The SUMAS cut off mark for Biochemistry in 2026/2027 is 150 in the UTME. That is the general minimum the State University of Medical and Applied Sciences (SUMAS), Igbo-Eno, Enugu State, set for every programme in its 2026/2027 Post-UTME and Direct Entry notice, and it was also 150 in 2025/2026. Biochemistry was on the SUMAS supplementary admission list in October 2026, which was open to candidates who scored 150 or more in the 2026 UTME.
2027/2028 update: SUMAS 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.
SUMAS has never published a departmental cut off for Biochemistry, an aggregate formula, a merit list with scores, or catchment and ELDS lists. It has confirmed one thing that matters: Biochemistry is one of the 15 SUMAS programmes with full NUC accreditation. This guide covers the verified figures, the UTME subject combination, the O’level rules (including the Physics credit SUMAS asks of everyone), a worked screening example, a safe target score and what you can do with a Biochemistry degree.
SUMAS Biochemistry cut off mark 2027/2028 at a glance
| Item | Biochemistry at SUMAS | Status |
|---|---|---|
| General UTME cut off, 2026/2027 | 150 | Official (SUMAS Post-UTME notice) |
| General UTME cut off, 2025/2026 | 150 | Previous year, SUMAS notice as reproduced by Myschool |
| Departmental cut off | Not published | No SUMAS list for any year |
| Supplementary admission, 2026/2027 | Listed; 2026 UTME of 150 or more | Reported by Myschool and FreshNote, 17 October 2026 |
| Faculty | Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences | Official programme list |
| NUC accreditation | Full (exercise of 28 October to 3 December 2025) | Official (SUMAS NUC notice) |
| Post-UTME form | ₦2,000; 22 June to 4 October 2026 after extension | Closed |
| Acceptance fee | ₦50,000 | Official (2026/2027 instructions) |
| School fees | ₦251,400 for Applied and Natural Sciences | 2022/2023 schedule, the latest published |
SUMAS cut off mark for Biochemistry by session
| Session | Minimum UTME to apply | Biochemistry departmental cut off | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/2027 (main screening) | 150 | Not published | SUMAS Post-UTME and Direct Entry notice |
| 2026/2027 (supplementary) | 150 | Not published | Supplementary notice as reported, 17 October 2026 |
| 2025/2026 (previous year) | 150 | Not published | SUMAS notice as reproduced by Myschool, July 2025 |
The 150 is the gate to screening. A departmental cut off would be the lowest score SUMAS actually admitted into Biochemistry after screening, and it has not released one for any session. Its batch lists show masked JAMB numbers by course with no scores. The general minimum is reviewed every year after JAMB’s policy meeting, so check the 2027/2028 SUMAS notice before you plan around 150. A private directory quotes 160 for SUMAS and calls it a federal university; it is neither a SUMAS figure nor correct about ownership.
Biochemistry on the 2027/2028 supplementary list
On 17 October 2026, Myschool and FreshNote reported that SUMAS had opened supplementary admission for programmes that still had places after the main batches. Biochemistry was on the list. I could not find the notice on sumas.edu.ng itself, so read the details as reported.
- Who could apply: candidates with 150 or more in the 2026 UTME who chose SUMAS first but missed their course, and candidates willing to make SUMAS their first choice.
- Other science courses on the list: Applied Microbiology, Genetics and Biotechnology, ICT, Industrial Chemistry, Pure and Industrial Physics, Pharmacology and Human Physiology.
- Not on the list: Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Medical Laboratory Science, Radiography, Physiotherapy, Nutrition and Dietetics, Public Health, Human Anatomy, Computer Science and Quantity Surveying.
- Portal: if you never applied for SUMAS Post-UTME, register on samp.sumas.edu.ng. If you already applied, use your existing account.
Biochemistry is a common landing place for candidates who wanted Medicine, Pharmacy or Medical Laboratory Science and missed out. Since those three were not reopened, Biochemistry was one of the closest options still open at SUMAS this session.
Supplementary deadline
SUMAS has published no closing date for the supplementary round, and JAMB told public universities to finish 2026 admissions by 31 October 2026. If you want Biochemistry this session, make your JAMB change and call the admission office (08067390088) now.
UTME subject combination and O’level requirements for SUMAS Biochemistry
SUMAS follows the JAMB brochure. JAMB’s usual entry for Biochemistry, as reproduced by Myschool, asks for Use of English, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics or Mathematics. SUMAS is not named in the brochure’s special remarks, so the general rule should apply. Confirm it on the JAMB e-brochure when you register.
| Requirement | Biochemistry at SUMAS |
|---|---|
| UTME subjects | Use of English, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics or Mathematics |
| O’level (JAMB brochure) | Five credits in English Language, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics and Biology |
| O’level (SUMAS rule) | Five credits including English Language, Mathematics and Physics, plus two relevant subjects |
| Sittings | Not more than two |
| UTME score | 150 or more in the 2026 UTME |
| Age | At least 16 by 30 September 2026 |
| Choice | SUMAS as first choice on JAMB CAPS |
| Direct Entry (SUMAS rule) | At least second class lower or its equivalent in OND, HND or a first degree, cleared on JAMB e-Facility |
| Direct Entry (JAMB brochure) | Two A level passes from Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics and Biology; or NCE, ND or HND in a related programme plus the UTME requirements |
Two points catch Biochemistry applicants out:
- You need a Physics credit even if you write Mathematics in the UTME. Both the JAMB entry and the SUMAS rule list Physics at O’level. A pass (D7 or E8) will not do.
