The ABSU cut off mark for Microbiology is 150 in the UTME. Abia State University, Uturu used 150 as the single minimum for its 2026/2027 online screening and published no separate score for Microbiology. You qualified if ABSU was your first or second choice, or if you changed your institution to ABSU on the JAMB portal.
2027/2028 update: ABSU 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.
Clearing 150 only gets you into the pool. Microbiology at ABSU draws science students who also had Medicine, Medical Laboratory Science or Pharmacy in mind, so the scores that actually get admitted sit well above the floor. JAMB’s brochure also says ABSU does not take Direct Entry students into Microbiology. This page covers the official figures, my safe target score, the subject rules, ABSU’s screening, a worked example, the CAPS steps and what the course is like.
ABSU cut off mark for Microbiology: the official figures
| Item | 2026/2027 position | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ABSU minimum UTME score (all courses) | 150, with ABSU as first or second choice | ABSU screening notice, via Osilight and Myschool reprints (June 2026) |
| JAMB national minimum for universities | 150 | JAMB 2026 policy meeting (11 May 2026) |
| Departmental cut-off for Microbiology | Not published | No ABSU figure exists |
| Screening fee | ₦2,000 by e-payment | ABSU notice |
| Written Post-UTME test | None mentioned | ABSU notice |
| UTME subjects | Use of English, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics or Mathematics | JAMB brochure (Myschool reprint) |
| Direct Entry | “No Direct Entry Admission” for ABSU | JAMB brochure remark |
| Safe target score | 190 and above | My advice |
Microbiology cut-off history at ABSU
| Session | Figure | What it is | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/2027 | 150 | ABSU minimum for screening, all courses | ABSU notice signed by the Registrar, Dr Acho Elendu, read through reprints |
| 2026 (national) | 150 | JAMB minimum for universities | Official |
| 2025/2026 | Not verified | ABSU’s 2025/2026 notice could not be opened | Unconfirmed |
| Microbiology only, any year | Not published | No merit cut-off released | No official figure |
You will see blogs quote a “departmental cut-off” for ABSU Microbiology. They do not cite an ABSU document, and ABSU does not release the lowest score it admitted, so treat those numbers as estimates.
Safe target score for Microbiology at ABSU (my advice)
These bands are my judgement from how course demand usually plays out at state universities in the South East. ABSU has not published anything similar.
| Your UTME score | My read for ABSU Microbiology |
|---|---|
| Below 150 | Not eligible for ABSU screening |
| 150 to 169 | Eligible; unlikely unless your O’level grades are very strong |
| 170 to 189 | Possible |
| 190 to 219 | Competitive |
| 220 and above | Strong |
For the 2027 UTME I would aim for 190 or more, with credits in English, Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology and Physics in place. If your score comes in lower, register anyway and keep Plant Science and Biotechnology or Animal and Environmental Biology in mind as courses you would accept.
ABSU belongs to the Abia State Government but admits from every state. The 2026/2027 notice said nothing about catchment, so plan on your score and grades alone.
ABSU Microbiology subject combination and O’level requirements
JAMB’s brochure entry for Microbiology, reprinted by Myschool, lists Biology, Chemistry and either Physics or Mathematics, plus Use of English. ABSU has no UTME remark on the entry.
| UTME subject | Status |
|---|---|
| Use of English | Compulsory |
| Biology | Compulsory |
| Chemistry | Compulsory |
| Physics or Mathematics | Pick one |
O’level rules for Microbiology at ABSU
| Requirement | What applies |
|---|---|
| General brochure rule | Five credits in English Language, Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology and Physics |
| ABSU remark | None, so the general rule applies |
| ABSU notice | “Basic five O’level credit passes” under ABSU’s entry requirements |
| Exams accepted | WAEC, NECO or NABTEB (JAMB’s usual list) |
| Sittings | Not stated by ABSU; one sitting is safer |
Physics is the subject that catches people out. You can skip it in the UTME by taking Mathematics, but the O’level rule still lists a Physics credit. The brochure carries a remark that lets IMSU and some other schools accept a pass in English; no such allowance is listed for ABSU, so you need a credit in English Language.
