Medicine and Surgery at the University of Lagos is among the most competitive programmes in Nigeria, and every year thousands of candidates compete for a small number of places at the College of Medicine in Idi-Araba. This guide explains the cut off mark for medicine and surgery in UNILAG, how the merit and catchment marks differ, which subjects and results are required, and what a candidate should do to improve the chance of admission for the 2026/2027 session.
The figure that matters is not the raw JAMB score alone. UNILAG publishes its admission cut-offs as marks on a scale of 100, and the mark a candidate must reach depends on whether admission is sought on merit or through a catchment state.
Cut Off Mark for Medicine and Surgery in UNILAG for 2026/2027
For the 2026/2027 admission exercise, UNILAG set the merit cut-off for Medicine and Surgery at 83.425. This is the highest mark among the courses reported alongside it, including Law and Pharmacy. The cut off mark for medicine and surgery in UNILAG is therefore far above the general university minimum, and a candidate needs a very strong combined result to be considered on merit.
Alongside the merit mark, the university publishes lower marks for candidates from its catchment states. These are Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo. A candidate who belongs to one of these states compares the score with the figure for that state, which is lower than the merit mark.
| Category | 2026/2027 Medicine and Surgery Cut Off |
|---|---|
| Merit | 83.425 |
| Ekiti catchment | 79.425 |
| Lagos catchment | 79.1 |
| Ogun catchment | 81.75 |
| Ondo catchment | 81.35 |
| Osun catchment | 79.825 |
| Oyo catchment | 80.05 |
For comparison, the merit marks for the same session are 79.125 for Law and 78.325 for Pharmacy. Medicine and Surgery sits roughly four to five points higher than both, which reflects the number of applicants per available place.
Merit, Catchment and Educationally Less Developed States
Nigerian federal universities admit candidates through a mix of routes, and UNILAG follows the same federal admission principle. Each route has its own cut-off, and understanding them helps a candidate know which mark applies.
Merit Admission
Merit admission is open to every candidate nationwide, regardless of state of origin. A large share of the available places is filled in this way, and the highest-scoring candidates are admitted first. The merit mark of 83.425 is the one that applies here.
Catchment Admission
Catchment admission gives a share of places to candidates from the states around the university. A candidate must be an indigene of the state claimed, and the lower catchment mark applies only within that state’s allocation. A Lagos indigene, for example, compares the score with 79.1 and not with 83.425.
Educationally Less Developed States
A smaller share of places is reserved for candidates from states classified by the federal government as educationally less developed. These candidates compete among themselves, and the mark can be lower than the catchment figures. Candidates in this group should confirm the applicable mark from the admission notice issued by the university.
JAMB Score Needed for Medicine and Surgery at UNILAG
The JAMB minimum for UNILAG is commonly reported as 200 for all courses. This is only the entry threshold. A candidate who scores 200 is allowed to apply but has almost no realistic chance in Medicine and Surgery, because the final mark combines the UTME score with the university’s own screening result and the competition is very high.
In practice, successful candidates usually score well above 280 in UTME. No single UTME figure guarantees admission, since the final ranking depends on the combined mark and on how many candidates choose the course in a given year.
How the Final Admission Mark Is Worked Out
The published cut-off marks are scores out of 100. They are drawn from the candidate’s UTME result and the result of the university’s screening exercise, which is usually a post-UTME test. The exact weighting is set by the university and stated in the screening announcement for the year, so a candidate should read that notice and not rely on figures from unofficial pages.
The key points are simple:
- The UTME score is converted to a share of the total mark.
- The screening score is converted to the remaining share.
- The two parts are added to give the final mark, which is compared with the merit or catchment cut-off.
- Candidates are ranked from the highest mark downward until the quota for each category is filled.
JAMB Subject Combination for Medicine and Surgery
Candidates choosing Medicine and Surgery write four UTME subjects. The combination is fixed by JAMB and followed by every Nigerian university.
| Subject | Status |
|---|---|
| Use of English | Compulsory for all candidates |
| Biology | Required |
| Chemistry | Required |
| Physics | Required |
Writing a wrong combination, for example Mathematics in place of Physics, makes a candidate ineligible, no matter how high the score is. The combination must also be matched by the O’Level subjects.
O’Level Requirements for Medicine and Surgery
The O’Level result must come from WAEC or NECO, and in some cases NABTEB is accepted for other courses but medicine candidates should rely on WAEC or NECO. The usual requirements are:
- Credit passes in at least five subjects, including English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
- All the credits obtained in not more than two sittings.
- Grades that match the subjects written in UTME.
Candidates who hold a result in which any of the science subjects is below credit level are not considered, even if the UTME score is high. Anyone with a deficient result should resit the examination before the next admission cycle.
Direct Entry for Medicine and Surgery
Direct Entry into Medicine and Surgery is possible for candidates with strong A-Level type qualifications, such as IJMB or JUPEB results in Biology, Chemistry and Physics, or a good first degree in a related science. Direct Entry candidates enter at a higher level and are also ranked by mark. The same rule applies: the university sets the exact entry grades each session, so check the current admission notice.
Steps to Apply for Medicine and Surgery at UNILAG
- Register for UTME with the correct four-subject combination and choose UNILAG as first choice, with Medicine and Surgery as the course.
- Score as high as possible in UTME, since a higher score lifts the final mark.
- Watch the UNILAG admission portal for the screening announcement and register within the stated period.
- Upload the O’Level results and other documents requested during registration.
- Write the screening test or complete the assessment on the date given.
- Check the admission lists on the university portal and on the JAMB CAPS platform, and accept the offer on CAPS when admitted.
Factors That Decide the Cut Off Mark Each Year
The cut off mark for medicine and surgery in UNILAG changes from one session to the next, and the figures for 2026/2027 are lower than some reports for the previous cycle. The mark is not fixed in advance. Several factors move it:
- Number of applicants: more candidates choosing the course raises the mark needed to fill the quota.
- Quota approved: the number of places allowed by the regulatory bodies caps how many candidates can be admitted.
- Quality of results: when candidates score higher overall, the cut-off rises.
- Difficulty of the screening test: a harder test spreads out the marks and can lower the final cut-off.
Tips to Improve the Chance of Admission
- Prepare for Biology, Chemistry and Physics with past questions and the official JAMB syllabus.
- Practise the style of the university’s earlier screening tests, which tests the same subjects.
- Ensure the O’Level result is clean and ready before applying.
- Confirm the state of origin details on the NIN and in the JAMB profile, because catchment claims depend on them.
- Choose a second-choice course or institution as a back-up, since Medicine and Surgery has far more applicants than places.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the cut off mark for medicine and surgery in UNILAG?
The merit mark for 2026/2027 is 83.425, with catchment marks ranging from 79.1 to 81.75 depending on the state.
2. What is the minimum JAMB score for medicine at UNILAG?
The general UNILAG minimum is commonly reported as 200, but a candidate needs a much higher combined mark to be admitted into Medicine and Surgery.
3. Which JAMB subjects are required?
Use of English, Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
4. Does a catchment state candidate need the merit mark?
No. Candidates from Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo are compared against the lower mark for their state.
5. Is the cut off mark the same every year?
No. It changes with the number of applicants, the quota and the quality of results, so check the current release from the university.
Final Thoughts
The cut off mark for medicine and surgery in UNILAG is set at 83.425 for merit admission in 2026/2027, with lower marks for the six catchment states. A strong UTME score, a clean O’Level result and a good performance in the university’s screening exercise together decide the outcome. Candidates should read the official admission notices and confirm the current figures on the UNILAG admission portal before making any decision.