Nursing is one of the most competitive courses at Abia State University, Uturu. Every admission cycle, thousands of candidates apply for the Bachelor of Nursing Science (B.N.Sc.) programme, and only a fraction of them secure a spot because the department sets its cut off mark well above the university’s general benchmark. This article explains what the ABSU cut off mark for nursing means, how it compares with the general JAMB cut off mark, what the post-UTME screening process looks like, and how a candidate’s final admission chances are calculated.
What the ABSU Cut Off Mark Means
The cut off mark is the minimum UTME score JAMB and the university agree a candidate must reach before that candidate becomes eligible to proceed to the next stage of the admission process. There are two layers to this at ABSU. The first is the general JAMB cut off mark, which is the baseline score any candidate needs to be considered for any course at the university at all. The second is the departmental cut off mark, which is course-specific and reflects how competitive a particular programme is relative to demand. Meeting the general cut off mark only qualifies a candidate to participate in ABSU’s post-UTME screening exercise; it does not by itself secure admission into a specific department such as Nursing.
ABSU General JAMB Cut Off Mark for 2026/2027
For the 2026/2027 admission cycle, Abia State University sets its general JAMB cut off mark at 160. This means a candidate needs a UTME score of 160 or above, with ABSU listed as either first or second choice institution, to be eligible for the university’s post-UTME screening. In earlier admission cycles the university had used a lower general benchmark of 140, so the cut off mark is not fixed permanently and can move upward or downward from one session to the next depending on the volume and quality of applications JAMB records that year. A candidate should always confirm the current session’s general cut off mark on ABSU’s official admissions portal rather than relying on a figure from a previous year.
ABSU Departmental Cut Off Mark for Nursing
Nursing sits among ABSU’s most competitive departments alongside Medicine and Surgery, Law, Pharmacy, and Mass Communication. Because so many candidates list Nursing as their preferred course each year, the department’s effective cut off mark runs considerably higher than the university’s general benchmark. Published figures for Nursing at ABSU have varied across recent admission cycles, with some sessions citing a departmental requirement around 200 and the most recently published figure for the 2026/2027 session set at 220. Candidates should treat any specific number as a guide rather than a fixed rule, because Abia State University does not always publish a formal departmental cut off mark list the way it publishes the general cut off mark, and the effective score needed can shift depending on how many qualified applicants apply for Nursing in a given year.
What stays consistent is the pattern: scoring at or slightly above the general cut off mark of 160 does not guarantee a nursing admission slot. A candidate aiming for Nursing at ABSU should target a UTME score comfortably above 200 to remain competitive, since departmental competition, not the general cut off mark, decides who eventually gets admitted.
How ABSU Determines Final Admission for Nursing
Meeting the cut off mark only opens the door to the next stage. Final admission into the Nursing programme depends on a combination of three factors, each carrying its own weight in the university’s aggregate scoring formula.
- UTME score — the JAMB result itself, which forms the first component of the aggregate.
- Post-UTME screening performance — a screening exercise conducted by the university after JAMB registration, which may include a computer-based test, document verification, and in some years an oral or written assessment specific to the College of Medicine and Health Sciences.
- O’ Level result — the quality of a candidate’s WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB grades in the required subjects, converted into a point value as part of the aggregate calculation.
The university combines these three components into a single aggregate score, and candidates for Nursing are ranked by that aggregate rather than by UTME score alone. This is why two candidates with the same JAMB score can have very different admission outcomes: the one with a stronger post-UTME performance and better O’ Level grades ranks higher on the final merit list.
Subject Combination and O’ Level Requirements for Nursing at ABSU
To be eligible for Nursing at Abia State University, a candidate must register the correct UTME subject combination and hold the required O’ Level credits.
- UTME subjects: English Language, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.
- O’ Level credits: Five credit passes, including English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, obtained in not more than two sittings.
- Minimum grade expectation: Credit level passes (C6 or better under the WAEC grading system) in all five subjects; some sessions place additional weight on higher grades in Biology and Chemistry during the aggregate scoring stage.
