JAMB Subject Combination for All Courses in Nigeria

The process of getting admission into any Nigerian university, polytechnic or college of education does not start when you sit to take the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). Selecting the right JAMB subject combination is one of the critical steps as an applicant in the course that you want to take.

Your combination of study subjects is not a mere formality but it limits but also determines whether you will qualify into the programme of your choice. It is also possible to get disqualified within seconds of admission by the incorrect combination even when one has a high score in UTME. Unfortunately, annual list of candidates who miss the opportunity is long because of the negligence of this aspect.

It has been given in full details a faculty to faculty breakdown of the JAMB subject combinations of all the undergraduate courses in Nigeria with reference to the official JAMB brochure. Each of the courses also lists the compulsory O Level subjects and key notes on competitive programmes as well as advice to Direct Entry (DE) students.

At the end of this guide, you will have a clear reliable reference that you could use to decide on the right subjects to take, probable pitfalls to beware of, and how better to prepare yourself to earn an admission. This information can guide you into the process whether it is your first time applying or you are in Direct Entry to start your journey in the right path.

Table of Contents

General Rules Before Selecting Subjects

Use of English is compulsory for all UTME candidates.
Competitive courses like Medicine, Law, and Engineering require both correct subjects and high scores (270+).
Always cross-check with the official JAMB brochure — some universities have slight variations.
O’Level results are as important as UTME subjects.
Direct Entry (DE) applicants must meet equivalent subject requirements at A-Level, OND, NCE, or HND level.

Faculty-by-Faculty JAMB Subject Combination Guide (with O’Level & DE Requirements)

1. Faculty of Agriculture

Agriculture

UTME Subjects: Use of English, Chemistry, Biology/Agricultural Science, Physics/Mathematics.
O’Level: 5 credits in English, Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology/Agricultural Science, Physics.
Direct Entry: Two A-Level passes in Chemistry and Biology/Agricultural Science; OND/NCE in Agriculture.

Agricultural Economics

UTME: Use of English, Chemistry, Biology/Agricultural Science, Mathematics.
O’Level: English, Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology/Agricultural Science, and Physics/Economics.
DE: A-Level passes in Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics.

Animal Science

UTME: Use of English, Chemistry, Biology/Agricultural Science, Physics/Mathematics.
O’Level: English, Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology, Physics.
DE: A-Level passes in Biology and Chemistry; ND in Animal Production.

Crop Science / Crop Production

UTME: Use of English, Chemistry, Biology/Agricultural Science, Physics/Mathematics.
O’Level: English, Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology, Physics.
DE: ND/NCE in Crop Production or related fields.

Forestry & Wildlife Management

UTME: Use of English, Chemistry, Biology/Agricultural Science, Physics/Mathematics.
O’Level: English, Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology, Physics.
DE: ND in Forestry/Wildlife or related courses.

Fisheries

UTME: Use of English, Chemistry, Biology/Agricultural Science, Physics/Mathematics.
O’Level: English, Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology, Physics.
DE: ND in Fisheries or Aquaculture.

Soil Science

UTME: Use of English, Chemistry, Biology/Agricultural Science, Physics/Mathematics.
O’Level: English, Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology, Physics.
DE: ND/NCE in Soil Science or related courses.

2. Faculty of Arts and Humanities

English Language

UTME: Use of English, Literature in English, and any two of Government, CRS/IRS, or Economics.
O’Level: Credits in English, Literature, Government/History, and two Arts/Social Science subjects.
DE: Two A-Level passes in Literature and another Arts subject.

Linguistics

UTME: Use of English, and any three Arts/Social Science subjects.
O’Level: English, Literature, and three Arts/Social Science credits.
DE: Two A-Level passes in Arts/Social Science subjects.

History & International Studies

UTME: Use of English, History/Government, two Arts/Social Science subjects.
O’Level: English, History/Government, and three others.
DE: A-Level passes in History and related subjects.

Philosophy

UTME: Use of English, Government, and any two subjects.
O’Level: English, Government, and three others.
DE: A-Level passes in Government and another Arts subject.

Theatre Arts / Performing Arts

UTME: Use of English, Literature, and two Arts/Social Science subjects.
O’Level: English, Literature, and three others.
DE: A-Level passes in Literature and another Arts subject.

