Southern Atlantic University (SAU), Uyo has not published a cut-off mark for International Relations. The only official figure is 150, JAMB’s 2026 minimum UTME score for every Nigerian university, and SAU’s founder told The Mirror in August 2026 that candidates with JAMB scores above 150 can apply. SAU is a new private university: it received its provisional licence from the Federal Executive Council on 3 March 2025 and took its pioneer students in 2025/2026. SAU named International Relations among its programmes in local press reports in 2025 and again in 2026. The Mirror writes the course as International Relations/Diplomacy.
2027/2028 update: SAU 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.
Because SAU is so new, there is less public information about it than about older universities, and I have marked clearly what is official, what comes from news reports and what is my advice. Below you will find the subjects JAMB lists for International Relations, a safe target score, how SAU admits, the comparison with other Akwa Ibom universities and the checks I would make before paying.
SAU cut-off mark for International Relations at a glance
| Item | Position | Status |
|---|---|---|
| SAU cut-off for International Relations | Not published | No SAU notice found (checked 3 November 2026) |
| JAMB minimum for all universities (2026 UTME) | 150 | Official (JAMB policy meeting, 11 May 2026) |
| What SAU has said | JAMB scores above 150 can apply | Founder, quoted by The Mirror (23 August 2026) |
| Safe target score | 165 and above | My advice, not an SAU rule |
| UTME subjects | English, Economics, Literature plus Geography, Government or History | JAMB brochure general line (Myschool reprint) |
| O’level | English, Government or History plus three relevant subjects | JAMB brochure general line |
| Degree | B.Sc. International Relations and Diplomacy | The Mirror |
| Licence | Provisional, FEC approval of 3 March 2025 | NAN (3 March 2025) |
| NUC programme accreditation | None yet (new programme) | Not in NUC accreditation results to 2025 |
| Tuition | Not published; a 30% reduction was announced | The Mirror (23 August 2026) |
| 2026/2027 admission deadline | 30 November 2026 (private universities) | JAMB, via NAN (11 May 2026) |
What we know about Southern Atlantic University
- Licence: one of 11 private universities given provisional licences by the Federal Executive Council on 3 March 2025 (NAN).
- Location: Airport Road, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. The Mirror gives the address as Km 50, Airport Road.
- People: the founder and Chancellor is Pastor Bassey James and the Pro-Chancellor is Senator Ita Enang. The Mirror has reported Prof. Ephraim Edem as Vice-Chancellor.
- First students: SAU admitted its pioneer set in 2025/2026, was on the JAMB portal by October 2025 and scheduled its first matriculation for 11 April 2026.
- Programmes: 15 B.Sc. programmes, according to The Mirror (March and August 2026). Agriculture and other service courses are described as planned.
- Not the polytechnic: Southern Atlantic Polytechnic in Uyo is a separate institution. I found no evidence that it became SAU.
Where International Relations appears in SAU’s announcements
| Report | Is International Relations named? |
|---|---|
| The Mirror, 4 September 2025 (admission opens) | Yes |
| The Mirror, 11 October 2025 (SAU on the JAMB portal) | Yes |
| The Mirror, 11 March 2026 (15 programmes) | Yes |
| The Mirror, 23 August 2026 (15 programmes) | Yes |
International Relations is named in every report I found, from the first admission notice in 2025 to the August 2026 fee announcement. That is a good sign it is running, but it is still news coverage, not an official course list.
I could not find an official SAU website, a published admission notice or a JAMB brochure listing for SAU. All of the programme information above comes from The Mirror, a newspaper based in Uyo. That is why the most important step for any SAU applicant is to check that the course shows for SAU on JAMB CAPS or the JAMB e-brochure.
SAU International Relations cut-off: what has been published
| Session | Figure | What it is | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/2027 | Not published | SAU’s own cut-off for International Relations | No SAU notice found |
| 2026/2027 | 150 | JAMB’s minimum UTME score for every university | JAMB 2026 policy meeting (NAN, 11 May 2026) |
| 2026/2027 | Above 150 | What SAU’s founder said about who can apply | The Mirror, 23 August 2026 |
| 2025/2026 (pioneer year) | Not published | No departmental figure in any report | The Mirror, September and October 2025 |
So treat 150 as the floor and nothing more. SAU is filling its first classes, so it is unlikely to set a high bar in its early years, but no figure has been published and I would not rely on scores in the low 150s.
