The Clifford University English Language cut-off mark is 150 in the UTME. That is the general cut-off Clifford University, Owerrinta gives on its 2026/2027 admission notice, the same as JAMB’s national minimum for universities. Clifford has not published a separate figure for the B.A. in English Language, so 150 is the official floor: reach it, choose Clifford, hold the right O’level credits (Literature and Mathematics included), and you can apply.
2027/2028 update: Clifford University 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.
Clifford runs English Language and English Literature as two separate degrees in its Faculty of Humanities, and candidates often register for the wrong one. This page covers English Language: the official figures, a safe target score (labelled as my advice), the UTME subjects, the O’level rules, Direct Entry routes, what is known about screening, the 2026/2027 fees, the CAPS steps and where the degree leads.
Clifford University cut-off mark for English Language: the official position
| Item | Position | Source or status |
|---|---|---|
| JAMB minimum for universities (2026/2027) | 150 | JAMB policy meeting, 11 May 2026 |
| Clifford University general cut-off | 150 | Clifford homepage admission notice, 2026/2027 |
| Clifford cut-off for English Language | Not published separately | No course-level figure on any official page |
| Departmental merit cut-off | Not published | Clifford does not release last admitted scores |
| UTME subjects | English, Literature in English, one other Arts subject and one Arts or Social Science subject | JAMB brochure (Myschool reprint) and Clifford requirements page |
| O’level | English, Literature in English, Mathematics, one other Arts subject and one more; at most two sittings | Clifford requirements page |
| Approved fee for 2026/2027 | N819,000 | Clifford fees page |
| NUC accreditation | Full, 88.00%, for NUC’s combined “English Language and Literature in English” programme (panel visit 24 to 26 November 2024) | NUC accreditation report; confirm your degree name with Clifford |
This page is about Clifford University, the private Seventh-day Adventist university at Ihie, near Owerrinta, in Abia State. Its admission notice for 2026/2027 says plainly that the JAMB cut-off is 150 and that candidates come in through UTME, Direct Entry or transfer. It gives no separate figure for English Language, so 150 is the number every UTME applicant for this course has to reach.
Clifford English Language cut-off history
| Session | Figure | What it is | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/2027 | 150 | Clifford general cut-off, same as the JAMB minimum | Official, Clifford homepage and JAMB 2026 policy meeting |
| 2025/2026 | 150 | JAMB national minimum for universities | JAMB 2025 policy meeting |
| Any session | None | A Clifford cut-off for English Language alone | Not published in any source I reached |
One admissions blog wrote in October 2025 that Clifford invites candidates with 130 and above who did not pick it as first choice. That post appeared before the 2026 UTME, cites no university notice, and sits below the 150 that Clifford itself now states. Do not plan around 130. News Central also published the full list of cut-offs that institutions declared at JAMB’s 2026 policy meeting, and Clifford is not on it, so there is no separate policy-meeting figure to quote.
Safe target score for English Language at Clifford (my advice)
English Language is a steady but not crowded course at most private universities, and Clifford has far fewer applicants than UNN, Abia State University or Michael Okpara University. These bands are my reading as an admissions adviser. Clifford has not published them.
| Your UTME score | My read for Clifford English Language |
|---|---|
| Below 150 | Not eligible for any Clifford degree course |
| 150 to 164 | Eligible; a complete O’level and an early application matter most |
| 165 to 189 | Good chance |
| 190 and above | Strong |
For the 2027 UTME, I would aim for 165 or more. A strong Use of English score helps twice: it lifts your total and it shows the department you can handle a language degree.
UTME subject combination and O’level for Clifford English Language
| Requirement | What applies | Source |
|---|---|---|
| UTME subjects | Use of English, Literature in English, one other Arts subject and another Arts or Social Science subject | JAMB brochure and Clifford requirements page (same wording) |
| JAMB’s general O’level rule | Five credits including Literature in English, English Language and three other Arts or Social Science subjects | JAMB brochure |
| Clifford’s O’level rule | Five credits in Literature in English and English Language, one other Arts subject and any other two or three, with at least a credit in Mathematics | Clifford requirements page |
| Sittings | Not more than two | Clifford requirements page |
| JAMB course name | English Language | Myschool copy of JAMB’s Clifford course list |
The UTME combination is easy to get right because JAMB and Clifford use the same wording. Literature in English is compulsory. A common safe set is Use of English, Literature in English, CRS and Government. History, Igbo or French can replace CRS as your second Arts subject.
At O’level, Clifford adds a Mathematics credit that JAMB’s general English Language rule does not mention, and the JAMB page carries no Clifford remark that changes this. So plan for English Language, Literature in English, Mathematics, one other Arts subject such as CRK or History, and one more subject. If your Literature result is a pass rather than a credit, you are not eligible for this degree at Clifford until you fix it.
