The ESUT cut off mark for Psychology for 2026/2027 is 160 in the 2026 UTME. Enugu State University of Science and Technology did not name Psychology in any of the higher bands of its 4 July 2026 Post-UTME advert, so it falls under the general line for “other courses”, which is 160. That is only ten marks above JAMB’s national minimum of 150.
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.
Do not read 160 as the score that gets you in. It is the score that lets you apply. ESUT does not publish its final merit score for Psychology, and the course is more popular than its 160 suggests. Below I set out the official figures, the history, a safe target score (my advice), the subject combination with ESUT’s own Biology rule, how screening worked, a worked example, the CAPS steps and the career path a Psychology degree really opens.
ESUT cut off mark for Psychology 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 Psychology | 160 | Official (general minimum; Psychology not named separately) |
| 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 Social Sciences | ESUT advert |
| Course duration | Four years (usual for a B.Sc. in Nigeria) | National norm; confirm with ESUT |
| Admission list | On JAMB CAPS from 13 October 2026 | Myschool report |
The 160 is a floor ESUT set for most of its courses. Psychology did not get its own line in the advert, so the general minimum applies; ESUT did not pick 160 for Psychology on purpose. The merit score, the lowest score actually admitted after ranking, is a separate figure that ESUT does not publish.
Psychology cut-off history at ESUT
| Session | Minimum UTME | Where the figure comes from |
|---|---|---|
| 2026/2027 | 160 | Official ESUT Post-UTME advert (general minimum for other courses) |
| 2025/2026 | 160 | Previous year, from DTW Tutorials’ summary of ESUT’s screening notice (Others group) |
The general minimum stayed at 160 across both sessions. Between the two adverts ESUT moved several courses up into named bands, including Public Health, Biochemistry and Architecture, so a course on 160 this year is not guaranteed to stay there. Check the 2027/2028 advert before you settle on a target.
Safe target score for Psychology at ESUT (my advice)
This section is my judgement, not an ESUT rule. Psychology draws candidates from both the science and the arts side, because ESUT’s version needs Biology or Agricultural Science plus Social Science or Arts subjects. That mix widens the pool. A 165 will get you screened, but I would not count on it.
| Your 2026 UTME score | My read for ESUT Psychology |
|---|---|
| 160 to 179 | Eligible for screening. Admission is uncertain and depends heavily on the applicant pool. |
| 180 to 199 | A fair chance with good O’level grades. |
| 200 to 219 | A good chance. |
| 220 and above | Comfortable. |
For the 2027 UTME my safe target for ESUT Psychology is 210 or more. Biology is worth extra effort here: ESUT names it in both the UTME and O’level rules, and our JAMB Biology syllabus guide lists every topic you will be tested on.
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 split between merit, catchment and educationally less developed states is federal university policy, and ESUT has never stated it as its own, so do not plan around it.
JAMB subject combination and O’level for ESUT Psychology
Psychology is one of the courses where ESUT’s own rules differ most from JAMB’s general entry, so read both.
| Requirement | JAMB’s general rule | ESUT’s remark |
|---|---|---|
| UTME subjects | Use of English plus three Arts or Social Science subjects | Biology or Agricultural Science and any two other Social Science or Arts subjects |
| O’level | Five credits including English Language, plus a pass in Mathematics | Credits in English Language and Mathematics, plus at least a pass in Biology or Health Science |
| Direct Entry | Two A’level passes | Two A’level passes from Arts, Science or Social Science subjects |
| Special requirements | None | None published by ESUT (no interview or test) |
These come from Myschool’s copy of the JAMB brochure page for Psychology, where ESUT’s remarks are listed separately from the general rule. Confirm them on JAMB’s e-brochure (IBASS) before you register. ESUT’s advert itself does not state the number of sittings; two is the common ceiling, and one is safer.
The trap is the UTME. A candidate who follows JAMB’s general rule and writes, say, Government, Economics and Literature has no Biology or Agricultural Science, which ESUT’s remark requires. That candidate can be rejected at ESUT even with a high score. Sensible combinations for ESUT are Biology, Economics and Government, or Biology, Government and Literature in English. A credit in Mathematics is also required by ESUT, where JAMB’s general rule asks only for a pass.
How ESUT screening worked for Psychology
ESUT ran its 2026/2027 screening on these terms.
| 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 Psychology candidate
Take Kosisochukwu, who scored 198 in the 2026 UTME with B3 in English, C4 in Mathematics, B2 in Biology, B3 in Economics and A1 in Government.
- Eligibility check (official): 198 minus the 160 minimum = 38 marks above the line.
