The ABSU cut off mark for Pharmacy is 150 in the UTME, the single minimum Abia State University, Uturu set for all regular degree courses in its 2026/2027 screening notice. Before you choose it, though, you need to know where the programme stands. NUC’s latest published result for ABSU Pharmacy is Interim accreditation, not Full. ABSU is also missing from the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria’s (PCN) list of accredited universities, and an Abia State Government report from July 2026 still called ABSU’s pharmacy faculty “proposed”.
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.
Pharmacy is on JAMB’s course list for ABSU, so you can pick it. My advice is to get written confirmation from ABSU that it is admitting Pharmacy students for 2027/2028, and of the programme’s PCN position, before you make it your first choice. If you cannot get that, choose a pharmacy school on PCN’s list or a fully accredited ABSU health course. This page sets out the records, the 150 minimum and JAMB’s subject rules, then the alternatives.
Read before you choose ABSU Pharmacy
You can only register as a pharmacist in Nigeria after graduating from a pharmacy programme that PCN recognises. ABSU Pharmacy holds Interim (not Full) NUC accreditation and does not appear on PCN’s accredited universities page. Confirm its status with ABSU and PCN in writing before you pay any fee.
Is ABSU Pharmacy accredited? What the records show
| Record | What it shows for ABSU Pharmacy | Date |
|---|---|---|
| JAMB course list for ABSU (Myschool reprint) | “Pharmacy” is listed, so candidates can choose it | Read 29 October 2026 |
| NUC accreditation results, 1990 to 2025 | Listed under Pharmaceutical Sciences as Interim, with 2027 as the end of the period | Published September 2026 |
| PCN accredited universities page | 25 universities listed; ABSU is not among them | Page last modified 9 September 2024 |
| Federal Ministry of Information report | Refers to the “proposed Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences” at ABSU; the Pharmaceutical Society asked the state to support its establishment and accreditation | 21 July 2026 |
| Degree awarded (B.Pharm or Pharm.D) | Not stated in any source I reached | Unconfirmed |
What Interim accreditation means for you
NUC grades programmes Full, Interim or Denied. Interim is the middle grade: the programme met part of NUC’s minimum standards, and NUC returns to check that the gaps have been fixed. ABSU Pharmacy has a single result in NUC’s accreditation results, 1990 to 2025, Interim, ending in 2027. Every other health programme I checked at ABSU (Medicine, Nursing, Medical Laboratory Science, Optometry, Anatomy, Physiology and Public Health) shows Full as its latest result.
Why the PCN list matters more
NUC approval lets a university run a degree. To practise, a pharmacy graduate must also be inducted and registered by the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, which accredits pharmacy schools separately. PCN’s accredited universities page names 25 universities, including four in the South East: University of Nigeria, Nsukka; Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka; Enugu State University of Technology, Agbani; and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam. ABSU is not there. The page was last modified in September 2024, so a newer approval may exist that it does not show. Ask PCN and ABSU directly.
The July 2026 report from the Federal Ministry of Information adds to the doubt. It covered a visit by pharmacists to Abia’s Deputy Governor, who promised to discuss the ABSU pharmacy faculty proposal with the Governor and to help its accreditation. A faculty still described as proposed in mid-2026 may not yet have the structures PCN looks for.
ABSU cut off mark for Pharmacy: the official figures
| Item | 2026/2027 position | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ABSU minimum UTME score (all courses) | 150, ABSU 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) |
| Pharmacy departmental cut-off | Not published | No ABSU figure exists |
| JAMB course name to choose | Pharmacy | JAMB course list for ABSU (Myschool reprint) |
| UTME subjects | Use of English, Physics, Chemistry and Biology | JAMB brochure (Myschool reprint) |
| Screening fee | ₦2,000 | ABSU notice |
| NUC accreditation (latest) | Interim, period to 2027 | NUC accreditation results, 1990 to 2025 |
| PCN accredited list | ABSU not listed | PCN website (page modified September 2024) |
| Safe target score, if ABSU confirms it is admitting | 230 and above | My advice |
ABSU has never published a Pharmacy cut-off, and it is not clear from any source I found that it has admitted a Pharmacy class. Figures on blogs for “ABSU Pharmacy cut-off” cite no ABSU document.
