The ABSU cut off mark for French is 150 in the UTME. That is the minimum Abia State University (ABSU) set for every regular degree course in its 2026/2027 screening notice, for candidates who picked ABSU as first or second choice. ABSU did not publish a separate figure for French, so 150 gets you into screening, and admission is then decided on merit among the people who applied for the course.
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.
Two ABSU remarks in the JAMB brochure set French at ABSU apart. They let candidates sit the UTME without French, and they describe the course for UTME entrants as a five-year programme. NUC’s record for the course is also the cleanest of any ABSU humanities degree.
ABSU French cut off mark at a glance
| Item | 2026/2027 position | Source or status |
|---|---|---|
| ABSU minimum UTME score (all courses) | 150, ABSU first or second choice | ABSU notice reprinted by Osilight and Myschool, June 2026 |
| JAMB national minimum for universities | 150 | JAMB 2026 policy meeting, 11 May 2026 |
| Departmental cut-off for French | Not published | ABSU released no per-course figures |
| My safe target score | 170 or more | My advice, not an ABSU rule |
| Course name to pick on JAMB | French | ABSU’s JAMB course list (Myschool reprint) |
| UTME subjects at ABSU | Use of English plus Literature in English and two Arts or Social Science subjects, or any three Arts or Social Science subjects | JAMB brochure, ABSU remarks |
| O’level at ABSU | Credits in English Language and four other subjects (for the five-year programme) | JAMB brochure, ABSU remark |
| Direct Entry at ABSU | Two A-level passes in Arts (four-year programme), or two A-level passes including French at IJMB or NCE | JAMB brochure, ABSU remark |
| NUC status | Full (five full results in a row, maturity date 2027) | NUC accreditation results, 1990 to 2025 |
| Screening fee | ₦2,000 | Notice reprint |
ABSU French cut-off mark history
| Session | Figure | What it means | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/2027 | 150 | Lowest UTME score ABSU accepted for online screening in any regular degree course (ABSU as first or second choice) | ABSU notice, reprinted 8 to 9 June 2026 |
| 2026 (national) | 150 | JAMB minimum for every Nigerian university | JAMB 2026 policy meeting, 11 May 2026 |
| 2025/2026 | Not confirmed | I could not open an ABSU notice for that session | Unverified |
| French figure | None published | Blog “departmental cut-off” tables cite no ABSU document | Unofficial |
ABSU’s notice gave one figure for all courses. Any page that prints an official ABSU cut-off for French alone is quoting a number ABSU never released. The real cut-off each year is the score of the last candidate admitted into French, and ABSU does not publish it.
Safe target score for French at ABSU (my advice)
Foreign language degrees draw far fewer applicants than Law, Mass Communication or English at South East universities, and French is no exception. That works in your favour, but a low score still leaves you exposed if your O’level is weak. This table is my reading, not an ABSU rule.
| Your UTME score | My read for ABSU French |
|---|---|
| Below 150 | Not eligible for screening |
| 150 to 159 | Eligible; you need clean credits, especially English Language |
| 160 to 169 | A fair chance |
| 170 to 189 | Good |
| 190 and above | Strong |
I would aim for 170 or more. If you score above 200 and French is a backup you never wanted, think hard before you accept it. Four or five years of grammar, translation and literature are hard going for a student who does not enjoy languages.
JAMB subject combination and O’level for French at ABSU
| Requirement | General brochure line | ABSU remark |
|---|---|---|
| Course name on JAMB | French | Listed under Arts and Humanities on ABSU’s course list |
| UTME | French and any two other Arts or Social Science subjects | ABSU accepts Literature in English and two other Arts or Social Science subjects; ABSU is also among schools that accept any three Arts or Social Science subjects |
| O’level | Five credits including French and English Language, plus one other Arts subject | ABSU requires credits in English Language and four other subjects for the five-year programme |
| Direct Entry | Two A-level passes including French and one other Arts subject | ABSU accepts two A-level passes in Arts into the four-year programme, or two A-level passes including French at IJMB or NCE; NCE General English or Use of English satisfies the UTME English requirement |
Do you need French in JAMB for ABSU?
No. The general brochure line puts French first, but ABSU has two remarks that relax it. One says ABSU accepts Literature in English with two other Arts or Social Science subjects. The other lists ABSU among the universities that accept any three Arts or Social Science subjects. Use of English is compulsory for everyone on top of these three.
My pick for most candidates is Use of English, Literature in English, Government and Christian Religious Studies. If you studied French in secondary school and expect a good score in it, swap it in for CRS, because it shows the department you can already handle the language. Avoid putting a science subject in the mix for this course.
O’level: French credit is not on ABSU’s list
The general O’level line asks for credits in French, English Language and one other Arts subject. ABSU’s remark replaces that with credits in English Language and four other subjects for the five-year programme, so a French credit is not named. The brochure does not say what the fifth year is for, and ABSU has not published it. At many Nigerian universities the extra time covers beginners’ French or a period of language immersion, so ask the department how the five years are organised before you accept.
