NOUN arts courses need five O’level credits in not more than two sittings, including English Language and the subject that matches the degree: Literature in English for English, French for French, Igbo for Igbo, Arabic or Islamic Studies for Arabic, and so on. Philosophy and Christian Theology ask for credits in English and Mathematics instead. The National Open University of Nigeria sets no JAMB cut-off mark for any of these degrees, and each one has its own Direct Entry route into 200 level.
2027/2028 update: NOUN admission requirements and entry rules usually stay the same from one year to the next, so the requirements on this page are what 2027/2028 applicants should plan with. They come from NOUN’s latest published requirements and notices (checked in October 2026). If NOUN changes anything for 2027/2028, we will update this page.
No JAMB cut-off at NOUN
NOUN does not use a UTME score or cut-off mark for undergraduate admission. You are admitted on your O’level result, or your Direct Entry qualification, through NOUN’s online portal. Any “NOUN cut-off mark” you see online did not come from the university, and nobody can sell you a NOUN admission: the portal decides on your documents.
NOUN’s Faculty of Arts runs nine undergraduate programmes on its November 2024 accreditation list: English, French, Arabic, Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, Philosophy, Islamic Studies and Christian Theology. I read each programme’s page on the faculty website and the faculty handbook. Below, every programme has its own table with the O’level subjects, Direct Entry, entry level, duration and NUC status, followed by the Mathematics question that trips up many arts applicants, the steps to apply through the Enugu Study Centre, fees and dates.
NOUN arts courses and NUC status
| Department | Programme (NOUN’s name) | Code | NUC status (November 2024) |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | B.A. English | 2205 | Full |
| Linguistics, Foreign and Nigerian Languages | B.A. French | 2206 | Full |
| Linguistics, Foreign and Nigerian Languages | B.A. Arabic (Arabic Language and Literature on the programme page) | Not shown | Full |
| Linguistics, Foreign and Nigerian Languages | B.A. Hausa | Not shown | Full |
| Linguistics, Foreign and Nigerian Languages | B.A. Igbo | 2214 | Full |
| Linguistics, Foreign and Nigerian Languages | B.A. Yoruba | 2215 | Interim |
| Philosophy | B.A. Philosophy | 2216 | Full |
| Religious Studies | B.A. Islamic Studies | 2208 | Full |
| Religious Studies | B.A. Christian Theology | 2207 | Full |
Interim is NUC’s middle grade: the programme continues, and the university has to correct the deficiencies NUC noted before the next visit. Yoruba is the only arts degree with that status; the rest are Full. The faculty handbook also lists a B.A. Christian Religious Studies, and the Christian Theology page uses that name in places, but only Christian Theology is on the accreditation list.
Is there a NOUN cut-off mark for arts courses?
No. NOUN does not set a UTME cut-off mark for arts courses or for any other undergraduate programme. Its official Admission Requirements page describes O’level requirements and an automated online application, and a JAMB score is not part of it. Any “NOUN arts courses cut-off mark” you see on a blog was not published by the university.
Two things decide whether you get in:
- Your O’level result: the right five credits, in not more than two sittings.
- Your Direct Entry qualification, if you have one: it decides whether you start at 100 level or higher.
That also means there is no post-UTME, no screening test and no aggregate score to calculate. If your grades match the requirement, the portal admits you.
What about JAMB and CAPS?
NOUN’s admission page does not ask for a UTME score, and you do not choose NOUN on a UTME form to be considered. JAMB is still part of the picture after admission: NOUN’s fees schedule lists a ₦6,000 JAMB regularisation charge for new students. NOUN has not published step-by-step instructions for that regularisation, so follow what the university tells you after admission and keep the receipt. If you already have a JAMB profile from an earlier UTME, keep its email and registration number handy; it may help when your record is regularised.
Faculty rules that apply to every arts programme
- Sittings: not more than two, on every programme page that mentions sittings.
- Duration: the faculty handbook (2022 to 2027 edition) gives 8 to 16 semesters from 100 level and 6 to 12 semesters by Direct Entry. Hausa’s page gives a shorter ceiling of 12 and 10 semesters.
- Credit units to graduate: 120 from 100 level and 90 by Direct Entry, including general studies courses.
- Assessment: tutor-marked assignments and end-of-semester examinations, as in all NOUN programmes.
