The ADSU cut off mark for Sharia (Islamic Law) is 230 for Adamawa State indigenes and 260 for candidates from other states. Adamawa State University, Mubi printed those figures for Sharia, the same as for Common Law, in its approved programme cut-off marks for the 2026/2027 session (Office of the Registrar, June 2026). Both rose by 10 marks from 2025/2026.
2027/2028 update: ADSU 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.
Sharia sits in ADSU’s Faculty of Law next to Common Law. ADSU is on the Council of Legal Education’s list of approved law faculties as at August 2026. The main thing to sort out is the JAMB course name, because JAMB’s list for ADSU shows only Law. Below you will find the figures, my safe targets, the subject rules, how screening ran, a worked example, the CAPS steps and what the degree involves.
Check before you register
JAMB’s list of ADSU courses (Myschool reprint, read 3 November 2026) shows only Law, with no separate Sharia entry, while ADSU’s own list splits Law into Common Law and Sharia. The likely route is to register Law on JAMB and choose Sharia at ADSU, but ADSU has not said so in any source I reached. Ask the Faculty of Law or the Admissions Office in writing before you register, and confirm on the JAMB e-brochure.
ADSU cut off mark for Sharia at a glance
| Item | Figure or rule | Source or status |
|---|---|---|
| ADSU cut-off for Sharia (Islamic Law) | 230 (Adamawa indigenes) / 260 (other states) | Official ADSU list for 2026/2027 (Office of the Registrar, June 2026) |
| Same figure in 2025/2026 | 220 (indigenes) / 250 (other states) | Official ADSU 2025/2026 list |
| JAMB national minimum for universities | 150 | Official (JAMB policy meeting, 11 May 2026) |
| Departmental merit cut-off (last candidate admitted) | Not published | ADSU has not released one |
| Faculty | Law | ADSU 2026/2027 cut-off list |
| Course name on JAMB | Law (no separate Sharia entry found) | Myschool reprint of ADSU’s JAMB list, read 3 November 2026; confirm on the e-brochure |
| UTME subjects | Use of English and three Arts or Social Science subjects; include IRS or Arabic | JAMB brochure for Law and for Islamic/Sharia Law (Myschool reprint) |
| 2026/2027 screening | Online, ₦2,000, 15 June to 30 October 2026 | Closed |
Sharia uses exactly the Law figures. ADSU has not given any lower cut-off for Sharia, so a score that misses Common Law also misses Sharia.
ADSU Sharia cut-off mark history
| Session | ADSU cut-off for Sharia (Islamic Law) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2026/2027 | 230 (indigenes) / 260 (others) | ADSU approved programme cut-off list (official) |
| 2025/2026 | 220 (indigenes) / 250 (others) | ADSU programme cut-off list (official) |
| Earlier sessions | Not found | No older ADSU list reached |
Sharia has moved in step with Common Law: up 10 marks for both groups in one year, with the 30-mark gap kept.
Where Sharia sits on ADSU’s 2026/2027 list
ADSU published four tiers for 2026/2027. Most courses sit on the national floor of 150; a handful were pushed higher because demand for them is heavier.
| ADSU 2026/2027 cut-off | Programmes on that tier |
|---|---|
| 230 (Adamawa indigenes) / 260 (non-indigenes) | Common Law and Sharia |
| 170 | Biochemistry, Microbiology, Computer Science |
| 160 | Animal Production, Cyber Security, Business Administration, Mass Communication |
| 150 | Every other programme on the list, across Agriculture, Arts, Education, Environmental Science, Science and Computing, Administration and Management Sciences, and Social Sciences |
Sharia shares ADSU’s top tier with Common Law. The next tier is 170 (Biochemistry, Microbiology, Computer Science).
Safe target score for Sharia at ADSU (my advice)
Clearing the cut-off puts you in the screening pool, and ADSU then admits from that pool by merit. ADSU does not publish the score of the last candidate admitted into each course, so the table below is my judgement as an admissions adviser, not an ADSU rule.
| Your UTME score | My read for ADSU Sharia |
|---|---|
| Adamawa indigene, below 230 | Not eligible for Law or Sharia at ADSU this session |
| Adamawa indigene, 230 to 244 | Eligible; a place is possible with strong O’level grades |
| Adamawa indigene, 245 and above | Competitive. I would aim for 250 or more |
| Other states, below 260 | Not eligible for Law or Sharia at ADSU this session |
| Other states, 260 to 274 | Eligible; a place is possible with strong O’level grades |
| Other states, 275 and above | Competitive. I would aim for 280 or more |
For the 2027 UTME I would aim for at least 250 if you are an Adamawa indigene and at least 280 if you are not, with credits in English, Literature in English, Mathematics and Islamic Studies or Arabic.
