The GOUNI Religious Studies cut-off mark is 150 in the UTME. Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu includes Religious Studies in its Faculty of Arts list for 2026/2027 and applies its general minimum of 150 to it, the same as JAMB’s national minimum for universities. GOUNI has published no higher departmental cut-off, and the form for this course is free.
2027/2028 update: GOUNI 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.
The detail that catches people out is Mathematics. JAMB’s brochure carries a remark naming GOUNI that requires an O’level credit in Mathematics for Religious Studies, a rule many other universities do not have. You also need CRS or IRS in the UTME. Below are the full subject rules, Direct Entry, how GOUNI decides, a safe target score, and what I could and could not confirm about the programme itself.
GOUNI Religious Studies cut-off mark at a glance
| Item | 2026/2027 position | Source or status |
|---|---|---|
| GOUNI minimum UTME score | 150 | GOUNI admission form page (“Other Programmes 150”) |
| JAMB national minimum for universities | 150 | JAMB 2026 policy meeting, 11 May 2026 |
| Departmental merit cut-off | None published | GOUNI has not released one |
| Course on GOUNI’s JAMB list | Yes, as “Religious Studies” | Myschool reprint of JAMB’s GOUNI list, 30 October 2026 |
| On GOUNI’s own 2026/2027 list | Yes (Faculty of Arts) | GOUNI admission form page |
| UTME subjects | English, CRS or IRS and any two other subjects | JAMB brochure (Myschool reprint) |
| O’level | Five credits including English Language, CRS or IRS, and Mathematics | JAMB brochure GOUNI remark; GOUNI form page |
| Form fee | Free | GOUNI admission form page |
| 2026/2027 deadline for private universities | 30 November 2026 | JAMB via NAN; GOUNI news, 12 May 2026 |
GOUNI Religious Studies cut-off history
| Session | Figure | What it is | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/2027 | 150 | GOUNI minimum for Religious Studies (other programmes) | Official, GOUNI form page |
| 2026/2027 | 150 | JAMB national minimum for universities | Official, JAMB 11 May 2026 |
| 2025/2026 | Not found | GOUNI’s own figure | No GOUNI score located for that session |
| 2025/2026 | 150 | JAMB national minimum for universities | Reported by Nairametrics, 8 July 2025 |
Safe target score for Religious Studies at GOUNI (my advice)
Religious Studies attracts fewer applicants than courses like Mass Communication or Psychology, and at a private university the class size is usually set by space and NUC limits more than by competition. These bands are my judgement:
| Your UTME score | My read for GOUNI Religious Studies |
|---|---|
| Below 150 | Not eligible through UTME; Direct Entry or a pre-degree route is the way in |
| 150 to 159 | Eligible with a realistic chance if your O’level is complete, Mathematics included |
| 160 and above | Comfortable; UNN Religion and Cultural Studies (160 to screen) also opens |
| 180 and above | Strong; you can pick freely between the Enugu options below |
For 2027 I would aim for 160 or more and treat the Mathematics credit as the real hurdle.
UTME subject combination and O’level for Religious Studies at GOUNI
| Requirement | Religious Studies at GOUNI |
|---|---|
| JAMB course name | Religious Studies (Godfrey Okoye University) |
| UTME subjects | Use of English, CRS or IRS, and any two other subjects |
| O’level, JAMB’s general rule | Five credits including English Language and CRS or IRS |
| O’level, GOUNI remark | Credit in Mathematics is required |
| O’level, GOUNI form page | Five credits including English Language and Mathematics |
| Sittings | Not stated for UTME entry |
| Direct Entry, JAMB general rule | Two A-level passes including Religious Studies (CRS or IRS) |
Choosing your UTME subjects
CRS or IRS is the one fixed subject. The other two are open under JAMB’s rule, but I would keep them in the Arts and Social Sciences. My preferred set is English, CRS, Government and Literature in English. Government keeps GOUNI Philosophy available as a fallback, because Philosophy needs Government, and Literature keeps English and Literary Studies open.
IRS is accepted by JAMB’s rule. GOUNI is a Catholic university and has not published how its Religious Studies teaching is weighted between Christianity, Islam and African religion, so an IRS candidate should ask the department about the course content before accepting.
The Mathematics credit
The brochure’s general line for Religious Studies does not name Mathematics. The remark for GOUNI does: “GOUNI requires ‘O’ Level credit pass in Mathematics.” GOUNI’s own form page says the same thing for every course. A candidate with a D7 or E8 in Mathematics should not apply on the strength of the general rule; resit Mathematics in NECO or WAEC GCE first.
Direct Entry
JAMB’s general Direct Entry rule asks for two A-level passes including Religious Studies. Many universities also accept NCE in CRS or Religious Studies through their own remarks, but the brochure has no such remark for GOUNI, so an NCE holder should confirm with GOUNI before registering Direct Entry. GOUNI’s 2026/2027 form page lists JUPEB subject combinations for its other Arts courses but gives none for Religious Studies, so check with the JUPEB office if you plan to use that route.
