If you've jammed JAMB, congratulations to you. It's worth celebrating. But, don't relent too much because the almighty Post-UTME awaits you. Heads up: Post-UTME is no joke in 2025/2026 academic session, and some universities come ready to challenge you like never before.
So, you need to be well prepared if you’re serious about getting admitted into your dream university, and studying your dream course. Below are the Top 20 Universities in Nigeria with the HARDEST Post-UTME requirements — based on cut-off marks, competition, screening methods, and admission ratios.
Related: The Best College Degrees for Immigrants to Find a Job in the U.S.
| Rank | Institution | Why It’s Challenging | Success Tips |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Ibadan (UI) | UI requires candidates to score near-perfect scores in their PUTME. The exam is scored out of 100, with 70+ needed generally and 85+ for Medicine students. | If you want to achieve this score, it's important for you to target near-flawless performance. First of all, prioritize accuracy for high-demand courses like Medicine. |
| 2 | Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) | This Uni is kind of difficult for many candidates to achieve because of their elevated departmental cut-offs and intricate marks. The time-sensitive questions also increase its difficulties. | In addition to the one mentioned above, another success tip is having a home time management skills. You can ask well use past questions to tackle complex formats. |
| 3 | University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) | This school is good at setting unpredictable questions that span diverse topics. This metric of setting their questions usually challenge unprepared candidates. | To tackle their PUTME, you may need to study their past questions thoroughly to prepare for varied subjects. |
| 4 | University of Lagos (UNILAG) | The fact about this school is that more than 60,000 applicants are competing for relatively less than9,000 slots every academic section. Now tell me why many candidates won't be disqualified in one way or the other? In addition to that, Engineering, and Medicine courses usually demand for high JAMB scores and 85%+ Post-UTME. | To tackle them, just aim for exceptional JAMB scores with near-perfect Post-UTME results. Excellent outcome from both results will boost your chances of gaining admission into the school. |
| 5 | Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) | As technology school that the school is, it focuses more on tech and innovation questions. Tech-focused CBT requires strong proficiency in physics and mathematics. | Deep yourself in the realm of science subjects including physics, chemistry, and math the way SU deepened themselves in the blood of Jesus. More so, practice their CBT questions formats extensively. |
| 6 | Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria | This school relies heavily on JAMB and O’level scores to offer admission tests for Medicine, Law, Engineering. This means, if you don't do well in your O'Level results and JAMB's UTME, you may not be considered for their PUTME. | So, to succeed, ensure to excel in JAMB and SSCE examinations. After that, you also need to prepare for detailed screenings. |
| 7 | University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) | This school uses variable format (both essay test and CBT) for their PUTME. Therefore, thorough preparation is needed to succeed. | You need to study and train for both essay and CBT formats. Know how to tackle both essay and CBT exams. You can achieve that by maintaining consistent study habits. |
| 8 | Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) | This school requires no Post-UTME, but offering their admission depends on outstanding WAEC results and JAMB scores for competitive programs. | Just like Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, you need to achieve top-tier WAEC and JAMB results to secure admission. |
| 9 | University of Benin (UNIBEN) | This school's CBT format tests' speed, precision, require strategic preparation under pressure. | Practice CBT for speed and accuracy, and ensure that you develop a robust test strategy before the exam date. |
| 10 | Lagos State University (LASU) | The school's merit-driven process leaves no room for average scores, especially in Law, and Medicine/Health related courses. | You need to strive for excellent JAMB score and screening scores to boost your chances of securing admission into the school. |
| 11 | University of Calabar (UNICAL) | The school's competitive degree programmes rigorously assess core subjects and general knowledge. | It's essential to study core and general papers diligently, and minimize errors in screening application when selecting your subject combination. |
| 12 | Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) | As technology related school like FUTA, technical questions extend beyond UTME scope, emphasizing engineering logic which is difficult for many candidates to tackle. | However, to tackle this school's admission tough requirements, you may need to practice advanced engineering and logic-based questions while preparing for their PUTME. |
| 13 | University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo | The health school in ONDO STATE sets questions in Health/science-focused field which require exceptionally high academic standards. | Master science subjects like Biology, Agriculture, Chemistry, and more, and prepare thoroughly for health-related questions. |
| 14 | Delta State University (DELSU) | DELSU has rigid cut-offs and strict error intolerance heighten competition. | You need to focus on precision-based answering, and meet departmental cut-offs. Any score lower than the required cutoff marks will not be accepted. You can be forced to change course to related course that can accept your score. |
| 15 | Rivers State University (RSU) | Department-specific cut-offs and fierce competition challenge even high JAMB scorers. | In cases like this, you need to combine strong JAMB scores with excellent Post-UTME performance to increase your chances. |
| 16 | Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) | This school's intense competition and questions with complex phrasing limit average even performers, not to talk of candidates that didn't perform well. | You need to learn how to decode intricate questions, and stay highly competitive. You can stay in touch with students in the school to get past questions and hints about how the questions are planned. |
| 17 | Imo State University (IMSU) | This university offers energy-related courses and programmes. These degree courses demand advanced technical skills in physics and mathematics. | So, if you're good in solving physics, maths and chemistry problems well, you may excel in the PUTME. It's important to sharpen your skills in solving problems in physics and math for the technical programmes. |
| 18 | Bayero University Kano (BUK) | The school is good at detailing screening questions. They're also good at planning tough grading for competitive faculties. | To win BUK, you need to begin preparation as early as possible. You should focus on in-depth study for their screenings. |
| 19 | Nigerian Police Academy (POLAC) | POLAC admission requirements is explicitly different from other Universities in Nigeria. The school combines Post-UTME, physical tests, background checks, and interviews for admission. | You need to prepare academically, physically, and mentally for all evaluation stages. |
| 20 | Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) | The school's science-intensive, military-style assessments require intellect and discipline. This can be challenging for ordinary students aiming to gain admission into the school. | You have you way into AFIT, you must excel in science subjects including physics, chemistry, maths, and biology. However, it's important to note that your subjects combination is also depends on the degree programme you aiming in the school. Lastly, maintain a disciplined, and thorough studying preparation to meet all their academic requirements. |
Note: This list is not to scare you about how challenging your dream University's admission can be, but to let you know how well you need to prepare to tackle their admission requirements including the almighty Post-UTME that usually cut many candidates off the lane of achieving their dream courses.
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