Candidates who want to study Nursing Science at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) need to know two figures before applying: the university’s general UTME cut-off mark and the specific departmental cut-off mark set for Nursing. These two numbers work together in LAUTECH’s admission process, and meeting only one of them does not guarantee a spot in the department. This article explains both figures for the 2026/2027 admission cycle, how LAUTECH calculates them, and what else a candidate needs alongside a good UTME score to secure admission into Nursing.
What “Cut Off Mark” Means at LAUTECH
A cut off mark is the minimum score a candidate must reach to be considered eligible for a stage of the admission process. LAUTECH, like most Nigerian universities, uses cut off marks at two separate levels. The first is the general or merit cut off mark, which is the baseline UTME score every applicant to the university must reach before they can even purchase a Post-UTME form. The second is the departmental cut off mark, which is course-specific and usually much higher for competitive programmes such as Nursing, Medicine and Surgery, and Medical Laboratory Science.
Scoring above the general cut off mark only makes a candidate eligible to proceed to screening. It does not automatically secure a place in Nursing, since the department admits based on its own higher threshold and the number of available slots for that session.
LAUTECH General Cut Off Mark for 2026/2027
LAUTECH’s general UTME cut off mark has moved slightly across recent admission cycles, sitting between 160 and 180 depending on the session. For the 2026/2027 admission exercise, candidates should expect the general cut off mark to fall within this same range, and JAMB’s national policy meeting each year plays a role in setting the floor that all universities, including LAUTECH, must respect. A candidate must score at or above this baseline in UTME before LAUTECH will consider them for the Post-UTME screening exercise, regardless of which course they intend to study.
LAUTECH Departmental Cut Off Mark for Nursing
Nursing sits among LAUTECH’s most competitive programmes because of limited admission slots, the professional accreditation requirements from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, and consistently high demand from applicants every session. Departmental cut off marks for Nursing at LAUTECH have ranged between 250 and 260 in recent admission cycles, placing it well above the university’s general cut off mark and closer to the level typically required for Medicine and Surgery.
| Course | Typical Departmental Cut Off Mark Range |
|---|---|
| Medicine and Surgery | 280 – 300 |
| Nursing Science | 250 – 260 |
| Medical Laboratory Science | 235 – 250 |
| Computer Science | 210 – 230 |
| General Engineering courses | 200 and above |
Candidates aiming for Nursing at LAUTECH should treat 250 as the realistic minimum UTME score to target, and should aim higher wherever possible, since departmental cut off marks can shift upward from one session to the next depending on how many candidates apply and how competitive their scores are.
It is worth noting that some reporting sources present LAUTECH’s departmental cut off marks on a converted merit-score scale (a value below 100) rather than the raw UTME score out of 400. This converted scale reflects the weighted combination of UTME score and O’Level grades used internally by the university, not the JAMB score itself. Prospective Nursing applicants should focus on the raw UTME figure, since that is the number JAMB and LAUTECH’s Post-UTME portal both reference when confirming eligibility.
How LAUTECH Determines Final Admission Into Nursing
LAUTECH does not admit into Nursing purely on UTME score. The university applies a combined scoring formula that weighs UTME performance alongside O’Level results, then ranks candidates within the department based on the combined score. In practice, UTME contributes roughly 80 percent of the final admission score, while O’Level grades contribute around 20 percent. This means two candidates with the same UTME score can end up with different final rankings if their O’Level grades differ, so a candidate who scores at the lower end of the Nursing cut off range should not assume a UTME pass alone secures the seat.
The university also distinguishes between merit and catchment candidates. Merit cut off marks apply to the general pool of applicants nationwide, while catchment cut off marks are slightly lower and apply to candidates from states LAUTECH designates as within its catchment area, currently understood to include Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti, and Kwara. A candidate from a catchment state may be admitted into Nursing with a marginally lower combined score than a candidate applying from outside that zone, though the department still expects a strong score overall given how competitive Nursing remains.
Requirements Beyond the Cut Off Mark
Meeting the cut off mark is only one part of qualifying for Nursing at LAUTECH. Candidates also need to satisfy the following conditions before admission is finalised:
- O’Level credits: Five credit passes in English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, obtained in one sitting. LAUTECH does not accept a combination of two sittings for Nursing, unlike some less competitive courses at the university.
- UTME subject combination: English Language, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, since these are the subjects the Nursing department expects candidates to have registered for at the UTME.
- First-choice preference: LAUTECH generally does not admit second-choice candidates into Nursing. Applicants who did not select LAUTECH as their first choice are typically advised to change their institution preference on the JAMB portal before the correction window closes, if they genuinely intend to study Nursing there.
- Post-UTME screening: Candidates who scale the general and departmental cut off thresholds must still participate in LAUTECH’s Post-UTME screening exercise, usually held between August and September, before a final admission decision is made.
- Age requirement: Applicants are generally expected to be at least 16 years old by the resumption period of the session they are applying for.
Tips for Improving Admission Chances Into Nursing at LAUTECH
Because Nursing consistently carries one of the highest departmental cut off marks at LAUTECH, candidates who are serious about the course should treat 250 as a floor rather than a target. Scoring comfortably above the published departmental cut off mark protects a candidate against the possibility that the threshold rises in a given session due to higher-than-usual competition. Candidates should also ensure their O’Level results are complete and uploaded correctly before the Post-UTME screening, since incomplete documentation is one of the most common reasons qualified candidates lose their admission slot even after meeting the score requirement.
Choosing LAUTECH as a first choice on the JAMB portal from the outset removes one layer of uncertainty, since the university’s general practice of not admitting second-choice candidates into Nursing makes a change of institution mid-process both risky and time-sensitive.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the LAUTECH cut off mark for Nursing in 2026/2027?
Recent admission cycles place the Nursing departmental cut off mark between 250 and 260 in UTME score, though the exact figure for a given session is only confirmed once LAUTECH releases its official departmental cut off list after the JAMB policy meeting.
Is the LAUTECH general cut off mark the same as the Nursing cut off mark?
No. The general cut off mark is the minimum score required for eligibility to apply to the university at all, while the Nursing departmental cut off mark is a separate, higher score specific to that course.
Does LAUTECH admit second-choice candidates into Nursing?
Generally, no. Candidates who did not select LAUTECH as their first choice on JAMB are advised to correct their institution preference if they want a realistic chance of admission into Nursing.
Can a candidate with five O’Level credits obtained in two sittings apply for Nursing at LAUTECH?
No. LAUTECH requires the five relevant credits for Nursing, Medicine, and Medical Laboratory Science to be obtained in one sitting only.
Does scoring above the Nursing cut off mark guarantee admission?
Not automatically. Admission also depends on the candidate’s combined UTME and O’Level score relative to other applicants, the number of available slots that session, and successful completion of the Post-UTME screening.