The UNN cut off mark for Pharmacy for 2026/2027 is 160 to apply for screening. That is the UTME score in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka’s 2026/2027 screening notice of 13 July 2026, for candidates who chose UNN first. UNN has not published a departmental cut-off for its Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) programme for 2026/2027 or 2025/2026, so no Pharmacy-specific number you see online is an official UNN figure.
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.
You will also see 200. That was UNN’s minimum as reported from the JAMB 2026 policy meeting on 11 May 2026. UNN accepted screening applications from 160, its declared benchmark at the policy meeting was 200, and Pharmacy, one of UNN’s most competitive courses, admits well above both. Below are the verified UTME and O’level rules (with UNN’s own brochure remarks), the Direct Entry routes, an aggregate example, the score I would aim for and what the six-year Pharm.D involves.
UNN cut off mark for Pharmacy 2027/2028 at a glance
| Item | 2026/2027 position | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum UTME to apply for UNN screening | 160 | Official (UNN, 13 July 2026) |
| UNN minimum declared at the JAMB policy meeting | 200 | Reported by Vanguard, 11 May 2026 |
| Departmental cut-off for Pharmacy | Not published | No UNN list for 2025/2026 or 2026/2027 |
| UTME subjects | English, Physics, Chemistry, Biology | JAMB brochure |
| O’level | Five credits incl. English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, at not more than two sittings | JAMB brochure, UNN remark |
| Degree and duration | Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D), six years | The Sun, 27 February 2026 |
| Campus | Nsukka, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences | UNN |
| Screening window | 15 July to 5 August 2026 | Closed |
The general cut-off and the departmental cut-off are different things. The 160 decides who may be screened. The departmental cut-off is the lowest score admitted into Pharmacy after ranking, and UNN has not been releasing it. That is why the target score further down is marked as my advice.
UNN Pharmacy cut-off history
These are the figures that trace back to UNN or JAMB. None is specific to Pharmacy.
| Session | Figure | What it is | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/2027 | 160 | UTME score needed to apply for UNN screening (UNN as first choice) | Official, UNN Registrar notice of 13 July 2026 |
| 2026/2027 | 200 | Minimum UNN declared at the JAMB 2026 policy meeting | Reported by Vanguard and News Central, 11 May 2026 |
| 2026/2027 | 150 | JAMB national minimum for all universities | Official JAMB policy, May 2026 |
| 2025/2026 | 160 | UTME and screening threshold in UNN’s advert (shopping) notice | Official notice, seen through reprints |
| 2025/2026 | 150 | JAMB national minimum for universities | Official JAMB policy, July 2025 |
| 2025/2026 and 2026/2027 | Not published | Departmental cut-off for this course | UNN has released no departmental list |
One blog lists Pharmacy at UNN as about 280 to 295 for “2025/2026”. The page itself calls its figures estimates based on trends and does not say whether they are UTME scores or aggregates. It is an unofficial estimate, and I include it only so you can place it when you meet it elsewhere.
UNN Pharmacy requirements: UTME subjects, O’level and Direct Entry
The JAMB brochure entry for Pharmacy carries remarks written for UNN, which makes this one of the better documented UNN courses.
| Requirement | What UNN asks for |
|---|---|
| UTME subjects | Use of English, Physics, Chemistry, Biology |
| O’level | Five credits: English Language, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology. The brochure notes that UNN requires the five credits “at not more than two (2) sittings” |
| Minimum UTME to apply | 160, with UNN as first choice |
| Direct Entry route 1 | Three A’level passes including Chemistry, Biology (or Zoology or Botany) and Physics, plus the UTME O’level requirements, at not more than two sittings |
| Direct Entry route 2 | A bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences, Health Science and Technology or Medical Sciences with at least a second class lower, plus the O’level requirements |
| Direct Entry route 3 | An HND at upper credit in those fields, plus the O’level requirements |
Two practical points. First, two sittings are allowed, but grades in Chemistry and Biology carry real weight when candidates are ranked, so one strong sitting beats two average ones. Second, Direct Entry candidates who chose UNN first also had to register for the 2026/2027 screening, and UNN said their A’level results must be verified through NIPEDS.
For UTME preparation, our JAMB Chemistry syllabus and JAMB Biology syllabus guides cover two of your three subject papers.
