The UNN cut off mark for Music for 2026/2027 is 160 in the UTME. That is the minimum score in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka’s 2026/2027 screening notice of 13 July 2026, for candidates who picked UNN as first choice. UNN has not published a departmental cut-off for Music for 2026/2027 or 2025/2026, and I found no blog that even claims one, so treat any “official” Music figure with suspicion.
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.
For Music, the score is only half the story. UNN requires every Music applicant to pass a departmental audition, which the department says normally holds on the last Thursday and Friday of August. This guide covers the audition, the UTME and O’level rules (where UNN is more flexible than the general JAMB rule), Direct Entry with NCE or ABRSM grades, how screening worked, an aggregate example and the score I would aim for. You will also see 200 quoted: that was UNN’s minimum as reported from the JAMB 2026 policy meeting.
UNN cut off mark for Music 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 Music | Not published | No UNN list for 2025/2026 or 2026/2027 |
| UTME subjects | Use of English plus any three subjects (Music advised) | JAMB brochure, UNN remark (confirm on IBASS) |
| O’level | Five credits including English Language; UNN’s department adds any science subject, and JAMB’s general rule names Music | UNN Music department and JAMB brochure |
| Audition | Compulsory; theory and practical; normally last Thursday and Friday of August | UNN Music department and JAMB brochure |
| Faculty and campus | Faculty of Arts, Nsukka | UNN |
| Screening window | 15 July to 5 August 2026 | Closed |
The 160 is UNN’s general cut-off for screening. The departmental cut-off would be the lowest score admitted into Music after ranking and the audition, and UNN does not release it. The target I suggest later is advice.
UNN Music cut-off history
Only these figures trace back to UNN or JAMB. None of them is a Music score.
| 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 |
Music did not appear among the courses in the partial reprints of UNN’s October 2025 advert list that I could read, and no education blog I checked lists a UNN Music estimate. Because every applicant must pass an audition, expect the audition, more than the UTME score, to decide most Music admissions.
UTME subject combination for Music at UNN
JAMB’s general rule for Music is Music, one other Arts subject and any other subject, with Use of English. UNN’s remark in the brochure says UNN (with UNIPORT) accepts any three subjects. That flexibility helps a candidate who did not take Music in school.
| Requirement | What you need for Music at UNN |
|---|---|
| UTME subjects | Use of English plus any three subjects (UNN remark). If you can, write Music, Literature in English and one other Arts or Social Science subject |
| O’level (UNN Music department) | Five credits including English Language and any science subject, in not more than two sittings |
| O’level (JAMB general rule) | Five credits including English Language and Music |
| Audition | Compulsory for all applicants |
| Minimum UTME to apply | 160, with UNN as first choice |
The two O’level lines do not say the same thing, and I would cover both. The UNN Music department’s entry page asks for English and any science subject, while JAMB’s general rule names Music. A candidate with credits in English, Music, Biology and two other subjects meets both readings. If you have no Music credit, the department’s own wording suggests you can still qualify, but your audition has to show that you can read music and perform.
I could not open JAMB’s IBASS brochure from here, so confirm the subject list on your JAMB profile before you register.
The UNN Music audition: what to expect
Both the department’s entry requirements and UNN’s remark in the JAMB brochure say candidates must pass an audition, normally held on the last Thursday and Friday of August each year. Candidates are recommended for admission only after passing it. I found no separate 2026/2027 audition notice, so watch the UNN website and the department’s page, and ask the department directly once you have registered for screening.
For the B.A., the department says the audition has two parts:
- Written (theory): rudiments of music such as notation, scales, keys, intervals, time signatures and simple harmony.
- Practical: performing on your instrument or voice to show basic musical aptitude and competence.
For its Diploma in Music Education, the department adds aural tests and playing different instruments and singing. Expect some ear work at the B.A. audition too.
How I would prepare: work through an ABRSM-style theory book up to about Grade 3 or 4, practise sight-singing short melodies, and prepare two contrasting pieces on your main instrument or voice (one Western piece and one African or Nigerian piece suits a department that teaches both traditions). Church choirs, school bands and local music schools are good places to get a teacher to listen to you before August.
Direct Entry into Music at UNN
Music has more Direct Entry routes than most UNN courses. Every route still needs the audition.
| Qualification | What UNN says | Programme length |
|---|---|---|
| NCE single major in Music, or ND in Music | Accepted for the three-year B.A. | 3 years |
| Pass in UNN’s Diploma in Music Education | Accepted for the three-year B.A. | 3 years |
| NCE double major (Music), or merit pass in UNN’s Diploma in Music Education | Accepted for the two-year B.A. | 2 years |
| ABRSM, Trinity College or MUSON Grade V certificate | Accepted (JAMB brochure UNN remark) | Confirm with the department |
| Two A’level passes including Music | JAMB general Direct Entry rule | Confirm with the department |
The three-year and two-year routes come from the department’s entry page, and the ABRSM, Trinity and MUSON route comes from UNN’s remark in the brochure. UNN also runs a Diploma in Music, and it advertised applications for 2025/2026, which can be a way in for candidates without the UTME score.