- UTME half (illustrative method): 198 ÷ 8 = 24.75 out of 50.
- O’level half (illustrative method): 8 + 7 + 9 + 8 + 10 = 42 out of 50.
- Illustrative total: 24.75 + 42 = 66.75 out of 100.
Compare Tochukwu, who scored 221 with C5, C5, C4, C5 and C4. His illustrative total is 27.63 + 32 = 59.63. He is 23 marks ahead in JAMB and seven points behind on this method. ESUT has not said whether it ranks on UTME alone or on a mix, so a Psychology candidate should protect both the UTME score and the O’level 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 Psychology 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, Biology or Agricultural Science, and two other Social Science or Arts subjects and choose ESUT and Psychology. 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 Psychology, 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 admission list went up on JAMB CAPS on 13 October 2026. You have four weeks to accept an offer on CAPS, and JAMB told public universities to finish admissions by 31 October 2026. If ESUT offers you another course, for example Sociology and Anthropology or Guidance and Counselling, it shows on CAPS as a separate offer. Myschool also reported ESUT change of course and transfer forms on 28 October 2026; I have not seen their terms.
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 Psychology at ESUT
ESUT’s 2026/2027 advert lists Psychology in the Faculty of Social Sciences. It leads to a B.Sc., normally over four years in Nigeria. ESUT’s main campus is at Agbani, Nkanu West, Enugu State; the notices I checked do not say where the Faculty of Social Sciences sits, so confirm at clearance.
What you study
I could not find ESUT’s own Psychology course list online. A Nigerian B.Sc. Psychology under the NUC standards usually runs like this, with the science side growing each year.
- Year one: introduction to psychology, basic statistics and general studies courses.
- Year two: developmental, social and biological psychology, plus experimental methods in the laboratory.
- Year three: abnormal psychology, personality, learning and motivation, and psychological testing.
- Final year: options such as clinical, industrial or counselling psychology, and a research project built on the statistics from earlier years.
Accreditation
The Enugu State Government reported in May 2025 that ESUT secured full NUC accreditation for programmes in its Faculties of Law, Engineering, Sciences, Environmental Science, Education and Administration after the 2024 exercise. The Faculty of Social Sciences is not named in that report, and I found no published NUC result for this programme, so its accreditation status is not confirmed here. Ask the department at clearance which NUC result the programme holds; it is a fair question and they should answer it.
Career path after a Psychology degree
A first degree in Psychology is a starting point. Clinical psychologist posts in Nigerian hospitals generally go to people with a postgraduate qualification in clinical psychology, so plan for further study if that is your goal. With the B.Sc. alone, graduates usually go into:
- Human resources, recruitment and staff assessment in companies and banks.
- Counselling support, welfare and social work roles with NGOs and schools.
- Market research and consumer behaviour work.
- Research assistant posts on health and social science projects.
- Master’s study in clinical, industrial or counselling psychology.
Related ESUT courses to compare or list as a backup:
- ESUT Sociology and Anthropology cut-off mark
- ESUT Guidance and Counselling cut-off mark
- ESUT Political Science cut-off mark
Sociology and Anthropology and Guidance and Counselling fall under ESUT’s general 160 minimum; Political Science needs 180.
Mistakes Psychology applicants make
- Writing the UTME without Biology or Agricultural Science: ESUT’s remark requires one of them.
- Only a pass in Mathematics: ESUT asks for a credit.
- Treating 160 as the admission score: it only opens screening.
- Mismatched names: ESUT requires the same name on your O’level, UTME and other documents.
- Paying acceptance before accepting on CAPS: the CAPS acceptance comes first.
ESUT cut off mark for Psychology: frequently asked questions
Is 180 enough for Psychology in ESUT? Yes for screening, since the 2026/2027 minimum is 160. For a likely place I would aim for 200 or more, with credits in English, Mathematics and Biology.
Is Biology compulsory for Psychology in ESUT? ESUT’s remark in the JAMB brochure asks for Biology or Agricultural Science in the UTME, and at least a pass in Biology or Health Science at O’level.
Can I study Psychology in ESUT with Government, Economics and Literature? That is JAMB’s general combination, but ESUT’s remark asks for Biology or Agricultural Science among your UTME subjects, so it is risky at ESUT.
Can I use awaiting result for ESUT Psychology? 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. JAMB’s general Psychology requirements and ESUT’s remarks for UTME, O’level and Direct Entry are from Myschool’s copy of the JAMB brochure page for Psychology, read on 29 October 2026; confirm them on JAMB’s e-brochure. The course outline and career notes describe the usual Nigerian B.Sc. Psychology, not an ESUT document. 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.