UNN screening for 2027/2028: what Pharmacy candidates had to do
UNN did not run a written post-UTME test for 2026/2027. The Registrar’s notice of 13 July 2026 described an online screening registration only, with no test date and no exam format. If a website is selling you “UNN post-UTME past questions for 2026/2027” as preparation for Pharmacy, know that the official notice did not mention any paper.
| Detail | 2026/2027 screening |
|---|---|
| Who could apply | Candidates who chose UNN as first choice in the 2026 UTME and scored 160 or more |
| Opened | Wednesday 15 July 2026 |
| Closed | Midnight, Wednesday 5 August 2026 |
| Fees | ₦2,000 application fee plus ₦3,300 processing fee (₦5,300 in total), paid through Remita |
| O’level upload | To JAMB CAPS and the UNN portal by 5 August 2026 |
| Awaiting results | Not eligible; results had to be out |
| Age | Candidates under 16 by 30 September 2026 were told not to apply |
| Names | Names on WAEC or NECO results must match the names on the JAMB record |
| Uploads | Birth certificate, LGA identification, testimonial, First School Leaving Certificate, JAMB result slip and O’level result(s), each under 100KB |
The portal route was unn.edu.ng, then UNN Portal at the top right (unnportal.unn.edu.ng), then Prospective Students and the 2026/2027 screening form. You entered your JAMB registration number, generated and paid the invoice, came back to fill personal and O’level details (including centre and exam numbers), uploaded your documents, reviewed, submitted and printed the acknowledgement slip. The notice warned that date of birth cannot be changed after submission.
The window is closed. If you did not register by 5 August 2026, UNN cannot consider you for 2026/2027, whatever your score.
How UNN ranks Pharmacy candidates (aggregate example)
UNN has not published its aggregate formula. Neither the 2026/2027 screening notice nor the 2025/2026 advert notice gives weights or grade points. The 2025/2026 advert notice did refer to a separate screening score with a 160 threshold, but it did not say how that score is worked out.
Several Nigerian education blogs describe the same method, and it is the one you will see most often: 60% of your UTME score plus 40% of an O’level score built from four relevant subjects, where A1 = 100, B2 = 90, B3 = 80, C4 = 70, C5 = 60 and C6 = 50. Treat the example below as an illustration of that blog method. It is not an official UNN formula.
| Step | Working |
|---|---|
| UTME score | 275 |
| O’level: Chemistry | A1 = 100 |
| O’level: Biology | B2 = 90 |
| O’level: Physics | B3 = 80 |
| O’level: Mathematics | B2 = 90 |
| O’level total (out of 400) | 360 |
| 60% of UTME | 275 × 0.6 = 165 |
| 40% of O’level | 360 × 0.4 = 144 |
| Aggregate (out of 400) | 165 + 144 = 309 |
A Pharmacy candidate with 275 and those grades reaches 309 out of 400 on the blog method. Swap the A1 in Chemistry for a C6 and the aggregate falls by 20 points, which you would need about 33 extra UTME marks to recover. In a course where the top of the list is crowded, that gap decides who gets in.
How competitive is Pharmacy at UNN, and what should you score?
UNN’s pharmacy school is one of the oldest in Nigeria. It started as a department in the Faculty of Science in 1967, the civil war delayed it until 1970, and its first 14 graduates finished in 1974. The faculty says more than 4,000 people have graduated with its B.Pharm since then. That reputation, plus the move to a six-year Pharm.D, keeps demand high.
My advice (not a UNN figure): for a realistic chance on merit, I would aim for a UTME score of 270 or more, and 280 or more if your O’level grades are mostly credits rather than distinctions. Candidates from the South-East may be admitted lower through the catchment list, but that list and its cut-off are not published.
If your score falls short, Pharmacology is a new option. Myschool reported on 26 September 2026 that the NUC approved 12 new UNN programmes from 2026/2027, Pharmacology among them. Biochemistry and Microbiology use the same UTME subjects and are worth considering too.
Merit, catchment and ELDS for Pharmacy at UNN
UNN is a federal university, so it works under the federal admission guideline that is widely reported as 45% merit, 35% catchment and 20% educationally less developed states (ELDS). UNN has not published its own split for any course, so read that as the national policy rather than a UNN figure.
- Merit: the top scorers in the course, from any state, fill this list first. It is where the highest cut-off sits.
- Catchment: UNN has not published its catchment list. It is generally understood to be the South-East states; confirm on JAMB CAPS or with the UNN admissions office before you count on it.
- ELDS: this is a federal designation. UNN does not publish its own ELDS list, and I would not rely on any blog that names states “for UNN”.
- State of origin: the state on your JAMB profile is what counts, and UNN asks for an LGA identification letter as proof during screening.
Pharmacy fills fast on merit. Even if you are from a South-East state, score as though you are competing on the merit list and treat the catchment list as a second chance.
Step by step: from JAMB profile to resuming for Pharmacy at UNN
Deadline
JAMB told public universities to conclude 2026 admissions on or before 31 October 2026, and candidates have four weeks to accept an offer on CAPS or risk losing it. If UNN has offered you a place, accept it on CAPS now.
- Get or recover your JAMB profile code: text NIN, a space and your 11-digit NIN (for example, NIN 12345678901) to 55019 or 66019 from the phone number linked to your NIN. JAMB replies with your profile code, which you need for registration and other JAMB services.
- Make UNN your first choice: UNN screens only candidates who chose it first. If you are planning for 2027, choose UNN and the exact course at registration so you do not pay for a change of institution later.