UNN screening for 2027/2028: what Music 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 Music, 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 Music 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 | 200 |
| O’level: English Language | C4 = 70 |
| O’level: Music | B2 = 90 |
| O’level: Biology | C5 = 60 |
| O’level: Literature in English | B3 = 80 |
| O’level total (out of 400) | 300 |
| 60% of UTME | 200 × 0.6 = 120 |
| 40% of O’level | 300 × 0.4 = 120 |
| Aggregate (out of 400) | 120 + 120 = 240 |
That candidate ends at 240 out of 400 on the blog method. For Music, treat this number with extra care: the audition is a pass or fail gate, and a candidate with a higher aggregate who fails it will not be recommended. UNN has not confirmed which O’level subjects it counts for Music.
Merit, catchment and ELDS for Music 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.
Music is a small department, and the number of candidates who pass the audition is usually what limits intake. A South-East candidate who passes the audition and scores above UNN’s minimum has a fair chance through catchment if merit places are taken.
What score should you aim for in Music at UNN?
My advice (not a UNN figure): aim for 200 or more in the UTME and put serious work into the audition. A score in the 180s with a strong audition is, in my view, a better position than 230 with no musical preparation. Below 200 you are under UNN’s declared benchmark, so have a backup.
| Your UTME score | My reading for Music at UNN |
|---|---|
| Below 160 | Not eligible for UNN screening |
| 160 to 179 | Eligible; depends heavily on the audition and vacancies |
| 180 to 199 | Possible with a strong audition |
| 200 to 219 | Competitive if you pass the audition |
| 220 and above | Strong position if you pass the audition |
Step by step: from JAMB profile to resuming for Music 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 Music 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 Music at UNN
UNN’s Department of Music was established in 1961 and describes itself as the first full-fledged Department of Music in Nigeria. From the start it ran a “bi-musical” programme that teaches Western and African music on equal terms. Its first four students graduated in 1965, and postgraduate study began in 1988, with specialisations in music education, theory and composition, and African music. The civil war of 1967 to 1970 destroyed many instruments and materials, something the department still mentions on its website.
The UTME route is a four-year B.A. in Music at the Nsukka campus. A Nigerian B.A. in Music usually covers:
- Music theory, harmony and counterpoint
- Aural training and sight-singing
- Performance on a principal instrument or voice, plus keyboard skills
- African music and ethnomusicology
- History of Western music
- Composition and arranging
- Music education
- A final-year project or recital
Graduates teach music in schools, direct church and choral music, perform and record, compose and arrange for media and events, work in studios and music production, join cultural agencies, and go on to postgraduate research.
Related UNN courses: UNN Theatre and Film Studies, UNN Fine and Applied Arts, UNN Education Arts and UNN English and Literary Studies.
If you are writing the UTME again in 2027, read our guide on JAMB 2027 registration dates before you pick subjects, and once results are out, see how to check your JAMB result and what to do with the score. If you already sat the 2026 UTME with the wrong subjects, a JAMB change of course will not fix a subject mismatch, because the subjects you sat cannot be changed.
Common mistakes Music applicants make
- Treating the audition as a formality: UNN recommends only candidates who pass it.
- No science credit: the department’s entry page asks for one.
- Missing the audition date: it normally runs on the last Thursday and Friday of August.
- Choosing UNN second: UNN screens first-choice candidates only.
- Ignoring CAPS: an offer you do not accept within four weeks can be lost.
UNN cut off mark for Music: frequently asked questions
Is 180 enough for Music in UNN? It clears the 160 screening minimum but is below UNN’s declared 200 benchmark. With a strong audition and a good O’level result it can work, but 200 or more gives you more room.
Can I study Music in UNN without Music in WAEC? Possibly. UNN’s department page asks for five credits including English and any science subject, and UNN accepts any three UTME subjects, but you must pass the audition, which tests theory and performance.
When is the UNN Music audition? The department says it normally holds on the last Thursday and Friday of August each year. Confirm the exact date with the department once you register for screening.
Can I enter UNN Music with ABRSM Grade 5? UNN’s remark in the JAMB brochure accepts an ABRSM, Trinity College or MUSON Grade V certificate for Direct Entry, together with the other entry requirements and the audition.
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. UNN’s Music UTME and Direct Entry remarks (any three UTME subjects; audition on the last Thursday and Friday of August; NCE, ND and Grade V routes) come from Myschool’s reprint of the JAMB brochure; JAMB’s IBASS brochure could not be opened, so confirm on your JAMB profile. The O’level wording, the audition format and the two-year and three-year B.A. routes come from the Entry Requirements page of the UNN Department of Music (music.unn.edu.ng), and the department history from its About page. 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.