- Physics or Mathematics in the UTME, not both. Your four UTME papers are English, Biology, Chemistry and one of the two. Pick the one you score higher in during mock exams.
Our JAMB Biology syllabus and JAMB Chemistry syllabus guides cover two of your papers.
How SUMAS screening works for Biochemistry
SUMAS described its 2026/2027 Post-UTME as a screening exercise and published no written test or test date. It has not said how it combines UTME scores and O’level grades. A later notice told some admitted candidates who skipped Post-UTME to register on SAMP, pay the screening fee and report to the ICT Unit for verification. That points to screening on records, though SUMAS has not confirmed it.
Before any ranking, SUMAS checks that you have:
- 150 or more in the UTME with the right subjects
- SUMAS as your first choice
- five O’level credits uploaded on JAMB CAPS (the 2026 SUMAS deadline was 15 August)
- the same JAMB number, date of birth, state of origin and course on JAMB and on the SUMAS portal
Worked aggregate example for Biochemistry
Many Nigerian universities use a 50/50 aggregate. SUMAS has not published its formula, so this is an illustration only.
- UTME part: UTME score ÷ 8, maximum 50 points.
- O’level part: five relevant grades scored A1 = 10, B2 = 9, B3 = 8, C4 = 7, C5 = 6, C6 = 5, maximum 50 points.
- Aggregate: the two parts added, out of 100.
Chiamaka scored 214 in the UTME (English, Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics). Her WAEC shows B3 in English Language, B2 in Mathematics, A1 in Biology, B3 in Chemistry and C5 in Physics.
| Part | Working | Points |
|---|---|---|
| UTME | 214 ÷ 8 | 26.75 |
| O’level | 8 + 9 + 10 + 8 + 6 | 41 |
| Aggregate | 26.75 + 41 | 67.75 out of 100 |
Under a method like this, one grade step in O’level is worth the same as 8 UTME marks. Chiamaka’s A1 in Biology adds as much as 16 extra UTME marks would over a B3. If you are still writing WAEC or NECO, your science grades matter as much as your JAMB score.
How competitive is Biochemistry at SUMAS?
Moderately competitive. Biochemistry draws many candidates who first wanted health courses, which pushes demand up. Even so, SUMAS reopened it on the October 2026 supplementary list, so places remained after the main screening.
SUMAS has not published a Biochemistry quota, catchment states or ELDS states. The 45% merit, 35% catchment and 20% ELDS split you see online is a federal university guideline, and SUMAS, an Enugu State university, has not said it uses it.
My advice, not a SUMAS figure: aim for 190 or more in the UTME, with credits in English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology at no more than two sittings. That gives you a comfortable chance in Biochemistry at SUMAS. Between 160 and 190, your O’level grades and how early you act in the supplementary round matter a lot.
Is SUMAS Biochemistry accredited?
Yes. SUMAS announced that the NUC granted full accreditation to 15 of its programmes after the exercise held from 28 October to 3 December 2025, and Biochemistry is on that list. Genetics and Biotechnology, Applied Microbiology and Brewing and Pure and Industrial Chemistry were also fully accredited. Biochemistry does not need a separate professional council licence before graduates can work, unlike Medical Laboratory Science or Pharmacy.
What you study in Biochemistry at SUMAS
Biochemistry studies the chemistry of living things: how cells build and break down molecules, how enzymes and hormones work, and how genes are expressed. SUMAS has not put its Biochemistry course outline online, so the list below reflects what NUC Biochemistry programmes in Nigeria normally cover.
- Biomolecules: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids
- Enzymology and bioenergetics
- Intermediary metabolism and its regulation
- Molecular biology and genetic engineering
- Clinical and nutritional biochemistry
- Plant, industrial and environmental biochemistry
- Biochemical techniques, biostatistics, SIWES and a final year research project
The programme is in the Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences at the Igbo-Eno campus in Udenu Local Government Area, along the Ninth Mile to Obollo-Afor road. B.Sc. Biochemistry usually takes four years for UTME entrants in Nigeria; SUMAS has not published the duration, so confirm with the department. The only fee schedule on the SUMAS website is for 2022/2023, which charged Applied and Natural Sciences students ₦251,400. No 2026/2027 schedule has been published, so treat that as a guide and add the ₦50,000 acceptance fee.
Career options after Biochemistry
- Pharmaceutical and food industry: quality control, production and research and development.
- Hospitals and research: research laboratories, clinical trials and public health programmes. Hospital diagnostic bench work is usually reserved for licensed medical laboratory scientists.
- Teaching and research: an M.Sc. and Ph.D. lead to lecturing and research institute jobs.
- Further study: molecular biology, pharmacology, toxicology, biotechnology or public health at master’s level.
