NOUN Mass Communication admission requirements for 100 level are five O’level credits including English Language and Mathematics, from SSCE, GCE, NECO or NABTEB, in not more than two sittings. A Teachers’ Grade II certificate with five merits, including English and Mathematics, is also accepted. The National Open University of Nigeria does not use a JAMB cut-off mark, and Mass Communication is one of the few NOUN programmes with a published 300-level entry for HND holders at Lower Credit.
2027/2028 update: NOUN admission requirements and entry rules usually stay the same from one year to the next, so the requirements on this page are what 2027/2028 applicants should plan with. They come from NOUN’s latest published requirements and notices (checked in October 2026). If NOUN changes anything for 2027/2028, we will update this page.
Below you will find the 200-level and 300-level Direct Entry rules, the concession for older applicants, the credit units you need, what you study, how the unbundling of Mass Communication affects NOUN, and how to apply with Enugu as your study centre.
NOUN Mass Communication admission requirements at a glance
| Item | Requirement | Source |
|---|---|---|
| UTME score | Not required; no cut-off mark | NOUN Admission Requirements page |
| 100 level | Five O’level credits including English and Mathematics (SSCE, GCE, NECO or NABTEB), max two sittings; or Teachers’ Grade II with five merits including English and Mathematics | NOUN Department of Mass Communication page |
| 200 level | At least three credit passes in IJMB, OND, NCE or equivalent, plus five O’level credits including English and Mathematics; or an OND in Mass Communication plus O’level | Same page |
| 300 level | HND at Lower Credit or better, with the O’level base | Same page |
| Mature applicants | Aged 50 or above with ten years of cognate work experience may write to the Vice Chancellor | Same page |
| Credit units to graduate | 146 from 100 level; 120 from 200 level; 90 from 300 level | Same page |
| Form | ₦5,000 via Remita (last published figure) | NOUN News, 8 August 2024 |
| NUC status | Full | NOUN accreditation document, November 2024 |
Is there a NOUN cut-off mark for Mass Communication?
No. NOUN does not set a UTME cut-off mark for Mass Communication or for any other undergraduate programme. Its official Admission Requirements page describes O’level requirements and an automated online application, and a JAMB score is not part of it. Any “NOUN Mass Communication cut-off mark” you see on a blog was not published by the university.
Two things decide whether you get in:
- Your O’level result: the right five credits, in not more than two sittings.
- Your Direct Entry qualification, if you have one: it decides whether you start at 100 level or higher.
That also means there is no post-UTME, no screening test and no aggregate score to calculate. If your grades match the requirement, the portal admits you.
What about JAMB and CAPS?
NOUN’s admission page does not ask for a UTME score, and you do not choose NOUN on a UTME form to be considered. JAMB is still part of the picture after admission: NOUN’s fees schedule lists a ₦6,000 JAMB regularisation charge for new students. NOUN has not published step-by-step instructions for that regularisation, so follow what the university tells you after admission and keep the receipt. If you already have a JAMB profile from an earlier UTME, keep its email and registration number handy; it may help when your record is regularised.
O’level requirements for NOUN Mass Communication
The department names only English Language and Mathematics. The other three credits are open, which makes this one of the easier NOUN programmes to qualify for. Literature in English, Government, Civic Education, Christian Religious Studies, Economics or a Nigerian language are all reasonable picks, and the coursework will reward a strong English credit.
| Qualification | What counts |
|---|---|
| SSCE, GCE, NECO or NABTEB | Five credits including English and Mathematics, in not more than two sittings |
| Teachers’ Grade II | Five merits including English and Mathematics, plus any three other subjects, in not more than two sittings |
Can I combine WAEC and NECO?
Yes. The limit is two sittings, so a WAEC result and a NECO result can be combined as long as together they give the five credits with English and Mathematics. Upload both results on the application form.
Before you pay, open the application page, pick the programme and entry level and click View Requirement. NOUN’s faculty pages and its central portal are maintained separately, so if they ever disagree, follow what the portal shows for your entry level.
Direct Entry into NOUN Mass Communication
200 level
You need one of these, on top of five O’level credits including English and Mathematics:
- Three credit passes in IJMB, OND, NCE or an equivalent qualification.
- An OND in Mass Communication from a recognised institution.
Notice that the OND route does not state a grade on this page, unlike the Upper Credit that some NOUN management science programmes demand. NOUN’s general admission notice of 2024 does mention an ND at Upper Credit for Direct Entry. If your OND is a Pass or Lower Credit, check the View Requirement screen first.