Cut-off history
| Session | Figure | What it is | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/2027 | 150 | ABSU minimum for screening, all courses | ABSU notice signed by the Registrar, 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 |
| Pharmacy only, any year | Not published | No merit cut-off released | No official figure |
ABSU Pharmacy subject combination and O’level requirements
JAMB’s brochure entry for Pharmacy, reprinted by Myschool, lists Physics, Chemistry and Biology for the UTME, plus Use of English. None of the remarks on the entry mentions ABSU. The same combination works for Pharmacy at UNN, ESUT and COOU, so a candidate who registers it keeps those options open.
| Requirement | What applies |
|---|---|
| UTME | Use of English, Physics, Chemistry and Biology |
| O’level | Five credits in English Language, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology |
| ABSU remark | None on the UTME, O’level or Direct Entry lines |
| Sittings | Not stated for ABSU. UI and DELSU ask for one sitting; others allow two. One sitting is safer for Pharmacy anywhere |
| Direct Entry | Three A level passes in Chemistry, Biology or Zoology, and Physics or Mathematics, plus the UTME requirements |
ABSU’s 2026/2027 notice invited Direct Entry candidates university-wide. For a programme whose faculty status is unclear, I would not buy a DE form until ABSU confirms in writing that Pharmacy takes DE students.
How to check ABSU Pharmacy before you choose it
- Ask ABSU’s admissions office in writing: is Pharmacy admitting in 2027/2028, which faculty runs it, and is the degree a B.Pharm or a Pharm.D? Keep the reply.
- Ask about PCN: request the date of PCN’s approval or accreditation visit, then check it with PCN through its official website.
- Ask about the NUC revisit: the Interim period runs to 2027, so ask whether NUC has returned and what the result was.
- Look at the JAMB e-brochure in 2027: confirm Pharmacy is still on ABSU’s list when you register.
- Watch CAPS: if ABSU offers you Pharmacy, the offer appears on CAPS. An offer that appears only on a WhatsApp list or a letter you paid for is not real.
Alternatives to ABSU Pharmacy
If you cannot get clear answers, these are the options I would weigh. The first group are pharmacy schools PCN lists, so your degree leads to registration. The second group are ABSU courses with full NUC accreditation that use the same UTME subjects.
Pharmacy at PCN-listed universities in the South East
| University | Location | Our guide |
|---|---|---|
| University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) | Nsukka, Enugu State | UNN cut-off mark for Pharmacy |
| Enugu State University of Technology (ESUT) | Agbani, Enugu State | ESUT cut-off mark for Pharmacy |
| Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) | Awka, Anambra State | Check UNIZIK’s 2027 notice |
| Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU) | Igbariam, Anambra State | Check COOU’s 2027 notice |
Madonna University in Elele, Rivers State is also on PCN’s list. These schools set their own merit cut-offs, and UNN and ESUT in particular admit Pharmacy far above 150, so read each page before you decide.
ABSU health courses with full NUC accreditation
| ABSU course | Latest NUC result | Our guide |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Laboratory Science | Full, to 2028 | ABSU MLS cut-off mark |
| Nursing Science | Full, to 2027 (NMCN: Full, April 2024) | ABSU Nursing cut-off mark |
| Biochemistry | Full, to 2027 | ABSU Biochemistry cut-off mark |
| Microbiology | Full, to 2028 | ABSU Microbiology cut-off mark |
Biochemistry and Microbiology lead to jobs in drug manufacturing and quality control, but they do not make you a pharmacist. If dispensing and running a pharmacy is the goal, only a PCN-recognised pharmacy degree gets you there.
Safe target score if ABSU confirms Pharmacy (my advice)
If ABSU confirms it is admitting into a PCN-approved Pharmacy programme, expect strong competition, because Pharmacy is one of the most wanted courses in any Nigerian university. My bands below are judgement, not ABSU policy.
| Your UTME score | My read |
|---|---|
| Below 150 | Not eligible for ABSU screening |
| 150 to 199 | Eligible; unlikely for Pharmacy |
| 200 to 229 | Possible with excellent one-sitting grades |
| 230 and above | Competitive |
Worked example for two Pharmacy candidates
ABSU has not published an aggregate formula, so this example is illustrative.
Chidinma scored 241 with all five credits in one sitting. She is well above the 150 minimum (241 minus 150 = 91) and above my target. With that score I would put a PCN-listed school such as UNN or ESUT as her first choice and ABSU second only if ABSU confirms its Pharmacy status, since ABSU’s 150 rule counts second-choice candidates.
Obiora scored 196. He clears ABSU’s floor (196 minus 150 = 46) but sits below my target for Pharmacy anywhere. I would advise him to choose an ABSU course he can realistically get, such as Microbiology, or rewrite the UTME in 2027 for a PCN-listed pharmacy school.