- Upload your O’level to CAPS: your WAEC, NECO or NABTEB result has to show on your JAMB profile. For 2026/2027 UNN asked for the upload to CAPS and the UNN portal by 5 August 2026. A JAMB-accredited CBT centre can do the CAPS upload if you cannot.
- Register for UNN screening: when the next notice comes out, fill the form on unnportal.unn.edu.ng, pay through Remita and print your acknowledgement slip.
- Check CAPS: log in at efacility.jamb.gov.ng, click Check Admission Status, then Access My CAPS and Admission Status. On a phone, switch your browser to desktop view first.
- Accept or reject: read the course name, then click Accept. If you see a Transfer Approval, UNN is offering you a different course, and you must respond to that first.
- Print your JAMB admission letter and pay acceptance: after CAPS, pay UNN’s acceptance fee on the UNN portal. Blogs report it as ₦25,000, but I could not find an official 2026/2027 figure, so confirm the amount on the portal itself before you pay.
- Clearance: follow the faculty’s clearance instructions with your original documents. Nobody can “secure” a place for you on CAPS for money.
UNN’s homepage already carries 2026/2027 notices for its primary admission list, its Direct Entry list and lists for candidates with disabilities and foreign candidates, and Myschool reported on 25 October 2026 that the list is checkable on CAPS. Our JAMB CAPS guide explains every status message you may see.
What the Pharm.D programme at UNN involves
UNN now trains pharmacists through the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D). The Sun reported in February 2026 that the six-year Pharm.D replaced the five-year Bachelor of Pharmacy under a National Universities Commission directive, and that the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria inducted 318 UNN Pharm.D graduates on 26 February 2026, the first time the faculty inducted Pharm.D graduates as a first professional degree. The faculty says the NUC granted the programme full kick-off approval and that it combines patient-centred clinical practice with the traditional pharmaceutical sciences.
The faculty’s seven departments show what you will cover:
- Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry
- Pharmacology and Toxicology
- Pharmaceutics
- Pharmaceutical Technology and Industrial Pharmacy
- Pharmacognosy and Environmental Medicines
- Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Management
- Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| Pharm.D at UNN | Six years at the Nsukka campus |
| Induction | The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria inducts graduates |
| Internship | One year |
| Licensing | PCN registration examination, held in March and October each year |
Pharmacists work in hospital and community pharmacy, the pharmaceutical industry (production, quality control, regulatory affairs and sales), public health programmes, regulatory agencies, and in research and teaching after postgraduate study.
If you are comparing health courses at UNN, read our guides to UNN Medicine and Surgery, UNN Medical Laboratory Science, UNN Nursing Science and UNN Biochemistry.
Common mistakes Pharmacy applicants make
- Three sittings: UNN allows at most two for Pharmacy.
- A missing Physics or Mathematics credit: all five listed credits are required.
- Treating 200 as a target: it was UNN’s declared benchmark, far below what Pharmacy admits.
- Choosing UNN second: UNN screens first-choice candidates only.
- Direct Entry without screening: DE candidates also had to register on the UNN portal.
- Paying a “helper”: every genuine offer appears on JAMB CAPS, and no one can buy you a slot there.
UNN cut off mark for Pharmacy: frequently asked questions
Is 250 enough for Pharmacy in UNN? 250 clears the 160 screening minimum. It is below the 270 or more I would aim for in Pharmacy, so it would take excellent O’level grades or a catchment-state place, and it is wise to have a backup course.
Does UNN accept two sittings for Pharmacy? Yes. The JAMB brochure says UNN requires the five O’level credits at not more than two sittings.
How many years is Pharmacy in UNN? Six years. UNN runs the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D), which replaced the five-year B.Pharm, followed by a one-year internship.
Can I study Pharmacy at UNN through Direct Entry? Yes. UNN accepts three relevant A’level passes, a related bachelor’s degree with at least a second class lower, or an HND at upper credit, each with the O’level requirements.
Sources and updates
The 160 minimum, screening dates, fees, eligibility, Direct Entry and portal steps come from the UNN Registrar’s notice 2026/2027 Screening Exercise for Admission of 13 July 2026. The reported 200 comes from Vanguard’s 11 May 2026 coverage of the JAMB policy meeting (via AllAfrica), and the national 150 minimum, 31 October deadline and four-week acceptance window from the News Agency of Nigeria. The 2025/2026 figure of 160 comes from reprints of UNN’s October 2025 advert notice. UTME subjects, O’level rules and Direct Entry routes with UNN remarks are from Myschool’s reprint of the JAMB brochure; check your JAMB e-brochure before you register. Faculty history and departments are from the UNN Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences website. The six-year Pharm.D, the 318 inductees and the internship and PCN exam details are from The Sun, 27 February 2026. The new Pharmacology programme was reported by Myschool on 26 September 2026. The aggregate method is a blog method, and the ₦25,000 acceptance fee an unofficial report. Checked on 29 October 2026.
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.