Religious Studies

UTME: Use of English, CRS/IRS, and two Arts/Social Science subjects.
O’Level: English, CRS/IRS, and three others.
DE: Two A-Level passes in Arts subjects.

3. Faculty of Education

Education and English

UTME: Use of English, Literature, and two Arts/Social Science subjects.
O’Level: English, Literature, and three others.
DE: NCE/ND in English Education.

Education and Biology

UTME: Use of English, Biology, and two other Science subjects.
O’Level: English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics.
DE: NCE/ND in Biology Education.

Education and Mathematics

UTME: Use of English, Mathematics, and two Science subjects.
O’Level: English, Mathematics, and three Science subjects.
DE: NCE/ND in Mathematics Education.

Educational Management

UTME: Use of English, Government/Economics, and two other relevant subjects.
O’Level: English, Mathematics, Economics, Government, and another Social Science subject.
DE: NCE/ND in Education or Management.

4. Faculty of Engineering, Technology, and Environmental Sciences

Civil Engineering

UTME: Use of English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry.
O’Level: English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and one Science subject.
DE: A-Level passes in Mathematics and Physics; ND/HND in Civil Engineering.

Mechanical Engineering

UTME: Use of English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry.
O’Level: Same as Civil Engineering.
DE: ND/HND in Mechanical Engineering.

Electrical/Electronics Engineering

UTME: Use of English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry.
O’Level: Same as Civil Engineering.
DE: ND/HND in Electrical Engineering.

Computer Engineering

UTME: Use of English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry.
O’Level: Same as Civil Engineering.
DE: ND/HND in Computer/Electrical Engineering.

Architecture

UTME: Use of English, Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry/Geography/Fine Art.
O’Level: English, Mathematics, Physics, and two from Chemistry, Fine Art, Geography.
DE: ND/HND in Architecture.

Quantity Surveying

UTME: Use of English, Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry/Geography.
O’Level: English, Mathematics, Physics, and two others.
DE: ND/HND in Quantity Surveying.

Urban and Regional Planning

UTME: Use of English, Mathematics, Geography, and one of Economics/Physics/Chemistry.
O’Level: English, Mathematics, Geography, and two others.
DE: ND/HND in Urban Planning.

5. Faculty of Law

Law

UTME Subjects: Use of English, Literature in English, Government, and one other Arts or Social Science subject.
O’Level Requirements: 5 credits in English Language, Literature in English, Government/History, and two other Arts/Social Science subjects.
Direct Entry: Two A-Level passes in Arts or Social Science subjects; ND/NCE in Law-related fields.

6. Faculty of Medical, Pharmaceutical & Health Sciences

Medicine and Surgery

UTME: Use of English, Biology, Chemistry, Physics.
O’Level: English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology.
DE: A-Level passes in Biology, Chemistry, Physics; ND/HND in related medical sciences.

Dentistry

UTME: Use of English, Biology, Chemistry, Physics.
O’Level: Same as Medicine.
DE: A-Level passes in Biology, Chemistry, Physics.

Nursing Science

UTME: Use of English, Biology, Chemistry, Physics.
O’Level: English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology.
DE: RN Certificate plus ND/NCE in Nursing.

Pharmacy

UTME: Use of English, Biology, Chemistry, Physics.
O’Level: Same as Medicine.
DE: A-Level passes in Biology, Chemistry, Physics.

Medical Laboratory Science

UTME: Use of English, Biology, Chemistry, Physics.
O’Level: Same as Medicine.
DE: ND/HND in Medical Laboratory Technology.

Physiotherapy

UTME: Use of English, Biology, Chemistry, Physics.
O’Level: Same as Medicine.
DE: ND/HND in Physiotherapy.

Radiography

UTME: Use of English, Biology, Physics, Chemistry.
O’Level: Same as Medicine.
DE: ND in Radiography.

7. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Veterinary Medicine

UTME: Use of English, Biology, Chemistry, Physics.
O’Level: English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology.
DE: A-Level passes in Biology, Chemistry, Physics; ND/HND in Veterinary-related sciences.

8. Faculty of Social & Management Sciences

Economics

UTME: Use of English, Mathematics, Economics, and one of Government/Geography.
O’Level: English, Mathematics, Economics, and two other Social Science subjects.
DE: A-Level passes in Economics and another Social Science.