How GOUNI screens Religious Studies applicants
GOUNI’s official admission form page describes an online application that is checked against your UTME score and O’level, with a decision sent to your e-mail. No written test is mentioned for Religious Studies or any other undergraduate course.
| Detail | What GOUNI published for 2026/2027 |
|---|---|
| Where to apply | The admission form on the official GOUNI website (gouni.edu.ng) |
| Form fee for Religious Studies | Free (only Medicine and Surgery, Nursing and Law charge ₦5,000) |
| Minimum UTME score | 150 |
| O’level | Five credits in the subjects the course requires, including English Language and Mathematics |
| Written test | None described on the form page |
| Decision | E-mailed within three working days of submitting the form |
| After an offer | Pay acceptance fee, tuition, ICT and other charges |
| Other routes | Direct Entry, JUPEB, transfer and postgraduate |
| Aggregate formula | Not published |
Because the decision goes to your e-mail, use an address you check every day and type it carefully, because a single wrong letter means the reply never reaches you.
Worked example (illustrative)
GOUNI has no published aggregate, so this checks only the score and subject rules.
Take Kosisochukwu, who scored 156 with English, CRS, Government and Literature in English. Her NECO has C4 in English Language, B2 in CRS, C6 in Mathematics, C5 in Government, B3 in Civic Education and C6 in Literature.
- Score: 156 is 6 above GOUNI’s 150.
- UTME subjects: CRS is present.
- O’level: English, CRS and Mathematics at credit, plus more credits. She meets the GOUNI remark.
- Next step: upload her result to CAPS, fill the free form and accept quickly once proposed.
Now take Uchenna, who scored 172 with the same subjects and has B3 in CRS but D7 in Mathematics. His score is better, yet he fails GOUNI’s Mathematics remark. Spiritan University’s Christian Religious Studies has a similar Mathematics rule, so his best move is to resit Mathematics or look at a university whose remark does not require it.
Admission odds and advice
- Light competition: a 150 score with complete papers has a real chance.
- Mathematics decides more cases than scores: check your grade before anything else.
- Pick the right course name: JAMB’s GOUNI list also shows “Philosophy and Religious Studies”, which is not on GOUNI’s 2026/2027 programme list. Register “Religious Studies”.
- First choice: change institution to GOUNI on JAMB if it was not your first choice.
- Dates: JAMB set 30 November 2026 as the 2026/2027 admission deadline for private universities, and GOUNI repeated it in its news post of 12 May 2026. That deadline runs until 30 November 2026, so a 2026 candidate still has a little time; a 2027 candidate should expect a similar window next year.
Who GOUNI Religious Studies suits
I would recommend it to a candidate drawn to ministry, catechesis, chaplaincy, teaching CRS, counselling or faith-based NGO work, who would like a Catholic university setting in Enugu. If you want a large federal department and can score 160, compare UNN’s Religion and Cultural Studies.
How to apply for Religious Studies at GOUNI, 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 correctly: pick Godfrey Okoye University and the course “Religious Studies”, and write English, CRS or IRS, and two other subjects.
- Upload your O’level to CAPS: do it at a JAMB-accredited centre as soon as your WAEC or NECO result is out. GOUNI cannot propose you without it.
- Fix your choice if needed: if GOUNI was not your first choice, do a JAMB change of institution to GOUNI before you are proposed.
- Fill the GOUNI form: open the admission form page on gouni.edu.ng, choose Religious Studies and submit. For this course the form costs nothing.
- Watch your e-mail: GOUNI says the reply comes within three working days.
- Accept on CAPS: log in at efacility.jamb.gov.ng, open Check Admission Status, then Access my CAPS, and accept the offer within JAMB’s four-week window. Our JAMB CAPS guide explains each status.
- Pay acceptance and clear: pay only through the university’s own online payment platform, then print your JAMB admission letter for clearance.
Before you pay
Religious Studies is on GOUNI’s 2026/2027 programme list, but I found no programme-level NUC result and no sign of it on the 2024/2025 Arts examination timetable. Ask the admissions office by e-mail when the programme started and what its NUC status is before paying tuition, and pay only through the university’s own platform.
Studying Religious Studies at GOUNI
Is GOUNI Religious Studies accredited by the NUC?
This is what I could and could not confirm on 30 October 2026:
- GOUNI’s own claim: the university’s accreditation page says all its programmes have NUC accreditation, but it gives no programme-by-programme status or date.
- NUC’s published results: the NUC’s “Accreditation Results 1990 to 2025” publication (September 2026) is online, but the copy I could read stopped before the universities starting with G, and I found no NUC report page naming GOUNI Religious Studies.
