The UNN cut off mark for Library and Information Science for 2026/2027 is 160 in the UTME to apply for screening, provided you chose UNN as your first choice. The University of Nigeria, Nsukka set that minimum in its screening notice of 13 July 2026. UNN has not published a departmental merit or catchment cut-off for Library and Information Science (LIS) for 2026/2027 or 2025/2026, so any “official” LIS score you find on a blog did not come from the university.
2027/2028 update: UNN cut-off marks usually stay the same from one year to the next, so the figures on this page are what 2027/2028 candidates should plan with. They come from the latest official notice (2026/2027). If the 2027/2028 notice changes anything, we will update this page.
The other figure in circulation is 200, UNN’s minimum as reported from the JAMB 2026 policy meeting on 11 May 2026. UNN screened from 160, but its declared benchmark was 200. This guide covers the unusually open LIS subject combination, UNN’s own O’level and Direct Entry remarks, how screening ran, an aggregate example, admission odds, a target score and what the B.L.I.S. at Nsukka involves.
UNN cut off mark for Library and Information Science 2027/2028 at a glance
| Item | 2026/2027 position | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum UTME to apply for UNN screening | 160 | Official (UNN, 13 July 2026) |
| UNN minimum declared at the JAMB policy meeting | 200 | Reported by Vanguard, 11 May 2026 |
| Departmental cut-off for LIS | Not published | No UNN list for 2025/2026 or 2026/2027 |
| UTME subjects | Use of English plus any three subjects | JAMB brochure |
| O’level | Five credits including English Language and Mathematics, plus relevant subjects | JAMB brochure and UNN remark |
| Degree | B.L.I.S. (Bachelor of Library and Information Science) | UNN department page |
| Faculty and campus | Faculty of Education, Nsukka | UNN |
| Screening window | 15 July to 5 August 2026 | Closed |
A reminder on terms. UNN’s general cut-off (160 this session) only lets you into screening. The departmental cut-off is the lowest score UNN actually admits into LIS after ranking applicants, and it is not published. The score targets later on are my advice, clearly marked.
UNN Library and Information Science cut-off history
Only these figures trace back to UNN or JAMB, and none is specific to LIS.
| Session | Figure | What it is | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/2027 | 160 | UTME score needed to apply for UNN screening (UNN as first choice) | Official, UNN Registrar notice of 13 July 2026 |
| 2026/2027 | 200 | Minimum UNN declared at the JAMB 2026 policy meeting | Reported by Vanguard and News Central, 11 May 2026 |
| 2026/2027 | 150 | JAMB national minimum for all universities | Official JAMB policy, May 2026 |
| 2025/2026 | 160 | UTME and screening threshold in UNN’s advert (shopping) notice | Official notice, seen through reprints |
| 2025/2026 | 150 | JAMB national minimum for universities | Official JAMB policy, July 2025 |
| 2025/2026 and 2026/2027 | Not published | Departmental cut-off for this course | UNN has released no departmental list |
One blog, Campuscybercafe, groups all UNN Education courses together with an estimate of 160 to 200 for 2025/2026. It calls the figure an estimate based on trends and does not say whether it means UTME scores or aggregates, so treat it as an unofficial estimate only. UNN itself has never put out a number for LIS that I could find.
JAMB subject combination for Library and Information Science at UNN
LIS has one of the most open combinations in the JAMB brochure: Use of English plus any three subjects. Several universities add their own UTME rules, but the brochure lists no special UTME rule for UNN. Science, Arts and Commercial students can all apply.
| Requirement | What you need for LIS at UNN |
|---|---|
| UTME subjects | Use of English plus any three subjects |
| O’level (JAMB general) | Five credits including English Language and Mathematics, plus three other relevant Arts, Science or Social Science subjects |
| O’level (UNN remark) | Five credits that include the subject to be combined; a Mathematics credit is named for LIS combined with Physics or Economics |
| Direct Entry (UNN remark) | NCE at merit in Library and Information Science (or the combined subject), or HSC/A’level passes in two subjects including the combined subject |
| Minimum UTME to apply | 160, with UNN as first choice |
UNN’s remark in the brochure is written for a combined programme: it talks about “the subject to be combined” with LIS. The department’s own page describes the degree as the B.L.I.S. and does not list combinations. So before you register, check the exact course names JAMB shows under UNN for Library and Information Science. If you see a combined option, your O’level and Direct Entry papers must include that second subject. If you see only Library and Information Science, the general rule applies.