Accounting

UTME: Use of English, Mathematics, Economics, and one Social Science subject.
O’Level: English, Mathematics, Economics, and two others.
DE: A-Level passes in Accounting/Economics.

Business Administration

UTME: Use of English, Mathematics, Economics, and one other Social Science subject.
O’Level: Same as Accounting.
DE: ND/HND in Business Administration.

Political Science

UTME: Use of English, Government, and two Arts/Social Science subjects.
O’Level: English, Mathematics, Government, and two others.
DE: A-Level passes in Government and another Arts/Social Science.

Mass Communication

UTME: Use of English, Literature in English, Government, and one other Arts/Social Science subject.
O’Level: English, Literature, Government, and two others.
DE: ND/HND in Mass Communication.

Sociology

UTME: Use of English, Government, and two Arts/Social Science subjects.
O’Level: English, Mathematics, Government, and two others.
DE: A-Level passes in Social Sciences.

Banking and Finance

UTME: Use of English, Mathematics, Economics, and one other Social Science subject.
O’Level: English, Mathematics, Economics, and two others.
DE: ND/HND in Banking, Finance, or related fields.

Insurance

UTME: Use of English, Mathematics, Economics, and one Social Science subject.
O’Level: English, Mathematics, Economics, and two others.
DE: ND/HND in Insurance or related fields.

Marketing

UTME: Use of English, Mathematics, Economics, and one Social Science subject.
O’Level: Same as Accounting.
DE: ND/HND in Marketing.

9. Faculty of Environmental Sciences (Remaining)

Estate Management

UTME: Use of English, Mathematics, Economics, and one other subject.
O’Level: English, Mathematics, Economics, and two others.
DE: ND/HND in Estate Management.

Building

UTME: Use of English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry.
O’Level: English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and one other Science subject.
DE: ND/HND in Building Technology.

Surveying and Geo-Informatics

UTME: Use of English, Mathematics, Physics, and one of Chemistry/Geography/Technical Drawing.
O’Level: English, Mathematics, Physics, and two others.
DE: ND/HND in Surveying.

10. Rare & Specialized Courses

Meteorology

UTME: Use of English, Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry/Geography.
O’Level: English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and one other Science subject.
DE: A-Level passes in Mathematics and Physics.

Marine Engineering

UTME: Use of English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry.
O’Level: English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and one other Science subject.
DE: ND/HND in Marine Engineering.

Fisheries & Aquaculture

UTME: Use of English, Chemistry, Biology/Agricultural Science, Physics/Mathematics.
O’Level: English, Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology, Physics.
DE: ND in Fisheries or Aquaculture.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Picking subjects based on personal preference instead of JAMB’s official requirements.
Forgetting that O’Level requirements must match UTME subjects.
Ignoring school-specific variations in requirements.
Choosing unrelated subjects that don’t align with career goals.

Tips for Competitive Courses

Target 270+ in UTME for Medicine, Law, Engineering, Pharmacy, and Nursing.
Combine high UTME scores with strong O’Level results.
Prepare for Post-UTME by practicing past questions from your chosen university.
Select schools that match your cut-off mark capacity.

Direct Entry Guidance

Match your A-Level or diploma subjects with UTME combinations.
ND/NCE/HND holders need strong grades in relevant fields.
JUPEB/IJMB students should aim for 12+ points for competitive courses.

Conclusion

Choosing the correct JAMB subject combination is one of the most crucial steps in securing admission into any Nigerian university, polytechnic, or college of education. A single wrong subject choice can disqualify you from being considered for your dream course — even if you score high in the UTME. That’s why every candidate must take the time to consult the official JAMB brochure, understand the O’Level requirements, and ensure that their chosen subjects align perfectly with their intended programme.

Beyond subject selection, candidates should also prepare strategically for both the UTME and Post-UTME, as many competitive courses require exceptionally high scores to stand a chance. Direct Entry applicants must equally ensure their A-Level, NCE, or diploma qualifications meet the admission requirements for their chosen course.

In summary, accuracy, preparation, and adherence to official guidelines are the keys to admission success. With the information provided in this guide, you now have a reliable reference for making informed subject choices and avoiding costly mistakes. Your academic journey starts with the right foundation — choose wisely, prepare diligently, and give yourself the best possible chance to succeed.

JAMB Subject Combination for All Courses in Nigeria

General Rules Before Selecting Subjects