Candidates aiming to study Nursing at Gombe State University (GSU) need a clear, direct answer on the actual score required for admission, since Nursing carries a higher entry requirement than most other courses at the university. This article explains GSU’s current cut-off mark for Nursing, how it compares with the university’s general baseline, and what else candidates need besides a good UTME score to secure admission for the 2026/2027 academic session.
What Is GSU’s Cut-Off Mark for Nursing?
Nursing sits among GSU’s more competitive programmes, alongside Medicine and Surgery, Pharmacy, and Law. While the university’s general cut-off mark for most undergraduate programmes has recently been set at 150, Nursing requires a minimum UTME score of 200. This means a candidate who selected Gombe State University during UTME registration and scored below 200 does not qualify for consideration into the Nursing programme, even if that same score would be sufficient for admission into a less competitive department such as Sociology, Geography, or one of the general Education courses.
This higher threshold exists because Nursing, like Medicine and Pharmacy, is a professional course with a limited admission quota set in line with the standards of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), the body responsible for accrediting nursing training in Nigeria. GSU is listed among the nursing training institutions recognised by the NMCN, which means the university cannot admit an unlimited number of students into the programme regardless of how many candidates apply. Limited space combined with consistently high demand for Nursing every admission cycle is what pushes the effective cut-off mark above the general baseline.
GSU Cut-Off Mark by Course Category
To help candidates see exactly where Nursing sits relative to other courses at GSU, the table below summarises the pattern that has applied across recent admission cycles.
| Course Category | Typical UTME Cut-Off Mark |
|---|---|
| General baseline (most Arts, Social Science, Education, and general Science courses) | 150 |
| Computer Science and similarly competitive technical courses | Above 150, generally in the 160s |
| Nursing | 200 |
| Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) | 200 |
| Pharmacy | 200 |
| Law | 200 |
A score of 150 is enough to make a candidate eligible for GSU’s Post-UTME screening exercise in general, but it is not enough on its own to secure a place in Nursing. Candidates should treat 200 as the real minimum threshold for Nursing specifically, and should aim comfortably above that figure, since meeting the minimum cut-off mark only makes a candidate eligible for further screening rather than guaranteeing an admission offer.
Why Meeting the Cut-Off Mark Is Not the Same as Getting Admission
A cut-off mark is a filter, not a guarantee. Meeting or exceeding the 200 mark for Nursing qualifies a candidate to proceed to GSU’s Post-UTME screening exercise, but the university still considers several other factors before finalising an admission offer:
- Post-UTME screening performance. GSU conducts its own internal screening exercise for candidates who meet the departmental cut-off mark, and performance in this exercise plays a direct role in the final admission decision.
- O’Level results. Candidates need a minimum of five credit passes, including English Language, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, from WAEC, NECO, or an equivalent examination body, obtained at not more than two sittings.
- Available admission quota. Because Nursing is a professional, NMCN-regulated course, GSU can only admit a fixed number of students each session, regardless of how many candidates meet the 200 cut-off mark.
- First-choice status. Candidates must have selected GSU as their first-choice institution during UTME registration, since the university generally does not consider candidates who chose it as a second choice for competitive courses like Nursing.
Because of these additional layers, a candidate who scores exactly 200 should not assume automatic admission. The safer approach is to aim for a score noticeably above the stated cut-off mark, since the effective admission threshold in practice often ends up higher than the officially published minimum once the university ranks candidates by combined UTME and Post-UTME performance.
Admission Requirements for Nursing at GSU
Beyond the UTME cut-off mark itself, candidates applying for Nursing at Gombe State University need to satisfy the following conditions:
- A minimum of five O’Level credit passes in English Language, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, from WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB, at not more than two sittings.
- Registration for the current year’s UTME with GSU selected as the first-choice institution.
- A UTME score of at least 200, in line with the department’s stated cut-off mark.
- Successful completion of GSU’s Post-UTME/Post-JAMB screening exercise, which typically involves a modest non-refundable processing fee paid through the university’s Remita platform.
- For Direct Entry applicants, a relevant qualification such as a Lower Credit in a related National Diploma (ND), a Merit-level National Certificate in Education (NCE), or at least two Advanced Level passes in relevant subjects.
Candidates who meet the UTME cut-off mark but were not selected as first choice, or who did not pick GSU at all during registration, can explore the JAMB change of institution/change of course window during the admission cycle, provided it remains open, to redirect their application toward GSU’s Nursing programme.
How GSU’s Nursing Cut-Off Mark Compares to Other Universities
Nursing cut-off marks vary across Nigerian universities depending on ownership type, competition, and regional demand. GSU’s 200 cut-off mark for Nursing places it roughly in the middle range nationally: higher than the cut-off marks some newer or less competitive state universities set for Nursing, but generally lower than the cut-off marks some of the most sought-after federal universities set for the same course. This makes GSU a realistic option for candidates in the North-East region who have a solid but not exceptionally high UTME score and want a genuine, NMCN-recognised Nursing training pathway without needing the very top-tier scores that some federal universities demand.
What to Do If Your Score Is Below 200
Candidates who scored below 200 in UTME but still want to study Nursing have a few realistic options:
- Consider a related course at GSU first. Courses such as Anatomy, Physiology, Public Health, and other paramedical departments at GSU carry a lower cut-off mark than Nursing itself, and a student can sometimes explore an internal change of course after admission, depending on the university’s policy and available space in the target department.
- Apply to a lower-cut-off nursing programme elsewhere. Not every Nigerian institution offering Nursing sets its threshold at 200, so candidates should research other NMCN-approved options with a lower stated cut-off mark.
- Rewrite the UTME in a later cycle. Since JAMB cut-off marks and university-specific departmental cut-off marks are reviewed every session, a candidate can retake the examination and aim for a higher score before reapplying.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cut-off mark for Nursing at Gombe State University?
GSU’s Nursing programme requires a minimum UTME score of 200, higher than the university’s general baseline of 150 that applies to most other courses.
Is 200 enough to guarantee admission into Nursing at GSU?
No. Scoring 200 makes a candidate eligible for GSU’s Post-UTME screening exercise, but final admission also depends on screening performance, O’Level results, and the number of available slots in the department for that session.
Does GSU’s Nursing programme have NMCN accreditation?
Yes. Gombe State University is listed among Nigeria’s approved nursing training institutions recognised by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.
What O’Level subjects are required for Nursing at GSU?
Candidates need five credit passes including English Language, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, obtained at not more than two sittings.
What other courses at GSU have the same cut-off mark as Nursing?
Medicine and Surgery (MBBS), Pharmacy, and Law all share the same 200 cut-off mark as Nursing at GSU, since these are the university’s most competitive professional programmes.