Early: Begin your preparations months in advance. Don't wait until the registration period to start studying.

• Use the Syllabus: Download the official JAMB syllabus for your four subjects. It tells you exactly which topics to focus on and which to ignore.

• Practice Past Questions: This is non-negotiable. Answering past questions helps you understand the exam format, question patterns, and manage your time effectively.

• Master the CBT Interface: If you're not comfortable with computers, find a local CBT center and practice to build speed and confidence.

Your O'Level result is the academic proof that you are prepared for university-level studies. These results are from examinations like the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) or the National Examinations Council (NECO).

Having an average of 'C' and above is crucial. In the Nigerian system, grades from A1 to C6 are considered "credit" passes. The fundamental requirement for almost every university course in Nigeria is:

A minimum of five (5) O'Level credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language and Mathematics, obtained in not more than two (2) sittings.

• Relevant Subjects: This is a key detail many candidates miss. The five credits must be relevant to your chosen course. For instance:

  • Engineering: You need credits in English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and one other science subject.

  • Law: You need credits in English, Mathematics, Literature-in-English, Government, and any other art or social science subject.

  • Medicine: You need credits in English, Mathematics, Biology, Physics, and Chemistry.

• One vs. Two Sittings: While most universities accept results from two sittings, some highly competitive courses (especially Medicine) may give preference to candidates who obtained all their required credits in a single sitting.

After clearing the JAMB benchmark, the next step is the Post-UTME (Post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination) screening organized by your chosen university. This is where the real competition happens.

Each university has its own unique method for conducting Post-UTME. It is vital to follow their specific procedures closely.

• Screening Format: The screening can take different forms:

  1. Written Exam: Many universities conduct a computer-based test similar to JAMB, but often more focused on the core subjects for your intended faculty.

  2. Credential Screening: Some universities simply screen your JAMB and O'Level results without an additional exam. They calculate your aggregate score based on a predefined formula.

  3. Oral Interview/Practical Test: This is less common but may be required for specific courses like Law, Theatre Arts, or Fine Arts.

• Calculating the Aggregate Score: Universities combine your scores to create a final aggregate used for ranking. A common formula is:

  • JAMB score is divided by 8 (e.g., 240/8=30).

  • Post-UTME score is divided by 2 (e.g., 60%/2=30).

  • Your final aggregate would be 30+30=60.

  • Some institutions also award points for O'Level grades (e.g., A1=6 points, B2=5 points, etc.) and add them to the total.

• Stay Informed: This is critical! Regularly check the official website of the university you applied to. This is where they will announce the start of Post-UTME registration, requirements, dates, and venues. For reliable, aggregated news and updates from various institutions, you can also check educational news platforms like lodpost.com.

Finally, ensure your O'Level result is uploaded correctly to the JAMB Central Admission Processing System (CAPS) portal. Failure to do this means you cannot be offered admission, regardless of how high you score. Good luck! 👍