The ABSU cut off mark for Linguistics and Communication Studies is 150 in the UTME. Abia State University (ABSU) set that minimum for every regular degree course in its 2026/2027 screening notice, for candidates who chose ABSU as first or second choice. There is no separate figure for this course, so 150 gets you into screening and the department then admits on merit.
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.
This course has the most flexible JAMB rule of any ABSU language degree, thanks to an ABSU remark in the brochure. Candidates often mix it up with Mass Communication, which is a separate course with its own JAMB entry.
ABSU Linguistics and Communication Studies 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 | 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 | Linguistics and Communication Studies | ABSU’s JAMB course list (Myschool reprint) |
| UTME subjects at ABSU | Use of English plus one Arts subject and two other subjects | JAMB brochure, ABSU remark |
| O’level | Five credits including English Language | JAMB brochure (Myschool reprint) |
| Direct Entry | Two A-level passes or NCE including any language, preferably an African language | JAMB brochure (Myschool reprint) |
| NUC status | Full (latest of four full results, maturity date 2028) | NUC accreditation results, 1990 to 2025 |
| Screening fee | ₦2,000 | Notice reprint |
ABSU Linguistics and Communication Studies 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 |
| Linguistics figure | None published | Blog “departmental cut-off” tables cite no ABSU document | Unofficial |
ABSU’s notice gave one figure for all courses. A blog that shows an official ABSU Linguistics cut-off is quoting a figure ABSU never released.
Safe target score for Linguistics and Communication Studies at ABSU (my advice)
The word “Communication” in the name draws candidates who missed Mass Communication, so this course can be busier than other language degrees. It is still much less crowded than Mass Communication itself. This table is my reading, not an ABSU rule.
| Your UTME score | My read for ABSU Linguistics and Communication Studies |
|---|---|
| Below 150 | Not eligible for screening |
| 150 to 159 | Eligible; you need a strong English Language credit |
| 160 to 169 | A fair chance |
| 170 to 189 | Good |
| 190 and above | Strong |
I would aim for 170 or more. If you are holding this course only as a route into Mass Communication, read the section below on how the two differ first.
JAMB subject combination and O’level for Linguistics and Communication Studies at ABSU
| Requirement | General brochure line | ABSU remark |
|---|---|---|
| Course name on JAMB | Linguistics and Communication Studies | Listed under Arts and Humanities on ABSU’s course list |
| UTME | Any language and two other subjects | ABSU accepts one Arts subject and two other subjects |
| O’level | Five SSC credits including English Language | None |
| Direct Entry | Two A-level passes or NCE to include any language, preferably an African language | None; remarks name UNICAL, UNIPORT and UNIOSUN |
Picking your UTME subjects
ABSU’s remark means you need one Arts subject plus any two others, with Use of English compulsory on top. A language such as Igbo or French is not required at ABSU, although the general line asks for one. My pick is Use of English, Literature in English, Igbo or French, and Government or CRS. Including a language keeps you safe under both the ABSU remark and the general line, and it suits a degree that is about how languages work.
O’level
The general line asks for five credits including English Language, with no other subject named and no ABSU remark. A strong English grade is the one that matters most. Mathematics is not named; ABSU’s notice speaks of “basic five O’level credit passes”, and I would still hold a Mathematics credit if you can. If you have only a pass, confirm with the ABSU admissions office before paying for anything.
Direct Entry
Two A-level passes or an NCE that includes a language, preferably an African language, meets the general line. ABSU has no remark here, so an NCE in Igbo with another subject fits well. Ask the department which level you would enter.
How ABSU screens Linguistics and Communication Studies 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 decide your ranking.
Worked example for Linguistics 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.
- Chiamaka scored 164 with B2 in English, B3 in Literature in English, B3 in Igbo, C4 in Government, B3 in CRS. UTME points: 164 ÷ 8 = 20.5. O’level points: 9 + 8 + 8 + 7 + 8 = 40. Illustrative total: 60.5.
