The UNN cut off mark for Mass Communication for 2026/2027 is 160 in the UTME to apply for screening. The University of Nigeria, Nsukka set that score in its 2026/2027 screening notice of 13 July 2026, for candidates who chose UNN first. UNN has not published a departmental merit or catchment cut-off for Mass Communication for 2026/2027 or 2025/2026, so any “official” Mass Comm cut-off on a blog did not come from the university.
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.
Two other things matter this year. First, UNN’s minimum as reported from the JAMB 2026 policy meeting on 11 May 2026 was 200, and Mass Communication admits well above both figures. Second, the National Universities Commission has approved splitting UNN’s Mass Communication degree into five separate B.Sc. programmes from the 2026/2027 session. This guide explains what that change means for you, then covers the UTME combination (Literature is required), O’level, Direct Entry, screening, an aggregate example and the score I would aim for.
UNN cut off mark for Mass Communication 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 Mass Communication | Not published | No UNN list for 2025/2026 or 2026/2027 |
| UTME subjects | English, Literature in English and two others, one of them an Arts or Social Science subject | JAMB brochure, UNN remark (confirm on IBASS) |
| O’level | Credits in English, Literature in English and an approved science subject, plus a pass in Mathematics | UNN Department of Mass Communication and JAMB brochure |
| Programmes from 2026/2027 | B.Sc. Advertising, Broadcasting, Development Communication Studies, Journalism and Media Studies, Public Relations | NUC approval letter, 19 June 2026 (reported by FinancialEDGE) |
| Campus | Nsukka | UNN |
| Screening window | 15 July to 5 August 2026 | Closed |
The 160 is UNN’s general cut-off: the score that lets you register for screening. The departmental cut-off is the lowest score UNN actually admitted into Mass Communication after ranking, and UNN does not publish it. The target score later on is my advice.
Mass Communication at UNN is now five degrees
In a letter dated 19 June 2026, the NUC approved the unbundling of UNN’s Department of Mass Communication into five B.Sc. programmes, effective from the 2026/2027 session. FinancialEDGE reported the approval, naming Prof. Michael Ukonu as Head of Department. The approval covers full-time study only; part-time and postgraduate versions need separate NUC approval.
| New B.Sc. programme | What it focuses on |
|---|---|
| Advertising | Creating and placing paid messages for brands and organisations |
| Broadcasting | Radio, television and other broadcast production and presentation |
| Development Communication Studies | Communication for health, community and social development work |
| Journalism and Media Studies | News gathering, reporting, editing and the study of media |
| Public Relations | Managing an organisation’s reputation and its relations with the public |
What this means for you as an applicant:
- The approval came after the 2026 UTME, so 2026 candidates applied for “Mass Communication”. UNN has not published how it is placing 2026/2027 admits across the five programmes. Read the course name on your CAPS offer carefully and ask the department if you want a particular stream.
- For the 2027 UTME, check JAMB’s course list for UNN when you register. If the new programme names appear under UNN, choose the one you want. If they do not, choose Mass Communication and confirm with UNN.
- Subject requirements for the new programmes have not been published separately. Until they are, plan on the Mass Communication rules below.
- The department says it hopes to become a faculty. That has not happened yet.
The NUC has also announced a national unbundling of Mass Communication into several degrees, so you will see the same programme names at other universities.
UNN Mass Communication cut-off history
These are the only figures that trace back to UNN or JAMB. None is specific to Mass Communication.
| 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 |
A blog lists Mass Communication at UNN at about 240 to 250 for “2025/2026”. It calls its numbers estimates from trends and does not say whether they are UTME scores or aggregates, so treat it as an unofficial estimate.
UTME subject combination and O’level for Mass Communication at UNN
The general JAMB rule lets you write any three Arts or Social Science subjects. UNN is stricter in two ways: Literature in English is compulsory in the UTME, and the department asks for a credit in a science subject at O’level.
| Requirement | What you need for Mass Communication at UNN |
|---|---|
| UTME subjects | Use of English, Literature in English, plus any two subjects, at least one of them an Arts or Social Science subject |
| O’level | Five credits including English Language, Literature in English and an approved science subject (for example Biology), plus at least a pass in Mathematics |
| Direct Entry (A’level) | Passes in two Arts subjects at A’level, plus the O’level requirements above |
| Direct Entry (diploma) | UNN Diploma or OND in Mass Communication at merit or lower credit or better (with four O’level credits including English, Literature and a science); for the three-year degree, UNN Diploma at credit or OND at upper credit |
| Minimum UTME to apply | 160, with UNN as first choice |
The science credit catches many Arts students. If your O’level has English, Literature, Government, CRS and Economics but no credit in Biology, Agricultural Science or another science, you do not meet the department’s rule. Fix it with NECO or GCE before you apply; awaiting results were not accepted for 2026/2027.
I could not open JAMB’s official IBASS brochure from here, so check the combination on your JAMB profile. A sensible UTME set is English, Literature, Government and CRS or Economics.
