The UNN cut off mark for Combined Biological Sciences in 2026/2027 is 160 in the UTME. That is the general minimum in the University of Nigeria’s 2026/2027 screening notice for candidates who chose UNN first, and it applies to the combined honours programmes in the Faculty of Biological Sciences like every other course. UNN has not published a separate departmental cut off for any combined programme, this session or last.
2027/2028 update: UNN 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.
Combined Biological Sciences confuses a lot of candidates because it is a group of two-subject degrees rather than one department. Below you will find the eleven combinations UNN lists, how the “stress area” works, the JAMB subjects and O’level grades you need, how the screening is usually scored, the score I would aim for, and the CAPS and portal steps to get from offer to acceptance.
UNN cut off mark for Combined Biological Sciences 2027/2028
| Item | Figure or rule | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum UTME score to apply for UNN screening | 160 (UNN as first choice) | Official: UNN Registrar’s notice, 13 July 2026 |
| UNN minimum declared at the JAMB 2026 policy meeting | 200 | Reported by Vanguard and News Central, 11 May 2026 |
| JAMB national minimum for universities | 150 | JAMB policy meeting, May 2026 |
| Departmental cut off for combined programmes | Not published | No official figure for 2025/2026 or 2026/2027 |
| UTME subjects (JAMB’s usual combination) | English, Biology, Chemistry, plus Physics or Mathematics | JAMB brochure, Biological Sciences entry |
| Duration and campus | 4 years (3 for Direct Entry), Nsukka | Faculty of Biological Sciences |
| Safe target score (my advice) | 200 to 220 in the UTME | Advice, not a UNN figure |
You will see 160 and 200 quoted for UNN, and both come from real sources. The university’s own notice invited screening applications from 160. At the JAMB policy meeting in May 2026, UNN’s declared benchmark was reported as 200. Read it this way: UNN accepts screening applications from 160, its institutional benchmark was 200, and the more competitive courses admit far above both.
What is Combined Biological Sciences at UNN?
It is the faculty’s set of combined honours degrees. You study two subjects side by side instead of one. The subject named first is your stress area (your major), and its department is your base department. So Biochemistry/Microbiology is a Biochemistry-based degree with Microbiology as the second subject, while Microbiology/Biochemistry is the reverse.
The Faculty of Biological Sciences lists these combinations:
| Combination | Stress area and base department |
|---|---|
| Biochemistry/Microbiology | Biochemistry |
| Biochemistry/Plant Science and Biotechnology | Biochemistry |
| Biochemistry/Zoology and Environmental Biology | Biochemistry |
| Microbiology/Biochemistry | Microbiology |
| Microbiology/Chemistry | Microbiology |
| Plant Science and Biotechnology/Biochemistry | Plant Science and Biotechnology |
| Plant Science and Biotechnology/Zoology and Environmental Biology | Plant Science and Biotechnology |
| Plant Science and Biotechnology/Chemistry | Plant Science and Biotechnology |
| Zoology and Environmental Biology/Biochemistry | Zoology and Environmental Biology |
| Zoology and Environmental Biology/Plant Science and Biotechnology | Zoology and Environmental Biology |
| Zoology and Environmental Biology/Chemistry | Zoology and Environmental Biology |
The three combinations with Chemistry pair a biology department with the Chemistry department in the Faculty of Physical Sciences. The Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology lists its own combined programmes under the heading “Combined Biological Sciences”, which is where the name comes from.
Programme names on JAMB and CAPS do not always match the faculty’s wording. Before you register, search the JAMB e-brochure on your profile for the exact name under UNN (it may appear as Biological Sciences or under a specific combination) and pick that one.
Has UNN published a cut off for combined honours?
No. Neither the 2026/2027 nor the 2025/2026 UNN notice gives a score for any combined programme, and none of the reprinted 2025/2026 advert (vacancy) figures I found mentions one. What exists is this:
| Session | UNN general minimum (UTME) | Combined programmes figure | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/2027 | 160 to apply; 200 declared at the JAMB policy meeting | Not published | UNN notice, 13 July 2026; Vanguard, 11 May 2026 |
| 2025/2026 | 160 (UTME) and 160 in screening for the advert window | Not published | UNN advert notice as reprinted by Myschool, 20 October 2025 |
If a website gives you a single number for “UNN Combined Biological Sciences”, ask where it came from. Each combination is admitted through its base department, and cut offs move from year to year.