- Tochukwu scored 182 with C6 in English, C6 in Literature in English, C5 in Igbo, C6 in Government, C6 in CRS. UTME points: 182 ÷ 8 = 22.75. O’level points: 5 + 5 + 6 + 5 + 5 = 26. Illustrative total: 48.75.
- The result: Chiamaka leads by 11.75 points even though Tochukwu scored 18 marks more in the UTME. Strong credits, led by a B2 in English, put Chiamaka ahead.
How to apply for Linguistics and Communication Studies 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 Linguistics and Communication Studies at Abia State University with Use of English plus one Arts subject and two others, such as Literature in English, Igbo and Government. 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 English Language shows clearly as a credit on the upload.
- 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 Linguistics 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.
Linguistics and Communication Studies at ABSU: the programme
The course sits in the humanities side of ABSU’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences. ABSU’s main campus is at Uturu in Isuikwuato LGA. The university began in 1981 as Imo State University and took its present name after Abia State was created in 1991.
Is it the same as Mass Communication?
No. Linguistics is the scientific study of language: how sounds, words and sentences work, how languages change and how people use them. The communication part covers language in use, such as speech, public communication and language in the media. Mass Communication trains journalists and broadcasters, and it has its own JAMB entry. The Whistler reported on 29 September 2026, quoting ABSU’s Media Unit, that NUC approved new ABSU programmes including Journalism and Media Studies and Broadcasting from 2026/2027. If you want a newsroom career, compare those with this course once they appear on JAMB.
What you study
ABSU has not published a course outline that I could reach. Linguistics degrees in Nigeria follow the NUC benchmark, so you can expect:
- Core linguistics: phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax and semantics.
- Language in society: sociolinguistics, bilingualism and language policy in Nigeria.
- Nigerian languages: the structure of Igbo and other Nigerian languages, and language documentation.
- Communication: discourse analysis, pragmatics, public speaking and language in the media.
- Applied work: language teaching, translation and lexicography.
- Research project: a final-year long essay, often on a Nigerian language.
Accreditation, degree and duration
NUC’s publication of accreditation results from 1990 to 2025 lists ABSU Linguistics and Communication Studies with two early interim results followed by four full results and a maturity date of 2028. I read the last entry as the latest: full accreditation, due for its next visit in 2028. The degree is normally a B.A., and four years is the usual length for UTME entrants; ABSU’s own page confirming either was not available.
Careers
- Broadcasting, presenting and content work that rewards careful language use.
- Editing, proofreading and publishing.
- Translation, interpreting and language documentation projects.
- Teaching English or Nigerian languages, after a PGDE and TRCN registration.
- Corporate communication and public relations roles.
- Language data work for technology companies, and postgraduate study in linguistics.
Related ABSU courses
- ABSU Igbo cut-off mark
- ABSU French cut-off mark
- ABSU English Language and Literature cut-off mark
- ABSU Journalism and Media Studies (new programme)
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 Linguistics applicants an ABSU place
- Choosing it as a disguised Mass Communication: the courses and careers differ.
- Having no Arts subject in the UTME: ABSU’s remark asks for one Arts subject.
- A weak English Language grade: it is the only subject the O’level line names.
- Registering for the new media courses before they are on JAMB: check ABSU’s JAMB list first.
- 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 Linguistics and Communication Studies: frequently asked questions
What JAMB subjects do I need for Linguistics in ABSU? Use of English plus one Arts subject and two other subjects, under ABSU’s brochure remark. Literature in English, Igbo and Government is a safe set.
Is Linguistics and Communication Studies the same as Mass Communication in ABSU? No. Linguistics studies how language works and is used; Mass Communication trains journalists and broadcasters and has its own JAMB entry.
Do I need Mathematics for Linguistics in ABSU? The brochure names only English Language among five credits. I would still go in with a Mathematics credit, and confirm with ABSU if you have only a pass.
Is Linguistics in ABSU accredited? NUC’s published results list full accreditation as the latest result, with a maturity date of 2028.
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 Linguistics and Communication Studies, which ABSU’s JAMB course list links to. The accreditation history comes from NUC’s accreditation results, 1990 to 2025 publication. The new programme approvals come from The Whistler (29 September 2026). 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.