How ABSU screening works for Pharmacy
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 website, but the two reprints agree. Expect a similar process for 2027/2028 and follow the new notice when it comes out.
| Detail | ABSU 2026/2027 screening |
|---|---|
| Who could apply | 150 or more in the UTME, with ABSU as first or second choice, or after a change of institution 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 the listed banks or a debit card |
| Written test | None mentioned in the notice |
| Closing date | Not stated in the reprints |
| If you skip registration | “Will not be considered for admission” |
The bank names came out garbled in the reprint, so use the payment options the ABSU portal shows you. Because the notice describes uploads and no test, my working assumption is that ABSU ranks applicants on UTME score and O’level grades. Keep checking the portal after you register in case a later notice adds a step.
How to apply for Pharmacy 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 phone line linked to your NIN.
- Register the UTME with ABSU first or second: pick Pharmacy and sit Use of English with Physics, Chemistry and Biology. If ABSU is not among your choices, do a JAMB change of institution before screening.
- Upload your O’level to CAPS: do this at a JAMB-accredited CBT centre. Awaiting result candidates must upload as soon as results are out, because CAPS cannot treat you as fully qualified without them.
- Register for ABSU screening: on www.abiastateuniversity.edu.ng once ABSU announces it, then upload your documents on portal.abiastateuniversity.edu.ng.
- Pay the screening fee: ₦2,000 in 2026/2027, by e-payment. Print the receipt and keep it for clearance.
- Accept on CAPS: log in at efacility.jamb.gov.ng, open Check Admission Status, then Access my CAPS. JAMB gave candidates four weeks to accept in 2026.
- Pay acceptance and clear: ABSU’s acceptance fee and school fees were not in any source I reached. Pay only the amount on the invoice the ABSU portal generates. Do not pay acceptance for Pharmacy until ABSU has answered your questions about PCN.
JAMB set 31 October 2026 as the 2026/2027 admission deadline for public universities, ABSU included; that date has now passed, so anyone who applied this year should check CAPS for their final status. Our JAMB CAPS guide explains each status you might see there.
What a Pharmacy degree involves
ABSU has not published a Pharmacy curriculum in any source I reached, and I could not confirm whether it would award a B.Pharm or a Pharm.D. In Nigeria a pharmacy degree generally covers:
- Basic sciences: chemistry, biology, physics and mathematics, then human anatomy, physiology and biochemistry.
- Pharmaceutics: how medicines are formulated, made and tested.
- Pharmaceutical chemistry: the chemistry of drugs and how they are analysed.
- Pharmacology: how drugs act on the body and their side effects.
- Pharmacognosy: medicines from plants and other natural sources.
- Clinical pharmacy: patient care, prescriptions and hospital practice.
After graduation, a pharmacist completes PCN’s internship and registration process before practising. Careers include community and hospital pharmacy, drug manufacturing, regulatory work and research.
ABSU cut off mark for Pharmacy: frequently asked questions
Does ABSU offer Pharmacy? Pharmacy is on JAMB’s course list for ABSU and NUC lists it with Interim accreditation. A July 2026 government report still called the faculty proposed, so confirm with ABSU that it is admitting before you choose it.
Is ABSU Pharmacy accredited by PCN? ABSU is not on PCN’s accredited universities page, which was last modified in September 2024. Ask PCN and ABSU for the current position in writing.
What is the cut off mark for Pharmacy in ABSU 2027? ABSU’s minimum for all courses was 150 in 2026/2027, and it has published no Pharmacy figure. If ABSU confirms it is admitting, I would aim for 230 or more.
What can I study instead of Pharmacy at ABSU? Medical Laboratory Science, Nursing Science, Biochemistry or Microbiology at ABSU all hold full NUC accreditation and use the same UTME subjects. For Pharmacy itself, look at UNN, ESUT, UNIZIK or COOU, which are on PCN’s list.
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 of 150, the 31 October 2026 deadline for public universities and the four-week acceptance window come from the News Agency of Nigeria (11 May 2026). The course appears on Myschool’s reprint of JAMB’s ABSU course list. UTME, O’level and Direct Entry rules are from JAMB’s brochure entry for Pharmacy as reprinted by Myschool, which has no ABSU remark. The Interim status comes from NUC’s accreditation results, 1990 to 2025 publication, which also gives the Full results for ABSU’s other health programmes. The list of accredited pharmacy schools is from PCN (page last modified 9 September 2024). The “proposed” faculty and the request for support come from the Federal Ministry of Information (21 July 2026). Nursing’s NMCN status is from NMCN’s December 2025 list of approved schools. The degree title, faculty name and whether ABSU has admitted Pharmacy students were not confirmed. ABSU has not published a departmental cut-off, an aggregate formula, a screening closing date or fees in any source I reached, 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.
