The ESUT Applied Biochemistry cut off mark for 2026/2027 is 180 in the 2026 UTME. Enugu State University of Science and Technology named Biochemistry in the 180 band of its official Post-UTME advert of 4 July 2026, alongside Anatomy, Public Health and Microbiology. With 180 or more, ESUT as your institution and the right subjects, you were eligible for this year’s online screening.
2027/2028 update: ESUT 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.
That 180 is new: in the previous year’s notice, as summarised by a blog, Biochemistry was not named and fell under the 160 band. The rise tells you ESUT sees more pressure on the course, much of it from candidates who aimed at Medicine, Pharmacy or Nursing and did not make it. ESUT still does not publish a final merit score. This guide covers the official figure, the history, a safe target score marked as advice, the JAMB subjects and O’level rules (with an ESUT remark in the brochure), the no-test screening with a worked example, the CAPS steps, and where biochemistry leads.
ESUT Applied Biochemistry cut off mark 2027/2028 at a glance
| Item | 2026/2027 position | Status |
|---|---|---|
| JAMB national minimum for universities | 150 | Official (JAMB policy meeting, 11 May 2026) |
| ESUT minimum UTME for Applied Biochemistry | 180 | Official (ESUT Post-UTME advert, 4 July 2026; listed as Biochemistry) |
| ESUT final admission (merit) score | Not published | ESUT does not release one |
| Post-UTME test | None | Online screening only |
| Screening fee | ₦2,000 | Official |
| Faculty | Faculty of Biological Sciences | ESUT 2026/2027 advert |
| UTME subjects | English, Chemistry, Biology + Physics or Mathematics | JAMB brochure (Myschool reprint) |
| Admission list | On JAMB CAPS from 13 October 2026 | Myschool report |
Keep two numbers apart. The minimum UTME score (180) is the gate ESUT announces before screening; below it, the portal will not take your application for that course. The merit score is the lowest score actually admitted after ESUT ranks applicants against the places it has, and ESUT does not announce it for any course. Most of the confusion online about “ESUT departmental cut-off marks” comes from treating the first number as the second.
ESUT Applied Biochemistry cut off mark history
| Session | Figure | What it is | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/2027 | 180 | Minimum UTME to apply (Biochemistry named) | Official ESUT advert |
| 2025/2026 | 160 | Minimum UTME to apply (Biochemistry not named, so “Others”) | Previous year, from a blog summary of ESUT’s notice |
| “2025” | 207 | Figure printed by a blog, no ESUT document cited | Unofficial; scale and meaning unclear |
| Any year | Not published | Final merit score for Applied Biochemistry | No ESUT list found |
The 207 comes from Legit.ng’s “ESUT cut-off mark for all courses” page (updated 14 November 2025), which lists course figures “in 2025” without naming an ESUT source. The same page gives Medicine 314, which is far above any official ESUT number. I include it only so you know where the figure you may have seen comes from; do not treat it as ESUT’s.
The official change is clear: ESUT named Biochemistry and Microbiology at 180 for 2026/2027 after leaving them in the general band the year before. Minimums can move again, so check the 2027/2028 advert.
Safe target score for Applied Biochemistry at ESUT (my advice)
This is my judgement, not an ESUT rule. Applied Biochemistry is the course that many Medicine, Pharmacy and Nursing hopefuls fall back on, at ESUT and everywhere else in Nigeria. Those candidates bring scores of 220 and above, and CAPS often shows them a Biochemistry offer when their first course fills. That pushes the real merit score well past 180.
| Your UTME score | My read for ESUT Applied Biochemistry |
|---|---|
| 180 to 194 | Eligible for screening, but you are competing with redirected Medicine and Pharmacy candidates. Thin. |
| 195 to 209 | A fair chance with good O’level grades. |
| 210 to 229 | A good chance. |
| 230 and above | Comfortable for Applied Biochemistry at ESUT. You would also clear the 220 minimum for Pharmacy. |
For a 2027 attempt, my safe target for ESUT Applied Biochemistry is 210 or more, with credits in English, Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology and Physics and B grades in Chemistry and Biology if you can manage them.
Catchment and state of origin
ESUT does not publish a catchment list. It is owned by the Enugu State Government, so Enugu indigenes are its primary catchment, but it admits candidates from every state. The 45/35/20 merit, catchment and ELDS split you may have read about is federal university policy, and ESUT has not said it applies it. Plan to win on your score and your grades, wherever you come from.
