University of Calabar (UNICAL)Courses, Portals & Admission Guide
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Join Free ChannelQuick Facts: UNICAL Admission 2026
Does UNICAL write Post-UTME? Yes. The general JAMB cut-off mark is 150. Estimated school fees range from ₦148k to ₦194k, and the acceptance fee is ₦25,000. Verify all details on the Visit UNICAL website.
NELFUND Loan
JAMB Cut-Off
150+
The official baseline cut-off mark is 150. However, highly competitive programs in the College of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Law, and Pharmacy typically require scores well above 200 for realistic admission chances.
Post-UTME Form
₦2,000
Est. Tuition
₦148k - ₦194k
Following a recent upward review, UNICAL's consolidated fee structure has been adjusted. Fresh students in Non-Science courses pay ₦111,000 plus ₦36,500 in third-party dues (Total: ₦147,500). Fresh students in Science and Clinical courses pay ₦155,000 plus ₦38,500 in third-party dues (Total: ₦193,500). Returning students pay a lower rate (₦113,000 for Non-Sciences and ₦146,500 for Sciences, including dues). Note that these are consolidated charges as federal tuition remains technically free.
Acceptance Fee
₦25,000
2nd Choice
Not Accepted
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UNICAL Admission Requirements (O'Level & Direct Entry)
Direct Entry Rules
Direct Entry candidates must apply through JAMB and possess valid A'Level, ND, HND, NCE, or recognized JUPEB/IJMB qualifications with acceptable grades. DE candidates are also required to register and participate in the UNICAL Post-UTME screening.
Post UTME Screening Format
UNICAL candidates register for the Post-UTME screening through the official online screening portal using their JAMB registration details. Eligible candidates must meet the university's UTME minimum and either choose UNICAL as First Choice or change their institution to UNICAL. The university's current academic calendar identifies the Post-UTME screening exercise with the E-Library CBT Centre. Candidates should print and retain their registration slip and follow the specific screening instructions subsequently issued by the university.
UNICAL JAMB Subject Combination & Admission Requirements by Course
Step-by-step requirements, safe target scores, and subject combinations for specific courses.
Medicine and Surgery (MBBS)Safe Target: 150+ eligibility; no verified course-specific safe range publishedExtreme+
5 credits including English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, in not more than 1 sitting(s).
- •Relevant A-Level qualification
- •Other qualifications specifically accepted by UNICAL for Medicine
UNICAL accepts Direct Entry applications generally, but Medicine-specific Direct Entry qualifications should be confirmed with the university before applying.
- 1Score at least the university's general UTME screening minimum and select UNICAL as First Choice or complete a Change of Institution to UNICAL.
- 2Use Biology, Chemistry and Physics alongside Use of English in the UTME.
- 3Obtain five O'Level credits in English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
- 4For Medicine and Surgery, all required O'Level credits must be obtained in one sitting.
- 5Register for UNICAL's Post-UTME screening through the official screening portal.
- 6Ensure your O'Level result is correctly uploaded to JAMB CAPS.
- 7Monitor the UNICAL admission portal and JAMB CAPS for admission processing.
UNICAL specifically states that Medicine and Surgery candidates cannot combine two O'Level sittings. Meeting the university's general screening minimum does not guarantee Medicine admission because the programme is highly competitive.
Dentistry and Dental SurgerySafe Target: 150+ eligibility; no verified course-specific safe range publishedExtreme+
5 credits including English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, in not more than 2 sitting(s).
- •Relevant A-Level qualification
- •Other relevant qualifications accepted by the Faculty
Dentistry-specific Direct Entry qualifications should be confirmed with UNICAL before application.
- 1Meet UNICAL's general UTME screening eligibility and make the university your First Choice.
- 2Use Biology, Chemistry and Physics alongside Use of English in UTME.
- 3Possess the required five O'Level credits including English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
- 4Register for UNICAL's Post-UTME screening.
- 5Upload your O'Level result to JAMB CAPS.
- 6Monitor UNICAL and JAMB CAPS after screening.
Dentistry is offered through UNICAL's Faculty of Dentistry. Admission is highly competitive, and the general screening minimum should not be interpreted as a likely admission score.
Nursing ScienceSafe Target: 150+ eligibility; no verified course-specific safe range publishedExtreme+
5 credits including English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, in not more than 2 sitting(s).
