Nursing Science is one of the most competitive courses at Delta State University, Abraka (DELSU), and its cut off mark sits well above the university’s general admission baseline. Understanding how DELSU calculates this cut off mark, and what score realistically gives a candidate a fair chance, requires looking beyond a single number, since DELSU uses an aggregate scoring system rather than a raw JAMB score alone. This article explains exactly how the DELSU Nursing cut off mark works for the 2026/2027 admission session and what a prospective Nursing student needs to qualify.
DELSU’s General Admission Requirement
Before addressing Nursing specifically, it helps to understand the university-wide baseline. DELSU sets its general minimum JAMB UTME score at 150 points for the 2026/2027 admission cycle. This is the absolute floor that determines whether a candidate is even eligible to proceed to the university’s screening stage. Scoring below 150 in JAMB, with DELSU selected as the first choice institution, disqualifies a candidate from screening consideration for any course at the university, including Nursing Science.
However, meeting the 150-point baseline does not mean a candidate qualifies for Nursing Science. The 150 mark is simply the university-wide entry threshold; each department then applies its own, much higher, requirement on top of that baseline.
How DELSU Calculates the Nursing Cut Off Mark
DELSU does not rely on a raw JAMB score to rank candidates for competitive courses. Instead, the university uses an aggregate score system that combines a candidate’s JAMB result with their performance during the post-UTME screening process. The formula works as follows:
- JAMB score component: the candidate’s UTME score is divided by 8.
- Post-UTME/screening component: the candidate’s post-UTME or screening score is divided by 2.
- Aggregate score: the two values are added together to produce the final aggregate score used for departmental ranking.
For example, a candidate who scores 240 in JAMB and 70 in the post-UTME screening would have an aggregate score calculated as (240 ÷ 8) + (70 ÷ 2), which equals 30 + 35, giving a final aggregate of 65. This aggregate score, not the raw JAMB figure, is what DELSU compares against the departmental cut off mark for Nursing Science.
It is worth noting that DELSU’s post-UTME process for recent sessions has moved toward a document and score-based screening rather than a written CBT examination, meaning admission decisions increasingly rely on a combination of the JAMB score and verified O’Level results rather than a separate sit-down test. Candidates should always confirm the current screening format on the official DELSU admissions portal, since this detail can change from one session to another.
DELSU Nursing Science Cut Off Mark for 2026/2027
Nursing Science consistently ranks among the highest departmental cut off marks at DELSU, alongside Medicine and Surgery, Dentistry, and Law. Based on the university’s aggregate scoring system, the departmental cut off mark for Nursing Science has recently sat in the range of 70 to 80 points on the aggregate scale described above, placing it firmly among the most competitive courses at the institution.
In terms of a realistic raw JAMB UTME score, candidates aiming for Nursing Science at DELSU should target a score in the region of 220 to 280 or higher, since a strong JAMB score gives more room to work with in the aggregate formula even if the post-UTME screening component is only moderate. Candidates scoring closer to the university’s general 150-point minimum stand very little realistic chance of meeting the Nursing Science aggregate threshold, since the gap between the general baseline and the departmental requirement for Nursing is unusually wide compared to less competitive courses.
The table below summarises how Nursing Science compares to a few other competitive and less competitive departments at DELSU, using the most recent officially reported aggregate cut off figures.
| Course | Typical Aggregate Cut Off Mark | Competitiveness Level |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine and Surgery / Clinical Sciences | Around 80 | Highest at the university |
| Nursing Science | Around 70 – 80 | Very high, among the top courses |
| Law | Around 70 | Very high |
| Pharmacy | Around 66 – 67 | High |
| Medical Laboratory Science | Around 66 | High |
| General/less competitive courses (e.g. Sociology, Economics) | Around 150 (JAMB minimum applies directly) | Lower |
Note that general/less competitive courses at DELSU are often assessed close to the raw JAMB minimum rather than requiring a significantly higher aggregate, which is why the contrast with Nursing Science and the other clinical and health-related courses is so pronounced.
Why Nursing Science Has Such a High Cut Off Mark
Several factors combine to push the DELSU Nursing Science cut off mark well above the general admission baseline:
- High applicant volume relative to available slots: Nursing Science draws one of the largest applicant pools at DELSU every admission cycle, since it leads directly to a licensed, in-demand healthcare profession with strong employment prospects both within Nigeria and internationally.