- Language practice: the Dean’s foreword in the handbook says language programmes use a digital language laboratory that students can reach from anywhere in the country.
Requirements for each NOUN arts programme
B.A. English
| Item | What NOUN publishes |
|---|---|
| O’level (100 level) | Five credits, not more than two sittings, in relevant subjects including English Language and Literature in English |
| Direct Entry (200 level) | A first degree; or three credit passes in IJMB, NCE, ND or equivalent including English and Literature; or two A level passes, one in Literature in English |
| Entry levels | 100 and 200 level |
| Duration | 8 semester (100 level) or 6 semester (Direct Entry) structure |
| NUC status | Full |
English started in 2004/2005 and produced its first graduates in 2013. Students choose a Language emphasis or a Literature emphasis, and Direct Entry students must also take GST 107.
B.A. French
| Item | What NOUN publishes |
|---|---|
| O’level (100 level) | Five credits from WAEC or NECO, not more than two sittings, including English Language and French, plus at least a pass in Mathematics |
| Alternative 100-level route | National Diploma, a Diploma in French from the Nigeria French Language Village, or DELF/DALF B1 from Alliance Française with a merit in French, plus three O’level credits (one in English) and a pass in Mathematics |
| Direct Entry (200 level) | NCE; or the 100-level requirements plus DELF/DALF B2, C1 or C2 |
| Entry levels | 100 and 200 level |
| Duration | 8 to 16 semesters (100 level); 6 to 12 semesters (200 level) |
| NUC status | Full |
French is the only arts programme here that accepts Alliance Française certificates. If you have no French credit at O’level but you hold DELF B1, the alternative route is your way in.
B.A. Arabic
| Item | What NOUN publishes |
|---|---|
| O’level (100 level) | Five credits from WASC, NECO or equivalent, not more than two sittings, including English Language and Arabic and/or Islamic Studies, plus at least a pass in Mathematics; or five merits in NABTEB or Teachers Grade II with the same subjects |
| Direct Entry (200 level) | NCE with a merit in English and a credit in Arabic or Islamic Studies; a Diploma in Arabic and/or Islamic Studies at Lower Credit or better; two A level credit passes; an OND with proof of Arabic or Islamic Studies proficiency; or a university Certificate in Arabic and Islamic Studies plus three O’level papers with a credit in English and a pass in Mathematics |
| Entry levels | 100 and 200 level |
| Duration | 8 to 16 semesters (100 level); 6 to 12 semesters (200 level) |
| NUC status | Full |
The programme page still carries a line saying the programme awaits Senate approval, which is out of step with its Full NUC status in November 2024. I read that as an old line nobody removed, but check that Arabic appears on the portal.
B.A. Hausa
| Item | What NOUN publishes |
|---|---|
| O’level (100 level) | At least five credits including English and Hausa; the page’s second wording asks for English, Mathematics and three other relevant subjects in not more than two sittings |
| Direct Entry (200 level) | Two A level passes or equivalent, or an NCE, OND or HND at upper credit or better, plus the O’level requirement |
| Entry levels | 100 and 200 level |
| Duration | Minimum 8 semesters, maximum 12 (100 level); minimum 6, maximum 10 (200 level) |
| NUC status | Full |
Hausa’s page mentions “acceptable UTME scores”, wording that appears to be copied from a conventional university template. NOUN’s admission page does not ask for a UTME score, and neither does the portal for other arts programmes.
B.A. Igbo
| Item | What NOUN publishes |
|---|---|
| O’level (100 level) | Five credits, not more than two sittings, in relevant subjects including English Language, Literature in English and Igbo |
| Direct Entry (200 level) | Three credit passes in NCE, OND, HND or equivalent including English and Literature, plus O’level; or two A level or IJMB passes plus three other O’level subjects including Igbo |
| Entry levels | 100 and 200 level |
| Duration | 8 semester or 6 semester structure |
| NUC status | Full |
For most applicants at the Enugu Study Centre, Igbo is the language degree with the closest link to home. The page lists careers in teaching Igbo in secondary schools, creative writing, administration and postgraduate study in Igbo linguistics and literature.
