The UNN cut off mark for Archaeology and Tourism (listed by UNN in 2025/2026 as Archaeology and Heritage Studies) for 2026/2027 is 160 in the UTME. That is the minimum in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka’s 2026/2027 screening notice of 13 July 2026, for candidates who chose UNN first. UNN has not published a departmental cut-off for Archaeology for 2026/2027 or 2025/2026, so do not trust any page that calls a specific Archaeology score “official”.
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.
This is one of the easier courses to enter at UNN. The university’s October 2025 advert list showed 85 unfilled places in Archaeology and Heritage Studies, one of the largest vacancy counts in the Faculty of Arts. You will also see 200 quoted as UNN’s minimum: that was the figure reported from the JAMB 2026 policy meeting. Below I explain the name change, UNN’s flexible UTME rule, the O’level science requirement, Direct Entry, screening, an aggregate example and the score I would aim for.
UNN cut off mark for Archaeology and Tourism 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 Archaeology | Not published | No UNN list for 2025/2026 or 2026/2027 |
| Unfilled places in 2025/2026 | 85 (vacancies, not a score) | UNN advert list, October 2025 |
| UTME subjects | Use of English plus any three subjects | JAMB brochure, UNN remark (confirm on IBASS) |
| O’level | Five credits including English Language and any science subject, plus at least a pass in Mathematics | JAMB brochure, UNN remark |
| Faculty and campus | Faculty of Arts, Nsukka | UNN |
| Screening window | 15 July to 5 August 2026 | Closed |
The 160 is UNN’s general cut-off for screening. A departmental cut-off would be the lowest score actually admitted into Archaeology after ranking, which UNN does not release. The target score I give later is advice.
Archaeology and Tourism or Archaeology and Heritage Studies?
You will meet both names, and they refer to the same UNN department.
- Archaeology and Tourism: the name on the UNN Faculty of Arts website, which describes a Senate-approved curriculum leading to a B.A. Hons in Archaeology and Tourism.
- Archaeology and Heritage Studies: the name UNN used in its official 2025/2026 advert (shopping) list, and the course title in JAMB’s brochure, where UNN’s remarks appear.
When you register for the UTME, pick the course name JAMB shows for UNN on the course list, which is likely to be Archaeology and Heritage Studies. If your JAMB profile shows a different title from the one on UNN’s website, that is normal for this course; what matters is that you choose UNN and the archaeology programme listed there.
UNN Archaeology cut-off history
These figures trace back to UNN or JAMB. Only the vacancy count is specific to Archaeology, and it is not a 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 |
The 85 unfilled places in October 2025 tell you that UNN admitted fewer qualified candidates into Archaeology on its main lists than it had room for. Candidates admitted through that advert window could not change course that session. I found no blog estimate for UNN Archaeology.
UTME subject combination for Archaeology at UNN
JAMB’s general rule for Archaeology and Heritage Studies is two Arts or Social Science subjects plus one of History, Religious Studies, Government or Geography. UNN’s remark in the brochure is more relaxed: UNN accepts any three subjects, with Use of English. Science students who change their minds late can still apply.
| Requirement | What you need for Archaeology at UNN |
|---|---|
| UTME subjects | Use of English plus any three subjects (UNN remark). A safe choice is History or Government, Geography and CRS or Literature |
| O’level (UNN remark) | Five credits including English Language and any science subject, plus at least a pass in Mathematics |
| O’level (JAMB general rule) | Five credits including English Language and one of Religious Studies, Geography, Economics or History |
| Minimum UTME to apply | 160, with UNN as first choice |
I would still include History, Government or Geography in your UTME, because it meets both the general JAMB rule and UNN’s remark, and it gives you options at other universities. At O’level, the science credit is the one to watch: archaeology uses scientific dating and laboratory methods, and UNN’s remark asks for any science subject. Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Agricultural Science all count as science subjects.
I could not open JAMB’s IBASS brochure from here, so confirm the combination on your JAMB profile before registration.
Direct Entry into Archaeology
- A’level: two A’level passes, plus the UTME (O’level) requirements.
- ND, HND or NCE: ND or HND at credit level, or NCE at merit level, plus the UTME requirements.
- Combined honours: candidates combining Archaeology with a science or social science subject must also meet that programme’s requirements.