Whatever JAMB shows, I would go in with credits in English Language and Mathematics. LIS work now involves databases, information systems and basic statistics in research projects, and almost every UNN degree expects both credits.
A quick O’level check before you apply
- English Language: credit (C6 or better).
- Mathematics: credit.
- Three more credits in subjects you are strong in (Economics, Government, Literature, CRS, Biology, Physics and Computer Studies all work).
- If JAMB lists a combined option under UNN, a credit in that second subject.
- No more than two sittings, and names on WAEC or NECO must match your JAMB record.
UNN screening for 2027/2028: what Library and Information Science candidates had to do
UNN did not run a written post-UTME test for 2026/2027. The Registrar’s notice of 13 July 2026 described an online screening registration only, with no test date and no exam format. If a website is selling you “UNN post-UTME past questions for 2026/2027” as preparation for Library and Information Science, know that the official notice did not mention any paper.
| Detail | 2026/2027 screening |
|---|---|
| Who could apply | Candidates who chose UNN as first choice in the 2026 UTME and scored 160 or more |
| Opened | Wednesday 15 July 2026 |
| Closed | Midnight, Wednesday 5 August 2026 |
| Fees | ₦2,000 application fee plus ₦3,300 processing fee (₦5,300 in total), paid through Remita |
| O’level upload | To JAMB CAPS and the UNN portal by 5 August 2026 |
| Awaiting results | Not eligible; results had to be out |
| Age | Candidates under 16 by 30 September 2026 were told not to apply |
| Names | Names on WAEC or NECO results must match the names on the JAMB record |
| Uploads | Birth certificate, LGA identification, testimonial, First School Leaving Certificate, JAMB result slip and O’level result(s), each under 100KB |
The portal route was unn.edu.ng, then UNN Portal at the top right (unnportal.unn.edu.ng), then Prospective Students and the 2026/2027 screening form. You entered your JAMB registration number, generated and paid the invoice, came back to fill personal and O’level details (including centre and exam numbers), uploaded your documents, reviewed, submitted and printed the acknowledgement slip. The notice warned that date of birth cannot be changed after submission.
The window is closed. If you did not register by 5 August 2026, UNN cannot consider you for 2026/2027, whatever your score.
How UNN ranks Library and Information Science candidates (aggregate example)
UNN has not published its aggregate formula. Neither the 2026/2027 screening notice nor the 2025/2026 advert notice gives weights or grade points. The 2025/2026 advert notice did refer to a separate screening score with a 160 threshold, but it did not say how that score is worked out.
Several Nigerian education blogs describe the same method, and it is the one you will see most often: 60% of your UTME score plus 40% of an O’level score built from four relevant subjects, where A1 = 100, B2 = 90, B3 = 80, C4 = 70, C5 = 60 and C6 = 50. Treat the example below as an illustration of that blog method. It is not an official UNN formula.
| Step | Working |
|---|---|
| UTME score | 195 |
| O’level: English Language | B3 = 80 |
| O’level: Mathematics | C5 = 60 |
| O’level: Economics | C4 = 70 |
| O’level: Government | B3 = 80 |
| O’level total (out of 400) | 290 |
| 60% of UTME | 195 × 0.6 = 117 |
| 40% of O’level | 290 × 0.4 = 116 |
| Aggregate (out of 400) | 117 + 116 = 233 |
That candidate reaches 233 out of 400 on the blog method. Because the UTME combination is open, UNN has not said which four O’level subjects it counts for LIS; English and Mathematics are the safe bets. Each grade you gain in a counted subject is worth 4 aggregate points, about the same as 7 UTME marks.
Merit, catchment and ELDS for Library and Information Science at UNN
UNN is a federal university, so it works under the federal admission guideline that is widely reported as 45% merit, 35% catchment and 20% educationally less developed states (ELDS). UNN has not published its own split for any course, so read that as the national policy rather than a UNN figure.
- Merit: the top scorers in the course, from any state, fill this list first. It is where the highest cut-off sits.