Direct Entry into English Language at Clifford
Direct Entry candidates join at 200 level. For English Language, Clifford’s requirements page accepts the five O’level credits plus one of these:
- Two A-level passes in Literature in English and one other Arts subject
- NCE at merit grade in English Language
- OND at upper credit or HND at lower credit in a relevant field
These match JAMB’s general Direct Entry rule of two A-level passes including Literature in English. Clifford’s general Direct Entry page adds that JUPEB holders and Senate-recognised diplomas may be considered, that entry is at 200 level, and that everyone except JUPEB candidates sits a screening test. Bring a full transcript or statement of result; Clifford says no Direct Entry student is admitted without one.
Clifford Post-UTME screening for English Language
Clifford has not published a screening date, fee or test format for English Language in any source I could reach. What its own pages do confirm is this: the undergraduate requirements page tells applicants to come in “via Post UTME or Direct Entry”, and the Direct Entry page says every Direct Entry candidate sits a university screening test, with JUPEB candidates the only exception. Online application runs through the portal at soap.clifforduni.edu.ng.
A blog post from October 2025 said the form was free and that candidates would write an aptitude test on a date to be announced. Neither point is on Clifford’s website, so ask the admissions office before you pay anyone for a form.
Worked example (illustrative only)
Clifford publishes no aggregate formula. The example below compares scores with the 150 floor and my target, and, in case a test is set, it uses the 50:50 method common at Nigerian universities (UTME divided by 8, plus half of the screening percentage). This is my illustration only.
- Chidinma: UTME 176, credits in English, Literature, Mathematics, CRK and Government from one sitting. She is 26 above the floor and 11 above my target.
- If there is a test: Chidinma scores 60%. 176 divided by 8 is 22; half of 60 is 30. Her illustrative aggregate is 52.
- Obinna: UTME 158 (19.75) and 74% at screening (37). His aggregate is 56.75, ahead of Chidinma despite a UTME score 18 marks lower.
- Amaka: UTME 201, but she has a pass, not a credit, in Literature in English. Both JAMB and Clifford require a Literature credit, so her score cannot carry her.
Secure Literature and Mathematics credits, then prepare for a short test in grammar, comprehension and vocabulary in case Clifford sets one.
Clifford University English Language school fees and acceptance fee
Clifford posts its approved fees by programme on its website. The page is headed “Approved school fees for 2026/2027 academic session”. The programme figures are labelled only “amount”, so treat them as the yearly charge for the course and ask the bursary what they cover, especially hostel and feeding.
| Item | Amount (2026/2027) | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance fee | N150,000 | New students, once |
| Matriculation fee | N50,000 | 100 level only |
| English Language programme amount | N819,000 | Each session |
| Christian Religious Studies (same faculty) | N715,000 | For comparison |
English Language and English Literature carry the same N819,000 amount. A 100-level student paying acceptance, matriculation and the programme amount in 2026/2027 terms is looking at N1,019,000 before hostel, feeding, books and personal costs.
Clifford lets you pay the programme amount in full, or 60% for the first semester and 40% for the second. The bank account is printed on the fees page. Copy it from that page yourself rather than from a message someone forwards to you.
How to apply for English Language at Clifford, step by step
- Get your JAMB profile code: text NIN, a space, then your 11-digit NIN to 55019 or 66019 from the phone number linked to your NIN.
- Register for the UTME: choose English Language with Use of English, Literature in English, one other Arts subject and an Arts or Social Science subject, and pick Clifford University. If Clifford was not your choice, do a JAMB change of institution before admission closes.
- Upload your O’level to CAPS: at a JAMB office or accredited CBT centre, with your WAEC, NECO or NABTEB details. Clifford cannot offer you admission on CAPS without it.
- Apply on Clifford’s portal: go to soap.clifforduni.edu.ng (the “Apply Now” button on clifforduni.edu.ng leads there), create your account, choose English Language, fill the form and keep your printout.
- Confirm screening: call the admissions lines on Clifford’s homepage (08036970755 or 07034871571) and ask when and how English Language candidates will be screened.
- Accept on CAPS: on efacility.jamb.gov.ng, choose Check Admission Status, then Access my CAPS. In 2026 JAMB gave candidates four weeks to accept an offer. Our JAMB CAPS guide explains each status.
- Pay acceptance and fees, then clear: the 2026/2027 acceptance fee was N150,000 and the matriculation fee N50,000. Pay through the official account, then bring your original documents for clearance.
