The ESUT cut off mark for Human Nutrition and Dietetics for 2026/2027 is 160 in the 2026 UTME. That is the lowest score Enugu State University of Science and Technology accepted for screening into the course this session. ESUT’s Post-UTME advert of 4 July 2026 does not name Human Nutrition and Dietetics in its higher score bands, so the course falls under the line for “other courses” at 160.
2027/2028 update: ESUT 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.
160 only gets you through the door. It is the minimum to apply, not the score that wins a place, and ESUT does not publish the final admission (merit) score for any course. Below are the official figures, the course’s short cut-off history, a safe target score marked as my advice, the JAMB subject combination and O’level rules, how ESUT’s online screening works, the CAPS steps, and what you will study in the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences.
ESUT cut off mark for Human Nutrition and Dietetics 2027/2028 at a glance
| Item | 2026/2027 position | Status |
|---|---|---|
| JAMB national minimum for universities | 150 | Official (JAMB policy meeting, 11 May 2026) |
| ESUT minimum UTME for Human Nutrition and Dietetics | 160 | Official (ESUT Post-UTME advert, 4 July 2026) |
| ESUT final admission (merit) score for the course | Not published | ESUT does not release one |
| Post-UTME test | None | Online screening only |
| Screening fee | ₦2,000 | Official |
| Faculty | Allied Health Sciences | ESUT advert |
| UTME subjects | English, Biology, Chemistry, Physics | JAMB brochure general entry |
| Admission list | On JAMB CAPS from 13 October 2026 | Myschool report |
Keep two numbers apart. The minimum UTME score (160 here) is a gate: below it ESUT will not screen you for this course. The merit score is the lowest score that actually got admitted, and it depends on how many people applied and how they scored. ESUT sets the first in its advert and keeps the second to itself.
Human Nutrition and Dietetics cut-off history at ESUT
| Session | Figure | What it is | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/2027 | 160 | Minimum UTME to apply (“other courses” band) | Official ESUT advert |
| 2025/2026 | 160 | Minimum UTME to apply (“Others” band) | Previous year, from a blog summary of ESUT’s notice |
| 2024/2025 | 180 | Minimum UTME for the special intake into newly approved courses | Previous year, Myschool report of ESUT’s notice (January 2025) |
Human Nutrition and Dietetics is a young programme at ESUT. In January 2025, Myschool reported that ESUT had invited applications into four courses newly approved by the National Universities Commission: Radiography, Public Health, Human Nutrition and Dietetics, and Biomedical Engineering. For that first intake, Nutrition and Dietetics needed 180 and the three UTME sciences (Physics, Chemistry and Biology). The figure has since sat at 160 in the general band. These minimums move each year, so treat the older rows as history, not as this year’s rule.
I found no figure for this course on the blog lists that quote high “ESUT cut-offs” for Medicine or Pharmacy, and no departmental merit list from ESUT for any year. If someone tells you a precise merit score for ESUT Nutrition, ask them for the ESUT document.
Safe target score for Human Nutrition and Dietetics at ESUT (my advice)
This section is my advice, not an ESUT rule. With no published merit figures, I am reasoning from the course’s place in the faculty: it draws fewer applicants than Nursing, Pharmacy or Medical Laboratory Science, but candidates who miss those courses often look at it next, which pushes the real competition above 160.
| Your 2026 UTME score | My read for ESUT Human Nutrition and Dietetics |
|---|---|
| 160 to 179 | Eligible for screening, but you are relying on few strong applicants that year. |
| 180 to 199 | A fair chance, better with good O’level grades in Biology and Chemistry. |
| 200 to 219 | A good chance in most years. |
| 220 and above | Comfortable. This is the score I would aim for. |
For a 2027 attempt, my safe target is 220 or more in the UTME, with credits (better still, B grades) in all five O’level subjects. Above 240 you meet ESUT’s minimum for Nursing too, so decide early which course you really want.