Catchment and state of origin
Law is the one course where ADSU publishes a state-of-origin rule. For 2026/2027 an Adamawa indigene needed 230 and a candidate from any other state needed 260; in 2025/2026 the figures were 220 and 250. ADSU’s list does not say how indigeneship is proved. Expect to show a certificate of state of origin from your local government at clearance, and make sure the state on your JAMB profile matches it. JAMB records your state of origin at registration, so correct any error there early.
UTME subject combination and O’level for ADSU Sharia
| Requirement | Sharia (Islamic Law) at ADSU |
|---|---|
| UTME subjects | Law entry: any three Arts or Social Science subjects. Islamic/Sharia Law entry: any three Arts or Social Science subjects including Arabic or Islamic Studies. No ADSU remark on either (JAMB brochure, Myschool reprint). |
| O’level (JAMB brochure) | Law entry: English Language, Literature in English and Mathematics among five credits. Islamic/Sharia Law entry: five Arts or Social Science credits including English and Islamic Studies or Arabic. |
| O’level (ADSU 2026/2027 notice) | Five credits including English Language and Mathematics, for every course |
| Exams accepted | WAEC, NECO or NABTEB (JAMB’s usual list; ADSU’s notice did not name the bodies in the reprint I read) |
| Sittings | Not stated in the reprint of ADSU’s notice; most Nigerian universities accept two sittings, but one sitting is safer |
| Direct Entry | Islamic/Sharia Law entry: two A-level passes including Islamic Studies or Arabic. Law entry: two A-level passes in Arts or Social Science subjects, or NCE, ND or a first degree (at least second class lower). ADSU published no DE rule for Sharia. |
Since JAMB shows only Law for ADSU, plan to satisfy both entries. In the UTME, take Literature in English, Government and Islamic Studies (or Arabic). At O’level, have credits in English, Mathematics, Literature in English and Islamic Studies or Arabic, plus one more Arts or Social Science subject.
That set meets the Law brochure, the Sharia brochure and ADSU’s own rule that every candidate has credits in English and Mathematics.
How ADSU screening worked for Sharia in 2026/2027
ADSU ran one online screening exercise for UTME and Direct Entry candidates in 2026/2027. The notice, as reprinted by Myschool on 12 June 2026 and by Androidpols on 15 June 2026, described an online screening and did not announce a written test.
| Detail | ADSU 2026/2027 screening |
|---|---|
| Who could apply | Candidates who chose ADSU as first choice in the 2026 UTME and scored 150 or more, plus Direct Entry candidates. Others were told to change their first choice to ADSU on JAMB’s website. |
| Course minimum for Sharia | 230 (Adamawa indigenes) / 260 (other states) |
| Fee | ₦2,000 |
| Dates | Monday 15 June to 30 October 2026 (closed) |
| Where | The university website, www.adsu.edu.ng, through the Post UTME link |
| Test | None announced in the notice |
| O’level | Five credits including English and Mathematics |
Worked example for a Sharia candidate
ADSU has not published an aggregate formula, and with no announced test there is no Post-UTME score to combine with your UTME. What you can work out is the gap between your score, the official minimum and a safe target. The figures below are illustrative.
Take Hafsat, an Adamawa indigene who scored 236 with credits in English, Mathematics, Literature in English, IRS and Arabic from one sitting, and Abdullahi, from Gombe State, who scored 262 with no Literature in English credit.
- Hafsat: 236 minus 230 = 6. She clears the indigene cut-off by 6 marks and meets both brochure entries.
- Abdullahi’s score: 262 minus 260 = 2. He clears the non-indigene cut-off by 2 marks.
- Abdullahi’s O’level: without Literature in English he does not meet the Law entry’s O’level line. Whether ADSU applies the Sharia line instead is something only ADSU can confirm.
- What I would advise: both should ask ADSU in writing how Sharia candidates are registered on JAMB and which brochure line applies.
Margins of 2 to 6 marks on a course this competitive are thin. Both candidates should register for the 2027 UTME as a back-up while they wait for CAPS.
How to apply for Sharia at ADSU, 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 ADSU as first choice: choose Law (the only Law entry on ADSU’s JAMB list; confirm the Sharia route with ADSU) as your course, with Use of English plus Literature in English, Government and Islamic Studies or Arabic. If ADSU was not your first choice, do a JAMB change of institution before the screening opens.
- Upload your O’level to CAPS: go to a JAMB-accredited centre and have your WAEC, NECO or NABTEB result uploaded. Without it, CAPS cannot match you to the five-credit rule.
- Fill the ADSU screening form: on adsu.edu.ng, click the Post UTME link and fill in your details. In 2026/2027 this was open from 15 June to 30 October.
- Pay the ₦2,000 screening fee: that was the 2026/2027 amount. Pay only through the method the portal gives you, and keep the receipt.
- Save your confirmation: print or save whatever the portal gives you after payment, and keep it with your JAMB result slip and O’level results.
- Accept on CAPS: log in at efacility.jamb.gov.ng, open Check Admission Status, then Access my CAPS. Accept the offer if you want it. Our JAMB CAPS guide explains each status.
