University of Calabar (UNICAL)Courses, Portals & Admission Guide
Quick 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 official UNICAL portal.
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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
Scored below 200 for UNICAL? Don't apply blindly.Updated Strategy
Applying for the wrong course with a low score will waste your money. Download our guide to see the 112 schools accepting 150-199 and the exact Safe Courses to switch to today.
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Main Campus
Etta Agbor / Mary Slessor Avenue, Calabar Municipal
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 secure admission into UNICAL, candidates must make the institution their first choice (or process a Change of Institution) and hit the minimum 150 JAMB cut-off mark. Be highly strategic with your documentation: if you are applying for Medicine & Surgery, you must have your five O'Level credits in exactly ONE sitting in compliance with CCMAS. Prepare thoroughly for the physical Computer-Based Test (CBT), and remember that bringing calculators or smart devices into the exam hall will result in confiscation and potential disqualification.
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Admission Hack
UNICAL's Post-UTME is a physical CBT, and there is a massive catch that destroys the chances of Science and Engineering applicants: calculators are strictly prohibited and will be confiscated at the gate. You must rigorously practice mental mathematics to solve Physics and Chemistry questions under intense time pressure. Secondly, if you are applying for Medicine and Surgery, check your O'Level results right now. Due to strict CCMAS compliance, if your 5 core credits are split across two sittings (e.g., combining WAEC and NECO), you will be automatically disqualified. Do a JAMB Change of Course to Anatomy or Physiology before you waste your money. Finally, when paying for your screening via a commercial bank, guard your E-tranzact Confirmation Order Number with your life losing that printout means you cannot log into the myunical.edu.ng portal.
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 Admission Requirements (O'Level & Direct Entry)
🚨 Low JAMB Score? If you scored between 150 - 199, applying for highly competitive courses here might lead to automatic rejection. Click here to download our 2026 Safe Course Strategy Guide (₦499) to see the exact courses to switch to so you don't stay at home this year.
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 conducts a physical Computer-Based Test (CBT) for Post-UTME screening. Candidates register via myunical.edu.ng by paying ₦2,000 (either online to get a Transaction ID, or via commercial banks to get an E-tranzact PIN/Confirmation Order No). Candidates MUST provide a valid email and phone number during registration. For the actual screening test, candidates must physically bring their POST-UTME Screening Schedule Printout and JAMB UTME Result Slip. Calculators, smartwatches, smartphones, mathematical tables, and bags are strictly prohibited in the screening hall and will be confiscated.
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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