Safe target score for International Relations at SAU (my advice)
This is my judgement as an admissions adviser for a new private university with small classes. It is not an SAU rule.
| Your UTME score | My read for International Relations at SAU |
|---|---|
| Below 150 | Not eligible for any university course this session |
| 150 to 154 | Eligible. A new university may admit here, but you have little margin |
| 155 to 164 | Reasonable with clean O’level grades |
| 165 to 194 | Good. This is the range I would aim for |
| 195 and above | Strong; also gives you a real chance at UNIUYO or AKSU |
For the 2027 UTME I would aim for at least 165. That covers SAU comfortably and gives you a chance at Obong’s International Relations.
UTME subject combination and O’level for International Relations at SAU
| Requirement | International Relations (JAMB general line) |
|---|---|
| UTME subjects | Use of English, Economics, Literature in English and one of Geography, Government or History |
| O’level | Five credits including English Language, Government or History, and three relevant subjects |
| Direct Entry | Two A-level passes in Social Science subjects (Government/History, Economics, Sociology, Business Management) |
| SAU-specific remark | None found. SAU does not appear in the brochure remarks Myschool reprints |
| Sittings | Not stated by SAU; most universities accept two |
JAMB’s general line for International Relations is unusual: Economics and Literature in English, plus Geography, Government or History. Universities vary a lot (BUK wants Government or History plus two Social Sciences; Coal City takes any three Arts or Social Sciences), so the course name SAU registers with JAMB decides which line applies. Government, Economics and Literature with English satisfies the general line and most variants.
At O’level, a credit in Government or History is required. I would add a Mathematics credit; several universities ask for it.
How admission into SAU works
From what SAU has told the press, admission runs through JAMB: you apply on the JAMB portal at an accredited CBT centre, and candidates who chose another school can change their institution to SAU at a CBT centre. SAU has not published a Post-UTME test, a screening fee, a form price or dates for 2026/2027.
| Detail | SAU 2026/2027 |
|---|---|
| Route | JAMB portal and accredited CBT centres |
| Change of institution | Allowed at any accredited CBT centre (The Mirror, 23 August 2026) |
| Who can apply | JAMB scores above 150, as reported |
| Screening or Post-UTME | Not published |
| Tuition | Not published; 30% reduction announced in August 2026 |
| Payment plan | “Pay What You Have” flexible plan, as reported; terms not published |
Worked example (illustrative)
With no published formula, the useful sum is the gap between your score, the 150 floor and my safe target of 165. These candidates are made up.
Take Mandu, who scored 178 and has B2 in English, B3 in Government, C4 in Economics, C4 in Literature and C5 in Mathematics from one sitting.
- Eligibility: 178 minus 150 = 28. Mandu clears the JAMB floor by 28 marks.
- Against my safe target: 178 minus 165 = 13. Mandu sits 13 marks above the score I would call safe.
- O’level check: Government and English credits plus three relevant subjects.
- What I would advise: confirm on CAPS and accept quickly.
Emem scored 160. 160 minus 150 = 10, so the score itself is enough to be considered. He took Government, CRS and History with English, without Economics or Literature. That misses JAMB’s general line, so he should check SAU’s listing before paying.
Your chances of getting International Relations at SAU
A university in its second admission year usually has more places than applicants in most courses, and SAU is advertising fee cuts and a flexible payment plan to attract students. If you clear 150 with the right subjects and clean O’level grades, your chances of an offer are good. The two risks to check are whether the course is on JAMB’s list for SAU and how new the programme is.
International Relations is popular with arts and social science candidates. At a new university with small classes, applying early with the right subjects matters most.
The same course at other Akwa Ibom universities
| University | Type | 2026/2027 minimum |
|---|---|---|
| Obong University, Obong Ntak | Private | No published figure; JAMB floor of 150 applies |
| University of Uyo (UNIUYO) | Federal | 150, with UNIUYO as first choice (UNIUYO 2026/2027 notice). UNIUYO’s nearest course is History and International Studies |
JAMB set 31 October 2026 as the 2026/2027 deadline for public universities; that date has now passed. Private universities, SAU included, have until 30 November 2026.
