There is no ABSU Criminology and Security Studies cut off mark yet. NUC approved a B.Sc in Criminology and Security Studies at Abia State University (ABSU) from the 2026/2027 session, but the course was not on ABSU’s JAMB course list when I checked on 29 October 2026, so a UTME candidate cannot choose it for ABSU today. When ABSU lists it, the floor is 150 in the UTME, the minimum ABSU set for every regular degree course in 2026/2027.
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.
One detail catches many applicants: JAMB’s brochure line for Criminology and Security Studies asks for Economics and Mathematics in the UTME, not Government alone. This page covers what ABSU and NUC have said, those subject rules, my safe target, the ABSU courses you can register today if Criminology is still missing, and the screening and CAPS steps.
ABSU Criminology and Security Studies cut off mark: quick answers
| Question | Answer | Source or status |
|---|---|---|
| Has NUC approved the course at ABSU? | Yes, as a B.Sc effective from the 2026/2027 session | ABSU Media Unit statement, reported by The Whistler, 29 September 2026 |
| Is it on ABSU’s JAMB course list? | No, not when I checked | Myschool reprint of JAMB’s ABSU list (75 entries), 29 October 2026 |
| ABSU cut-off mark for the course | None published | The course has not yet been offered through JAMB |
| ABSU minimum for every regular degree course | 150 (ABSU first or second choice) | ABSU 2026/2027 notice, reprinted June 2026 |
| JAMB national minimum for universities | 150 | JAMB 2026 policy meeting, 11 May 2026 |
| My safe target if the course opens | 190 or more | My advice, not an ABSU rule |
| JAMB’s usual UTME subjects | Use of English, Economics, Mathematics and one of Government, History, Geography, Literature in English, French or CRS/IRS | JAMB brochure (Myschool reprint) |
| NUC accreditation | None yet; the course is newly approved | Not in NUC’s 1990 to 2025 results |
Does ABSU offer Criminology and Security Studies?
The course is approved but not yet on JAMB. On 29 September 2026, The Whistler reported a statement from ABSU’s Media Unit saying NUC had approved ten new programmes at ABSU “effective from the 2026/2027 academic session”. B.Sc Criminology and Security Studies is on the list, with Software Engineering, Cyber Security, Artificial Intelligence and five communication degrees. The statement asked candidates to wait for guidelines from the Admissions Office.
Admission offers come through JAMB CAPS, and CAPS works from the courses JAMB holds for each university. ABSU’s list on Myschool’s reprint of the JAMB brochure, which I checked on 29 October 2026, had 75 entries. Sociology, Political Science, Law and Economics were there; Criminology and Security Studies was not. ABSU had not said which college will host the course or when the first class will be admitted.
If you plan to write the 2027 UTME, check ABSU’s list on the JAMB e-brochure at the moment you register. Choose the course if it is listed. If it is not, register a listed course from the table further down and follow the Admissions Office.
ABSU Criminology and Security Studies cut-off mark history
| Session | Figure | What it means | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/2027 | 150 | Lowest UTME score ABSU accepted for screening in any regular degree course (ABSU as first or second choice) | ABSU notice, reprinted by Osilight and Myschool, 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 |
| Criminology and Security Studies figure | None | No admission round has been run for the course | Nothing to publish yet |
Any page quoting a past “ABSU Criminology cut-off” is quoting something that never existed; ABSU has not run an admission round for the course. Its general 150 is the only ABSU figure that applies.
Safe target score for Criminology and Security Studies at ABSU (my advice)
Criminology and Security Studies has become a popular choice for arts and social science candidates who want a route into security work. With no ABSU data yet, I am guessing from how new social science degrees fill at state universities: the first class is usually small and applications are high.
My safe target is 190 or more, and 200 if you want to feel secure. That range also keeps you competitive for Sociology or Political Science at ABSU if you end up there. The table is my advice, not ABSU policy.
| Your UTME score | My read if ABSU opens the course |
|---|---|
| Below 150 | Not eligible for ABSU screening |
| 150 to 169 | Eligible, but weak for a new, popular course |
| 170 to 189 | A fair chance with good O’level grades |
| 190 to 209 | Good |
| 210 and above | Strong |
JAMB subject combination and O’level for Criminology and Security Studies
JAMB’s brochure has a university entry called Criminology And Security Studies; Myschool shows it under Social and Management Sciences, Arts and Law. ABSU is not named in it. Here is the general line:
| Requirement | What the JAMB brochure says |
|---|---|
| UTME | Use of English, Economics, Mathematics and one of Government, History, Geography, Literature in English, French or CRS/IRS |
| O’level | Five credits: English Language, Mathematics, Economics and two Arts or Social Science subjects |
| Direct Entry | Two A-level passes in Economics and one of Mathematics, Statistics, Geography, Physics, Chemistry, Agricultural Science, Accounting, Business Management, History or Government |
| ABSU-specific remarks | None. ABSU is not named anywhere on the entry |
| Other schools named in remarks | UNILORIN, WESTERN-DEL, AAUA, FUK and KASU (UTME); KASU, WESTERN-DEL, FUOYE, UNILORIN, CCU and LCU (O’level); UNIJOS, AAUA, CRAWFORD, WESTERN-DEL, FUOYE, UNILORIN, FUD, FUK, COOU and KASU (Direct Entry) |
Economics and Mathematics are compulsory in this line, so a candidate who writes Government, Literature and CRS would not fit it. A credit in Mathematics and in Economics at O’level is also required, which is stricter than ABSU’s Sociology and Political Science, where a Mathematics pass is enough.