- Catchment: UNN has not published its catchment list. It is generally understood to be the South-East states; confirm on JAMB CAPS or with the UNN admissions office before you count on it.
- ELDS: this is a federal designation. UNN does not publish its own ELDS list, and I would not rely on any blog that names states “for UNN”.
- State of origin: the state on your JAMB profile is what counts, and UNN asks for an LGA identification letter as proof during screening.
LIS draws candidates from every stream and many states, but its intake is modest. A candidate from the South-East who misses merit still has a chance on catchment. UNN has not said how many LIS places it has for 2026/2027.
How competitive is Library and Information Science at UNN?
LIS is rarely anyone’s first dream course, which works in your favour. The department’s own page says undergraduate enrolment averages 40 to 50 students per class, so the intake is small, but demand is usually lower than for Mass Communication, Law or the social sciences. Many LIS students at UNN come in after missing one of those.
That does not make it automatic. With a 200 benchmark declared at the JAMB meeting and candidates from Arts, Science and Commercial classes all competing for 40 to 50 places, weak O’level grades or a score in the 160s can still leave you out.
What score should you aim for in Library and Information Science at UNN?
My advice (not a UNN figure): aim for 190 or more in the UTME, and 200 or more if your O’level grades are mostly C5 and C6. A South-East candidate from about 175 with good credits can still hope for catchment.
| Your UTME score | My reading for LIS at UNN |
|---|---|
| Below 160 | Not eligible for UNN screening |
| 160 to 174 | Eligible, but far below UNN’s declared 200 benchmark; plan a backup |
| 175 to 189 | Possible on catchment with good grades |
| 190 to 209 | Competitive |
| 210 and above | Strong position |
Step by step: from JAMB profile to resuming for Library and Information Science at UNN
Warning
JAMB’s 2026 policy gives candidates four weeks to accept an admission offer on CAPS. An offer left unaccepted after that can be withdrawn and given to someone else, so check CAPS every few days once UNN starts releasing lists.
- Get or recover your JAMB profile code: text NIN, a space and your 11-digit NIN (for example, NIN 12345678901) to 55019 or 66019 from the phone number linked to your NIN. JAMB replies with your profile code, which you need for registration and other JAMB services.
- Make UNN your first choice: UNN screens only candidates who chose it first. If you are planning for 2027, pick UNN and Library and Information Science at registration so you do not pay for a change of institution later.
- Upload your O’level to CAPS: your WAEC, NECO or NABTEB result has to show on your JAMB profile. For 2026/2027 UNN asked for the upload to CAPS and the UNN portal by 5 August 2026. A JAMB-accredited CBT centre can do the CAPS upload for you.
- Register for UNN screening: when the next notice comes out, fill the form on unnportal.unn.edu.ng, pay through Remita and print your acknowledgement slip.
- Check CAPS: log in at efacility.jamb.gov.ng, click Check Admission Status, then Access My CAPS and Admission Status. On a phone, switch your browser to desktop view first.
- Accept or reject: read the course name carefully, then click Accept. If you see a Transfer Approval, UNN is offering you a different course, and you must respond to that before anything else.
- Print your JAMB admission letter and pay acceptance: after CAPS, pay UNN’s acceptance fee on the UNN portal. Blogs report it as ₦25,000, but I found no official 2026/2027 figure, so confirm the amount on the portal before you pay.
- Clearance: follow your faculty’s clearance instructions with your original documents. Nobody can “secure” a place for you on CAPS for money.
UNN’s homepage already carries 2026/2027 notices for its primary admission list, its Direct Entry list and lists for candidates with disabilities and foreign candidates, and Myschool reported on 25 October 2026 that the list is checkable on CAPS. JAMB also told public universities to conclude 2026 admissions by 31 October 2026. Our JAMB CAPS guide explains every status message you may see.
Studying Library and Information Science at UNN
The department sits in the Faculty of Education on the Nsukka campus. Its own history page says it was created in 1983 as the Department of Library Science, and its foundation class of 18 undergraduates graduated in 1987. The degree title changed over the years from B.A.L.S. and B.Sc.L.S. to the current B.L.I.S. The National Universities Commission accredited the undergraduate programme in 1999 and again in 2006; the page does not give a more recent result, so ask the department about the latest NUC accreditation. Master’s and PhD programmes started in 1995, and the department also runs a Postgraduate Diploma and sandwich programmes.