- •Relevant A-Level qualification
- •Relevant professional nursing qualification where accepted
- •Other qualifications accepted by UNICAL
Candidates should confirm the current Nursing Science Direct Entry requirements with the Faculty before applying.
- 1Meet UNICAL's general UTME screening eligibility and select UNICAL as First Choice.
- 2Use Biology, Chemistry and Physics alongside Use of English.
- 3Obtain five relevant O'Level credits including English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
- 4Register for the university's Post-UTME screening.
- 5Upload your O'Level result to JAMB CAPS.
- 6Monitor the university portal and JAMB CAPS for admission.
UNICAL officially lists Bachelor of Nursing Science (B.N.Sc.) under the Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences. Nursing remains a highly competitive professional programme.
Medical Laboratory ScienceSafe Target: 150+ eligibility; no verified course-specific safe range publishedHigh+
5 credits including English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, in not more than 2 sitting(s).
- •Relevant A-Level qualification
- •Relevant ND/HND or equivalent qualification where accepted
Programme-specific Direct Entry qualifications should be confirmed with the Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science.
- 1Meet UNICAL's general UTME screening eligibility and make UNICAL your First Choice.
- 2Use Biology, Chemistry and Physics alongside Use of English in UTME.
- 3Have five O'Level credits including English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
- 4Register for UNICAL's Post-UTME screening.
- 5Ensure your O'Level result is uploaded to JAMB CAPS.
- 6Monitor UNICAL and JAMB CAPS for admission processing.
UNICAL awards the Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science (BMLS). Medical Laboratory Science now has a dedicated Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science with specialist departments including Clinical Chemistry and Immunology, Haematology and Blood Transfusion Science, Histopathology and Cytology, Medical Bacteriology/Virology/Mycology, and Medical Parasitology and Entomology.
PharmacySafe Target: 150+ eligibility; no verified course-specific safe range publishedExtreme+
5 credits including English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, in not more than 2 sitting(s).
- •Relevant A-Level qualification
- •Relevant science qualification specifically accepted by the Faculty
Pharmacy-specific Direct Entry qualifications should be confirmed directly with UNICAL.
- 1Meet UNICAL's UTME screening eligibility and choose UNICAL as First Choice.
- 2Use Biology, Chemistry and Physics alongside Use of English.
- 3Obtain the required credits in English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
- 4Complete UNICAL's Post-UTME screening registration.
- 5Upload your O'Level result to JAMB CAPS.
- 6Monitor your admission through UNICAL and JAMB CAPS.
Pharmacy is offered through UNICAL's Faculty of Pharmacy and is a highly competitive professional programme. Do not treat the general university screening minimum as a likely admission score.
LawSafe Target: 150+ eligibility; no verified course-specific safe range publishedExtreme+
5 credits including English Language, Literature-in-English, in not more than 2 sitting(s).
- •Relevant A-Level qualification
- •Relevant diploma or degree qualification where accepted
Candidates should confirm current Law-specific Direct Entry requirements with the Faculty.
- 1Meet UNICAL's general screening eligibility and choose UNICAL as First Choice.
- 2Use Literature-in-English with the appropriate Arts or Social Science subjects in UTME.
- 3Meet the programme's relevant O'Level requirements.
- 4Register for UNICAL's Post-UTME screening.
- 5Upload your O'Level result to JAMB CAPS.
- 6Monitor UNICAL and JAMB CAPS after screening.
Law is one of UNICAL's highly competitive programmes. The university's general UTME screening minimum establishes eligibility only and should not be treated as the final Law admission threshold.
Computer ScienceSafe Target: 150+ eligibility; no verified course-specific safe range publishedHigh+
5 credits including English Language, Mathematics, Physics, in not more than 2 sitting(s).
- •Relevant A-Level qualification
- •ND/HND in a relevant computing or science discipline where accepted
- •NCE in a relevant discipline where accepted
Direct Entry candidates must apply through JAMB and satisfy the Faculty's current programme requirements.
- 1Meet UNICAL's general UTME screening eligibility and make UNICAL your First Choice.
- 2Use Mathematics and Physics together with an appropriate Science subject.
- 3Possess five relevant O'Level credits including English Language and Mathematics.
- 4Register for UNICAL's Post-UTME screening.
- 5Upload your O'Level result to JAMB CAPS.