UNN screening for 2027/2028: what Archaeology 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 Archaeology, 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 Archaeology 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 | 185 |
| O’level: English Language | C5 = 60 |
| O’level: History | B3 = 80 |
| O’level: Biology | C6 = 50 |
| O’level: Government | C4 = 70 |
| O’level total (out of 400) | 260 |
| 60% of UTME | 185 × 0.6 = 111 |
| 40% of O’level | 260 × 0.4 = 104 |
| Aggregate (out of 400) | 111 + 104 = 215 |
That candidate ends at 215 out of 400 on the blog method. Because Archaeology had vacancies in 2025/2026, a profile like this has a reasonable chance, especially through the advert list. UNN has not confirmed which O’level subjects it counts, so read this as an illustration only.
Merit, catchment and ELDS for Archaeology 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.
With 85 places left open after the main 2025/2026 lists, Archaeology is not where the merit and catchment fight is hardest. Candidates from outside the South-East should not be discouraged from applying.
What score should you aim for in Archaeology at UNN?
My advice (not a UNN figure): a UTME score of 180 or more with clean O’level grades should give you a good chance, and 200 or more puts you clear of UNN’s declared benchmark. UNN’s 2025/2026 advert list for unfilled courses was open to candidates with 160 and above, so do not give up in the 160s, but keep a backup.
| Your UTME score | My reading for Archaeology at UNN |
|---|---|
| Below 160 | Not eligible for UNN screening |
| 160 to 179 | Eligible; good chance through the advert list if vacancies remain |
| 180 to 199 | Good chance with decent O’level grades |
| 200 and above | Strong position |
If you scored high and want Archaeology as a deliberate choice, apply for it as your first course. Taking it as a fallback is fine too, but remember that candidates admitted through UNN’s advert list in 2025/2026 could not change course that session.
Step by step: from JAMB profile to resuming for Archaeology 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 Archaeology 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 Archaeology at UNN
Archaeology came to UNN in 1963, when Professor D. D. Hartle was hired. It began under the Department of History and became a separate department on 1 August 1981, when it started a combined honours B.A.; single honours followed in 1985 and the first master’s graduate in 1987. The department later developed a Senate-approved curriculum leading to a B.A. Hons in Archaeology and Tourism, aimed at preparing graduates for Nigeria’s tourism and heritage sectors. Its staff and students carry out field and laboratory research, and the department lists 18 academic and 4 non-academic staff.
A four-year B.A. in archaeology at a Nigerian university usually covers:
- Field methods: survey, excavation and recording
- Laboratory analysis of pottery, stone tools, metals and bones, and dating methods
- African and Nigerian prehistory, including sites such as Igbo-Ukwu and Nok
- Museum studies and heritage management
- Tourism planning, cultural tourism and hospitality
- Ethnography and the archaeology of West Africa
- A field school and a final-year research project
Graduates work with museums and the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, state tourism boards, heritage and cultural agencies, tour companies and hotels, environmental and heritage impact assessment, documentary and media work, teaching and research.
Related UNN courses: UNN History and International Relations, UNN Fine and Applied Arts, UNN Geography and UNN Sociology and Anthropology.
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 Archaeology applicants make
- No science credit: UNN’s remark asks for any science subject at O’level.
- F9 in Mathematics: UNN asks for at least a pass.
- Confusing the course names: pick the archaeology course JAMB lists for UNN.
- 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 Archaeology: frequently asked questions
Is 170 enough for Archaeology in UNN? It clears the 160 screening minimum. Archaeology had 85 unfilled places in UNN’s 2025/2026 advert list, so 170 with good O’level grades has a real chance, but it sits below UNN’s declared 200 benchmark, so keep a backup.
What subjects do I need for Archaeology in UNN? UNN accepts any three UTME subjects with Use of English, and five O’level credits including English Language and a science subject, with at least a pass in Mathematics.
Is Archaeology and Tourism the same as Archaeology and Heritage Studies at UNN? Yes. The Faculty of Arts website uses Archaeology and Tourism, while UNN’s 2025/2026 advert list and JAMB’s brochure use Archaeology and Heritage Studies.
Can I change from Archaeology to another course in UNN? Not if you were admitted through the 2025/2026-style advert list, which barred course changes that session. Any later inter-departmental transfer depends on UNN’s rules and your results.
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 Archaeology UTME, O’level and Direct Entry remarks come from Myschool’s reprint of the JAMB brochure page for Archaeology and Heritage Studies; JAMB’s IBASS brochure could not be opened, so confirm on your JAMB profile. Department history, the Archaeology and Tourism curriculum and staff numbers come from the department’s page on the UNN Faculty of Arts website (arts.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.