JAMB subject combination and O’level requirements for ESUT Applied Biochemistry
| Requirement | Applied Biochemistry |
|---|---|
| UTME subjects | Use of English, Chemistry, Biology and Physics or Mathematics |
| O’level | Five credits: English Language, Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology and Physics |
| ESUT remark in the brochure | Mentions A’level Physics and Mathematics and an O’level pass in English Language (wording unclear; see below) |
| Sittings | Not stated in ESUT’s advert; two sittings is the common ceiling |
| Direct Entry (general) | Two A’level passes in Chemistry and Biology, or Chemistry and Health Science |
| Special requirements | None published by ESUT |
These come from the JAMB brochure entry for Applied Biochemistry as reprinted by Myschool (checked 29 October 2026). Applied Biochemistry is the name ESUT uses; its advert shortens it to Biochemistry.
The page carries a remark for ESUT that, as reprinted, refers to A’level passes in Physics and Mathematics and accepts an O’level pass (not credit) in English Language. The reprint does not make clear whether this applies to Direct Entry only, and it sits oddly with a biochemistry course. I would not rely on it. Get a credit in English, and if you are a Direct Entry applicant with A’levels outside Chemistry and Biology, confirm with the department before you apply.
For the fourth UTME subject, Physics is my pick. It matches the O’level list, and it keeps Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing and other health courses open, all of which need Physics, Chemistry and Biology.
ESUT’s advert says Direct Entry candidates are screened online and must be cleared on JAMB e-facility by their former institutions; it does not publish DE grades.
How ESUT screening works for Applied Biochemistry
These were ESUT’s 2026/2027 screening terms, taken from the official advert. The window has closed for this session, but they show you exactly what to prepare for the 2027/2028 round.
| Detail | ESUT 2026/2027 screening |
|---|---|
| Who could apply | Candidates who chose ESUT in the 2026 UTME, and candidates who did not choose ESUT but changed institution to ESUT through JAMB first |
| Score needed | The minimum UTME score ESUT set for the course (see the table above) |
| Direct Entry | Screened online too; former institutions must verify and clear DE candidates on JAMB e-facility |
| Registration window | Tuesday 7 July to Saturday 15 August 2026 (closed) |
| Fee | ₦2,000, paid at a bank through Enugu State IGR Pay Direct or online by debit card |
| Test | None. Screening is online only, with no physical screening and no aptitude test |
| Awaiting results | Allowed for May/June 2026 WAEC, NECO and NABTEB, but results released after 30 September 2026 are not accepted |
| O’level upload | Every candidate must upload O’level results on JAMB CAPS |
| Names | Must match on your O’level certificates, UTME result and other documents |
| Admission status | Published on the ESUT portal and JAMB CAPS |
ESUT has not published an aggregate formula. The 2026/2027 advert sets a minimum UTME score per course and an online screening with no test, and it says nothing about weights or O’level grade points. So the only arithmetic you can do with official figures is to check how far you are above your course’s minimum. Some blogs quote a Post-UTME percentage for ESUT; that cannot be right for 2026/2027, because there was no Post-UTME test to score.
Worked example for a Applied Biochemistry candidate
Take Somto, who scored 216 in the 2026 UTME with B2, B3, B3, C4 and C4 in the five O’level subjects that count for Applied Biochemistry.
- Eligibility check (official): 216 minus the 180 minimum = 36 marks above the line, so Somto could apply.
- UTME half (illustrative method): 216 ÷ 8 = 27 out of 50.
- O’level half (illustrative method): 9 + 8 + 8 + 7 + 7 = 39 out of 50.
- Illustrative total: 27 + 39 = 66 out of 100.
Now take Ebuka, who scored 199 with A1, B2, B2, B2 and B3. On the same method that gives 24.88 + 45 = 69.88, ahead of Somto despite a 17-mark gap in JAMB. If ESUT ranks on UTME score alone, the higher JAMB score wins instead. ESUT has not said which approach it uses, so the safe plan is to raise both your score and your grades.
To see why your O’level grades can still matter, here is a method some other Nigerian universities use: half the aggregate from the UTME (your score divided by 8, out of 50) and half from five O’level subjects (A1 = 10, B2 = 9, B3 = 8, C4 = 7, C5 = 6, C6 = 5, out of 50). ESUT has not published this or any other formula. I use it only to compare two candidates, never to predict an ESUT cut-off.