- 6Monitor UNICAL and JAMB CAPS for admission.
Computer Science is offered under UNICAL's Faculty of Computing alongside Cyber Security, Information Systems, Information Technology and Software Engineering.
Cyber SecuritySafe Target: 150+ eligibility; no verified course-specific safe range publishedHigh+
5 credits including English Language, Mathematics, Physics, in not more than 2 sitting(s).
- •Relevant A-Level qualification
- •Relevant ND/HND or equivalent computing qualification where accepted
Candidates should confirm Cyber Security-specific Direct Entry requirements with UNICAL's Faculty of Computing.
- 1Meet UNICAL's general UTME screening eligibility and choose UNICAL as First Choice.
- 2Use Mathematics and Physics with an appropriate additional Science subject.
- 3Meet the relevant O'Level credit requirements.
- 4Register for UNICAL's Post-UTME screening.
- 5Upload your O'Level result to JAMB CAPS.
- 6Monitor both UNICAL and JAMB CAPS for admission.
Cyber Security is an undergraduate programme in UNICAL's Faculty of Computing. As a newer computing programme, applicants should verify current programme-specific requirements before applying.
About UNICAL & Campus Life
The University of Calabar (UNICAL), located in the serene capital of Cross River State, is one of Nigeria's second-generation federal universities. Established in 1975 (originally as a campus of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka), UNICAL is renowned for its vast academic landscape, housing an acclaimed College of Medical Sciences (sub-divided into Basic Medical, Clinical, Dentistry, and Allied Health), an exclusive Institute of Oceanography, and highly specialized Faculties of Education and Computing.
UNICAL students—affectionately known as 'Malabites' and 'Malabresses'—enjoy a culturally rich and highly intellectual campus life in Calabar, a city famous for its tourism and hospitality. The university utilizes a highly digitized platform (myunical.edu.ng) for all student activities, from E-tranzact fee payments to course registrations, ensuring a streamlined administrative experience.
💡 Pro Tip: To apply for undergraduate admission at UNICAL, candidates must meet the university's UTME screening minimum and either select UNICAL as First Choice or complete a Change of Institution to UNICAL. Register through the official Post-UTME portal, provide a valid email address and personal phone number, and ensure your O'Level result is correctly uploaded to JAMB CAPS. Medicine and Surgery applicants should take particular care with their O'Level results because UNICAL requires the five compulsory credits for Medicine to be obtained in one sitting. Candidates should follow the screening instructions and schedule published by the university after registration.
Insider Insights
Verified by AdmitNode Experts
Admission Hack
UNICAL admission starts with getting the fundamentals right: meet the UTME screening requirement, make UNICAL your First Choice, use the correct subject combination for your programme, and ensure your O'Level result is uploaded correctly to JAMB CAPS. Applicants to highly competitive professional courses such as Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Law and Medical Laboratory Science should not assume that merely meeting the university-wide screening minimum guarantees admission. Medicine applicants must also note UNICAL's strict requirement that the compulsory O'Level credits be obtained in one sitting. Use only the official UNICAL screening portal and monitor both the university portal and JAMB CAPS throughout the admission process.
Campus Survival
You cannot survive UNICAL without understanding the 'Republic of Malabo'. This is the legendary, deeply political name for the on-campus hostel environment. Living in 'Malabo' is cheap and gives you the ultimate 'Malabite/Malabress' cultural experience, but it is highly competitive to secure a bed space. If you are living off-campus, proximity is everything. The campus has two major gates. If you rent a lodge along 'Goldie Street' or 'Etta Agbor', you can literally walk to your lecture halls, saving you thousands in transport fares. Other popular, slightly more premium areas include 'Marian' and 'Ediba'. A vital survival tip for Calabar: it is one of the rainiest cities in Nigeria. Invest in a heavy-duty umbrella and thick footwear, because navigating the sprawling campus during the peak rainy season without them is a miserable experience.
UNICAL Campuses
Main Campus
Etta Agbor / Mary Slessor Avenue, Calabar Municipal
Frequently Asked Questions About UNICAL Admission
What should I bring to the UNICAL Post-UTME screening hall?
Does UNICAL accept two sittings for Medicine and Surgery?
Can I apply to UNICAL if I didn't choose them as my first choice?
How do I log into the myunical.edu.ng portal for Post-UTME registration?
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