Zamfara State University (ZAMSUT) sets a higher UTME cut-off mark for Nursing Science than most other courses on its list, and the exact score a candidate needs depends on which of the university’s three admission categories their state of origin falls under. For the current admission cycle, ZAMSUT requires a minimum UTME score of 170 for candidates from catchment states, 190 for candidates from Educationally Less Developed States (ELDS), and 200 for candidates applying under the merit category.
This article explains what these cut-off figures mean, how ZAMSUT groups states into the three admission categories, what else affects a candidate’s chances beyond the UTME score, and what a Nursing Science aspirant needs to do after meeting the cut-off.
ZAMSUT Cut Off Mark for Nursing Science by Category
Unlike many Nigerian universities that publish a single cut-off mark for every course, ZAMSUT structures its admission requirements around three separate categories based on a candidate’s state of origin: Catchment, ELDS, and Merit. Nursing Science is one of the more competitive courses at the university, sitting among the highest cut-off requirements alongside Public Health and Physiotherapy.
| Category | Nursing Science Cut-Off Mark |
|---|---|
| Catchment | 170 |
| ELDS (Educationally Less Developed States) | 190 |
| Merit | 200 |
A score of 170 is the minimum a candidate from a catchment state needs to be considered for Nursing Science, while a candidate applying under the merit category needs the maximum possible UTME score of 200 to stand a realistic chance. This wide gap between categories exists because ZAMSUT, like other Nigerian state universities, prioritises access for indigenes of its own state and neighbouring catchment states before opening remaining spaces to candidates from further afield.
Understanding ZAMSUT’s Three Admission Categories
To know which cut-off mark applies to a Nursing Science applicant, a candidate first needs to identify which category their state of origin falls into. ZAMSUT groups all 36 states and the FCT into three groups for admission purposes.
Catchment states are those geographically and administratively closest to Zamfara State, and candidates from these states benefit from the lowest cut-off mark. The catchment states are Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Kaduna, and Niger.
ELDS states, short for Educationally Less Developed States, are states the Federal Government has classified as needing additional support to boost access to higher education. Candidates from ELDS states pay a middle-tier cut-off mark, higher than catchment but lower than merit. The ELDS states are FCT, Bauchi, Gombe, Taraba, Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Akwa Ibom, Plateau, and Nasarawa.
Merit states cover the remaining states, generally those with a higher concentration of candidates applying nationally, and this category attracts the highest cut-off mark. The merit states are Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Ekiti, Lagos, Abia, Anambra, Enugu, Imo, Edo, Delta, Rivers, and Cross River.
A candidate should match their state of origin, not their current residence or the state where they attended secondary school, to the correct category before comparing their UTME score against the Nursing Science cut-off.
Why Nursing Science Has a Higher Cut-Off Than Most Courses
Nursing Science sits among ZAMSUT’s most competitive programmes, alongside Public Health, Physiotherapy, and Human Nutrition and Dietetics, all of which require a UTME score of at least 160 even under the catchment category. By comparison, many arts and education-based courses at ZAMSUT admit candidates from as low as 150 under catchment. This pattern reflects the level of demand for health-related courses among Nigerian UTME candidates generally, combined with the limited number of admission slots the university’s Faculty of Medical Sciences can accommodate each session due to the clinical placement and laboratory capacity needed to train nursing students properly.
Candidates aiming for Nursing Science at ZAMSUT should treat it as a competitive course requiring a strong UTME score, rather than assuming the general university-wide minimum of 150 set by JAMB will be enough for this specific programme.
What Else Affects Admission Besides the Cut-Off Mark
Meeting the published cut-off mark makes a candidate eligible to be considered for admission, but it does not guarantee a Nursing Science slot on its own. Several other factors determine whether a candidate who meets the cut-off actually receives an admission offer.
- First-choice status – ZAMSUT generally gives priority to candidates who selected the university as their first choice during JAMB registration, so candidates who chose ZAMSUT as a second choice may find it harder to secure admission even with a qualifying score.
- O’Level results – Candidates need the required O’Level credits, typically including English Language, Mathematics, Biology, and Chemistry, and the quality of these results factors into the overall screening alongside the UTME score.
- Post-UTME/screening performance – ZAMSUT conducts its own Post-UTME screening exercise, and performance in this exercise is combined with the UTME score to produce a final admission ranking.
- Available slots – Because Nursing Science has a limited number of seats each session due to clinical training capacity, meeting the cut-off mark places a candidate in the pool of eligible applicants, but final admission still depends on how the candidate ranks against others competing for the same limited slots.
Candidates who meet the cut-off mark but are not offered admission in the first round should watch for supplementary admission lists, since universities sometimes release additional batches of offers if earlier admitted candidates fail to accept their offers within the given deadline.
JAMB Subject Combination and O’Level Requirements for Nursing Science
Before checking the cut-off mark, a candidate must also confirm they meet the subject-level requirements for Nursing Science at ZAMSUT. The standard UTME subject combination for Nursing Science includes English Language, Biology, Chemistry, and one other science subject, typically Physics. At O’Level, candidates need a minimum of five credit passes in relevant subjects, which generally include English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, obtained from WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB in not more than two sittings.
Meeting the cut-off mark without satisfying these subject-combination and O’Level requirements will still result in disqualification during screening, so candidates should treat the UTME score and the subject requirements as two separate conditions that must both be satisfied.
Steps to Take After Meeting the ZAMSUT Nursing Cut-Off Mark
- Confirm that ZAMSUT is selected as the first-choice institution on the JAMB UTME registration portal, since this affects eligibility for admission consideration.
- Verify that the O’Level subject combination and credit requirements for Nursing Science are fully met before proceeding, correcting any outstanding O’Level results through WAEC or NECO if necessary.
- Watch for the release of the ZAMSUT Post-UTME/screening exercise announcement and register
promptly once the exercise opens.
- Attend the screening exercise with all required documents, including the UTME result slip, O’Level result(s), and any other credentials the university specifies.
- Monitor the ZAMSUT admission portal and the JAMB Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) regularly for updates on the admission list, since offers are typically released in batches rather than all at once.
- Accept the admission offer promptly through JAMB CAPS once released, as failure to accept within the stipulated window can result in the offer being withdrawn and passed to the next eligible candidate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ZAMSUT cut-off mark for Nursing Science?
It ranges from 170 for candidates from catchment states, to 190 for candidates from ELDS states, up to 200 for candidates under the merit category.
Is 150 enough to study Nursing Science at ZAMSUT?
No. While 150 is the general JAMB minimum for university admission, ZAMSUT requires a considerably higher score specifically for Nursing Science, starting from 170 even under the most favourable catchment category.
Does state of origin affect the cut-off mark for Nursing Science?
Yes. ZAMSUT groups all states into Catchment, ELDS, and Merit categories, and the required Nursing Science cut-off mark increases as a candidate’s state moves further from the catchment group.
Does meeting the cut-off mark guarantee admission into Nursing Science?
No. Meeting the cut-off mark only makes a candidate eligible for consideration. Final admission also depends on O’Level results, Post-UTME screening performance, first-choice status, and the number of available slots.
Which other ZAMSUT courses have a similar cut-off mark to Nursing Science?
Public Health and Physiotherapy carry closely comparable cut-off marks to Nursing Science across all three categories, reflecting similar demand and limited admission slots in the Faculty of Medical Sciences.