Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile‑Ife, maintains one of the toughest admission standards in Nigeria.
For 2025/2026, the university confirmed a general UTME cut‑off of 200—meaning no applicant with less than that score can register for post-UTME.
But meeting 200 in UTME is just the baseline; each department sets its own higher aggregate cut‑off, typically combining UTME score, Post‑UTME performance, and O’Level results.
These departmental thresholds vary widely, ranging from 200 in less competitive courses to nearly 300 in highly sought programs like Law and Medicine.
What is the departmental cut‑off for Medicine and Surgery at OAU?
Medicine and Surgery at OAU is the most competitive program, with a cut‑off of 287 in 2024/25.
That means candidates needed well over 270 in UTME and top post-UTME performance to qualify.
The university’s strict aggregate system ensures that only the highest‑scoring applicants are considered.
Historically, OAU’s Medicine intake demands such high levels of academic readiness that even a strong UTME score might fall short if post-UTME or O’Level results are less than stellar.
How high are the cut‑offs for other high-demand programs like Law, Pharmacy, and Nursing?
Law has the next highest threshold with a cut‑off of 291.5, an exceptionally tough line, even higher than Medicine.
Pharmacy and Dentistry also rank highly, at 256.5 and 260 respectively. Nursing Science saw a cut‑off of 256–249.5 similarly.
These high values indicate that the university targets only top performers in medical and legal professions, consistent with its tradition and the demands of these disciplines.
How competitive is Engineering and Computing at OAU?
Departments like Civil Engineering (259), Mechanical Engineering (266), Electrical & Electronics Engineering (268), and Chemical Engineering (272) reflect high competitiveness in OAU’s Faculty of Technology.
Computer Science and related programmes, such as Computational Mathematics (250) and Computer Engineering (250), also have elevated cut‑offs.
These reflect intense demand, driven by the global appeal of engineering and computing disciplines, and are given equally stringent standards to ensure only the best candidates advance.
What cut‑off marks apply to faculties like Arts, Social Sciences, and Science?
Courses in Arts and Social Sciences have varied thresholds. For instance, Economics (271.5), Political Science (268), and English (270.5) all required high aggregates.
Meanwhile, others like History (207), Geography (213), Fine Arts (200), and Sociology & Anthropology (242.5) also reflect strong competition, though slightly lower.
In pure sciences, moderate-demand courses like Biochemistry, Botany, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, Microbiology, and Physics all had a baseline cut‑off of 200 .
How are OAU’s department cut‑offs calculated?
OAU applies a weighted aggregate score system to ensure consistency across candidates.
While the general UTME cut‑off is 200, each department demands a specific aggregate computed using UTME, Post‑UTME, and O’Level results.
This means even candidates with UTME scores over 270 must maintain strong post‑UTME and O’Level results.
Departments then set a departmental cut‑off based on the last admission lists from the previous year, ensuring current candidates meet or exceed that threshold.
This system reflects fairness and meritocracy, ensuring only the best-rounded students succeed.
How should prospective students use these cut‑offs to plan their applications?
Candidates should first identify their preferred course’s departmental cut‑off, then work backward, set a UTME target, and aim high in Post‑UTME to exceed that threshold.
For example, apply to Medicine with ≥ 270 UTME and ≥ 80% in Post‑UTME; apply to Engineering or Computing with ≥ 250 UTME and strong internal screening; or Arts and Social Sciences with ≥ 210–270 UTME depending on competitiveness.
Meeting the general cut‑off of 200 is not enough.
Candidates need focused preparation based on the department’s benchmark, balancing subject proficiency and consistent academic performance.
What other factors influence final admission beyond cut‑off marks?
Even after meeting departmental cut‑offs, admission depends on the overall ranking, available slots, and the candidate’s timing .
OAU often admits top-ranked candidates early in its screening window.
It also differentiates between professional and non-professional tracks: Medicine, Law, Pharmacy, Engineering, etc., have separate quotas from Arts or Social Sciences.
If a course is highly competitive, only the highest-ranked candidates are offered admission, and waiting lists are common.
Therefore, even meeting the cut‑off does not guarantee admission unless all other elements O’Level, UTME, Post‑UTME, are strong and timely.