Mathematics is not named in either line. The 2026/2027 notice speaks of “basic five O’level credit passes”, and I would still go in with a credit in Mathematics, because a pass is the kind of gap that gets questioned at clearance. If you have only a pass, confirm with the ABSU admissions office before you pay for anything.
Direct Entry for French at ABSU
ABSU is generous here. Its remark accepts two A-level passes in Arts subjects into the four-year programme, and it also accepts two A-level passes including French at IJMB or NCE level. If you hold an NCE, General English or Use of English at NCE counts for the UTME English requirement. The 2026/2027 notice adds that Direct Entry candidates need the basic five O’level credits. The brochure does not say which level a Direct Entry candidate starts at, so ask before you buy the form.
How ABSU screens French applicants
ABSU’s 2026/2027 notice was signed by the Registrar, Dr. Acho Elendu. I could not open the original on the ABSU website, so the details below come from two reprints that agree with each other: Osilight (posted 9 June 2026) and Myschool (8 June 2026).
| Detail | What the 2026/2027 notice said |
|---|---|
| Who could apply | Candidates who chose ABSU as first or second choice, or who changed to ABSU, and scored 150 or more in the UTME |
| Direct Entry | Basic five O’level credit passes under ABSU’s entry requirements |
| Where to register | Online at www.abiastateuniversity.edu.ng |
| What to upload | UTME result, O’level result and degree certificate where applicable, on the ABSU portal (www.portal.abiastateuniversity.edu.ng) and the JAMB portal |
| Fee | ₦2,000 by e-payment through the banks named in the notice, or by debit card |
| Missing the screening | Candidates who do not register “will not be considered for admission” |
| Written test | Not mentioned; the notice describes online document screening |
| Closing date | Not stated in the reprints |
The bank names came out garbled in the reprint, so follow the payment options on the ABSU portal itself. With no written test in the notice, your UTME score and O’level grades are what ABSU has in front of it when it ranks French applicants. Your English Language grade carries extra weight in a language course, so a B3 there helps more than an extra ten marks in the UTME.
Worked example for French candidates
ABSU has not published an aggregate formula, and the 2026/2027 notice describes document screening without a test. To show how your O’level grades can move you up or down, I use an illustrative method that many Nigerian universities use: UTME score divided by 8 (up to 50 points) plus O’level points for five relevant subjects, where A1 = 10, B2 = 9, B3 = 8, C4 = 7, C5 = 6 and C6 = 5 (up to 50 points). This is my example, not ABSU’s formula.
- Nneoma scored 166 with B3 in English, B2 in Literature in English, B3 in French, B3 in Government, C4 in CRS. UTME points: 166 ÷ 8 = 20.75. O’level points: 8 + 9 + 8 + 8 + 7 = 40. Illustrative total: 60.75.
- Ifeanyi scored 184 with C6 in English, C6 in Literature in English, C5 in French, C6 in Government, C5 in CRS. UTME points: 184 ÷ 8 = 23. O’level points: 5 + 5 + 6 + 5 + 6 = 27. Illustrative total: 50.
- The result: Nneoma leads by 10.75 points even though Ifeanyi scored 18 marks more in the UTME. Five weak credits cost Ifeanyi far more than his UTME lead could make up.
How to apply for French at ABSU, step by step
- Get a JAMB profile code: text NIN, a space and your 11-digit NIN to 55019 or 66019 from the SIM linked to that NIN. The code arrives by SMS and you take it to a CBT centre to register.
- Register the UTME with the right subjects: pick French at Abia State University with Use of English plus Literature in English, Government and CRS (or French in place of CRS). ABSU screened first and second choice candidates in 2026/2027, but first choice is still the cleaner position. To move ABSU up later, use a JAMB change of institution.
- Upload your O’level to CAPS: do it at an accredited JAMB CBT centre once your result is out. Check that the upload shows English Language clearly, along with your Arts subjects.
- Register for ABSU screening: when the notice is out, go to www.abiastateuniversity.edu.ng, pay the screening fee (₦2,000 in 2026/2027) and upload your UTME result and O’level on the ABSU portal.
- Keep your receipts: save the payment receipt and a printout of the completed screening form. You may need both at clearance.
- Check your status: watch the ABSU portal and your JAMB CAPS page. An ABSU offer shows on CAPS first.
- Accept on CAPS: log in at efacility.jamb.gov.ng, choose Check Admission Status, then Access my CAPS, and accept. JAMB gives four weeks. Our JAMB CAPS guide explains each status.
- Pay acceptance and clear: ABSU’s acceptance and school fees were not in any source I reached. Pay only the amount on your ABSU portal invoice.
Warning
Every genuine ABSU offer appears on JAMB CAPS, and JAMB said in May 2026 that admission outside CAPS is illegal. Anyone who asks for money to “process” a French place is not acting for ABSU. Pay only through the ABSU portal.
JAMB set 31 October 2026 as the 2026/2027 deadline for public universities such as ABSU to finish admissions, and kept that date when it restored CAPS (Nairametrics, 28 September 2026). Candidates in the 2026/2027 cycle should watch CAPS rather than wait for a printed list.