B.A. Yoruba
| Item | What NOUN publishes |
|---|---|
| O’level (100 level) | Five credits, not more than two sittings, in relevant subjects including English Language, Literature in English and Yoruba |
| Direct Entry (200 level) | Three credit passes in NCE, OND, HND or equivalent including English and Literature, plus O’level; or two A level or IJMB passes plus three other O’level subjects including Yoruba |
| Entry levels | 100 and 200 level |
| Duration | 8 semester or 6 semester structure |
| NUC status | Interim |
B.A. Philosophy
| Item | What NOUN publishes |
|---|---|
| O’level (100 level) | Five credits, not more than two sittings, in relevant subjects including English Language and Mathematics |
| Direct Entry (200 level) | At least three credit passes in IJMB, ND, NCE or equivalent, in relevant subjects including English |
| Entry levels | 100 and 200 level |
| Duration | Not stated on the page; faculty rule of 8 to 16 and 6 to 12 semesters applies |
| NUC status | Full |
Philosophy names no subject beyond English and Mathematics, so Literature, Government, CRS or History all count as relevant. The page aims graduates at teaching, advisory work for governments and organisations, and problem-solving roles.
B.A. Islamic Studies
| Item | What NOUN publishes |
|---|---|
| O’level (100 level) | Five credits in SSCE or GCE, or five merits in NABTEB or Teachers Grade II, in arts or social science subjects including English Language and Mathematics |
| Other 100-level routes | Certificate in Arabic and Islamic Studies plus three O’level papers including a pass in English; or SISC, HMSC or HISC with five credits in Arabic, Islamic Studies and three others, including a pass in English |
| Direct Entry (200 level) | NCE with a merit in English and a credit in Arabic or Islamic Studies; a Diploma in Arabic and/or Islamic Studies; or A level or OND with proof of Arabic or Islamic Studies proficiency |
| Entry levels | 100 and 200 level |
| Duration | 8 semesters (four-year programme); 6 semesters (three-year programme) |
| NUC status | Full |
B.A. Christian Theology
| Item | What NOUN publishes |
|---|---|
| O’level (100 level) | Five credits in arts and social science subjects from SSCE, GCE, NECO or NABTEB, including English Language and Mathematics; or Teachers Grade II with five merits in not more than two sittings |
| Direct Entry (200 level) | Three credit passes in IJMB, OND, NCE or equivalent plus three O’level credits including English (NOUN’s 2023 advert adds Mathematics); or a Diploma in Religious Studies or Theology (the advert says Christian Theology or Christian Religious Studies) from NOUN or another recognised institution; or another qualification NOUN’s Senate accepts |
| Entry levels | 100 and 200 level |
| Duration | 8 semesters full time, up to 16 in flexible mode; 6 semesters by Direct Entry |
| NUC status | Full |
The programme page does not say whether CRS (CRK) is compulsory at O’level, and NOUN’s admission advert of January 2023 does not either. A CRS credit is still a sensible fifth subject. The page lists outcomes in teaching, administration, social work, church ministry and counselling on faith and morals. Diploma holders in theology from a seminary or Bible college should check on View Requirement that their diploma is accepted before paying.
Do arts courses at NOUN need a Mathematics credit?
This is where the sources disagree, so read it carefully.
| Programme | What the programme page says about Mathematics |
|---|---|
| Philosophy, Islamic Studies, Christian Theology | Credit required |
| French, Arabic | At least a pass |
| Hausa | Credit in one wording; not mentioned in the other |
| English, Igbo, Yoruba | Not mentioned |
NOUN’s general admission notice of August 2024 says credits in English and Mathematics are required for all faculties. My advice: if you have a Mathematics credit, you are safe for every arts programme. If you have only a pass, apply for a programme whose page accepts a pass, and check that the portal’s View Requirement screen agrees before you pay. If you have neither, fix Mathematics first.
Worked example: four applicants
These are my illustrations of how NOUN’s published rules apply, not NOUN decisions.
| Applicant | Profile | Outcome on NOUN’s rules |
|---|---|---|
| Chiamaka, school leaver in Enugu | WASSCE credits in English, Literature in English, Igbo, Mathematics and CRS | Qualifies for 100 level in Igbo or English; also meets Christian Theology |
| Somto, French teacher | NCE French/English; full O’level set including a French credit | Qualifies for 200 level in French |
| Rev. Obi, church worker | Diploma in Theology; O’level credits in English, Mathematics and three others | Likely fits the Christian Theology diploma route; confirm on View Requirement |
| Kosisochukwu, school leaver | Credits in English, Literature, Government and two others; D7 in Mathematics | Meets English’s published rule, short of Philosophy’s Mathematics credit |
How to apply for your arts programme at NOUN, step by step
The whole process happens online. You do not travel to Abuja, and you do not need to visit the Enugu centre before you are admitted.
