The UNN cut off mark for Physics and Astronomy in 2026/2027 starts at 160. That is the lowest UTME score the University of Nigeria, Nsukka accepted for its 2026/2027 screening, and it covers every course, Physics and Astronomy included, provided UNN was your first choice. UNN has not published a separate departmental cut-off for Physics and Astronomy for 2026/2027 or 2025/2026, so any website quoting an “official” Physics figure is guessing.
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.
There is a second number to know. At the JAMB 2026 policy meeting on 11 May 2026, UNN’s declared minimum was reported as 200. UNN accepts screening applications from 160, but its declared benchmark at that meeting was 200, and competitive courses admit far above both. Physics and Astronomy is far less crowded than Medicine or Engineering, so my advice is to treat about 210 as a safe UTME target. Below, you will find the subjects UNN asks for, the O’level rules from the faculty’s own page, a worked aggregate and the CAPS steps.
UNN cut off mark for Physics and Astronomy 2027/2028: official figures
| Item | Figure | Status |
|---|---|---|
| UNN minimum UTME score to apply for 2026/2027 screening | 160 | Official (UNN Registrar notice, 13 July 2026) |
| Minimum UNN declared at the JAMB 2026 policy meeting | 200 | Reported by Vanguard and News Central, 11 May 2026 |
| JAMB national minimum for universities, 2026 | 150 | JAMB policy meeting, May 2026 (NAN report) |
| UNN departmental cut-off for Physics and Astronomy, 2026/2027 | Not published | No official figure as of 29 October 2026 |
| Screening fee | ₦5,300 (₦2,000 application + ₦3,300 processing) | Official |
| Screening window | 15 July to 5 August 2026 | Closed |
| JAMB deadline for public universities to conclude 2026 admissions | 31 October 2026 | JAMB (NAN report) |
Keep two kinds of number apart. A general cut-off (160 at UNN this year) decides whether you are allowed to apply. A departmental cut-off is the lowest score that actually got admitted into one course in one session. It depends on how many people chose Physics and Astronomy and how well they scored, and UNN has not released one for Physics and Astronomy in recent sessions.
Acceptance warning
Under JAMB’s 2026 policy you have four weeks to accept or reject an offer on CAPS, and an offer left unanswered can be lost. Check CAPS every few days once UNN starts releasing lists, and never pay anyone who promises to “process” a UNN admission for you.
Physics and Astronomy cut-off history at UNN
The table holds only figures that trace back to a UNN notice or a named news report. I have added the one blog range that circulates for UNN Physics so you can recognise it. The blog that published it calls its list an estimate based on trends and does not say whether it means UTME score or aggregate.
| Session | Figure | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| 2026/2027 | 160 | UNN screening minimum for all courses (official notice) |
| 2026/2027 | 200 | UNN benchmark declared at the JAMB policy meeting (news report) |
| 2025/2026 | 160 | UNN screening and advert minimum for all courses (UNN notice, as reprinted by Myschool) |
| 2025/2026 and 2026/2027 | Not published | Departmental cut-off for Physics and Astronomy |
| 2025/2026 | 170 to 190 | Unofficial blog estimate only; not a UNN figure |
UNN’s general cut-off has stayed at 160 for two sessions. Departmental cut-offs, where universities publish them, rise and fall each year with the size and strength of the applicant pool. A past figure is a rough guide to competition for this year.
UTME subject combination and O’level requirements for UNN Physics and Astronomy
Physics and Astronomy sits in the Faculty of Physical Sciences on the Nsukka campus. The faculty’s admission requirement page and the JAMB brochure entry reprinted by Myschool agree on the core subjects, and the brochure carries a UNN-specific remark on O’level credits.
| Requirement | What UNN asks for |
|---|---|
| UTME subjects | Use of English, Physics, Mathematics, plus Chemistry or Biology |
| O’level credits | Five credits including English Language, Mathematics and Physics, plus two others from Agricultural Science, Biology, Further Mathematics, Statistics, Technical Drawing and Geography |
| Chemistry at O’level | The faculty page says a pass in Chemistry at SSCE, GCE or NECO is acceptable; JAMB’s general brochure entry lists Chemistry among the five credits |
| Direct Entry | Two A’level passes in Physics and Mathematics, or a three-year diploma in Applied Physics, plus UTME requirements. The brochure’s UNN remark also mentions NCE Physics and ND or HND in Physics or Engineering |
| Minimum age | 16 by 30 September 2026 |
| Campus | Nsukka |
Two practical points. First, because the brochure entry lists Chemistry as a required credit while UNN’s faculty page accepts a pass, I would not go in with a weak Chemistry grade if you can avoid it: a credit satisfies both versions. Second, a D7 or E8 in English or Mathematics ends your chances whatever your UTME, and the names on your WAEC or NECO result must match your JAMB name. UNN’s 2026/2027 notice says so directly.