Catchment and state of origin
ESUT does not publish a catchment list. It is owned by the Enugu State Government, so Enugu indigenes are its primary catchment, but it admits candidates from every state. The 45% merit, 35% catchment and 20% ELDS split you may read about is a federal university policy; ESUT has not said it uses it. Plan to win your place on score.
JAMB subject combination and O’level requirements for ESUT Human Nutrition and Dietetics
| Requirement | Human Nutrition and Dietetics |
|---|---|
| UTME subjects | Use of English, Biology, Chemistry, Physics |
| O’level | Five credits: English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics |
| Sittings | Not stated in ESUT’s advert; most universities allow up to two. Confirm on JAMB’s e-brochure |
| Direct Entry | Two A’level passes from Chemistry, Biology and Physics, plus the O’level requirements |
| Special requirements | None published by ESUT (no interview or portfolio) |
These are the general requirements in the JAMB brochure entry for Human Nutrition and Dietetics (Myschool reprint, checked 29 October 2026). That entry carries special remarks for only two universities, and ESUT is not one of them, so the general rule applies to ESUT unless JAMB’s current e-brochure says otherwise. Some guides say Mathematics can replace Physics in the UTME for this course. The brochure’s general entry lists Physics, and ESUT’s 2024/2025 intake notice also asked for Physics, Chemistry and Biology, so I would not take Mathematics in its place.
Mathematics is still needed at O’level even though it is not a UTME subject here. A missing Mathematics or Physics credit is one of the most common reasons science candidates are dropped at screening.
How ESUT screening works for Human Nutrition and Dietetics
The 2026/2027 screening ran on ESUT’s portal under the terms below, taken from the official advert.
| Detail | ESUT 2026/2027 screening |
|---|---|
| Who could apply | Candidates who chose ESUT in the 2026 UTME, and candidates who did not choose ESUT but changed institution to ESUT through JAMB first |
| Score needed | The minimum UTME score ESUT set for the course (see the table above) |
| Direct Entry | Screened online too; former institutions must verify and clear DE candidates on JAMB e-facility |
| Registration window | Tuesday 7 July to Saturday 15 August 2026 (closed) |
| Fee | ₦2,000, paid at a bank through Enugu State IGR Pay Direct or online by debit card |
| Test | None. Screening is online only, with no physical screening and no aptitude test |
| Awaiting results | Allowed for May/June 2026 WAEC, NECO and NABTEB, but results released after 30 September 2026 are not accepted |
| O’level upload | Every candidate must upload O’level results on JAMB CAPS |
| Names | Must match on your O’level certificates, UTME result and other documents |
| Admission status | Published on the ESUT portal and JAMB CAPS |
ESUT has not published an aggregate formula. The 2026/2027 advert sets a minimum UTME score per course and an online screening with no test, and it says nothing about weights or O’level grade points. So the only arithmetic you can do with official figures is to check how far you are above your course’s minimum. Some blogs quote a Post-UTME percentage for ESUT; that cannot be right for 2026/2027, because there was no Post-UTME test to score.
Worked example for a Human Nutrition and Dietetics candidate
Take Chiamaka, who scored 205 in the 2026 UTME and has A1, B2, B3, B3 and C4 in her five O’level subjects.
- Eligibility check (official): 205 minus the 160 minimum = 45 marks above the line. She can be screened.
- UTME half (illustrative method): 205 ÷ 8 = 25.63 out of 50.
- O’level half (illustrative method): 10 + 9 + 8 + 8 + 7 = 42 out of 50.
- Illustrative total: 25.63 + 42 = 67.63 out of 100.
Her friend Ngozi scored 190 with A1, A1, B2, B2 and B3. Under the same illustrative method she gets 23.75 + 46 = 69.75, ahead of Chiamaka with 15 fewer JAMB marks. If ESUT ranks by UTME alone, Chiamaka is ahead instead. ESUT has not said which applies, which is why I tell candidates to push both their UTME score and their O’level grades.