Warning
Clifford University has publicly warned that people pose as its staff. Pay only into the account on Clifford’s official fees page, ignore anyone selling a guaranteed place, and remember that a real offer always shows on JAMB CAPS.
Studying English Language at Clifford University
Clifford University is a private Seventh-day Adventist university at Ihie, near Owerrinta. English Language is a four-year B.A. (Hons.) in the Faculty of Humanities, or three years through Direct Entry at 200 level. It is the linguistics side of English: how the language works, how Nigerians use it and how to teach and analyse it.
Is Clifford English Language accredited?
Yes, as part of a combined programme. NUC’s accreditation report shows Full accreditation, with a score of 88.00%, for Clifford’s English Language and Literature in English programme after a panel visit from 24 to 26 November 2024, and the Commission approved the panel’s recommendation. NUC assessed English Language and Literature as one programme, not as a separate English Language degree, so its result covers English Language only as part of that combined programme. This page uses the English Language name from JAMB’s Clifford course list, so confirm with Clifford’s admissions office which degree name you will graduate with before you pay fees. The programme was not among the eight Clifford announced as fully accredited in March 2023; this result came later and is from NUC’s own report.
What you study
- Sounds of English: phonetics and phonology, including Nigerian English pronunciation.
- Structure: morphology, syntax and English grammar at an advanced level.
- Meaning and use: semantics, pragmatics and discourse analysis.
- Language in society: sociolinguistics, English as a second language and language in Nigeria.
- Applied work: stylistics, some literature courses, language teaching methods and a final-year research project.
Graduates work as English teachers (with a teaching qualification), editors and proofreaders, journalists and broadcasters, corporate communications and content writers, and in publishing, advertising, the civil service and NGOs. A master’s in linguistics or English opens lecturing.
Related Clifford courses
- Clifford University English Literature cut-off mark
- Clifford University Mass Communication cut-off mark
- Clifford University Christian Religious Studies cut-off mark
Mistakes English Language applicants make
- Choosing the wrong English degree: on JAMB, Clifford lists “English Language” and “Literature in English” as different courses.
- Dropping Literature in the UTME: it is compulsory for this course.
- Ignoring Mathematics: Clifford asks for a credit even though JAMB’s general rule does not.
- Using three sittings: Clifford allows not more than two.
- Stopping at CAPS acceptance: you still pay acceptance and complete clearance.
Writing the UTME next year? Read when JAMB 2027 registration starts, and if you already have a score, see what to do with your JAMB result. If you registered a different course, our JAMB change of course guide shows how to switch.
Clifford University English Language cut-off mark: frequently asked questions
What is the cut-off mark for English Language at Clifford University? Clifford states a general cut-off of 150 for 2026/2027 and has not published a separate English Language figure. I would aim for 165 or more to be comfortable.
Is Literature in English compulsory for English Language at Clifford? Yes. Literature in English is a required UTME subject, and you need a credit in it at O’level along with English Language and Mathematics.
Can I use NCE for Direct Entry into English Language at Clifford University? Yes, if it is an NCE in English Language at merit grade. You still need the five O’level credits, and you will sit Clifford’s screening test.
How much is Clifford University school fees for English Language? The approved 2026/2027 amount is N819,000, plus a N150,000 acceptance fee and a N50,000 matriculation fee in 100 level.
Sources and updates
Clifford’s UTME subjects, O’level list, Mathematics rule, two-sitting rule and Direct Entry options for English Language come from its undergraduate admission requirements page (undated, checked 29 October 2026). JAMB’s UTME, O’level and Direct Entry rules are from Myschool’s reprint of the JAMB brochure for English Language, which carries no Clifford remark, and the course names are from Myschool’s copy of JAMB’s Clifford course list. The general cut-off of 150, the admission routes, the portal and the admissions phone numbers come from the Clifford University homepage (checked 29 October 2026), which also carries the May 2024 impostor warning. The acceptance, matriculation and programme fees and the 60/40 payment option are from Clifford’s approved fees page for 2026/2027. The Direct Entry screening rule and 200-level entry come from Clifford’s Transfer and Direct Entry page. The national minimum of 150 and the four-week CAPS window come from the News Agency of Nigeria (11 May 2026); News Central’s list of declared cut-offs from that meeting does not include Clifford. Clifford’s earlier announcement of full NUC accreditation for eight programmes is from its news item of 21 March 2023. The Full accreditation result (88.00%, panel visit 24 to 26 November 2024) is for the combined English Language and Literature in English programme and is from NUC’s accreditation report (checked 29 October 2026). The safe target score, subject advice and worked example are my own guidance. Checked on 29 October 2026; this page will be updated if Clifford publishes a course cut-off or 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.