If you are choosing between Chemistry and Biology as your fourth UTME subject, Chemistry fits the course better. Our JAMB Chemistry syllabus guide lists the topics. Confirm the current wording on JAMB’s e-brochure before you register, because brochure remarks change between editions.
How UNN screening and the aggregate work for Physics and Astronomy
UNN does not publish the formula it uses to rank candidates. Its 2026/2027 notice describes an online registration with document uploads, and it gives no written test, test date or test format. So any aggregate you see online, including the one below, is a reconstruction.
The method most often reported by Nigerian education blogs gives the UTME 60% and O’level grades 40%. Four relevant O’level grades are converted to points (A1 = 100, B2 = 90, B3 = 80, C4 = 70, C5 = 60, C6 = 50) and added up, which puts the O’level part on the same 400 scale as JAMB. The aggregate is then UTME x 0.6 plus O’level points x 0.4. This is a commonly used blog method, not an official UNN formula. Use it only to compare yourself with other applicants.
Worked example for a Physics and Astronomy candidate
Take Emeka, who scored 214 in the 2026 UTME. His grades in the four O’level subjects that matter most for this course were English C4, Mathematics B3, Physics B2, Chemistry C5.
| Step | Working | Result |
|---|---|---|
| O’level points | 70 (C4) + 80 (B3) + 90 (B2) + 60 (C5) | 300 |
| UTME share | 214 x 0.6 | 128.4 |
| O’level share | 300 x 0.4 | 120 |
| Aggregate (blog method) | 128.4 + 120 | 248.4 out of 400 |
Now take a second candidate with the same 214 in JAMB but C6 in English, C5 in Mathematics, C4 in Physics, C6 in Chemistry. The O’level points fall to 50 + 60 + 70 + 50 = 230, which is 92 after weighting, and the aggregate drops to 220.4. Same UTME, 28 points lower. If the reported method is anywhere near what UNN does, your O’level grades can move you up or down a ranking list as much as a few extra JAMB marks.
For a course like Physics, where the pool is smaller, a candidate with a middling UTME and good science grades can end up ahead of someone with a higher JAMB score and a scrappy result. That is why I tell Physics applicants to protect their Mathematics and Physics grades in WAEC as carefully as they prepare for JAMB.
Admission odds: what score to aim for in Physics and Astronomy
Physics and Astronomy is not one of UNN’s high-pressure courses. A good number of the students in it first applied for Medicine, Engineering or Computer Science and were offered Physics on CAPS. As a result, the cut-off tends to sit lower, but in a year when lots of strong engineering hopefuls are moved across, the scores in the department go up.
Federal universities fill places using the national admission guideline, which is widely reported as 45% on merit, 35% for catchment states and 20% for educationally less developed states (ELDS). UNN has not published its own split, its catchment list or an ELDS list. UNN’s catchment is generally understood to be the South-East states; confirm on JAMB CAPS or with the UNN admissions office before you rely on it.
In practice, the merit places go first to the highest scorers in the whole applicant pool for the course, whatever their state. The catchment and ELDS places then let candidates from those states in with somewhat lower scores. The state that counts is the one on your JAMB profile, backed by the LGA identification letter you upload during screening.
Safe target score (advice, not an official figure)
| Your 2026 UTME | My reading for Physics and Astronomy at UNN |
|---|---|
| 160 to 179 | Eligible to apply. Possible mainly through catchment or ELDS places or a later advert (shopping) list if the course has vacancies |
| 180 to 199 | A real chance with good O’level grades in Mathematics and Physics |
| 200 to 219 | Good chance for most candidates who meet the O’level rules |
| 220 and above | Comfortable for this course in a normal year |
These bands are my own judgement from how the course usually fills at older federal universities. They are not UNN figures. If you scored well above 230 and Physics was not your first love, check whether a related course with a higher entry bar fits you better before you settle.
How to apply to UNN for Physics and Astronomy: step by step
- Get your JAMB profile code: before UTME registration, text NIN, a space and your 11-digit NIN (for example, NIN 12345678901) to 55019 or 66019 from the phone line linked to your NIN. JAMB replies with a 10-character profile code that you take to a CBT centre.
- Choose UNN as first choice and Physics and Astronomy as the course: UNN only screened 2026 candidates who picked it as first choice. Use the exact course name shown for UNN on the JAMB e-brochure.
- Upload your O’level to CAPS: UNN asked candidates to put their WAEC or NECO results on JAMB CAPS and on the UNN portal by 5 August 2026. The CAPS upload is done at a JAMB office or accredited CBT centre. Awaiting results were not accepted.
- Register on the UNN portal: go to unn.edu.ng, click UNN Portal (unnportal.unn.edu.ng), then Prospective Students and the screening form. Enter your JAMB registration number, generate the invoice and pay ₦5,300 on Remita at any commercial bank.
- Complete the form: come back, enter your JAMB number again, fill in your personal details and O’level centre and exam numbers, and upload each document under 100KB: birth certificate, LGA identification, testimonial, First School Leaving Certificate, JAMB result slip and your O’level result (two if you used two sittings). Check your date of birth before you submit, because UNN does not let you change it later. Print the acknowledgement slip.
