Ekiti State University, commonly known as EKSU, is one of the state-owned universities in southwest Nigeria that runs a Nursing Science programme accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN). Every admission cycle, prospective nursing students search for the exact cut off mark required to stand a chance of admission into the department. This article explains what the cut off mark for Nursing Science at EKSU looks like for the 2026/2027 academic session, how it compares with other competitive courses in the university, and what else a candidate needs beyond the score itself.
What the Cut Off Mark Means at EKSU
A cut off mark is the minimum score a candidate must attain before the university considers that candidate for admission into a particular course. At EKSU, there are two layers to this figure. The first is the general institutional cut off mark, which is the baseline score JAMB and the university agree on for a candidate to even participate in the Post-UTME screening exercise. The second is the departmental (course-specific) cut off mark, which applies to competitive courses like Nursing Science, Medicine and Surgery, Law, and Pharmacy. A candidate can meet the general institutional benchmark and still fall short of the departmental requirement for Nursing, in which case the university typically redirects the candidate to apply for a different course through the JAMB CAPS portal.
EKSU Nursing Science Cut Off Mark
Nursing Science sits among the high-demand, competitive courses at EKSU, alongside Medicine and Surgery, Law, Doctor of Pharmacy, Medical Laboratory Science, and Medical Biochemistry. For these courses, the university sets a departmental cut off mark that is noticeably higher than the general admission benchmark applied to less competitive courses.
For the Nursing Science programme, EKSU’s departmental cut off mark for recent admission cycles, including guidance circulating for 2026/2027, falls within the 200 to 230 range in JAMB UTME score, depending on the specific admission session and how the university adjusts its benchmark that year. This means a candidate aiming for Nursing Science at EKSU needs a considerably stronger UTME score than a candidate applying for a less competitive course, where the general cut off mark of around 140 to 150 may be sufficient just to sit for Post-UTME screening.
Because cut off marks for competitive health-related courses can shift slightly from one admission cycle to another based on the volume and quality of applications JAMB and the university receive, candidates should treat any published figure as a strong guide rather than an unchangeable law. The safest approach is to confirm the specific figure once EKSU releases its official admission notice for the 2026/2027 session, either through the JAMB CAPS portal or the university’s own admissions office, since aggregator websites sometimes report slightly different numbers for the same course.
EKSU Cut Off Mark for Other Competitive Courses
To put the Nursing Science requirement in context, it helps to see how it compares with other competitive departments at EKSU. The table below shows the general pattern of departmental cut off marks for high-demand courses.
| Course | Approximate Departmental Cut Off Mark |
|---|---|
| Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) | 250 – 276 |
| Doctor of Pharmacy | 240 – 256 |
| Law | 240 – 255 |
| Nursing Science | 200 – 230 |
| Medical Laboratory Science | 200 – 220 |
| Medical Biochemistry | 180 – 200 |
| Mass Communication | 200 – 220 |
| Engineering programmes | 180 – 200 |
| Computer Science | 180 – 200 |
| Other general courses | 140 – 150 |
This table shows that Nursing Science ranks among the mid-to-upper tier of competitive courses at EKSU. It requires a meaningfully higher score than general courses in the Faculty of Education or Faculty of Arts, but it does not demand as high a score as Medicine, Pharmacy, or Law.
General EKSU Admission Cut Off Mark
Before a candidate can even think about the departmental requirement for Nursing, the candidate first needs to clear the university’s general JAMB cut off mark for the admission cycle. For the 2026/2027 session, EKSU’s general benchmark for candidates to be eligible for Post-UTME screening sits at or above the national minimum JAMB benchmark set for university admissions that year, commonly cited around 140 to 150. Candidates scoring below this general benchmark are not eligible to participate in EKSU’s screening exercise for any course, including Nursing.
It is important to separate the two figures clearly. Scoring 150 in UTME makes a candidate eligible to apply for Post-UTME screening at EKSU generally, but that same score does not qualify the candidate for Nursing Science specifically, since Nursing carries its own higher departmental threshold.
Requirements Beyond the Cut Off Mark
Meeting the cut off mark for Nursing Science at EKSU does not automatically guarantee admission. The university evaluates several other requirements alongside the UTME score:
- O’Level results: Candidates need a minimum of five credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, obtained in not more than two sittings.