A department created in 1983 that produced its first graduates in 1987 fits a four-year degree for UTME entrants, though the page does not state the length directly. Confirm with the department.
What the course involves
- Practical training on campus: students train in the Nnamdi Azikiwe Library, UNN’s main library, and in the smaller Children’s Centre Library.
- Industrial training: undergraduates do a six-month internship under SIWES.
- Assessment: continuous assessment counts for at least 30 per cent of each course’s final grade.
- Project: every undergraduate completes a research project to graduate.
- Outreach: the department has supported library services in schools and the local prison, and the Children’s Centre Library serves children from nearby communities.
Typical LIS topics include cataloguing and classification, collection development, reference and information services, school and public libraries, records and archives management, information retrieval, library automation and digital libraries, and research methods. The department also publishes a journal, the Global Review of Library and Information Science.
Careers after LIS
Graduates work as librarians in universities, schools, public libraries and research institutes; as records and archives officers in government, banks, hospitals and law firms; as information officers and documentalists in companies and NGOs; and in publishing, bookselling and digital content management. To practise as a professional librarian in Nigeria you also register with the Librarians’ Registration Council of Nigeria (LRCN), so ask the department how graduates complete that step.
Related UNN courses: UNN Education Arts, UNN Computer and Robotics Education, UNN Educational Foundations and UNN Mass Communication.
Common mistakes LIS applicants make
- Ignoring a combined option: if JAMB lists LIS with a second subject under UNN, you need an O’level credit in that subject.
- No credit in Mathematics: the general rule needs it, even though the UTME is open.
- Choosing UNN second: UNN screens first-choice candidates only.
- Late O’level upload: without your result on CAPS, UNN cannot process your admission.
- Treating 160 as the target: it only gets you into screening.
UNN cut off mark for Library and Information Science: frequently asked questions
Is 180 enough for Library and Information Science in UNN? It clears the 160 screening minimum but sits below UNN’s declared 200 benchmark. With strong O’level credits it can work on the catchment list; 190 or more is safer.
Can a science student study Library and Information Science in UNN? Yes. JAMB asks for Use of English plus any three subjects, so Science, Arts and Commercial students can all apply.
Is Library and Information Science in UNN accredited? The department says NUC accredited its undergraduate programme in 1999 and 2006. Ask the department for the most recent accreditation result.
Can I use awaiting result for UNN Library and Information Science? No. UNN’s 2026/2027 notice said candidates awaiting results were not eligible; results had to be out and uploaded by 5 August 2026.
Sources and updates
The 160 minimum, screening dates, fees, eligibility rules and portal steps come from the UNN Registrar’s notice 2026/2027 Screening Exercise for Admission of 13 July 2026. The reported 200 comes from Vanguard’s 11 May 2026 report on the JAMB policy meeting (via AllAfrica), and the national 150 minimum, the 31 October admission deadline and the four-week CAPS acceptance window come from the News Agency of Nigeria. The 2025/2026 figure of 160 and the vacancy counts come from reprints of UNN’s October 2025 advert notice. The UTME combination, JAMB’s general O’level rule and UNN’s O’level and Direct Entry remarks come from Myschool’s reprint of the JAMB brochure entry for Library and Information Science. The department’s history, B.L.I.S. title, accreditation years, class size and training details come from the department’s page on the UNN Faculty of Education website (education.unn.edu.ng). The 160 to 200 range for Education courses is an unofficial blog estimate. JAMB’s IBASS brochure could not be opened, so confirm on your JAMB profile. The 45/35/20 quota is national policy, not a UNN figure. The aggregate method is a blog method, and the ₦25,000 acceptance fee is an unofficial report. Checked on 29 October 2026.
I am Jude Chinecherem, a final-year MBBS student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I know what it feels like to want an education your family cannot afford. When my parents could not pay for my schooling, I had to learn how to find scholarships and work the system out on my own, with nobody to guide me. I came out the other side, and now I share everything I learned so the next student does not have to figure it out alone. This is the advice I wish someone had given me back then.
