Borno State University, now officially known as Kashim Ibrahim University (KIU), Maiduguri, sets one of the higher nursing cut-off marks among Nigerian state universities. This article explains the exact score required for Nursing Science admission for the 2026/2027 session, clarifies the university’s merit and “others” scoring categories, and covers the O’Level and screening requirements that apply alongside the UTME score.
A Note on the University’s Name
Since January 2025, Borno State University has operated under a new official name, Kashim Ibrahim University, following approval by the Borno State Government to honour Sir Kashim Ibrahim, the first Governor of the defunct Northern Nigeria Region. The change took full effect from August 2025. Both names refer to the same institution in Maiduguri, and cut-off mark announcements, admission portals, and JAMB records may still reference “BOSU” in some places while transitioning fully to “KIU.” This article uses both names interchangeably where relevant, since search activity for this topic still commonly uses the older “Borno State University” name.
What Is the General Cut-Off Mark for This University?
The university sets a general Post-UTME cut-off mark that applies broadly across most courses before departmental scores come into play. For the 2026/2027 admission cycle, this general score stands at 150, which represents a slight increase from the 140 mark used in earlier admission cycles. Any candidate who selects this university as their first choice institution in JAMB needs to meet this general threshold before they become eligible to register for the Post-UTME screening exercise. Meeting the general 150 mark, however, does not automatically qualify a candidate for Nursing Science, since the nursing department applies its own, considerably higher scoring requirement.
What Is the Specific Cut-Off Mark for Nursing Science?
Nursing Science at this university carries one of the highest departmental cut-off marks on campus, second only to Medicine and Surgery. For the 2026/2027 admission cycle, Nursing Science requires a score of 230 for candidates competing on the merit list, and 200 for candidates admitted through other categories. This is a notable increase from earlier cycles, where the “others” category threshold for Nursing Science stood at 190.
This two-tier scoring system, using “merit” and “others” as separate categories, reflects how the university structures its admission lists across most competitive departments, not just nursing. Candidates should understand that meeting the lower “others” figure does not guarantee the same admission outcome as meeting the merit threshold, since these categories typically correspond to different quota allocations within the department’s available admission slots.
Understanding “Merit” and “Others” Cut-Off Categories
Nigerian universities, including this one, commonly split admission scoring into separate categories to manage how limited slots are distributed. The merit category generally represents the score candidates need to compete purely on academic performance against the general applicant pool, while the “others” category typically applies to candidates admitted through separate consideration, which can include catchment area allocations, direct entry pathways, or other admission quotas the university operates. Since university admission policy on this point can be updated from one session to the next, candidates should confirm directly with the admissions office which category applies to their specific application before assuming which score threshold they need to meet.
Cut-Off Marks Across Health Science Courses: A Comparison
The table below places Nursing Science alongside other courses in the university’s health sciences faculty for the 2026/2027 admission cycle, showing where it ranks in competitiveness.
| Course | Merit Score | Others Score |
|---|---|---|
| General university minimum (most courses) | 150 | 150 |
| Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) | 250 | 220 |
| Nursing Science | 230 | 200 |
| Physiotherapy | 210 | 180 |
| Radiography | 210 | 180 |
| Medical Laboratory Science | 210 | 180 |
As shown, Nursing Science sits second only to Medicine and Surgery in terms of competitiveness, requiring a considerably higher score than Physiotherapy, Radiography, and Medical Laboratory Science. Candidates should treat the 230 merit figure, or at minimum the 200 “others” figure, as the realistic target for Nursing Science, rather than assuming the general 150 institutional minimum applies to this department.
Why Nursing Has a Higher Cut-Off Mark Than Most Courses
Nursing Science departments, including the one at this university, admit a limited number of students each session because of the clinical training capacity available through partner hospitals and supervised practical placements. Demand for nursing admission in Nigeria consistently exceeds the number of available slots at most universities, which pushes departmental cut-off marks upward as a filtering mechanism. This pattern holds across the country and is not unique to this institution; wherever a nursing programme carries full accreditation and produces graduates eligible for professional registration, competition for admission tends to be higher than for less clinically intensive courses in the same faculty.
O’Level and Subject Requirements for Nursing Science
Meeting the UTME cut-off mark is only one part of the admission requirement. Candidates applying for Nursing Science at this university also need to satisfy the following conditions:
- Five O’Level credits, including English Language, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics, obtained from WAEC, NECO, or an equivalent examination body, in not more than two sittings.
- A UTME subject combination of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and English Language, which is the standard JAMB requirement for nursing and related health science courses.
- A UTME score meeting or exceeding the relevant Nursing Science threshold, currently 230 for merit candidates and 200 for the “others” category.
- Successful completion of the university’s Post-UTME screening exercise, which typically requires printed UTME result slips, O’Level results, the Post-UTME registration slip, and passport photographs for physical screening.
- Availability of verifiable O’Level results at the point of screening, since candidates still awaiting WAEC or NECO results are generally not considered for admission into competitive departments like Nursing Science.
Candidates without a credit pass in Biology or Chemistry are unlikely to be considered for Nursing Science regardless of their overall UTME score, since these subjects form the foundation of the coursework at the departmental level.
How the Post-UTME Screening Process Works
Meeting the required Nursing Science score qualifies a candidate to register for and sit the university’s Post-UTME screening exercise; it does not by itself confirm admission. The screening process may be conducted physically on campus or online, depending on the university’s arrangement for that admission cycle, and candidates need to bring or upload their UTME result slip, O’Level results, Post-UTME registration slip, and passport photographs as part of the verification process. Final admission into Nursing Science is determined by combining UTME score, O’Level result quality, and Post-UTME screening performance, meaning candidates who score comfortably above the required threshold generally stand a stronger chance than those who meet it by the narrowest margin.
What to Do If Your Score Falls Below the Nursing Cut-Off Mark
A candidate who meets the general institutional minimum of 150 but falls short of the Nursing Science requirement still has practical options. During Post-UTME registration, most Nigerian universities, including this one, allow candidates who selected the institution as their first choice to switch to a less competitive course that matches their actual UTME score, provided the change is completed before the registration deadline closes. A candidate specifically interested in a health-related career but unable to meet the nursing threshold might consider Physiotherapy, Radiography, or Medical Laboratory Science, all of which carry a comparatively lower cut-off mark, or plan to retake the UTME in a subsequent admission cycle to reach the score Nursing Science requires.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cut-off mark for Nursing Science at Borno State University?
For the 2026/2027 admission cycle, Nursing Science requires 230 for merit candidates and 200 for candidates admitted through other categories.
Is Borno State University the same institution as Kashim Ibrahim University?
Yes. Borno State University was officially renamed Kashim Ibrahim University in 2025. Both names refer to the same institution located in Maiduguri.
Does meeting the general cut-off mark of 150 qualify me for Nursing Science?
No. The general 150 mark only qualifies a candidate for Post-UTME screening broadly. Nursing Science has its own higher departmental threshold.
Is Nursing Science more competitive than other health courses at this university?
Yes, apart from Medicine and Surgery. Nursing Science’s cut-off mark is notably higher than Physiotherapy, Radiography, and Medical Laboratory Science, which each require 210 for merit and 180 for others.
What subjects are required for Nursing Science admission?
Candidates need five O’Level credits including English Language, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics, along with a JAMB registration combining Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and English Language.