- Limited departmental capacity: like most health science programmes, Nursing Science requires close clinical supervision, hospital-based practical placements, and a manageable class size for effective hands-on training, which restricts how many students the department can admit each session regardless of how many candidates apply.
- Professional accreditation standards: the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) sets specific standards for practical training ratios and facility capacity, which further limits the number of students DELSU’s Nursing Science department can responsibly admit.
- Indigene quota considerations: as a state university, DELSU reserves a significant proportion of its admission slots for indigenes of Delta State, which affects how competitive the process becomes for non-indigene applicants specifically, sometimes pushing their effective required aggregate even higher than the general departmental figure.
Admission Requirements Beyond the Cut Off Mark
Meeting the Nursing Science cut off mark is only one part of gaining admission. Candidates must also satisfy the following conditions:
- O’Level credit passes: a minimum of five credits in English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, obtained from WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB in not more than two sittings.
- Correct JAMB subject combination: English Language, Biology, Chemistry, and either Physics or Mathematics as the fourth subject, depending on the specific requirement published for the session.
- DELSU selected as first choice institution on JAMB, or a completed change of institution at an accredited JAMB CBT centre before the stated deadline.
- Completion of the DELSU post-UTME/screening process, including uploading verified O’Level results and Direct Entry qualifications, where applicable, to the JAMB CAPS portal.
- Payment of the screening fee, a small non-refundable charge required to process the post-UTME application.
Direct Entry candidates applying for Nursing Science with an A-Level, ND, HND, or IJMB/JUPEB qualification in relevant science subjects follow a separate cut off mark, which recent sessions have placed at around 80 points on DELSU’s Direct Entry aggregate scale, one of the highest Direct Entry requirements in the university alongside Medicine and Surgery.
How to Improve Your Chances for Nursing Science at DELSU
Candidates with a JAMB score below the ideal range for Nursing Science still have a few realistic options to consider:
- Retake JAMB for a stronger score, since a higher UTME score gives significantly more flexibility within the aggregate formula.
- Perform strongly during the post-UTME/screening stage, as this component contributes meaningfully to the final aggregate and can help offset a moderate JAMB score.
- Consider a closely related course as an alternative, such as Medical Laboratory Science or Physiology, which carry slightly lower aggregate cut off marks and may allow an internal departmental change later, subject to DELSU’s transfer policy.
- Apply through Direct Entry if holding a relevant OND, HND, A-Level, or IJMB/JUPEB qualification, since this route follows a separate evaluation process from standard UTME admission.
- Confirm the current session’s exact departmental cut off mark directly on the DELSU admissions portal, since aggregate cut off marks are reviewed and can shift from one admission cycle to the next based on applicant volume and available slots.
FAQs
What is the DELSU general cut off mark for 2026/2027?
The general JAMB minimum for DELSU is 150 points. This qualifies a candidate for screening consideration but does not guarantee admission into competitive departments like Nursing Science.
What aggregate score is needed for Nursing Science at DELSU?
Recent sessions place the Nursing Science aggregate cut off mark in the range of 70 to 80 points, calculated using DELSU’s formula of JAMB score divided by 8, plus post-UTME/screening score divided by 2.
Is DELSU Nursing Science cut off mark different for indigenes and non-indigenes?
Yes, in practice. While the published departmental cut off mark applies broadly, Delta State indigenes benefit from a larger reserved quota, which generally makes the effective competition, and therefore the realistic score needed, lower for indigenes than for non-indigenes applying for the same limited Nursing Science slots.
Does DELSU conduct a written post-UTME exam for Nursing Science?
In recent admission cycles, DELSU has moved toward a document and score-based screening process rather than a written CBT exam, relying on JAMB scores and verified O’Level results. Candidates should confirm the exact screening format for the current session on the official DELSU portal, since this can change.
Can a candidate with a JAMB score below 200 gain admission into DELSU Nursing Science?
It is possible but very unlikely, since Nursing Science consistently ranks among the highest-demand courses at DELSU. Candidates with scores below 200 are strongly advised to consider a related course or apply through Direct Entry if they hold a qualifying credential.