To see why your O’level grades can still matter, here is a method some other Nigerian universities use: half the aggregate from the UTME (your score divided by 8, out of 50) and half from five O’level subjects (A1 = 10, B2 = 9, B3 = 8, C4 = 7, C5 = 6, C6 = 5, out of 50). ESUT has not published this or any other formula. I use it only to compare two candidates, never to predict an ESUT cut-off.
How to apply for Human Nutrition and Dietetics at ESUT, step by step
- Get 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 the profile code you need to buy the UTME form.
- Register the UTME with the right subjects: pick Use of English, Biology, Chemistry and Physics and choose ESUT and Human Nutrition and Dietetics. ESUT’s 2026 advert also let candidates who chose another school apply after a JAMB change of institution, but choosing ESUT from the start saves you that step and its cost.
- Upload your O’level to CAPS: once your WAEC, NECO or NABTEB result is out, have it uploaded to your JAMB profile at an accredited CBT centre or JAMB office. ESUT’s advert makes this compulsory for every candidate, and a result that is missing on CAPS can hold your admission back even after ESUT picks you.
- Open the ESUT screening form: go to portal.esut.edu.ng, select the session, and under Regular Students open the Admission Screening Registration for that session (Direct Entry has its own form). Enter your JAMB registration number and fill the details form to generate an invoice.
- Pay ₦2,000: pay at a commercial bank through Enugu State IGR Pay Direct with the printed invoice and its reference number, or pay online with a debit card.
- Finish and print: return to the portal, re-enter your JAMB registration number, complete the form, confirm and submit, then print the acknowledgement slip. ESUT warns that false information leads to disqualification.
- Check and accept on CAPS: log in at efacility.jamb.gov.ng, choose Check Admission Status, then Access my CAPS and Admission Status. If ESUT has offered you Human Nutrition and Dietetics, accept it, then print your JAMB admission letter.
- Pay the acceptance fee on the ESUT portal: blogs report ESUT’s acceptance fee at about ₦26,000 (₦26,100 in some reports). ESUT’s 2026/2027 notices I checked do not state it, so confirm the amount on the portal before you pay, and keep the receipt for clearance.
Warning
Paying ESUT’s acceptance fee does not accept your JAMB offer. Accept the admission on JAMB CAPS first, because an offer left unaccepted on CAPS can be withdrawn, and ESUT cannot register you without it.
The 2026/2027 admission list went up on JAMB CAPS on 13 October 2026, according to Myschool. JAMB gave candidates four weeks to accept offers and told public universities to finish admissions by 31 October 2026. Myschool also reported on 28 October 2026 that ESUT had opened change of course and transfer forms for 2026/2027; I have not seen the terms, so check the ESUT portal if you were offered a different course.
If a CAPS status confuses you, our JAMB CAPS guide explains each one. Candidates who chose another school can read the JAMB change of institution guide, and if you plan to sit the UTME again, start with when JAMB 2027 registration starts.
Studying Human Nutrition and Dietetics at ESUT
The course sits in ESUT’s Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, beside Nursing, Medical Laboratory Science, Radiography, Public Health, Optometry and Physiotherapy. ESUT’s main campus is at Agbani; its medical and health programmes are linked to the College of Medicine and ESUT Teaching Hospital, Parklane, Enugu. ESUT has not said on the pages I checked where this department’s lectures hold, so ask at clearance. In most Nigerian universities the B.Sc. in Human Nutrition and Dietetics takes five years for UTME entrants; check ESUT’s handbook for the exact length.
- Basic sciences first: chemistry, biology, biochemistry and physiology in the early years.
- Nutrition science: how the body uses carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals, and what happens in deficiency.
- Clinical dietetics: diet therapy for diabetes, kidney disease, hypertension and malnutrition in children.
- Community and public health nutrition: surveys, growth monitoring, food security and nutrition education.
- Food science and meal planning: food composition, preparation and hospital food service.
- Hospital placement and a final-year project.
