The University Of Ibadan (UI) has released its cut off marks for the 2025/2026 academic session. According to the university’s admission requirements, candidates seeking admission into UI must have a UTME score of 200 or higher.
What are Cut-Off Marks and Why They Matter?
A cut-off mark is the minimum score you need to either move to the next stage of the admission process or stand a real chance of getting admitted. It is the pass mark which determines your chances of being admitted into the university.
There are three major types you need to know:
JAMB UTME Cut-Off Mark: This is the score set by JAMB and the University of Ibadan (UI) to determine who’s eligible to register for the Post-UTME screening. If you don’t meet it, you won’t even be allowed to apply.
Departmental Cut-Off Mark: Once you’ve registered, each department sets its own cut-off based on competition and available slots. This score is what actually decides whether you’ll be admitted into your course of choice.
Aggregate Cut-Off Mark: This is a combination of your UTME and Post-UTME scores. It’s used to rank candidates, especially for hotcake courses like Medicine, Law, or Engineering where every point counts.
Bottom line: The higher your scores, the better your chances. Meeting the general cut-off is just the first step. To secure admission, especially into competitive courses, you need to aim higher than just the minimum.
University Of Ibadan’s General UTME Cut-Off
The UTME general cut-off mark for University Of Ibadan for the 2025/2026 academic session:
- The general cut-off mark for most programs is 200.
- A few sites mention 180, but this seems less authoritative and likely outdated or mistaken.
A UTME score of at least 200 is required to even apply for UI’s Post-UTME this year.
University Of Ibadan (UI) Cut-Off Marks For Various Courses
Here’s a breakdown of the cut off marks for various courses:
Faculty of Agriculture
Agricultural Economics: 200
Agricultural Extension and Rural Development: 200
Agronomy: 200
Animal Science: 200
Crop Protection and Environmental Biology: 200
Faculty of Sciences
Archeology – 200
Biochemistry – 200
Botany – 200
Chemistry – 200
Computer Science – 230
Geography – 200
Geology – 200
Mathematics – 200
Microbiology – 220
Physics – 200
Statistics – 200
Zoology – 200
Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences
Biochemistry – 220
Human Nutrition – 220
Physiology – 220
Faculty of Agriculture
Agricultural Extension – 200
Agricultural Economics – 200
Agronomy – 200
Animal Science – 200
Crop Protection – 200
College of Medicine
For top-tier medical programs like Medicine and Surgery, Dentistry, Nursing, Physiotherapy, and Medical Laboratory Science, the bar is higher 230 to 250 is the standard cut-off range.
Faculty of Social Sciences
If you’re aiming for Economics, Political Science, or Psychology, you’ll need at least 220 in JAMB.
Less competitive programs like Geography require 200.
Faculty of Education
Education courses across the board, including Library Studies, Human Kinetics, and Educational Management, have a general cut-off mark of 200. These programs are more accessible for a wider range of candidates.
Faculty of Technology
Engineering courses like Mechanical, Electrical, Petroleum, and Civil Engineering are quite competitive, with a cut-off of 220.
Other options like Agricultural Engineering and Food Technology require at least 200.
What Are Catchment Area and ELDS Cut-Offs?
Aside from general merit-based admission, the University of Ibadan (UI) also considers candidates through special quotas like Catchment Area and ELDS. These are part of Nigeria’s effort to make university education more inclusive and regionally balanced.
Catchment Area Admission
UI gives some admission preference to candidates who come from its catchment states, primarily Oyo State (the university’s location) and other neighboring states.
What this means is that if you’re from one of these states, you may be considered with a slightly lower JAMB score compared to candidates applying purely on merit.
ELDS (Educationally Less Developed States)
ELDS stands for Educationally Less Developed States, mostly from the northern and far-western regions of Nigeria. Students from these states often benefit from an even more relaxed cut-off mark to encourage participation in higher education from underrepresented regions.
How Does This Affect Admission?