- Get your documents ready: O’level result(s), birth certificate or age declaration, a recent passport photograph and, for Direct Entry, your diploma, degree or professional certificate and transcript. Scan them clearly.
- Open the admission page: go to NOUN’s Admission Requirements page on nou.edu.ng and choose the undergraduate application.
- Select the programme: pick the faculty, then your arts programme, then your entry level, and click View Requirement. Read the requirement that appears before you go further.
- Pick your entry level: 100 level with O’level only, or 200 level with the Direct Entry qualification for your programme (NCE, diploma, A level, IJMB or, for French, DELF/DALF B2 or higher). Upload the certificate and its result.
- Fill the pre-payment form: enter your names exactly as they appear on your O’level result, plus a working email address and phone number.
- Generate a Remita RRR and pay: pay the ₦5,000 form fee by card, or take the RRR to a bank.
- Complete the application form: enter your O’level grades, upload your documents and choose Enugu Study Centre as your study centre.
- Check the outcome: NOUN describes its admission process as automated, with an almost instant outcome. Print the admission letter once it shows.
- Pay the compulsory charges and register courses: pay the new-student charges, then register your first semester courses and examinations within the window in the academic calendar.
Write down your application number and the email address you used, and keep the Remita receipt. Most problems at the study centre later come from a lost RRR or a mismatch between the name on the form and the name on the O’level certificate.
What studying arts at NOUN looks like
You study from printed or online course materials, submit tutor-marked assignments online, and sit examinations at the study centre. In English, the final-year project or long essay is ENG 499, worth 6 units. Language students practise through NOUN’s digital language laboratory.
Careers
- Teaching: English, French, Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, Arabic and religious studies teachers are in demand in secondary schools.
- Translation and interpreting: French and Arabic graduates in particular, for embassies, international bodies and businesses.
- Media and writing: editing, content writing and creative writing.
- Religious and community work: ministry, chaplaincy and counselling for Christian Theology and Islamic Studies graduates.
- Public service and further study: administration roles and master’s programmes.
Related programmes
- NOUN Enugu Study Centre admission requirements for every programme;
- NOUN Enugu Education courses if you want to teach English, French or another subject with a teaching degree;
- for the UTME route, compare UNN English and Literary Studies, UNN Linguistics, Igbo and Other Nigerian Languages, UNN Foreign Languages, UNN Philosophy and UNN Religion and Cultural Studies.
NOUN form price and fees for arts applicants
The undergraduate application form costs ₦5,000, paid through Remita. That is the figure in NOUN’s own admission requirements notice of 8 August 2024, and it is the most recent official figure I could find. Postgraduate forms cost more, so make sure you start the undergraduate application.
After admission you pay a set of compulsory charges. NOUN’s fees schedule page (undated) lists them like this:
| Charge | New students | Returning students |
|---|---|---|
| Registration | ₦6,000 | ₦6,000 |
| Caution deposit | ₦3,500 | None |
| Orientation | ₦1,500 | None |
| Matriculation | ₦1,500 | None |
| ID card | ₦500 | None |
| Library | ₦3,000 | ₦3,000 |
| ICT administrative charges | ₦5,000 | ₦5,000 |
| E-facilitation | ₦4,000 | ₦4,000 |
| JAMB regularisation | ₦6,000 | None |
| Result verification | ₦5,000 | None |
| Total compulsory charges | ₦36,000 | ₦18,000 |
On top of these, the same page lists an examination fee of ₦1,000 per course and a project fee of ₦15,000 in the final year. Course registration is charged per course, and the page says those fees remain unchanged, but it does not print the per-course amounts. Your semester bill therefore depends on how many courses you register. Open your portal’s payment page to see the real figure before you budget, because NOUN has not published a 2026/2027 per-course table that I could verify.