- Check and accept on CAPS: log in at efacility.jamb.gov.ng, click Check Admission Status, then Access my CAPS and Admission Status. Read the course name before you click Accept, then print your JAMB admission letter.
- Pay UNN’s acceptance fee: blogs report it as ₦25,000, but UNN has not published the 2026/2027 amount in any notice I could open. Pay only through the UNN portal, then follow the clearance instructions.
If anything looks wrong on CAPS, such as missing O’level results or the wrong course, sort it out at a JAMB office before you accept. Our JAMB CAPS guide explains each status you might see, and if you need to switch courses before admission closes, read our JAMB change of course guide.
What you study in Physics and Astronomy at UNN
UNN’s science faculty dates from the university’s start in 1960 as the Faculty of Science, and the Faculty of Physical Sciences was created from it in the 1973/74 session. The faculty history says the Department of Physics and Astronomy runs a single honours B.Sc. programme and also takes part in the faculty’s combined degree programmes. Its offices, classrooms and laboratories are in the Carver and Abuja buildings, with postgraduate and research laboratories near Carver.
The degree takes four years for UTME candidates. Direct Entry students usually join at 200 level. Expect a typical Nigerian B.Sc. Physics structure:
- 100 level: general physics, mathematics, chemistry and the university’s general studies courses
- 200 level: mechanics, electricity and magnetism, waves and optics, mathematical methods and laboratory work
- 300 level: quantum physics, thermal and statistical physics, electronics, solid state physics and SIWES industrial training
- 400 level: advanced courses and electives, with astronomy and astrophysics content reflecting the department’s name, plus a final-year project
The level breakdown follows the national pattern for physics degrees. Check the department’s course list for UNN’s exact course codes once you are admitted. I could not find a published NUC accreditation result for this programme on UNN’s sites, so ask the department if accreditation status matters to you.
Careers after Physics and Astronomy
Graduates teach physics in secondary schools (many add a postgraduate diploma in education), work in telecoms, oil and gas services, meteorology, radiation protection and energy, or move into data and software jobs where strong mathematics is valued. A good class of degree also opens postgraduate study in physics, astrophysics, geophysics, medical physics or renewable energy.
Related UNN courses to consider
If you want a course with the same UTME subjects, compare Mathematics at UNN, Pure and Industrial Chemistry and Geology. If you lean towards numbers and data, see Statistics at UNN. UNN also announced Nuclear Science among 12 new NUC-approved programmes from 2026/2027, which may interest physics-minded candidates once JAMB lists it.
Common mistakes Physics and Astronomy applicants make
- Reading 160 as a safe score: it only lets you apply. Admission depends on how you rank against everyone else who chose the course.
- Trusting a blog’s departmental list: no official 2026/2027 Physics cut-off exists. Lists claiming one cite no UNN document.
- Dropping Mathematics or Physics from the UTME: both are compulsory, alongside English and either Chemistry or Biology.
- Waiting for NECO or GCE results: UNN’s notice excluded candidates awaiting results.
- Ignoring a change-of-course offer: if UNN offers you Physics instead of your first course, you must accept on CAPS within four weeks or lose it.
- Paying “admission agents”: no one outside the UNN portal and JAMB CAPS can sell you a place.
Frequently asked questions
Is 200 enough for Physics and Astronomy in UNN?
It clears UNN’s 160 screening minimum and matches the 200 benchmark reported from the JAMB meeting, so you can be considered. With credits in English, Mathematics and Physics it gives you a good chance, though 210 or more is safer.
What is the UNN departmental cut off mark for Physics 2027/2028?
UNN has not published one. The official figure is 160 to apply for screening, and 200 was reported as UNN’s declared benchmark at the JAMB policy meeting.
Can I use Biology instead of Chemistry for UNN Physics in JAMB?
Yes. Both the faculty page and the JAMB brochure accept Chemistry or Biology as the fourth UTME subject, alongside English, Physics and Mathematics.
Can I use awaiting result for UNN Physics and Astronomy?
No. UNN’s 2026/2027 screening notice said candidates awaiting NECO or GCE results were not eligible, and results had to be on CAPS by 5 August 2026.
Sources and updates
Figures and dates come from UNN’s 2026/2027 screening notice signed by the Registrar on 13 July 2026, UNN’s 2025/2026 advert notice as reprinted by Myschool, Vanguard’s report of the JAMB 2026 policy meeting, and the News Agency of Nigeria report on the 2026 national minimum and the admission deadline. Subject and O’level requirements come from the Faculty of Physical Sciences admission requirement page and the JAMB brochure entry for Physics as reprinted by Myschool, which includes a UNN remark. Department details come from the faculty history page. The 12 new programmes were reported by Myschool in September 2026. The aggregate method comes from education blogs and is not a UNN formula, and the target-score bands are my own advice. Checked 29 October 2026; I will update this page if UNN publishes departmental cut-offs.
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.