- Older news: a 9 August 2021 report listed 13 GOUNI programmes with full NUC accreditation. Religious Studies was not one of them, which only means it was not part of that visit.
- Possibly a newer programme: GOUNI’s 2024/2025 Faculty of Arts first-semester examination timetable lists papers for Music, History and Philosophy but shows no Religious Studies course codes. That suggests the programme is newer than its sister departments, though a timetable cannot prove it, so I am not stating a start year.
So I am treating the NUC status of Religious Studies as not independently confirmed. That is I found no report of a denied or suspended result either. Ask GOUNI’s admissions office in writing before you pay tuition.
A programme that is new is normally visited by the NUC for the first time once its first students reach the later years, so a missing result is common for young courses. It still deserves a written answer from GOUNI before you pay.
What you study
GOUNI has not posted a Religious Studies curriculum online. A Nigerian B.A. Religious Studies usually runs for four years, along these lines:
- 100 level: introduction to the study of religion, African traditional religion, survey of Christianity and Islam, Old and New Testament introductions and general studies.
- 200 and 300 levels: biblical studies, church history, sociology and philosophy of religion, Christian ethics, comparative religion and research methods.
- 400 level: theology, religion and society in Nigeria, inter-religious dialogue, electives and a long essay.
Careers
Graduates teach CRS (after a postgraduate diploma in education), work in church administration and mission agencies, chaplaincy, counselling, humanitarian NGOs, journalism and public service, or go on to theology and postgraduate research.
Related GOUNI courses
- GOUNI Philosophy cut-off mark and admission requirements
- GOUNI Music cut-off mark and admission requirements
- GOUNI History and International Studies cut-off mark and admission requirements
- GOUNI English and Literary Studies cut-off mark and admission requirements
Other religion degrees in and near Enugu
| University | Course name | Minimum UTME score (2026/2027) |
|---|---|---|
| Godfrey Okoye University | Religious Studies | 150 |
| Coal City University | Religious Studies | 150 |
| Spiritan University, Nneochi | Christian Religious Studies | 150 |
| UNN | Religion and Cultural Studies | 160 to screen |
Compare with our guides to UNN Religion and Cultural Studies, CCU Religious Studies and Spiritan University Christian Religious Studies.
Mistakes that cost Religious Studies applicants a GOUNI place
- No CRS or IRS in the UTME.
- Mathematics below credit: GOUNI’s remark makes it compulsory.
- CRS at pass level: JAMB’s rule needs a credit.
- Registering the combined course “Philosophy and Religious Studies” by mistake.
- Paying tuition before asking about the programme’s start year and NUC status.
Getting ready for 2027? Read when JAMB 2027 registration starts and keep our JAMB CAPS guide handy for the admission stage.
GOUNI Religious Studies cut-off mark: frequently asked questions
What is the cut-off mark for Religious Studies at GOUNI? It is 150 in the UTME. GOUNI set 150 for all programmes except Medicine, Nursing and Law for 2026/2027, with no higher departmental figure.
Do I need Mathematics to study Religious Studies at GOUNI? Yes, at credit level. JAMB’s brochure has a remark stating that GOUNI requires an O’level credit in Mathematics, and GOUNI’s own form page asks for it too.
Can I use IRS instead of CRS for Religious Studies at GOUNI? JAMB’s rule accepts CRS or IRS. GOUNI has not published the course content, so ask the department how much of the programme covers Islam before you accept.
Is GOUNI Religious Studies accredited by NUC? GOUNI says all its programmes are NUC accredited, but I found no programme-level result for Religious Studies, so confirm its status with GOUNI in writing.
Sources and updates
GOUNI’s 150 minimum for Religious Studies, the free form, the e-mailed decision within three working days and the JUPEB subject combinations come from GOUNI’s official admission form page for 2026/2027, read on 30 October 2026. The national 150 minimum, the 30 November 2026 deadline for private universities and the four-week CAPS acceptance window come from JAMB’s 2026 policy meeting as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria on 11 May 2026, and GOUNI’s own news post of 12 May 2026 repeats the private-university deadline; the 2025 national figure is from Nairametrics (8 July 2025). The course names come from Myschool’s reprint of JAMB’s GOUNI list, and the subject rules and the GOUNI Mathematics remark from the JAMB brochure entry for Religious Studies (Myschool reprint), both checked on 30 October 2026. The timetable observation is from GOUNI’s 2024/2025 Faculty of Arts first-semester examination timetable. The accreditation position comes from GOUNI’s accreditation page, the NUC’s Accreditation Results 1990 to 2025 publication (September 2026), a search of NUC report pages and a 9 August 2021 Myschool report. Comparison figures come from the other universities’ 2026/2027 notices as covered in our linked guides. Checked on 30 October 2026. I will update this page when GOUNI publishes its 2027/2028 requirements or the NUC publishes a result for the course.
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.