When does NOUN admit? 2026/2027 dates
NOUN does not follow the JAMB admission deadlines that apply to conventional universities. It runs its own calendar in two semesters a year, labelled like 2026_1 and 2026_2.
| Item | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Admission portal for 2026 | Open from 1 January to 31 December 2026 | NOUN’s approved 2026 academic calendar, as reported by Myschool |
| 2026_1 course and examination registration | 5 January to 22 March 2026 (closed) | Same calendar |
| 2027 academic calendar | Not yet published | Check nou.edu.ng and your portal |
So, on the published calendar, the 2026 admission portal stays open until 31 December 2026. Because the outcome of an application is almost instant, people who apply now can usually be admitted and then register for the semester that is open on the calendar. NOUN has not published its 2027 calendar yet, so 2027/2028 applicants should watch nou.edu.ng and the portal from January 2027.
The NOUN Enugu Study Centre: what it does for arts students
NOUN admits centrally from its headquarters in Jabi, Abuja. The study centre is where you are attached for support: student records, facilitation, examinations, project defence and, at the end, certificate collection. When you apply, you pick Enugu as your study centre on the form.
- Leadership: NOUN News named Prof. Charity Akuadi Okonkwo as Director of the Enugu Study Centre when it reported an NUC accreditation visit to the centre on 26 November 2024.
- Examinations: the same report said the centre had 297 computers in its e-examination hall.
- Certificates: in July 2025 the centre told its graduands to collect certificates at the Centre Director’s office, with proof of final clearance, convocation and alumni fee payments, a bound project copy and a valid ID (reported by Myschool, 11 July 2025).
- Address: NOUN does not publish the street address in the sources I checked. Confirm it on the study centres directory on nou.edu.ng before you travel, and do not rely on addresses copied around on blogs.
NOUN also does not publish which programmes each study centre supports. Being admitted into arts and choosing Enugu should place you there, but if you need clinical placement, practical sessions or a project supervisor in Enugu, ask the centre to confirm it in writing before you pay registration fees.
Mistakes to avoid
- No credit in the degree’s own subject: English needs Literature, French needs French, Igbo needs Igbo, Yoruba needs Yoruba.
- Ignoring Mathematics: some pages skip it, but NOUN’s general rule asks for a credit.
- Applying for Christian Religious Studies: the accredited degree is Christian Theology.
- Using three sittings: the limit is two.
- Paying an agent: admission is decided on the portal.
NOUN arts courses: frequently asked questions
What are the requirements for English in NOUN? Five O’level credits in not more than two sittings, including English Language and Literature in English. A Mathematics credit is wise because NOUN’s general rule asks for it.
Can I study Igbo in NOUN without Literature in English? The B.A. Igbo page lists Literature in English among the relevant subjects with English and Igbo, so plan on having a Literature credit.
Does NOUN accept DELF for French? Yes. DELF/DALF B1 with a merit in French opens the alternative 100-level route, and B2, C1 or C2 can lead to 200 level.
Is NOUN Yoruba accredited? NOUN’s November 2024 accreditation document gives B.A. Yoruba Interim status. All the other arts degrees have Full status.
Sources and updates
Programme requirements, codes, durations and credit units come from the Faculty of Arts programme pages for English, French, Arabic, Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, Philosophy, Islamic Studies and Christian Theology, checked on 30 October 2026, and from the Faculty of Arts handbook (2022 to 2027 edition). The Christian Theology advert details come from NOUN’s admission advert (19 January 2023). NOUN’s undergraduate requirement wording and the automated application steps come from its Admission Requirements page on nou.edu.ng. Programme-specific requirements, the ₦5,000 form fee and the Remita payment rule come from NOUN News, “NOUN admission requirements” (8 August 2024). Compulsory charges, the examination fee and the JAMB regularisation charge come from NOUN’s fees schedule page (undated when checked). The programme list and accreditation statuses come from NOUN’s Programmes and Accreditation Status document (November 2024). The 2026 admission portal period and registration window come from Myschool’s report of NOUN’s approved 2026 academic calendar. Details on the Enugu Study Centre come from NOUN News (2 December 2024) and Myschool (11 July 2025). This page will be updated if NOUN aligns its Mathematics rule across the arts programme pages or changes any requirement.
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.