JAMB subject combination and O’level for Combined Biological Sciences
JAMB’s usual combination for Biological Sciences is Use of English, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics or Mathematics. The UNN remark in the brochure says the O’level is “as in combined courses”, which in practice means the five science credits the faculty asks for. Confirm the entry on the JAMB e-brochure before you register, because I could not open JAMB’s own brochure site.
| Requirement | What you need | Source |
|---|---|---|
| UTME subjects | Use of English, Biology, Chemistry, plus Physics or Mathematics | JAMB brochure, Biological Sciences (Myschool reprint) |
| O’level | Five credits including English Language, Biology and Chemistry, plus Mathematics or Physics; I would get credits in all of English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics | Faculty of Biological Sciences entry requirements; UNN brochure remark |
| Sittings | Not more than two | Faculty of Biological Sciences entry requirements |
| Direct Entry | HND or ND (upper credit), NCE (merit) or a degree in a relevant programme, plus the UTME requirements | UNN remark in the JAMB brochure |
| Chemistry combinations | Credit in Mathematics and Physics strongly advised, since Chemistry is taught in Physical Sciences | My advice |
My reason for asking for all five sciences: each combined degree sits inside two departments, and the single honours rules for Microbiology at UNN already require Physics and Mathematics at O’level. Having all five closes off any chance of a clearance problem later.
How UNN screening is scored: a worked example
UNN’s 2026/2027 screening was an online registration with uploads. The notice described no written test.
| Item | UNN 2026/2027 screening (official notice, 13 July 2026) |
|---|---|
| Who could apply | Candidates who chose UNN as first choice in the 2026 UTME and scored 160 or more; Direct Entry candidates who chose UNN first |
| Fees | ₦2,000 application plus ₦3,300 processing (₦5,300 in total), paid through Remita |
| Window | Opened Wednesday 15 July 2026, closed midnight Wednesday 5 August 2026 |
| O’level upload | To JAMB CAPS and the UNN portal by 5 August 2026 |
| Awaiting results | Not eligible: results had to be available |
| Age | Candidates under 16 by 30 September 2026 were told not to apply |
| Written test | None described in the notice; it was an online screening registration |
| Uploads | Birth certificate, LGA identification, testimonial, First School Leaving Certificate, JAMB result slip, O’level result(s), each under 100KB |
UNN does not publish its aggregate formula. The method most often reported by education blogs is 60% UTME plus 40% O’level, with four relevant subjects graded A1 = 100, B2 = 90, B3 = 80, C4 = 70, C5 = 60 and C6 = 50. This is a commonly used blog method and not an official UNN formula.
Example: a candidate for Zoology and Environmental Biology/Biochemistry scores 212 in the UTME, with B2 in Biology, B3 in Chemistry, C4 in English and B3 in Mathematics.
- O’level points: 90 + 80 + 70 + 80 = 320 out of 400
- UTME part: 212 × 0.6 = 127.2
- O’level part: 320 × 0.4 = 128
- Estimated aggregate: 127.2 + 128 = 255.2 out of 400
Under this method the O’level half is almost equal to the UTME half for a mid-range candidate, so two extra B grades can lift you more than a few UTME marks would.
Admission odds: what score to aim for
Competition depends on the base department. A combination based in Biochemistry or Microbiology draws on the same pool as those popular single honours courses. A combination based in Plant Science and Biotechnology or Zoology and Environmental Biology comes from departments that had 118 and 124 unfilled places in UNN’s 2025/2026 advert list. Fewer candidates seem to choose combined degrees on purpose, although UNN does not publish applicant numbers to confirm it.
My advice, not a UNN figure: aim for 200 to 220 in the UTME with good O’level grades. For a Biochemistry-based or Microbiology-based combination, push towards the Biochemistry and Microbiology range of 230 and above. For a Plant Science or Zoology base, around 200 with solid grades gives you a reasonable chance.
Places are shared under the federal guideline for federal universities:
- Merit: the federal guideline usually quoted for federal universities is 45% of places on merit, filled from the top scorers in each course regardless of state. UNN has not published its own split.
- Catchment: about 35% under the same guideline. UNN’s catchment is generally understood to be the South-East states, but UNN has not published a list online, so confirm on JAMB CAPS or with the admissions office before you count on it.
- ELDS: about 20% for educationally less developed states. This is a federal designation and UNN does not publish its own list, so I will not name states here.
- State of origin: what counts is the state on your JAMB profile, backed by the LGA identification letter you upload during screening.
How to apply to UNN for a combined honours programme
Deadline
JAMB told public universities to finish 2026 admissions on or before 31 October 2026, and candidates have four weeks to accept or reject an offer on CAPS. If UNN has offered you a place, respond now.
