Studying medicine and surgery in Nigeria demands hard work and high scores.
Federal universities base admission on JAMB UTME scores, post-UTME screening, and O’Level results.
JAMB sets a minimum UTME of 140 for universities, but medicine usually needs much higher scores.
This article highlights federal universities offering Medicine & Surgery and their recent cut‑off marks.
What is the JAMB minimum UTME cut‑off for medicine and surgery?
JAMB sets the national minimum UTME score at 140 for university entry. This is the baseline.
However, federal universities often set much higher cut‑off marks for Medicine & Surgery due to the high competition.
Which federal universities offer Medicine & Surgery and what are their 2023/24 cut‑off marks?
Below are some federal universities with known cut‑off marks for the 2023/24 session:
- University of Lagos (UNILAG): MBBS cut‑off was 84.675% aggregate (UTME + Post‑UTME + O’Level).
- University of Ibadan (UI): Aggregate mark was 79%.
- University of Benin (UNIBEN): Requires UTME ≥200 to qualify for post‑UTME, final cut‑off unpublished.
- University of Ilorin (UNILORIN): UTME ≥180 to access post‑UTME; final threshold not public.
- University of Jos (UNIJOS): UTME ≥180.
- Usman Danfodiyo University Sokoto: 2022/23 cut‑off was 290 aggregate.
- Federal University Lokoja: Required ≥70% of UTME score.
- Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK): Aggregate cut‑off was 310.5
These figures vary in basis (some aggregate scores, others UTME only), and updates for 2024/25 may change.
What are the cut‑off marks for newer federal universities?
For AE‑FUNAI (Ebonyi), a UTME score of 220 or more is required for Medicine & Surgery.
Other newer institutions like the Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare also offer MBBS, but current cut‑offs are not widely published.
How did UNIABUJA set its cut‑off for Medicine & Surgery?
According to admissions info, the University of Abuja sets UTME ≥250 for Medicine & Surgery.
The general cut‑off for other courses is 180, but medicine requires a much higher score.
Why do cut‑off marks vary across federal universities?
Each university decides its cut‑off based on:
- Candidate pool strength that year.
- Faculty capacity and federal quota.
- Performance in Post‑UTME and O’Levels.
Thus, while UNILAG and UI use aggregate marks, others list only UTME thresholds.
How much does competition affect admission into Medicine & Surgery?
Medicine is Nigeria’s most competitive course. Even if you score 250 in UTME (above the JAMB minimum), it may not guarantee admission, especially in top schools like UNILAG or UI, where aggregate cut‑offs are very high (80%+).
Strong WAEC/NECO results and post-UTME performance are vital.
What steps can students take to improve their chances? (H2)
- Aim for high UTME: 250+ gives entry to many schools; 280+ improves chances in top institutions.
- Score high in WAEC/NECO: Strong O’Level grades support your aggregate.
- Prepare for Post‑UTME: Know each school’s format.
- Apply strategically: Use past cut‑off data to choose universities in reach.
How often do universities publish medicine cut‑off marks? (H2)
Most federal universities publish cut-offs when selling post-UTME forms. Some list UTME-only benchmarks, others full aggregates.
For 2023/24, many have not yet released updated marks for the next admission cycle