The remarks show how much universities vary. FUOYE, for example, asks for Government at O’level, and several schools adjust the third subject. When ABSU lists the course it may add its own remark, so read the entry ABSU’s list links to before you pay for registration.
Which UTME set to write
| Your situation at JAMB registration | Subjects to write with Use of English | Courses it keeps open at ABSU |
|---|---|---|
| Criminology and Security Studies is on ABSU’s JAMB list | Economics, Mathematics, Government | Criminology and Security Studies, Economics |
| It is not listed, and you prefer a social science backup | Government, Economics and one of Literature in English, History or CRS | Sociology, Political Science |
Direct Entry
The general Direct Entry line asks for two A-level passes in Economics and one other subject from a long list. The ND, HND and NCE routes in the remarks belong to other universities. ABSU has not said whether a course in its first years will take Direct Entry students, so ask the Admissions Office before you buy a Direct Entry form.
What to register at ABSU while Criminology is not on JAMB
These ABSU courses are on the JAMB list now and lead into crime, justice and security work. The NUC column is the latest result in NUC’s 1990 to 2025 publication.
| Course on ABSU’s JAMB list | UTME subjects | Latest NUC result | Our guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sociology | Three Social Science or Arts subjects | Full, maturity 2027 | ABSU Sociology |
| Political Science | Government or History and two other Social Science or Arts subjects | Full, maturity 2029 | ABSU Political Science |
| Economics | Economics, Mathematics and one of Government, History, Geography, Literature in English, French or CRS/IRS | Full, maturity 2026 | ABSU Economics |
| Law | See our Law guide | Full, maturity 2029 | ABSU Law |
Sociology is the closest fit. Criminology grew out of it, and most criminology modules (deviance, crime theory, social control) are taught inside a Sociology degree. At O’level, ABSU accepts a pass in Mathematics for Sociology, with credits in English and Government or History. Political Science leads into policy and security administration and has the same O’level rule at ABSU.
ABSU has not announced any way for Sociology or Political Science students to move into the new course after admission, so choose the course you would be content to graduate in.
A related state university option nearby
- ESUT, Agbani (Enugu State): runs Intelligence and Security Studies, one of the new degrees NUC approved there in July 2026.
- ESUT Sociology and Anthropology: a long-running social science option at the same university.
How ABSU screens 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: Osilight (posted 9 June 2026) and Myschool (8 June 2026). They cover every regular degree course, and they are what a Criminology and Security Studies candidate should expect once the course is open to UTME applicants.
| 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. Because the notice describes no written test, your UTME score and your O’level grades are what ABSU ranks you on.
Worked example (illustrative)
ABSU has not published an aggregate formula. To show how O’level grades can change your position, I use a method common at Nigerian universities: UTME score divided by 8 (up to 50 points) plus O’level points for five relevant subjects (English, Mathematics, Economics, Government and Literature in English), where A1 = 10, B2 = 9, B3 = 8, C4 = 7, C5 = 6 and C6 = 5. This is my illustration, not ABSU’s formula.
- Chidinma scored 192 with B3 in English, B3 in Mathematics, B2 in Economics, B2 in Government and B3 in Literature. UTME points: 192 ÷ 8 = 24. O’level points: 8 + 8 + 9 + 9 + 8 = 42. Illustrative total: 66.
- Ugochukwu scored 215 with C5 in English, C6 in Mathematics, C5 in Economics, C5 in Government and C6 in Literature. UTME points: 215 ÷ 8 = 26.875. O’level points: 6 + 5 + 6 + 6 + 5 = 28. Illustrative total: 54.875.
- The result: Chidinma leads by 11.125 points. Ugochukwu scored 23 more marks in the UTME and still trails, because weaker O’level grades cost more than the UTME gap gave. In a new course with few places, a gap like that can decide the offer.
How to apply for Criminology and Security Studies or its alternative 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.
- Check ABSU’s list before you register: on the JAMB e-brochure, open Abia State University and search for Criminology and Security Studies. If it is listed, choose it; if not, choose Sociology or Political Science. Our guide on when JAMB 2027 registration starts helps you plan the timing.
- Write the right subjects: if Criminology is listed, Use of English, Economics, Mathematics and Government; if not, Use of English, Government, Economics and Literature in English, History or CRS for Sociology or Political Science.