300 level
An HND with at least a Lower Credit, plus the O’level base, can take you straight to 300 level. You then need 90 credit units to graduate instead of 146. NOUN lets you take that load at your own pace. The department page lists the O’level and Teachers’ Grade II results as other items under 300 level; read them as the base you must also hold, because an O’level result on its own is not a 300-level qualification.
A note for A level holders
The same department page, in its Film and Multimedia Studies section, says GCE A level holders are not considered for Direct Entry into any Mass Communication discipline and should apply at 100 level. The Mass Communication section itself lists IJMB, which is an A level type certificate, for 200 level. The two lines do not sit well together. If you hold A level or IJMB, the portal’s View Requirement screen settles it.
Older applicants
If you are 50 or above, have ten years of work experience in a related field, and still fall short of the rules above, the department invites you to write to the Vice Chancellor for concessional admission. Keep evidence of your experience, such as letters of appointment from a newspaper, radio station or PR office.
Worked example: four applicants
These are my illustrations of how the published rules apply, not NOUN decisions.
| Applicant | Profile | Outcome on NOUN’s rules |
|---|---|---|
| Chioma, school leaver | WASSCE credits in English, Maths, Literature, Government, CRS | Qualifies for 100 level; 146 units to graduate |
| Tobenna, radio presenter | OND Mass Communication; full O’level set | Qualifies for 200 level on the department page; 120 units |
| Amaka, information officer | HND Mass Communication, Lower Credit; full O’level set | Qualifies for 300 level; 90 units |
| Mr Eze, 54, retired newspaper production manager | O’level with a D7 in Mathematics; 25 years in print media | Below the standard rule; may write to the Vice Chancellor for concessional admission |
How to apply for Mass Communication at NOUN, step by step
The whole process happens online. You do not travel to Abuja, and you do not need to visit the Enugu centre before you are admitted.
- Get your documents ready: O’level result(s), birth certificate or age declaration, a recent passport photograph and, for Direct Entry, your diploma, degree or professional certificate and transcript. Scan them clearly.
- Open the admission page: go to NOUN’s Admission Requirements page on nou.edu.ng and choose the undergraduate application.
- Select the programme: pick the faculty, then Mass Communication, then your entry level, and click View Requirement. Read the requirement that appears before you go further.
- Pick your entry level: 100 level with O’level or Teachers’ Grade II, 200 level with IJMB, OND or NCE, or 300 level with an HND at Lower Credit. Upload the certificate and statement of result.
- Fill the pre-payment form: enter your names exactly as they appear on your O’level result, plus a working email address and phone number.
- Generate a Remita RRR and pay: pay the ₦5,000 form fee by card, or take the RRR to a bank.
- Complete the application form: enter your O’level grades, upload your documents and choose Enugu Study Centre as your study centre.
- Check the outcome: NOUN describes its admission process as automated, with an almost instant outcome. Print the admission letter once it shows.
- Pay the compulsory charges and register courses: pay the new-student charges, then register your first semester courses and examinations within the window in the academic calendar.
Write down your application number and the email address you used, and keep the Remita receipt. Most problems at the study centre later come from a lost RRR or a mismatch between the name on the form and the name on the O’level certificate.
What you study in NOUN Mass Communication
The course list covers print, broadcast, advertising and public relations. Core MAC courses on the faculty page include:
| Level | Sample core courses |
|---|---|
| 100 level | Introduction to Mass Communication (MAC111), History of Nigerian Mass Media (MAC113), Writing for Mass Media (MAC117), Principles and Practice of Public Relations (MAC134), Introduction to Radio and Television (MAC142) |
| 200 level | Theories of Mass Communication (MAC211), Editing and Graphics of Communication (MAC221), Magazine and Feature Article Writing (MAC223), Investigative and Interpretative Reporting (MAC214), Foundations of Broadcasting (MAC242) |
| 300 level | Advertising Campaign Planning and Execution (MAC331), Media Station Management and Operation (MAC333), Newspaper Production (MAC312), Editorial Writing (MAC322), Media Attachment (MAC318, 6 units) |
| 400 level | Media Law and Ethics (MAC411), Data Analysis in Communication Research (MAC413), Documentary Film Production (MAC441), Advanced Broadcast News and Programme Production (MAC442), Research Project (MAC418, 6 units) |
Media Attachment is a 6-unit core course in the second semester of 300 level, so you will spend time in a newspaper, broadcast station or PR unit. Enugu has state and federal broadcast stations and several newspapers, which helps if you plan to do your attachment near home. The attachment notes on the course page appear to be copied from an Environmental Health programme, so ask the department for the Mass Communication logbook rules when you reach that stage.