How to apply for Applied Biochemistry at ESUT, step by step
- Get your JAMB profile code: text NIN, a space and your 11-digit NIN (for example NIN 12345678901) to 55019 or 66019 from the phone number linked to your NIN. JAMB replies with the profile code you need to buy the UTME form.
- Register the UTME with the right subjects: pick Use of English, Chemistry, Biology and Physics and choose ESUT and Applied Biochemistry. ESUT’s 2026 advert also let candidates who chose another school apply after a JAMB change of institution, but choosing ESUT from the start saves you that step and its cost.
- Upload your O’level to CAPS: once your WAEC, NECO or NABTEB result is out, have it uploaded to your JAMB profile at an accredited CBT centre or JAMB office. ESUT’s advert makes this compulsory for every candidate, and a result that is missing on CAPS can hold your admission back even after ESUT picks you.
- Open the ESUT screening form: go to portal.esut.edu.ng, select the session, and under Regular Students open the Admission Screening Registration for that session (Direct Entry has its own form). Enter your JAMB registration number and fill the details form to generate an invoice.
- Pay ₦2,000: pay at a commercial bank through Enugu State IGR Pay Direct with the printed invoice and its reference number, or pay online with a debit card.
- Finish and print: return to the portal, re-enter your JAMB registration number, complete the form, confirm and submit, then print the acknowledgement slip. ESUT warns that false information leads to disqualification.
- Check and accept on CAPS: log in at efacility.jamb.gov.ng, choose Check Admission Status, then Access my CAPS and Admission Status. If ESUT has offered you Applied Biochemistry, accept it, then print your JAMB admission letter.
- Pay the acceptance fee on the ESUT portal: blogs report ESUT’s acceptance fee at about ₦26,000 (₦26,100 in some reports). ESUT’s 2026/2027 notices I checked do not state it, so confirm the amount on the portal before you pay, and keep the receipt for clearance.
Warning
Paying ESUT’s acceptance fee does not accept your JAMB offer. Accept the admission on JAMB CAPS first, because an offer left unaccepted on CAPS can be withdrawn, and ESUT cannot register you without it.
Myschool reported that ESUT’s 2026/2027 provisional admission list went up on JAMB CAPS on 13 October 2026. JAMB gives candidates four weeks to accept an offer and told public universities to finish admissions by 31 October 2026. If CAPS shows another course, such as Applied Microbiology or Applied Biology and Biotechnology, that is a separate offer: read the course name before you accept. Myschool also reported on 28 October 2026 that ESUT had released change of course and transfer forms for 2026/2027; I have not seen their terms, so ask the admissions office before you rely on them.
If a CAPS status confuses you, our JAMB CAPS guide explains each one. Candidates who chose another school can read the JAMB change of institution guide, and if you plan to sit the UTME again, start with when JAMB 2027 registration starts.
Studying Applied Biochemistry at ESUT
Applied Biochemistry is in ESUT’s Faculty of Biological Sciences, alongside Applied Microbiology and Applied Biology and Biotechnology. ESUT’s main campus is at Agbani in Nkanu West Local Government Area, Enugu State, and the sciences are generally placed there, though the pages I checked do not confirm the department’s building. B.Sc. biochemistry degrees in Nigeria normally run for four years.
Biochemistry studies the chemistry of living things: how cells turn food into energy, how enzymes work, how genes are read and how drugs and toxins act. The “applied” part points it at industry, medicine and agriculture. ESUT has not published its course outline, so the list below is the usual shape of the degree under NUC standards:
- Foundations: general and organic chemistry, cell biology, physics and mathematics in 100 level.
- Core biochemistry: biomolecules, enzymology, metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids, and bioenergetics.
- Molecular biology and genetics: DNA, gene expression and recombinant DNA techniques.
- Applied areas: clinical biochemistry, nutritional biochemistry, pharmacological and toxicological biochemistry, industrial biochemistry and fermentation.
- Lab methods: spectrophotometry, chromatography, electrophoresis and biostatistics.
- SIWES and a final-year research project.