Direct Entry into ABSU Microbiology
The general DE rule asks for two A level passes in Chemistry and one of Biology, Zoology or Botany. The same entry then has a remark that reads “IMSU and ABSU – No Direct Entry Admission”. So the brochure lists ABSU as not taking Microbiology students through Direct Entry.
ABSU’s 2026/2027 notice spoke of screening “all Direct Entry candidates”, but that was a university-wide line. If you hold A levels, an ND or an HND and want ABSU Microbiology, confirm with the admissions office before paying for a DE form. The UTME route is the one the brochure supports.
How ABSU screening works
ABSU’s 2026/2027 screening notice was signed by the Registrar, Dr Acho Elendu, and reprinted by Myschool on 8 June 2026 and Osilight on 9 June 2026. I could not open the original on ABSU’s site. Expect a similar process for 2027/2028, but follow the new notice when it appears.
| Detail | ABSU 2026/2027 screening |
|---|---|
| Who could apply | 150 or more, ABSU first or second choice, or a change to ABSU |
| Registration | Online at www.abiastateuniversity.edu.ng |
| Uploads | UTME result, O’level certificates and degree certificates where they apply, on portal.abiastateuniversity.edu.ng and the JAMB portal |
| Fee | ₦2,000 by e-payment through listed banks or a debit card |
| Test | None mentioned |
| Closing date | Not stated |
| If you skip registration | “Will not be considered for admission” |
The notice describes uploads and no test. My working assumption is that ABSU ranks candidates on UTME score and O’level grades. Check the portal often after you register in case a later notice adds a step.
Worked example for two Microbiology candidates
ABSU has not published an aggregate formula. This example compares scores with the official minimum and my target only, and it is illustrative.
Ifeoma scored 203 with B3 in English, C4 in Mathematics, B2 in Chemistry, A1 in Biology and C5 in Physics, all in one NECO sitting.
- Eligibility: 203 minus 150 = 53. She clears ABSU’s floor.
- Against my target: 203 minus 190 = 13 above the score I call competitive.
- O’level check: all five required credits, Physics included, in one sitting.
- Advice: register for screening as soon as it opens and accept quickly on CAPS.
Obinna scored 172 with all five credits over two sittings. He is eligible (172 minus 150 = 22) but 18 marks under my target. He should still register, and I would tell him to accept a Transfer Approval to a related course on CAPS if ABSU offers one rather than lose the year.
How to apply for Microbiology at ABSU, step by step
- Get your JAMB profile code: send NIN, a space and your 11-digit NIN to 55019 or 66019 from the line linked to your NIN.
- Register the UTME with ABSU first or second: choose Microbiology with Use of English, Biology, Chemistry and Physics or Mathematics. If ABSU is not among your choices, use JAMB change of institution before screening.
- Upload your O’level to CAPS: at a JAMB-accredited CBT centre, then keep scans ready for ABSU’s portal.
- Register for screening: on www.abiastateuniversity.edu.ng once ABSU announces it, and upload your documents on portal.abiastateuniversity.edu.ng.
- Pay the screening fee: ₦2,000 in 2026/2027, by e-payment. Print and keep the receipt.
- Accept on CAPS: at efacility.jamb.gov.ng, open Check Admission Status, then Access my CAPS. JAMB gave four weeks to accept in 2026.
- Pay acceptance and clear: ABSU’s acceptance fee and school fees were not published in any source I reached. Pay only what the ABSU portal invoice shows.
Warning
ABSU gave one minimum of 150 for every course, and real offers appear on JAMB CAPS. Do not pay anyone who promises a Microbiology “slot” or a place on a “departmental list”. Pay ABSU only through its portal.
JAMB set 31 October 2026 for public universities to finish 2026/2027 admissions; that date has now passed, so check CAPS for your final status if you applied this year. Our JAMB CAPS guide explains each status you might see.
Studying Microbiology at ABSU
A third-party copy of ABSU’s postgraduate programme list puts the Department of Microbiology under Biological and Physical Sciences, with Biochemistry, Plant Science and Biotechnology, and Animal and Environmental Biology. Teaching is on the main campus at Uturu, Isuikwuato Local Government Area, Abia State.