- UTME subject combination: JAMB requires English Language, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics for candidates applying for Nursing Science.
- Post-UTME screening: Candidates who meet the departmental cut off mark must still register for and pass EKSU’s Post-UTME screening exercise, which combines with the UTME score to produce an aggregate score.
- Aggregate score ranking: Because Nursing Science admission slots are limited, EKSU ranks eligible candidates by their aggregate score (JAMB score and Post-UTME score averaged together) and offers admission starting from the highest-ranked candidates downward until slots are filled.
A candidate who scores exactly at the published cut off mark is not assured of a slot, since the final admission list depends on how many candidates apply for Nursing Science that year and how competitive the pool becomes.
How to Calculate Your Aggregate Score
EKSU generally calculates a candidate’s aggregate score by adding the UTME score to the Post-UTME screening score and dividing the total by two. For example, a candidate with a UTME score of 220 and a Post-UTME score of 200 would have an aggregate score of 210. For a competitive course like Nursing Science, candidates should aim for as high an aggregate as possible, since admission goes by ranking rather than by simply meeting the minimum cut off mark.
Nursing Science at the EKSU Teaching Hospital
Beyond the main Nursing Science degree programme run directly under EKSU’s Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences or related faculty, candidates sometimes confuse this with the separate nursing training arm at Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), known as the College of Nursing Sciences (EKSUTHCONS). This college runs its own nursing training programme with its own application process and its own cut off mark, which tends to sit around 200 in JAMB UTME, along with a separate Computer-Assisted Screening exercise conducted by the college itself. Candidates interested specifically in the university degree programme in Nursing Science should apply through the regular JAMB and EKSU Post-UTME process, while those interested in the teaching hospital’s nursing training programme should follow EKSUTHCONS’s own application channel. These are two different routes into the nursing profession, and candidates should confirm which one matches their career plan before applying.
Steps to Apply for Nursing Science at EKSU
- Register for JAMB UTME and select Ekiti State University as the first-choice institution, choosing Nursing Science as the course of study.
- Score at or above the departmental cut off mark for Nursing Science, keeping in mind that a higher score improves the chance of ranking well.
- Wait for EKSU to release its Post-UTME screening notice and register on the university’s official portal within the stated deadline.
- Sit for the Post-UTME screening exercise and obtain the screening score.
- Check the aggregate score calculation to estimate standing relative to the published cut off mark.
- Monitor the JAMB CAPS portal and EKSU’s admission list for the official offer of admission.
- If not offered Nursing Science but meeting the general cut off mark, consider changing the course choice on JAMB CAPS to a less competitive course at EKSU before the change-of-course window closes.
Why Cut Off Marks for Nursing Stay High
Nursing Science remains one of the more sought-after courses at EKSU for several reasons. Nursing offers strong employment prospects both within Nigeria and internationally, since NMCN-licensed graduates can pursue further certification abroad through bodies such as the NMC in the United Kingdom or the NCLEX examination in the United States. The programme also has limited admission slots each year because of accreditation requirements tied to clinical training capacity at teaching hospitals, faculty-to-student ratios, and laboratory space. This combination of high demand and limited supply keeps the departmental cut off mark for Nursing well above the general institutional baseline.
FAQs
What is the EKSU cut off mark for Nursing Science for 2026/2027?
The departmental cut off mark for Nursing Science at EKSU typically falls between 200 and 230 in JAMB UTME score, though candidates should confirm the exact figure once the university releases its official notice for the session.
Is EKSU’s general cut off mark the same as the Nursing cut off mark?
No. The general cut off mark determines eligibility for Post-UTME screening across all courses, while the departmental cut off mark for Nursing Science is a separate, higher threshold specific to that course.
Does meeting the cut off mark guarantee admission into Nursing Science?
No. Admission depends on ranking by aggregate score among all eligible candidates, since Nursing Science has limited slots each session.
What subjects does JAMB require for Nursing Science at EKSU?
English Language, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.
Is the EKSU Nursing Science programme the same as the EKSUTH College of Nursing Sciences?
No. They are separate programmes with separate application processes and separate cut off marks, though both lead to a nursing qualification.