The UNN cut off mark for Foreign Languages and Literary Studies (French, German and Russian) for 2026/2027 is 160 in the UTME. That is the minimum in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka’s screening notice of 13 July 2026, and it applies only if you chose UNN as first choice. UNN has not published a departmental cut-off for French, German or Russian for 2026/2027 or 2025/2026, so any “official” score you see for these courses 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.
You will also see 200 mentioned: that was UNN’s minimum as reported from the JAMB 2026 policy meeting of 11 May 2026. UNN accepted screening applications from 160 and declared 200 at the meeting. This guide explains the separate O’level rules UNN uses for French, German and the combined options (you can start German from zero), the Literature in English requirement, the one-year preparatory route in French, Direct Entry, the year abroad, screening, an aggregate example and what score to aim for.
UNN cut off mark for Foreign Languages 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 French, German or Russian | Not published | No UNN list for 2025/2026 or 2026/2027 |
| UTME subjects (French) | Use of English, French, Literature in English and one other Arts subject | JAMB brochure, UNN remark (confirm on IBASS) |
| O’level | Differs by option; all need English, Literature in English and one science subject | JAMB brochure, UNN remark |
| Degree options | French, German or Russian single honours; French/German, French/Russian, German/Russian | UNN department |
| Faculty and campus | Faculty of Arts, Nsukka | UNN |
| Screening window | 15 July to 5 August 2026 | Closed |
The 160 decides who may be screened. A departmental cut-off would be the lowest score admitted into each language after ranking, and UNN does not publish one. The score targets later in this guide are my advice.
UNN Foreign Languages cut-off history
These are the only figures that come from UNN or JAMB. None of them is a language-specific score.
| 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 more signal: UNN’s official advert (shopping) list of October 2025 showed 4 unfilled places in German for 2025/2026. That is a vacancy count, not a score. It shows that German, which you can start without any background, had a few seats left after the main lists that year.
UTME subject combination for French, German and Russian at UNN
JAMB’s general rule for French is French plus two other Arts or Social Science subjects. UNN is stricter: its remark in the brochure says UNN requires French, Literature in English and any other Arts subject, alongside Use of English. The same UNN remark appears under the brochure’s entry for French with German / Russian.
| Option | Suggested UTME subjects | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| French single honours | Use of English, French, Literature in English, one other Arts subject (for example CRS or History) | UNN remark in the JAMB brochure |
| French with German or Russian | Use of English, French, Literature in English, one other Arts subject | UNN remark in the JAMB brochure |
| German or Russian single honours | Use of English, Literature in English and two other Arts subjects; include French if you can | Not stated in the brochure pages I could read; confirm on IBASS |
Few Nigerian secondary schools teach German or Russian, which is why UNN’s German route does not ask for prior German. For German or Russian single honours, check the exact course name and subject list for UNN on your JAMB profile before you register. I could not open JAMB’s IBASS brochure from here.
O’level requirements for each option
UNN’s O’level remark in the JAMB brochure lists a different rule for each option. Literature in English and a science subject are required across the board, and that is where many arts candidates fall short.
| Option | Five O’level credits must include |
|---|---|
| French single honours | English Language, French, one science subject and two other Arts subjects, one of which must be Literature in English |
| German single honours | English Language, one science subject and three other Arts subjects, one of which must be Literature in English. No German needed; a Goethe-Institut language certificate is described as a great advantage |
| French with German or Russian | English Language, French, one science subject and two other Arts subjects, one of which must be Literature in English |
| One-year preparatory programme in French | Candidates who pass UNN’s one-year preparatory programme in French with at least 40%, plus the UTME requirements |
Mathematics is not named in these remarks. The science subject can be Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Agricultural Science for most candidates; Biology is the usual choice for arts students.
No French credit? The preparatory route
If you did not take French at school, UNN’s remark mentions a one-year preparatory programme in French: candidates who succeed in it with a minimum score of 40% can be considered, along with the UTME requirements. UNN has not published a 2026/2027 notice for this programme that I could find, so ask the Department of Foreign Languages directly about the next intake and fees. Another option is German single honours, which needs no prior German.
Direct Entry into Foreign Languages at UNN
- NCE: UNN accepts an NCE with merit in two relevant subjects, together with the UTME (O’level) requirements.
- A’level or equivalent: two passes at GCE A’level or HSC, or a DALF certificate, or an acceptable Baccalauréat in relevant subjects.
- Length: the department says Direct Entry students spend three years, except in the French and German, French and Russian, and German and Russian combinations, which take four years for everyone.