What you study
I did not find an ABSU course outline online. A Nigerian B.Sc in Microbiology usually includes:
- First year: general biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics and general studies.
- Core microbiology: bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoa, and how to grow, stain and identify them.
- Medical microbiology: disease-causing organisms, immunology and antibiotics.
- Food and industrial microbiology: fermentation, food spoilage, brewing and quality control.
- Environmental microbiology: microbes in soil and water, waste treatment and pollution.
- SIWES and project: an industrial placement and a final year research project.
Duration and accreditation
B.Sc Microbiology normally takes four years in Nigeria. ABSU’s own duration is not confirmed in the sources I reached. NUC’s published accreditation results (1990 to 2025) list ABSU Microbiology with full accreditation as its latest result, valid to 2028.
One more point: Microbiology is a different degree from Medical Laboratory Science. Only the MLS degree leads to registration as a medical laboratory scientist. If hospital lab work is your goal, look at ABSU’s MLS page too.
Careers
- Quality control in food, beverage, brewing, water and pharmaceutical companies
- Public health and research laboratories
- Environmental and waste management work
- Postgraduate study in microbiology, virology, immunology or public health
- Science teaching, with a teaching qualification
Related ABSU courses
- ABSU cut-off mark for Biochemistry
- ABSU cut-off mark for Medical Laboratory Science
- ABSU Plant Science and Biotechnology cut-off mark
- ABSU cut-off mark for Public Health
For UTME revision, use our JAMB Biology syllabus and JAMB Chemistry syllabus for 2027.
Mistakes that cost Microbiology applicants an ABSU place
- Missing Physics at O’level: the general rule lists it and ABSU has no remark removing it.
- Applying by Direct Entry: the brochure says ABSU has no DE admission for Microbiology.
- Thinking 150 means admission: it means you may screen.
- Not registering for screening: ABSU will not consider you.
- Ignoring CAPS: an offer you do not accept in time can lapse.
Need to change course or school? See JAMB change of course. Planning another attempt? Read when JAMB 2027 registration starts.
ABSU cut off mark for Microbiology: frequently asked questions
Is 170 a good score for Microbiology in ABSU? 170 clears the 150 minimum, so you can screen. It is below what I would call competitive for Microbiology; strong one-sitting grades give you the best chance.
Can I use Mathematics instead of Physics for ABSU Microbiology? In the UTME, yes: the combination is Biology, Chemistry and Physics or Mathematics. At O’level you still need a Physics credit.
Does ABSU accept Direct Entry for Microbiology? JAMB’s brochure says “IMSU and ABSU – No Direct Entry Admission” for Microbiology. Confirm with ABSU before you pay for a DE form.
Does ABSU write Post-UTME for Microbiology? The 2026/2027 notice described online registration and document uploads, with no written test mentioned.
Sources and updates
The 150 minimum, the first or second choice rule, the ₦2,000 fee, the portals, the uploads and the warning about unregistered candidates come from ABSU’s 2026/2027 screening notice signed by the Registrar, Dr Acho Elendu, as reprinted by Osilight (9 June 2026) and Myschool (8 June 2026); I could not open the original. The national minimum, the 31 October 2026 deadline and the four-week acceptance window come from the News Agency of Nigeria (11 May 2026). Subject, O’level and Direct Entry rules, including ABSU’s no-DE remark, are from JAMB’s brochure entry for Microbiology as reprinted by Myschool, and the course is on Myschool’s reprint of JAMB’s ABSU course list. The accreditation status comes from NUC’s accreditation results, 1990 to 2025 publication. The department grouping is from Schoolings’ copy of ABSU’s postgraduate programme list. ABSU has not published a departmental cut-off, an aggregate formula, a closing date or fees in any source I reached. Course content and careers describe Nigerian Microbiology degrees in general, and the target scores are my advice. Checked on 29 October 2026; this page will be updated when ABSU releases its 2027/2028 screening notice.
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.
