Benue State University, Makurdi, commonly known as BSU, is a state-owned institution now officially renamed Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi (MOAUM), though most students, staff, and even the university’s own admission notices still refer to it by its original name and abbreviation. This article explains the cut off mark for Nursing Science at BSU, what it takes to qualify for a Post-UTME screening slot in the department, and an important update that current and prospective Nursing applicants need to know before applying for the 2026/2027 academic session.
What a Cut Off Mark Means at BSU
A cut off mark is the minimum UTME score a candidate needs to be considered eligible for a university’s Post-UTME screening exercise. It is not the same as a departmental admission score, which is usually higher and determined after screening, based on how many qualified candidates are competing for a limited number of available slots. BSU, like most Nigerian universities, sets a general baseline cut off mark for the institution as a whole, then layers stricter, course-specific cut off marks on top of it for programmes that receive higher demand or require more rigorous entry standards, such as Nursing Science, Medicine and Surgery, Law, and Pharmacy.
Meeting the cut off mark only makes a candidate eligible to register for Post-UTME screening. It does not guarantee admission, since the university still ranks candidates by their combined UTME and Post-UTME performance, along with O’Level results, before releasing an admission list.
BSU Cut Off Mark for Nursing Science
For recent admission cycles, Nursing Science at BSU has carried a departmental cut off mark of 200 out of 400 in UTME, placing it in the same competitive tier as Medical Laboratory Science and Radiography and Radiation Science. This is notably higher than the university’s general baseline cut off mark, which typically sits at 150 to 160 depending on the session, and reflects how much demand the Nursing Science programme attracts each year relative to its limited admission quota.
However, prospective Nursing applicants for the 2026/2027 academic session need to pay close attention to the university’s most recent Post-UTME/DE screening notice. In its July 2026 registration announcement, BSU explicitly instructed candidates who applied for Nursing Science to change their course selection to other options, signaling that the department was not open for fresh intake through that particular screening cycle. This kind of instruction typically points to constraints tied to admission quota, accreditation review, or capacity limits within the College of Health Sciences, all of which are common reasons Nigerian nursing programmes temporarily pause new admissions until the relevant conditions are resolved.
Because this status can change from one admission cycle to another, candidates specifically interested in Nursing Science at BSU should confirm the department’s current admission status directly on the official BSU/MOAUM portal before completing their Post-UTME registration, since relying on outdated or general cut off figures could lead to wasted screening fees if the department remains closed to new applicants in a given cycle.
BSU Cut Off Marks Across Courses
Placing the Nursing Science cut off mark alongside other courses at BSU gives a clearer sense of where it sits on the university’s overall admission scale.
| Course/Faculty | UTME Cut Off Mark |
|---|---|
| General baseline (Arts, Education, Environmental Sciences, Management Sciences, most Sciences, Social Sciences, Technology and Industrial Studies) | 150–160 |
| Communication and Media Studies, Architecture, Human Anatomy, Human Physiology, Microbiology | 180 |
| Nursing Science, Medical Laboratory Science, Radiography and Radiation Science | 200 |
| Medicine and Surgery (MBBS), Doctor of Pharmacy, Law | 220–240 |
The exact figures shift slightly from one admission cycle to the next, since BSU reviews its cut off marks in response to JAMB’s national minimum benchmark and internal capacity decisions each year. The general pattern, however, remains consistent: courses under the College of Health Sciences and the Faculty of Law sit well above the university’s baseline threshold, with Medicine and Surgery, Pharmacy, and Law forming the most competitive tier.
Admission Requirements for Nursing Science at BSU
Beyond meeting the departmental cut off mark, candidates applying for Nursing Science at BSU must satisfy the following conditions:
- O’Level credits: a minimum of five credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language and Mathematics, along with core science subjects such as Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, obtained in not more than two sittings.
- UTME subject combination: candidates typically need Mathematics, Chemistry or Physics, and another relevant science subject as part of their JAMB registration.
- First choice institution: BSU generally only considers candidates who selected the university as their first choice during JAMB registration, or who have formally changed their institution to BSU through JAMB.
- O’Level upload on JAMB CAPS: candidates must upload their O’Level results to the JAMB Central Admissions Processing System, since failure to do this disqualifies a candidate from consideration regardless of their score.
- Post-UTME screening: candidates must register for and complete the university’s Post-UTME/Direct Entry screening exercise, which typically involves a small administrative payment and an online application process through the university’s admission portal.
Direct Entry candidates with an ND, NCE, or equivalent qualification in a related health science field may also apply into Nursing Science, subject to the department’s specific Direct Entry requirements and available quota for that entry route.
How to Apply for Post-UTME Screening at BSU
The general application process for BSU’s Post-UTME/DE screening exercise follows these steps:
- Visit the official university admission portal and locate the Post-UTME/DE application link under the Applications menu.
- Verify your JAMB registration number to confirm eligibility for screening.
- Proceed to the e-payment platform and pay the applicable screening charge.
- Return to the portal after successful payment to complete the UTME/DE application form.
- Print the completed application form for your records and monitor the university’s official website for further updates on registration deadlines and any changes to specific course availability.
Given that Nursing Science admission status can change between cycles, candidates are strongly advised to check for any course-specific instructions, such as the notice affecting Nursing Science applicants in the most recent cycle, before completing payment for screening.
What Happens If a Course Is Not Currently Open
When a university instructs candidates to change their course selection, as BSU did for Nursing Science applicants in its 2026/2027 Post-UTME notice, candidates generally have two realistic options. The first is to change their course choice to another programme within the same faculty or a related discipline through the JAMB portal, provided their UTME score meets that programme’s cut off mark. The second is to wait for the university’s official update on when the affected department reopens for admission, since such restrictions are often tied to a specific admission cycle rather than a permanent suspension of the programme. Candidates should avoid making payments or submitting applications for a course the university has explicitly closed for that cycle, since doing so does not guarantee eventual admission into that department.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the BSU cut off mark for Nursing Science?
Nursing Science at BSU has carried a departmental cut off mark of 200 out of 400 in UTME in recent admission cycles, placing it above the university’s general baseline cut off mark.
Is Nursing Science currently open for admission at BSU?
For the 2026/2027 Post-UTME/DE screening cycle, BSU’s official registration notice instructed candidates who applied for Nursing Science to change their course selection to other options. Candidates should confirm the department’s current admission status directly on the official BSU portal before registering for screening.
Does BSU require Post-UTME screening for Nursing Science candidates?
Yes. Meeting the cut off mark only qualifies a candidate for Post-UTME screening; final admission depends on a candidate’s combined UTME and Post-UTME performance, along with verified O’Level results.
What O’Level subjects are required for Nursing Science at BSU?
Candidates need a minimum of five credit passes, including English Language, Mathematics, and core science subjects such as Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, obtained in not more than two sittings.
What can a candidate do if their score doesn’t meet the Nursing Science cut off mark?
Candidates can consider a JAMB change of course to another programme within the College of Health Sciences or Faculty of Science with a lower cut off mark, such as Human Anatomy or Human Physiology, both of which typically accept scores from 180 and above.