How to apply for International Relations at SAU, step by step
- Get your JAMB profile code: send NIN, a space and your 11-digit NIN to 55019 or 66019 from the line linked to your NIN.
- Check the course is listed for SAU: at a CBT centre or on your JAMB profile, confirm that International Relations and Diplomacy appears under Southern Atlantic University. If it does not, JAMB cannot process the admission.
- Register or change your choice: pick International Relations and Diplomacy with English, Economics, Literature in English and Government and make SAU your first choice, or do a JAMB change of institution to SAU.
- Upload your O’level to CAPS: at an accredited CBT centre. Check that English, Government and Mathematics all show.
- Contact SAU: SAU has no published portal, so get admission instructions from the university itself at its Uyo campus. Do not use phone numbers posted on forums.
- Accept on CAPS: log in at efacility.jamb.gov.ng, choose Check Admission Status and accept. Our JAMB CAPS guide explains each status.
- Get the fees in writing before paying: ask for the tuition, acceptance fee and the terms of any reduction or payment plan on an official SAU document, then pay only to an account in SAU’s name.
Confirm on CAPS first
SAU’s course list comes from local news reports, not an official notice. Before you pay anything, make sure International Relations and Diplomacy at Southern Atlantic University shows on your JAMB CAPS profile. Every genuine university admission in Nigeria appears on CAPS.
Studying International Relations at SAU
SAU has not named its faculties. International Relations and Diplomacy is a B.Sc., normally four years for UTME entrants in Nigeria.
Approval and accreditation
SAU holds a provisional licence, the first stage for a new private university in Nigeria, granted by the Federal Executive Council on 3 March 2025. SAU’s founder has said the university has the approvals it needs, but I did not see an NUC letter approving individual programmes. Programme accreditation is a later step: the NUC inspects a programme after it has run for some years, and the NUC’s Accreditation Results 1990 to 2025 has no SAU entries. Programme accreditation: none yet.
What you study
- Foundation: introduction to international relations, political science and economics.
- Core: foreign policy analysis, international law, international organisations and diplomacy.
- Regional: African politics, Nigeria’s foreign policy and regional integration (ECOWAS, AU).
- Final year: research methods and a project.
Careers
Graduates work in the foreign service, international organisations, NGOs, the media, research institutes, multinational companies and the civil service.
Related SAU courses
If you need to switch, read JAMB change of course and JAMB change of institution.
Mistakes to avoid when applying to SAU
- No Literature or Economics in the UTME: JAMB’s general line includes both.
- No Government or History credit: required at O’level.
- Paying before CAPS: an offer that is not on CAPS is not an admission.
- Mixing up SAU and Southern Atlantic Polytechnic: they are different schools.
SAU International Relations cut-off mark: frequently asked questions
What is the cut-off mark for International Relations at SAU Uyo? SAU has not published one. JAMB’s floor is 150 and I would aim for 165.
What subjects are needed for International Relations? JAMB’s general line is English, Economics, Literature in English and one of Geography, Government or History.
Is International Relations the same as Political Science? They overlap in the first year, but International Relations focuses on foreign policy, diplomacy and international law.
Is SAU International Relations accredited? Not yet. It is a new programme, and NUC accreditation comes after a programme has run for some years.
Sources and updates
SAU’s provisional licence comes from the News Agency of Nigeria (3 March 2025). The programme list, the JAMB route, the address, the people named and the matriculation date come from The Mirror’s reports of 4 September 2025, 11 October 2025, 11 March 2026 and 23 August 2026; the August 2026 report is the source for the 30% tuition reduction, the payment plan and the threshold of scores above 150. Subject requirements come from Myschool’s reprint of JAMB’s brochure page for International Relations, which has no SAU remark. The national minimum of 150 and the 30 November 2026 deadline for private universities come from the News Agency of Nigeria (11 May 2026). The NUC position comes from the NUC’s Accreditation Results 1990 to 2025. Comparison figures for other Akwa Ibom universities come from their own 2026/2027 notices or reprints. The safe target score and the worked example are my advice. Checked on 3 November 2026; this page will be updated when SAU publishes an official 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.