Accreditation: ESUT reported full NUC accreditation for programmes in several faculties after the 2024 exercise, but that report names Law, Engineering, Sciences, Environmental Science, Education and Administration, not Allied Health. Human Nutrition and Dietetics was newly approved for the 2024/2025 intake, and I found no accreditation result for it. Ask the department about NUC accreditation and about the internship and professional registration its graduates go on to before you accept.
Career paths after Human Nutrition and Dietetics
- Hospital dietitian, planning therapeutic diets after internship and registration.
- Community and public health nutrition with state primary health care agencies, NGOs and international health programmes.
- Food industry roles in product development, quality control and nutrition labelling.
- Sports, wellness and private nutrition counselling.
- Teaching and research after a master’s degree.
Related ESUT courses with the same UTME subjects:
- ESUT Public Health cut-off mark
- ESUT cut-off mark for Nursing Science
- ESUT Food Science and Technology cut-off mark
- ESUT cut-off mark for Medical Laboratory Science
For the UTME itself, our JAMB Biology syllabus and JAMB Chemistry syllabus show what to revise.
Mistakes Nutrition and Dietetics applicants make
- Taking Mathematics instead of Physics in the UTME: the brochure’s general entry lists Physics.
- Treating 160 as the admission score: it is only the minimum to apply.
- Leaving O’level off CAPS: ESUT’s advert makes the upload compulsory.
- Names that don’t match: ESUT wants the same name on O’level, UTME and other documents.
- Paying acceptance before accepting on CAPS: CAPS acceptance comes first.
ESUT cut off mark for Human Nutrition and Dietetics: frequently asked questions
Is 180 enough for Human Nutrition and Dietetics in ESUT? 180 clears ESUT’s 160 minimum and gives you a fair chance, but ESUT does not publish the final score, so it is not safe. Good O’level grades help, and I would aim for 220 next time.
Is Physics compulsory for Nutrition and Dietetics in JAMB? Yes, under the JAMB brochure’s general entry: English, Biology, Chemistry and Physics. ESUT has no special remark that swaps Physics for Mathematics.
Can I use awaiting result for ESUT post-UTME? Yes. ESUT accepted awaiting May/June 2026 WAEC, NECO and NABTEB results, but results released after 30 September 2026 were not accepted.
Is Human Nutrition and Dietetics in ESUT accredited? It was newly approved by NUC for the 2024/2025 intake, and I found no accreditation result for it. Ask the department for its current NUC status before you accept.
Sources and updates
The 2026/2027 minimum UTME scores per course, the screening rules (eligibility, change of institution, Direct Entry clearance, awaiting results up to 30 September 2026, compulsory O’level upload on CAPS, no test, ₦2,000 fee, 7 July to 15 August 2026 window, portal and payment steps) come from ESUT’s notice Post-UTME Screening for UTME/Direct Entry Candidates for 2026/2027 Admission, posted on 4 July 2026, and the full advert PDF signed by the Registrar, Ambrose G. Ugwu. The 2025/2026 per-course minimums are from DTW Tutorials’ summary of ESUT’s 2025/2026 screening notice (30 July 2025); I did not open the original notice. The national minimum of 150, the 31 October 2026 admission deadline and the four-week CAPS acceptance window come from the News Agency of Nigeria, 11 May 2026. The release of the 2026/2027 admission list on CAPS on 13 October 2026 is from a Myschool report. ESUT’s faculty-level NUC accreditation is from the Enugu State Government, 21 May 2025. The 2024/2025 intake into newly approved courses (Radiography, Public Health, Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Biomedical Engineering) and its 180 minimum are from a Myschool report of 23 January 2025. The UTME, O’level and Direct Entry requirements are the general JAMB brochure entry for Human Nutrition and Dietetics as reprinted by Myschool; it carries no ESUT remark. The acceptance fee of about ₦26,000 is from education blogs (Legit.ng, O3schools, Backtoschool) and is unofficial. ESUT has not published an aggregate formula, a catchment list or a post-screening departmental cut-off, so none appears here as fact. This page was checked on 29 October 2026 and will be updated if ESUT releases new figures.
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.