Credit units
- From 100 level: 146 credit units (the page splits them as 38, 34, 39 and 35 across the four years).
- From 200 level: 120 credit units.
- From 300 level: 90 credit units.
The department calls it a four-year programme from 100 level. NOUN’s other undergraduate programmes allow up to double the minimum time, but the Mass Communication page does not state a maximum, so check the student handbook once you are admitted.
Mass Communication, Broadcasting or Film? The unbundling question
In January 2020 the NUC confirmed, through its Director of Information speaking to The ICIR, that Mass Communication would be split into seven degrees: Journalism and Media Studies, Public Relations, Advertising, Broadcasting, Film and Multimedia Studies, Development Communication Studies, and Information and Media Studies. The NUC also said universities could keep running the existing Mass Communication programme and that current students were not affected.
NOUN has kept B.Sc Mass Communication and added separate degrees. Its Mass Communication department page lists B.Sc Broadcasting and B.Sc Film and Multimedia Studies, while NOUN’s November 2024 accreditation document lists Broadcast Journalism and Film Production, both with full accreditation. The names differ between the two NOUN sources, so check the exact title on the application form.
| Programme | 100 level | 200 level | 300 level |
|---|---|---|---|
| B.Sc Mass Communication | Five credits incl. English and Maths, or TC II | IJMB/OND/NCE (three credits) or OND Mass Communication | HND, Lower Credit |
| B.Sc Broadcasting | Same as Mass Communication | Same, or OND in Mass Communication, Broadcasting or a related field | HND, Lower Credit, in Mass Communication, Broadcasting or a related field |
| B.Sc Film and Multimedia Studies | Same as Mass Communication | ND, NCE or HND in Film Production, Theatre Arts or related, CGPA 3.0 of 5; A level not accepted | Same as Broadcasting |
If you already know you want radio and television, Broadcasting gives you a degree title that matches the job. If you want room to move between print, PR, advertising and broadcast, Mass Communication is the broader choice.
Careers
- Journalism: reporting and editing in newspapers, online media and news agencies.
- Broadcasting: presenting, producing and newsroom work in radio and television.
- Public relations and corporate communication: in companies, banks, government agencies and NGOs.
- Advertising and digital media: copywriting, campaign planning, social media management.
- Information officer roles: in ministries, local governments and parastatals.
Related programmes
- NOUN Enugu Political Science admission requirements;
- NOUN Enugu Criminology and Security Studies admission requirements;
- NOUN Enugu Public Administration admission requirements;
- NOUN Enugu Study Centre admission requirements for every programme;
- for a full-time UTME route, see the UNN Mass Communication cut-off mark.
NOUN form price and fees for Mass Communication applicants
The undergraduate application form costs ₦5,000, paid through Remita. That is the figure in NOUN’s own admission requirements notice of 8 August 2024, and it is the most recent official figure I could find. Postgraduate forms cost more, so make sure you start the undergraduate application.
After admission you pay a set of compulsory charges. NOUN’s fees schedule page (undated) lists them like this:
| Charge | New students | Returning students |
|---|---|---|
| Registration | ₦6,000 | ₦6,000 |
| Caution deposit | ₦3,500 | None |
| Orientation | ₦1,500 | None |
| Matriculation | ₦1,500 | None |
| ID card | ₦500 | None |
| Library | ₦3,000 | ₦3,000 |
| ICT administrative charges | ₦5,000 | ₦5,000 |
| E-facilitation | ₦4,000 | ₦4,000 |
| JAMB regularisation | ₦6,000 | None |
| Result verification | ₦5,000 | None |
| Total compulsory charges | ₦36,000 | ₦18,000 |
On top of these, the same page lists an examination fee of ₦1,000 per course and a project fee of ₦15,000 in the final year. Course registration is charged per course, and the page says those fees remain unchanged, but it does not print the per-course amounts. Your semester bill therefore depends on how many courses you register. Open your portal’s payment page to see the real figure before you budget, because NOUN has not published a 2026/2027 per-course table that I could verify.