- Put ABSU as first choice if you can: ABSU accepted first and second choice candidates in 2026/2027, but first choice is the stronger position. To move ABSU up later, use a JAMB change of institution.
- Upload your O’level to CAPS: at an accredited JAMB CBT centre once your result is out. For Criminology, the upload must show credits in English, Mathematics and Economics.
- 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 and O’level results on the ABSU portal. Keep the receipt and printout.
- Accept on CAPS: log in at efacility.jamb.gov.ng, choose Check Admission Status, then Access my CAPS, and accept within four weeks. Our JAMB CAPS guide explains every 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 selling a “special list” or a guaranteed place in Criminology and Security Studies at ABSU is not acting for the university. Pay only through the ABSU portal.
For the current cycle, JAMB kept 31 October 2026 as the date public universities such as ABSU should finish 2026/2027 admissions (Nairametrics, 28 September 2026). Candidates already in that cycle should watch CAPS rather than wait for a printed list.
Criminology and Security Studies at ABSU: what the degree involves
ABSU has not said where Criminology and Security Studies will sit. Its social science departments, including Sociology and Political Science, belong to the College of Humanities and Social Sciences on the main campus at Uturu, Isuikwuato LGA. ABSU was founded in 1981 as Imo State University and renamed after Abia State was created in 1991.
What you study
No ABSU curriculum has been published. NUC-approved Criminology and Security Studies degrees in Nigeria usually cover:
- Foundations: introduction to criminology, sociology, psychology and political science.
- Crime and justice: theories of crime, the criminal justice system, policing, penology and corrections, victimology.
- Security: security management, intelligence, conflict and terrorism studies, private security and cybercrime.
- Law and policy: criminal law, human rights and public policy on security.
- Research: research methods, statistics and a final-year project.
Accreditation, degree title and duration
NUC approval allows ABSU to start the course. Accreditation is a later NUC visit once students are enrolled, so the course has no accreditation result and does not appear in NUC’s 1990 to 2025 results. That is normal for a programme that has not yet admitted anyone. ABSU’s announcement names the degree B.Sc Criminology and Security Studies. Four years is the usual length for UTME entrants; ABSU has not confirmed it.
Careers
- Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Correctional Service and Immigration, through their own recruitment exercises.
- Private security and corporate security management.
- Risk, fraud and compliance roles in banks and telecoms.
- Research and programme roles in NGOs working on crime, justice and peacebuilding.
- Postgraduate study, teaching and policy work.
Related ABSU courses
- ABSU Sociology cut-off mark
- ABSU Political Science cut-off mark
- ABSU Law cut-off mark
- ABSU Economics cut-off mark
If you have already registered and the course appears on ABSU’s list later, our JAMB change of course guide shows how to switch. When results are out, read how to check your JAMB result and what to do with the score.
Mistakes Criminology and Security Studies applicants make with ABSU
- Writing the UTME without Mathematics and Economics: both are compulsory in the brochure line for Criminology.
- A Mathematics pass instead of a credit: enough for ABSU Sociology, not for Criminology.
- Paying an agent for a place on a course JAMB has not listed: without a CAPS listing there can be no lawful offer.
- Stopping at 150: it only makes you eligible for screening.
- Skipping ABSU screening: unregistered candidates are not considered.
- Missing the four-week CAPS window.
ABSU Criminology and Security Studies: frequently asked questions
Does ABSU offer Criminology and Security Studies? NUC approved it from 2026/2027, according to ABSU’s Media Unit, but it was not on ABSU’s JAMB list on 29 October 2026. Check the e-brochure when you register.
What subjects do I need in JAMB for Criminology and Security Studies? JAMB’s general line is Use of English, Economics, Mathematics and one of Government, History, Geography, Literature in English, French or CRS/IRS.
Can I study Criminology without Mathematics? Not on JAMB’s general line, which needs a Mathematics credit at O’level and Mathematics in the UTME. Sociology at ABSU accepts a Mathematics pass instead.
What is the ABSU cut-off mark for Criminology and Security Studies? ABSU has not set one. Its minimum for every regular degree course in 2026/2027 was 150, and I would aim for 190 or more.
Sources and updates
The NUC approval and the advice to wait for Admissions Office guidelines come from The Whistler (29 September 2026), which reported a statement from ABSU’s Media Unit. I checked ABSU’s JAMB course list on Myschool’s reprint of the JAMB brochure on 29 October 2026. The 150 minimum, the first and second choice rule, the Direct Entry line, the ₦2,000 fee, the 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 line comes from Myschool’s reprint of the JAMB brochure entry for Criminology And Security Studies; the Sociology rules come from the same brochure’s Sociology entry, which carries ABSU remarks. ABSU’s accreditation results come from NUC’s accreditation results, 1990 to 2025 publication. The safe target table and the worked example are my own advice and illustration. ABSU has not published the department, college, degree title, duration, fees or intake date for Criminology and Security Studies. Checked on 29 October 2026; this page will be updated when ABSU’s Admissions Office releases guidelines or the course appears on JAMB.
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.