- Graduate entry to Medicine: SUMAS’s Direct Entry rule for Medicine asks for at least a 2:1 in a related degree, which a strong Biochemistry B.Sc. may meet.
Related SUMAS courses to compare:
- SUMAS Genetics and Biotechnology cut off mark
- SUMAS Applied Microbiology and Brewing cut off mark
- SUMAS Human Physiology cut off mark
- SUMAS Pure and Industrial Chemistry cut off mark
Biochemistry or Genetics and Biotechnology at SUMAS?
| Point | Biochemistry | Genetics and Biotechnology |
|---|---|---|
| UTME subjects (JAMB) | English, Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Mathematics | English, Biology, Chemistry, any other science |
| NUC accreditation | Full (2025) | Full (2025) |
| On the 2026/2027 supplementary list | Yes | Yes |
| Main focus | Chemistry of cells and metabolism | Heredity, DNA and applied biotechnology |
| Fee on the 2022/2023 schedule | ₦251,400 | ₦251,400 |
Both lead to similar postgraduate routes. Choose Biochemistry if you enjoy chemistry and metabolism; choose Genetics and Biotechnology if DNA, breeding and lab techniques interest you more.
Mistakes to avoid when applying for SUMAS Biochemistry
- No Physics credit: SUMAS asks every applicant for it.
- A third sitting: SUMAS accepts no more than two O’level sittings for Biochemistry.
- Applying twice on the SUMAS portal: only one application is allowed.
- Mismatched course: the course on JAMB CAPS and on the SUMAS portal must be the same.
- Paying agents: all SUMAS payments go through its own portals.
How to get admission into Biochemistry at SUMAS
- Get your JAMB profile code: text NIN, a space and your 11-digit NIN to 55019 or 66019 from the phone line linked to your NIN.
- Choose SUMAS first: register for the UTME with State University of Medical and Applied Sciences, Igbo-Eno, as first choice and Biochemistry as your course. If you chose another school, do a JAMB change of institution.
- Upload your O’level to CAPS: at a JAMB accredited CBT centre, with Physics among your results. The 2026 SUMAS deadline was 15 August.
- Apply on the SUMAS portal: at sumas.edu.ng/apply or samp.sumas.edu.ng, pay ₦2,000 with your JAMB registration number as the narration, and enter the same details as on CAPS. Our SUMAS Post-UTME form 2026/2027 guide walks through it.
- Check your admission: watch the SUMAS batch lists, then log in to JAMB e-Facility, open Check Admission Status and Access my CAPS. Our JAMB CAPS guide explains each status.
- Accept and print: accept on CAPS and print your JAMB admission letter. If SUMAS offers you Biochemistry after you applied for another course, change your course on JAMB within three days.
- Pay acceptance and clear: log in at eportal.sumas.edu.ng as NEW STUDENT with your JAMB number and SAMP password, generate the ₦50,000 acceptance fee and pay on the SUMAS Revenue Portal. Our SUMAS instructions to successful candidates post lists the clearance documents.
SUMAS Biochemistry cut off mark: frequently asked questions
Is 180 enough for Biochemistry in SUMAS? It clears the 150 minimum, and Biochemistry was on the 2026/2027 supplementary list, so you can be considered. SUMAS has no published departmental cut off, so 190 or more is safer.
Can I use Mathematics instead of Physics in JAMB for Biochemistry at SUMAS? Yes. JAMB’s usual entry is English, Biology, Chemistry and either Physics or Mathematics. You still need an O’level credit in Physics.
Is Biochemistry at SUMAS accredited? Yes. It received full NUC accreditation after the exercise held from 28 October to 3 December 2025.
Can I get Biochemistry in SUMAS through supplementary admission? Yes, if you scored 150 or more in the 2026 UTME. Make SUMAS your first choice and Biochemistry your course on JAMB, and apply on samp.sumas.edu.ng if you never did Post-UTME.
Sources and updates
The 150 cut off, screening dates, ₦2,000 fee, first choice and age rules, O’level and sitting rules, the 15 August CAPS upload deadline and the Direct Entry floor come from SUMAS 2026/2027 notices signed by the Registrar, as reproduced in our SUMAS Post-UTME post and reported by Abstechconnect (June 2026) and Myschool (August 2026); the 4 October extension was reported by Myschool. The 2025/2026 figure is from Myschool’s July 2025 copy of the SUMAS notice. The supplementary list is from Myschool and FreshNote (17 October 2026); I did not find it on sumas.edu.ng. The 31 October date is from JAMB’s 2026 policy meeting. Accreditation is from the SUMAS notice “NUC Grants Full Accreditation to 15 Academic Programmes at SUMAS”. The acceptance fee, three-day course change rule and ePortal steps are from the SUMAS Instructions to Successful Candidates (October 2026); fees are from the SUMAS tuition page (2022/2023). UTME, O’level and Direct Entry subjects follow the JAMB brochure entry for Biochemistry as reproduced by Myschool; confirm on JAMB e-Facility. The aggregate example and target scores are my guidance. Checked 29 October 2026; this page will be updated when SUMAS publishes departmental cut offs or its 2027/2028 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.