French at ABSU: the programme
French sits in the humanities side of ABSU’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences. AdmitNode, a third-party site, calls the department “Foreign Languages and Translation Studies”; I could not confirm that name on an ABSU page. ABSU’s main campus is at Uturu in Isuikwuato LGA, while Law and Agriculture are at the Umuahia campus. The university began in 1981 as Imo State University and took its present name after Abia State was created in 1991.
What you study
ABSU has not published a French course outline that I could reach. French degrees in Nigeria follow the NUC benchmark for languages, so you can expect:
- Language skills: French grammar, oral and written expression, phonetics and comprehension, from the basics upward.
- Translation: translating between French and English, and an introduction to interpreting.
- Literature: French literature and the literature of French-speaking Africa and the Caribbean.
- Culture and society: the history and civilisation of France and Francophone countries, including Nigeria’s neighbours.
- Linguistics: the structure of French and how it compares with English and Nigerian languages.
- Immersion and project: many Nigerian French programmes include time at the Nigerian French Language Village in Badagry or abroad; ABSU’s brochure remark does not mention this, so ask the department.
Accreditation, degree and duration
NUC’s publication of accreditation results from 1990 to 2025 lists ABSU French with five full accreditation results in a row and a maturity date of 2027, which is the cleanest record of any ABSU humanities course in that document. A March 2023 release from the then Vice-Chancellor, published by the Federal Ministry of Information, also listed French among seven ABSU programmes with full accreditation from the 2022 exercise. The degree is normally a B.A. in French. The brochure describes a five-year programme for UTME entrants and a four-year programme for Direct Entry; ABSU’s own page confirming the years was not available.
One caution. The same NUC document lists Education French at ABSU with “Denied” as its latest result. That is a different degree in the College of Education. If you want to teach French, B.A. French with a later Postgraduate Diploma in Education is the safer route at ABSU.
Careers
- Translation and interpreting for companies, NGOs, courts and regional bodies such as ECOWAS.
- The Nigerian foreign service and other roles that value a second international language.
- Teaching French in secondary schools, usually after a PGDE and TRCN registration.
- Customer service, sales and banking roles that serve Francophone West African markets.
- Tourism, hospitality and cultural work, including French cultural centres.
- Postgraduate study in French, translation studies or international relations.
Related ABSU courses
- ABSU Linguistics and Communication Studies cut-off mark
- ABSU English Language and Literature cut-off mark
- ABSU Igbo cut-off mark
- ABSU History and International Studies cut-off mark
If you are writing in 2027, read when JAMB 2027 registration starts, and when results are out, see how to check your JAMB result. If your score or subjects do not fit, our JAMB change of course guide shows how to switch before admission closes.
Mistakes that cost French applicants an ABSU place
- Thinking you cannot apply without WAEC French: ABSU’s O’level remark asks for English and four other subjects, with no French credit named.
- Putting science subjects in the UTME: ABSU’s remarks call for Arts or Social Science subjects.
- Registering for Education French by mistake: it is a separate course, and its latest NUC result is Denied.
- Assuming four years from UTME: the brochure calls the UTME route a five-year programme.
- Not registering for screening: the notice says such candidates will not be considered.
- Missing the CAPS window: JAMB gives four weeks to accept an offer.
ABSU French: frequently asked questions
Can I study French in ABSU without a credit in French in WAEC? The JAMB brochure says ABSU requires credits in English Language and four other subjects for its five-year French programme, and it does not name French. Confirm with the department, but on the brochure wording a French credit is not required.
Is French compulsory in JAMB for French in ABSU? No. ABSU accepts Literature in English with two other Arts or Social Science subjects, or any three Arts or Social Science subjects, alongside Use of English.
How many years is French in ABSU? The brochure describes a five-year programme for UTME entrants and a four-year programme for Direct Entry candidates with two A-level Arts passes.
Is 160 enough for French in ABSU? Yes for screening, since the minimum is 150. I would aim for 170 or more and make sure your English Language credit is strong.
Sources and updates
The 150 minimum, the first and second choice rule, the Direct Entry line, the ₦2,000 fee, the registration and upload steps and the warning about candidates who fail to register 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 on the ABSU website. The national minimum of 150, the four-week CAPS window and the warning on admissions outside CAPS come from the News Agency of Nigeria (11 May 2026), and the 31 October 2026 deadline for public universities from Nairametrics (28 September 2026). The UTME, O’level and Direct Entry rules come from Myschool’s reprint of the JAMB brochure entry for French, which ABSU’s JAMB course list links to. The accreditation history comes from NUC’s accreditation results, 1990 to 2025 publication. The 2022 accreditation of French comes from the Federal Ministry of Information release of 16 March 2023. Campus and history details come from Wikipedia. ABSU’s fees, the degree title and the exact duration were not published in any source I reached. The safe target table and the worked example are my own advice and illustration. Checked on 29 October 2026; this page will be updated if ABSU publishes a departmental cut-off or new requirements.
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.