UNN screening for 2027/2028: what Mass Communication 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 Mass Communication, 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 Mass Communication 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 | 255 |
| O’level: English Language | B2 = 90 |
| O’level: Literature in English | A1 = 100 |
| O’level: Biology | B3 = 80 |
| O’level: Government | B3 = 80 |
| O’level total (out of 400) | 350 |
| 60% of UTME | 255 × 0.6 = 153 |
| 40% of O’level | 350 × 0.4 = 140 |
| Aggregate (out of 400) | 153 + 140 = 293 |
That candidate reaches 293 out of 400 on the blog method. English and Literature carry the most weight for this course, so a C6 in either costs real ground: dropping Literature from A1 to C6 removes 20 points, about 33 UTME marks. UNN has not confirmed which O’level subjects it counts, so read this as an illustration.
Merit, catchment and ELDS for Mass Communication 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.
Mass Communication is among the most applied-for courses in UNN’s social science and arts group, so the merit line sits high. A South-East candidate who misses merit may still be picked from the catchment list at a lower score.
What score should you aim for in Mass Communication at UNN?
My advice (not a UNN figure): aim for 250 or more in the UTME for a real chance on merit, and 260 or more if your O’level grades are mostly C4 to C6. A South-East candidate in the 230s with strong English and Literature grades has a chance on catchment.
| Your UTME score | My reading for Mass Communication at UNN |
|---|---|
| Below 160 | Not eligible for UNN screening |
| 160 to 199 | Eligible, but below UNN’s declared 200 benchmark; plan a backup |
| 200 to 229 | Unlikely on merit; possible on catchment with strong grades |
| 230 to 249 | Competitive, mostly on catchment or with strong grades |
| 250 and above | Strong position on merit |
Step by step: from JAMB profile to resuming for Mass Communication at UNN
Warning
JAMB’s 2026 policy gives candidates four weeks to accept an admission offer on CAPS. An offer left unaccepted after that can be withdrawn and given to someone else, so check CAPS every few days once UNN starts releasing lists.
- 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, pick UNN and Mass Communication 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 for you.
- 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 carefully, then click Accept. If you see a Transfer Approval, UNN is offering you a different course, and you must respond to that before anything else.
- 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 found no official 2026/2027 figure, so confirm the amount on the portal before you pay.
- Clearance: follow your 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. JAMB also told public universities to conclude 2026 admissions by 31 October 2026. Our JAMB CAPS guide explains every status message you may see.
Studying Mass Communication at UNN
UNN’s department says communication education was part of the university’s original curricula. It has run three-year (Direct Entry) and four-year first degrees on the Nsukka campus, combining training in the main areas of the mass media with a liberal education. From 2026/2027 that training is split across the five programmes above.
The department lists careers such as journalist, press secretary, broadcast producer, advertising practitioner, public relations officer and government information officer. Graduates also work in digital media and content, corporate communications, development and NGO communication, and media research.
Related UNN courses with similar subject requirements: UNN English and Literary Studies, UNN Theatre and Film Studies, UNN Political Science and UNN Sociology and Anthropology.
Common mistakes Mass Communication applicants make
- No Literature in the UTME: UNN requires it.
- No science credit at O’level: the department asks for an approved science subject.
- A Mathematics F9: you need at least a pass.
- Assuming you can pick a stream on CAPS: UNN decides which programme it offers you; check the course name on your offer.
- Choosing UNN second: UNN screens first-choice candidates only.
UNN cut off mark for Mass Communication: frequently asked questions
Is 240 enough for Mass Communication in UNN? It is above every published minimum and gives you a fair chance, especially on the catchment list with strong English and Literature grades. For a safer position on merit, aim for 250 or more.
Is Literature compulsory for Mass Communication in UNN? Yes. UNN’s remark in the JAMB brochure requires Literature in English in the UTME, and the department wants a Literature credit at O’level.
Does UNN still offer Mass Communication? The NUC approved splitting it into five B.Sc. programmes (Advertising, Broadcasting, Development Communication Studies, Journalism and Media Studies, Public Relations) from 2026/2027. Check JAMB’s course list for UNN when you register for the next UTME.
Do I need a science subject for Mass Communication in UNN? Yes, at O’level. The department asks for a credit in an approved science subject along with English and Literature, plus a pass in Mathematics.
Sources and updates
The 160 minimum, screening dates, fees, eligibility rules 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 report on the JAMB policy meeting (via AllAfrica), and the national 150 minimum, the 31 October admission deadline and the four-week CAPS acceptance window come from the News Agency of Nigeria. The 2025/2026 figure of 160 and the vacancy counts come from reprints of UNN’s October 2025 advert notice. The unbundling details come from FinancialEDGE’s report of the NUC approval letter dated 19 June 2026. O’level, Direct Entry and career details come from the UNN Department of Mass Communication website (masscomm.unn.edu.ng), and the UNN UTME remark from Myschool’s reprint of the JAMB brochure; JAMB’s IBASS brochure could not be opened, so confirm on your JAMB profile. The 45/35/20 quota is national policy, not a UNN figure. The aggregate method is a blog method, and the ₦25,000 acceptance fee is 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.