- Pay acceptance and clear at ADSU: ADSU has not published its acceptance fee in any source I reached, so confirm the amount on the portal or at the Admissions Office before you pay.
JAMB set 31 October 2026 as the 2026/2027 deadline for public universities; that date has now passed. If you applied to ADSU this year, check JAMB CAPS and the ADSU portal for your admission status. If you did not get in, plan for the 2027 UTME and read when JAMB 2027 registration starts.
Studying Sharia at ADSU
ADSU has not published a Sharia course outline in a source I could open, and it has not stated the degree title. Islamic law degrees in Nigerian universities normally run for five years and combine Islamic jurisprudence with core common law subjects.
Whether ADSU Sharia graduates go to the Nigerian Law School depends on the content of the degree, and the CLE list approves universities rather than individual degree names. Ask the Faculty of Law whether its Sharia graduates are admitted to the Law School without extra courses.
What you study
- Islamic law: sources of Islamic law (usul al-fiqh), Islamic law of family and inheritance, Islamic criminal law and the law of transactions.
- Common law subjects: Nigerian legal system, constitutional law, contract and evidence are usually taught alongside.
- Language: Arabic is often required for reading primary texts.
- Practice: moot court and a long essay in the final year.
Accreditation
The Council of Legal Education’s list of approved universities as at August 2026 (notice dated 14 August 2026) includes “Adamawa State University, Mubi, Adamawa State” at row 3, with no moratorium remark. The list names universities, not individual Law and Sharia programmes. I found no NUC accreditation report for ADSU’s Sharia programme.
Careers
Graduates work in Sharia and Area courts, as Islamic law advisers, in Islamic finance and banking, in Zakat and endowment bodies, in teaching and research, and, if admitted to the Nigerian Law School and called to the Bar, in general legal practice.
Related ADSU courses
- ADSU cut-off mark for Law (230 or 260)
- ADSU Political Science cut-off mark (150)
- ADSU Public Administration cut-off mark (150)
- ADSU Sociology cut-off mark (150)
For UTME revision, start with our JAMB Government syllabus. If your score falls short of 230 or 260, read JAMB change of course.
Mistakes that cost Sharia applicants an ADSU place
- Looking for “Sharia” on JAMB: JAMB’s ADSU list shows only Law; confirm the route with ADSU.
- No Islamic Studies or Arabic: the Sharia brochure entry needs one of them.
- Reading the indigene figure as yours: candidates from other states need 260.
- O’level not uploaded to CAPS: the screening cannot match you to the five-credit rule without it.
- ADSU not first choice: the notice told other candidates to change their first choice to ADSU on JAMB’s website.
- Accepting on CAPS and stopping there: acceptance fee payment and clearance at ADSU are separate steps.
ADSU cut off mark for Sharia: frequently asked questions
What is ADSU cut off mark for Sharia? For 2026/2027 it is 230 for Adamawa indigenes and 260 for candidates from other states, the same as Common Law.
How do I apply for Sharia in ADSU on JAMB? JAMB’s list for ADSU shows only Law, so the likely route is to register Law. ADSU has not confirmed this in a source I reached; ask the Faculty of Law in writing.
Is Arabic compulsory for Sharia in ADSU? The JAMB brochure entry for Islamic/Sharia Law requires Islamic Studies or Arabic, not both. Have at least one at O’level and in the UTME.
Can Sharia graduates from ADSU go to Law School? ADSU is on the CLE approved list as at August 2026, but the list does not name individual degrees. Ask ADSU’s Faculty of Law whether its Sharia graduates go straight to the Nigerian Law School.
Sources and updates
The 230 (Adamawa indigenes) / 260 (other states) figure for Sharia (Islamic Law) comes from ADSU’s 2026/2027 approved programme cut-off list, issued by the Office of the Registrar and signed by Dunfe S. Anjili, Admission Officer, for the Registrar (uploaded June 2026). The 2025/2026 figure comes from ADSU’s 2025/2026 programme cut-off list, signed by Angyatiya B. Atimi, Admission Officer, for the Registrar. The ₦2,000 fee, the 15 June to 30 October 2026 window, the five-credit rule and the 150 general minimum come from ADSU’s 2026/2027 Post-UTME/DE notice as reprinted by Myschool (12 June 2026) and Androidpols (15 June 2026); I did not open the original PDF of that notice. The national minimum of 150 and the 31 October 2026 deadline for public universities come from the News Agency of Nigeria (11 May 2026). UTME, O’level and Direct Entry rules are from the JAMB brochure entries for Law and Islamic/Sharia Law (Myschool reprints), neither with an ADSU remark. The CLE approval is from the Council of Legal Education list of approved universities as at August 2026 (14 August 2026). The JAMB list of ADSU courses was read on Myschool on 3 November 2026. Checked on 3 November 2026. This page will be updated when ADSU publishes its 2027/2028 cut-off list.
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.