UNN screening for 2027/2028: what French, German and Russian 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 French, German and Russian, 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 French 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 | 205 |
| O’level: English Language | B3 = 80 |
| O’level: French | B2 = 90 |
| O’level: Literature in English | C4 = 70 |
| O’level: Biology | C5 = 60 |
| O’level total (out of 400) | 300 |
| 60% of UTME | 205 × 0.6 = 123 |
| 40% of O’level | 300 × 0.4 = 120 |
| Aggregate (out of 400) | 123 + 120 = 243 |
That candidate ends at 243 out of 400 on the blog method. A C6 in French instead of B2 would cut 16 points from the aggregate, about 27 UTME marks, which is why your French grade matters as much as your UTME score. UNN has not confirmed which O’level subjects it counts.
Merit, catchment and ELDS for Foreign Languages 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.
Foreign language programmes are among the less crowded courses in the Faculty of Arts. A South-East candidate who misses the merit list can still be considered under catchment, and UNN’s October 2025 vacancy count for German suggests the department did not fill every seat on the main lists that year.
What score should you aim for in French, German or Russian at UNN?
My advice (not a UNN figure): aim for 200 or more in the UTME. That clears UNN’s declared benchmark and should put you in a fair position for a language course. Scores from 180 can work with strong O’level grades or a catchment state, and German has had spare places before, but have a backup if you are below 200.
| Your UTME score | My reading for French, German or Russian at UNN |
|---|---|
| Below 160 | Not eligible for UNN screening |
| 160 to 179 | Eligible; possible through the advert list if places remain |
| 180 to 199 | Possible with good O’level grades or a catchment state |
| 200 to 219 | Competitive |
| 220 and above | Strong position |
Step by step: from JAMB profile to resuming for Foreign Languages 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 Foreign Languages 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 French, German or Russian at UNN
The department offers single honours B.A. degrees in French, German or Russian, combined honours in French and German, French and Russian, or German and Russian, and combinations of one language with a subject from another department. It also teaches French to Education students and runs elementary to advanced language service courses for students from other departments. The programmes run at the Nsukka campus.
| Route | Length | Year abroad |
|---|---|---|
| UTME entry | 4 years | Third year may be spent partly or entirely abroad |
| Direct Entry (single honours) | 3 years | Second year may be spent partly or entirely abroad |
| French and German, French and Russian, German and Russian | 4 years for all entrants | As above |
The year abroad is spent in countries where the language is spoken. The department’s wording says students may spend that year abroad, so ask about current arrangements and costs when you are admitted. Many Nigerian French students spend their immersion year at the Nigeria French Language Village in Badagry or in a francophone country, but I could not confirm UNN’s current arrangement.
A language degree usually covers grammar and composition, translation in both directions, oral and listening practice, the literature and civilisation of the countries concerned, and linguistics. Graduates work as translators and interpreters, in diplomacy and international organisations, in teaching, in tourism and hospitality, in media, and in companies that trade with francophone West Africa. French in particular is useful in a region where Nigeria is surrounded by French-speaking neighbours.
Related UNN courses: UNN English and Literary Studies, UNN Linguistics, Igbo and Other Nigerian Languages, UNN History and International Relations and UNN Education Arts.
If you are writing the UTME again in 2027, read our guide on JAMB 2027 registration dates before you pick subjects, and once results are out, see how to check your JAMB result and what to do with the score. If you already sat the 2026 UTME with the wrong subjects, a JAMB change of course will not fix a subject mismatch, because the subjects you sat cannot be changed.
Common mistakes Foreign Languages applicants make
- No Literature in English: UNN names it in the UTME and in every O’level option.
- No science credit: each option asks for one science subject.
- Applying for French without a French credit: look at German single honours or the preparatory programme instead.
- Choosing UNN second: UNN screens first-choice candidates only.
- Ignoring CAPS: an offer you do not accept within four weeks can be lost.
UNN cut off mark for Foreign Languages: frequently asked questions
Is 190 enough for French in UNN? It is above the 160 screening minimum but below UNN’s declared 200. With good O’level grades in French and Literature it can work, but 200 or more gives you a safer margin.
Can I study German in UNN without knowing German? Yes. UNN’s remark for German single honours asks for English, Literature in English, one science subject and two other Arts credits, with no German. A Goethe-Institut certificate is described as an advantage.
Is Literature in English compulsory for French in UNN? According to UNN’s remark in the JAMB brochure, yes. It is part of the UTME combination (French, Literature in English and one other Arts subject) and of the O’level requirements.
Do UNN French students spend a year abroad? The department says students may spend the third year of the four-year programme, partly or entirely, in a country where the language is spoken. Confirm the current arrangement after admission.
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. UNN’s UTME, O’level and Direct Entry remarks for French, German single honours and French with German or Russian come from Myschool’s reprints of the JAMB brochure pages for French and for French with German / Russian; JAMB’s IBASS brochure could not be opened, so confirm on your JAMB profile. Degree options, programme lengths and the year abroad come from the Programmes page of the UNN Department of Foreign Languages (foreignlanguages.unn.edu.ng). 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.