Let’s say a course has a merit-based JAMB cut-off of 200. A candidate from an ELDS state may still be considered if they score 180 to 190, depending on the department’s quota.
The actual score adjustment varies by program, so it’s always best to check UI’s official departmental cut-off breakdown for specifics.
Why It Matters
These policies exist to ensure fair access and regional representation across Nigeria’s federal universities. So even if you didn’t score very high, being from a catchment area or an ELDS state might give you a second chance, as long as you meet the basic requirements.
Why Do Cut-Off Marks Vary So Much Across Courses?
Ever wondered why one course requires a 250 JAMB score while another accepts 200? It’s not random, there are several key reasons why cut-off marks differ across departments at the University of Ibadan:
- Course Demand: Some courses are simply more popular. Programs like Medicine, Law, and Pharmacy receive thousands of applications every year, so the competition is fierce. To filter out the best candidates, these departments set higher cut-off marks.
- Limited Admission Slots: Not all programs have the same number of available seats. Some departments, especially professional ones, have fewer spaces, so they raise the bar to control the number of successful applicants.
- Policy Adjustments: UI reviews and adjusts its admission policies from time to time. Factors like application trends, population shifts, and performance in national exams influence how cut-off marks are set in a given year.
- Quota Systems (Catchment & ELDS): To promote diversity and national inclusion, UI uses quota-based policies. Candidates from catchment areas or educationally less developed states (ELDS) may be admitted with slightly lower scores.
How UI Aggregate Score is Being Calculated
UI uses a simple formula that combines your UTME and Post-UTME performance:
- Divide your JAMB score by 8
- Divide your Post-UTME score by 2
- Add both results together
Example Calculation:
- JAMB Score: 280
- Post-UTME Score: 70%
(280 ÷ 8) + (70 ÷ 2) = 35 + 35 = 70%
That’s your aggregate score and it’s what UI will use to compare you against other applicants for your course.
What Determines the Cut-Off Mark for Each Course at UI?
The cut-off mark for each department isn’t picked at random. It’s influenced by a few key factors:
1️. Application Volume (Demand): UI looks at how many people applied to each program in the previous year. Courses that get more applications tend to have higher cut-off marks, while less competitive courses may have lower requirements.
2️ Available Admission Slots: The number of seats available in each program, approved by the National Universities Commission (NUC), also plays a role. If a department has limited spaces, they’ll naturally raise the bar to admit only the top scorers.
3️. Previous Year’s Performance: UI also considers how well candidates performed in a particular course the year before. If most applicants didn’t do well, the department might moderate the cut-off the following year to match performance trends.
4️. Labour Market Demand: Believe it or not, the university also looks at which sectors need more skilled graduates. If there’s a shortage of professionals in a certain field, the cut-off mark for that program might be slightly lowered to encourage more admissions into that area.
Are High Cut-Off Marks Always Better?
People often assume that a course with a high cut-off mark is better than one with a lower one, but that’s not always true. High cut-offs often just mean the course is more competitive, not necessarily more valuable.
The most important thing is:
- Your personal interest in the course
- Your academic strength in the subject area
- The career opportunities it offers after graduation
Don’t chase high cut-off courses just because they sound prestigious. Choose a course that fits you and gives you room to excel.
Final Thought for UI Aspirants
If you’re aiming for the University of Ibadan, don’t let the cut-off marks overwhelm you. See them as goals to reach, not barriers to stop you.
A UTME score of 210 might not look extraordinary on paper, but with strong Post-UTME performance and a clear understanding of how your department calculates scores, you still stand a real chance.
Admission isn’t just about hitting numbers, it’s about playing smart. Stay consistent, keep learning, and stay informed. The more you know, the better your decisions.
Prepare like someone who’s already admitted. Study past questions, focus on your strengths, and don’t leave anything to chance. And if your course says “240 or 70%,” aim higher, go for 270 and 80%. That extra effort is often what sets you apart.