When does NOUN admit? 2026/2027 dates
NOUN does not follow the JAMB admission deadlines that apply to conventional universities. It runs its own calendar in two semesters a year, labelled like 2026_1 and 2026_2.
| Item | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Admission portal for 2026 | Open from 1 January to 31 December 2026 | NOUN’s approved 2026 academic calendar, as reported by Myschool |
| 2026_1 course and examination registration | 5 January to 22 March 2026 (closed) | Same calendar |
| 2027 academic calendar | Not yet published | Check nou.edu.ng and your portal |
So, on the published calendar, the 2026 admission portal stays open until 31 December 2026. Because the outcome of an application is almost instant, people who apply now can usually be admitted and then register for the semester that is open on the calendar. NOUN has not published its 2027 calendar yet, so 2027/2028 applicants should watch nou.edu.ng and the portal from January 2027.
The NOUN Enugu Study Centre: what it does for Mass Communication students
NOUN admits centrally from its headquarters in Jabi, Abuja. The study centre is where you are attached for support: student records, facilitation, examinations, project defence and, at the end, certificate collection. When you apply, you pick Enugu as your study centre on the form.
- Leadership: NOUN News named Prof. Charity Akuadi Okonkwo as Director of the Enugu Study Centre when it reported an NUC accreditation visit to the centre on 26 November 2024.
- Examinations: the same report said the centre had 297 computers in its e-examination hall.
- Certificates: in July 2025 the centre told its graduands to collect certificates at the Centre Director’s office, with proof of final clearance, convocation and alumni fee payments, a bound project copy and a valid ID (reported by Myschool, 11 July 2025).
- Address: NOUN does not publish the street address in the sources I checked. Confirm it on the study centres directory on nou.edu.ng before you travel, and do not rely on addresses copied around on blogs.
NOUN also does not publish which programmes each study centre supports. Being admitted into Mass Communication and choosing Enugu should place you there, but if you need clinical placement, practical sessions or a project supervisor in Enugu, ask the centre to confirm it in writing before you pay registration fees.
Mistakes to avoid
- Applying at 200 level with an HND: Mass Communication offers 300 level for HND holders at Lower Credit; choose the right level on the form.
- Picking the wrong degree: Mass Communication, Broadcasting and Film are separate programmes on NOUN’s list.
- Assuming A level gives Direct Entry: the department page says A level holders should apply at 100 level for its disciplines.
- Leaving the attachment to the last minute: line up a media house in Enugu before 300 level second semester.
NOUN Mass Communication: frequently asked questions
What are the requirements for Mass Communication in NOUN? Five O’level credits including English Language and Mathematics, from SSCE, GCE, NECO or NABTEB, in not more than two sittings. A Teachers’ Grade II certificate with five merits including English and Mathematics also qualifies.
Can I use HND to enter 300 level Mass Communication in NOUN? Yes. The department accepts an HND at Lower Credit or better for 300 level, and you then need 90 credit units to graduate.
Is Literature in English compulsory for NOUN Mass Communication? No. The department names only English Language and Mathematics among the five credits. Literature is a useful choice for the other three but it is not required.
Is NOUN Mass Communication accredited? Yes. NOUN’s November 2024 accreditation document lists B.Sc Mass Communication with full NUC accreditation.
Sources and updates
Entry rules for all levels, the concession for applicants aged 50 and above, credit units and the sister Broadcasting and Film programmes come from NOUN’s Department of Mass Communication page. Course titles and the Media Attachment course come from the Mass Communication course list. Both were checked on 30 October 2026. The NUC’s seven-way split of Mass Communication comes from The ICIR (9 January 2020). NOUN’s undergraduate requirement wording and the automated application steps come from its Admission Requirements page on nou.edu.ng. Programme-specific requirements, the ₦5,000 form fee and the Remita payment rule come from NOUN News, “NOUN admission requirements” (8 August 2024). Compulsory charges, the examination fee and the JAMB regularisation charge come from NOUN’s fees schedule page (undated when checked). The programme list and accreditation statuses come from NOUN’s Programmes and Accreditation Status document (November 2024). The 2026 admission portal period and registration window come from Myschool’s report of NOUN’s approved 2026 academic calendar. Details on the Enugu Study Centre come from NOUN News (2 December 2024) and Myschool (11 July 2025). This page will be updated when NOUN publishes its 2027 calendar or changes the requirement.
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.