Accreditation: After the National Universities Commission’s 2024 exercise, ESUT reported full accreditation for programmes in its Faculties of Law, Engineering, Sciences, Environmental Science, Education and Administration (Enugu State Government, 21 May 2025). That report names faculties, not programmes, and the old sciences faculty has since been split into Biological and Physical Sciences in ESUT’s 2026/2027 advert. I found no separate programme-level result for Applied Biochemistry, so ask the department to confirm its NUC status at clearance.
Career paths after Applied Biochemistry
- Quality control and research roles in pharmaceutical, food, beverage and brewing companies.
- Research institutes and universities, usually after a master’s degree.
- Hospital and diagnostic lab support roles (clinical lab work itself is mainly for licensed medical lab scientists).
- Regulatory work with agencies such as NAFDAC and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria.
- Sales and medical representative roles with drug companies.
- Graduate entry into Medicine is not a standard route in Nigeria, so do not pick Biochemistry expecting a transfer; check any change of course rules with ESUT directly.
Professional registration for biochemists is through the Nigerian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and related bodies; check their current requirements when you graduate.
Related ESUT courses with the same UTME subjects:
- ESUT Applied Microbiology cut-off mark
- ESUT Applied Biology and Biotechnology cut-off mark
- ESUT Medical Laboratory Science cut-off mark
- ESUT Pharmacy cut-off mark
For UTME preparation, use our JAMB Biology syllabus and JAMB Chemistry syllabus. To compare another university, read our UNICAL cut off mark guide.
Mistakes Applied Biochemistry applicants make
- Using last year’s 160: ESUT raised the Biochemistry minimum to 180 for 2026/2027.
- Trusting the 207 blog figure: it has no ESUT source.
- Dropping Physics in O’level: the brochure lists Physics among the five credits for this course.
- Rejecting a Biochemistry offer on CAPS without a plan: if you are a redirected Medicine candidate, decide before the four-week window closes.
- Forgetting the CAPS upload: ESUT’s advert makes it compulsory for every candidate.
ESUT Applied Biochemistry cut off mark: frequently asked questions
What is the cut off mark for Biochemistry in ESUT? ESUT set 180 as the minimum UTME score for Biochemistry (Applied Biochemistry) in 2026/2027, up from 160 the year before. It does not publish the final merit score, so aim for 210 or more.
Is 200 enough for Biochemistry in ESUT? 200 is 20 marks above the minimum, so you can apply with a fair chance. Because many Medicine and Pharmacy candidates fall back on Biochemistry, strong O’level grades matter.
Is Mathematics compulsory for Biochemistry in ESUT JAMB? No. The UTME needs English, Chemistry, Biology and either Physics or Mathematics. You do need an O’level credit in Mathematics.
Can I use awaiting result for ESUT Biochemistry? Yes. For 2026/2027 ESUT accepted awaiting May/June 2026 WAEC, NECO and NABTEB results, but not results released after 30 September 2026.
Sources and updates
The 2026/2027 minimum UTME scores per course, the screening rules (eligibility, change of institution, Direct Entry clearance, awaiting results up to 30 September 2026, compulsory O’level upload on CAPS, no test, ₦2,000 fee, 7 July to 15 August 2026 window, portal and payment steps) come from ESUT’s notice Post-UTME Screening for UTME/Direct Entry Candidates for 2026/2027 Admission, posted on 4 July 2026, and the full advert PDF signed by the Registrar, Ambrose G. Ugwu. The 2025/2026 per-course minimums are from DTW Tutorials’ summary of ESUT’s 2025/2026 screening notice (30 July 2025); I did not open the original notice. The national minimum of 150, the 31 October 2026 admission deadline and the four-week CAPS acceptance window come from the News Agency of Nigeria, 11 May 2026. The release of the 2026/2027 admission list on CAPS on 13 October 2026 is from a Myschool report. ESUT’s faculty-level NUC accreditation is from the Enugu State Government, 21 May 2025. The UTME, O’level and Direct Entry requirements and the ESUT remark are from the JAMB brochure entry for Applied Biochemistry as reprinted by Myschool. The “2025” figure of 207 is from Legit.ng and is unofficial. The course content is the usual shape of a Nigerian biochemistry degree, since ESUT has not published its outline. The acceptance fee of about ₦26,000 is from education blogs (Legit.ng, O3schools, Backtoschool) and is unofficial. ESUT has not published an aggregate formula, a catchment list or a post-screening departmental cut-off, so none appears here as fact. This page was checked on 29 October 2026 and will be updated if ESUT releases new figures.
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.