A candidate who is missing a credit pass in any one of these five subjects is not eligible for the Nursing programme, regardless of how high the UTME score is.
ABSU Post-UTME Screening Process for Nursing Candidates
Once a candidate meets the general cut off mark and has ABSU as first or second choice, the university opens its post-UTME screening portal. The process generally follows this sequence:
- Registration: Eligible candidates purchase and complete the post-UTME screening form through the official ABSU admissions portal, using their JAMB registration number.
- Document upload: Candidates upload their O’ Level results, passport photograph, and other required documents as specified in that session’s admission notice.
- Screening exercise: Candidates sit for the screening test, which for College of Medicine and Health Sciences programmes such as Nursing may include additional verification steps beyond the standard computer-based test used for other faculties.
- Result release and aggregate computation: After screening, the university computes each candidate’s aggregate score using UTME, post-UTME, and O’ Level components, then ranks Nursing applicants by that aggregate to fill the available admission slots.
- Admission list publication: Successful candidates are published on the JAMB Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) portal, where they must accept or reject the offer within the stipulated window.
Cut Off Mark Trends Across Recent Sessions
The table below summarises how ABSU’s general and nursing-specific cut off marks have been reported across recent admission cycles. These figures illustrate the trend rather than a fixed, unchanging number, since each session’s exact requirement depends on JAMB’s national cut off mark and the volume of applications ABSU receives that year.
| Admission Session | ABSU General Cut Off Mark | Reported Nursing Departmental Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| 2024/2025 | 140 | Around 160–170 (varies by source and applicant pool) |
| 2025/2026 | 140 | Around 169–200, depending on competition that year |
| 2026/2027 | 160 | Around 200–220, among the highest of ABSU’s professional courses |
Because Nursing competes for slots with other high-demand College of Medicine and Health Sciences courses such as Medicine and Surgery, Medical Laboratory Science, and Pharmacy, its effective cut off mark tends to track upward whenever the university raises its general benchmark.
What to Do If Your Score Falls Below the Nursing Cut Off Mark
A candidate whose UTME score falls short of the reported Nursing benchmark still has options rather than losing the admission cycle entirely.
- Change of course within ABSU: JAMB allows candidates to change their course of study to a less competitive programme within the same institution before the admission window closes, provided the new course’s requirements are met.
- Change of institution: A candidate can switch to another university or college where the Nursing cut off mark is lower, using JAMB’s change of institution portal.
- Direct entry or ND-aligned pathways: Candidates who do not want to rewrite UTME can explore ND-aligned nursing college programmes in Abia State that admit through internal screening, though these lead to a different qualification pathway than the university’s BNSc degree.
- Rewriting UTME: Candidates who specifically want the ABSU BNSc route and fall short one year can register for the next UTME cycle and aim for a stronger score, paying close attention to Biology, Chemistry, and English Language, which typically carry the most weight for Nursing applicants.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ABSU general cut off mark for 2026/2027? The general JAMB cut off mark for ABSU is 160. This is the minimum score required to be eligible for the post-UTME screening exercise across the university.
Does meeting the general cut off mark guarantee admission into Nursing? No. Meeting the general cut off mark only qualifies a candidate for post-UTME screening. Admission into Nursing depends on the aggregate score computed from UTME, post-UTME, and O’ Level results, and Nursing’s effective cut off runs well above the general benchmark.
What UTME score should I aim for to study Nursing at ABSU? Candidates should aim for a score comfortably above 200, since recent sessions have reported departmental requirements in the 200 to 220 range for Nursing.
Can I study Nursing at ABSU without a Physics credit? No. Physics is one of the five required O’ Level credits for Nursing at ABSU, alongside English Language, Mathematics, Biology, and Chemistry.
Does ABSU publish an official departmental cut off mark list? ABSU regularly publishes its general cut off mark, but a formal, fixed departmental cut off mark list for courses like Nursing is not always made public in the same way. Reported nursing figures are based on the most recent admission trends and should be confirmed through the university’s official admissions portal before each application cycle.