- 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 line linked to your NIN. JAMB replies with the profile code you use to register.
- Register for the UTME with the right subjects: pick the exact combined programme at the University of Nigeria as your first choice. UNN only screens first-choice candidates, so a second-choice listing will not get you onto its portal.
- Upload your O’level to CAPS: do it at a JAMB-accredited CBT centre as soon as your WAEC or NECO result is out. In 2026 UNN wanted results on CAPS and on its own portal by the screening deadline.
- Register for UNN screening: go to unn.edu.ng, click UNN Portal, then Prospective Students and the screening form. Enter your JAMB registration number, generate and pay the Remita invoice, come back and enter the number again, fill in your personal and O’level details (centre and exam numbers), upload your documents, review, submit and print the acknowledgement slip. You cannot change your date of birth afterwards.
- Check CAPS: log in at efacility.jamb.gov.ng, click Check Admission Status, then Access my CAPS and Admission Status. If UNN has offered you a place, read the course name carefully before you click Accept.
- Finish with UNN: print your JAMB admission letter, then pay the UNN acceptance fee on the university portal and follow the clearance instructions. The fee has been reported as ₦25,000 by an education blog, but I could not find it in an official UNN notice, so confirm the figure on the portal before paying.
See our JAMB CAPS guide for what each admission status means, and our guide on JAMB change of course if UNN offers you a different combination.
What you study and where it leads
Combined honours students take courses from both departments, with the stress area as the main subject; ask the base department how credit units and the final-year project are split. UTME entrants study for four years and Direct Entry students for three, on the Nsukka campus. The faculty programme page also lists the single honours degrees in Biochemistry, Microbiology, Plant Science and Biotechnology, Genetics and Biotechnology, and Zoology and Environmental Biology.
- Who it suits: students who want two strings to their bow, for example Biochemistry with Microbiology for laboratory and industry work, or Zoology with Chemistry for environmental monitoring.
- Postgraduate study: a combined degree normally lets you apply for a master’s in either subject. Check each programme’s requirements when you get there.
- Accreditation: I could not find published NUC accreditation results for the combined programmes; ask the faculty officer.
Careers follow the stress area: quality control and laboratory work for Biochemistry and Microbiology bases, environmental, fisheries and public health work for Zoology, and agriculture and plant biotechnology for Plant Science.
The single honours guides for each base department:
- UNN Biochemistry cut off mark and requirements
- UNN Microbiology cut off mark and subject combination
- UNN Plant Science and Biotechnology entry requirements
- UNN Zoology and Environmental Biology cut off mark
Your UTME score rests mostly on Biology and Chemistry, so use the JAMB Biology syllabus and JAMB Chemistry syllabus to plan your revision.
UNN cut off mark for Combined Biological Sciences: frequently asked questions
What is Combined Biological Sciences in UNN? It is the Faculty of Biological Sciences’ set of two-subject honours degrees, such as Biochemistry/Microbiology or Zoology and Environmental Biology/Chemistry. The first subject is your major and decides your base department.
Is 200 enough for Combined Biological Sciences in UNN? It clears the 160 minimum and the 200 benchmark. With good O’level grades it is a reasonable score for a Plant Science or Zoology based combination, but I would want 230 or more for a Biochemistry or Microbiology base.
Can I use awaiting result for UNN post-UTME? No. UNN’s 2026/2027 notice said candidates awaiting results were not eligible, and results had to be on CAPS and the UNN portal by 5 August 2026.
Does UNN accept two sittings for combined honours? Yes. The Faculty of Biological Sciences accepts five O’level credits obtained at not more than two sittings.
Sources and updates
The 160 minimum, fees, dates, eligibility rules and portal steps come from UNN’s 2026/2027 screening notice signed by the Registrar on 13 July 2026. The 200 figure comes from Vanguard’s report of the JAMB 2026 policy meeting (11 May 2026), and the national 150 minimum, 31 October 2026 deadline and four-week acceptance window from the News Agency of Nigeria. The 2025/2026 figures and the 118 and 124 vacancy counts come from Myschool’s reprint of UNN’s advert notice (20 October 2025). The list of combinations and the stress-area rule come from the Faculty of Biological Sciences programme page, and the “Combined Biological Sciences” heading from the Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology. UTME subjects and UNN remarks come from the JAMB brochure entry for Biological Sciences as reprinted by Myschool. The aggregate method is a blog method (Studentship) and the ₦25,000 acceptance fee comes from O3schools; neither is official. Target scores are my own advice. Checked on 29 October 2026; this page will be updated if UNN publishes departmental cut off marks.
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.
