Medical and Health courses sit at the top of the JAMB competitive ladder. Medicine and Surgery is the longest, most contested undergraduate programme in Nigeria, with cut-offs that anchor the highest tier at every federal university. Pharmacy and Nursing follow in the same band.
Courses in this category
Dentistry
Medical and HealthA six-year programme leading to the BDS degree and a career as a dental surgeon.
Dietetics
Medical and HealthA four-year programme covering nutrition, diet therapy and food science.
Environmental Health
Medical and HealthA four-year programme covering sanitation, environmental safety and public health practice.
Health Information Management
Medical and HealthA four-year programme covering health records, medical informatics and hospital data systems.
Medical Imaging Science
Medical and HealthA five-year programme covering diagnostic imaging modalities and radiographic interpretation.
Medical Laboratory Science
Medical and HealthA five-year programme covering clinical diagnostics, pathology and laboratory practice.
Medicine and Surgery
Medical and HealthA six-year programme leading to the MBBS degree and a career as a medical doctor.
Nursing Science
Medical and HealthA five-year programme leading to a BNSc degree and registration as a professional nurse.
Occupational Therapy
Medical and HealthA four-year programme covering functional rehabilitation and activities of daily living.
Optometry
Medical and HealthA six-year programme leading to the OD degree and practice as an optometrist.
Pharmacy
Medical and HealthA five-year programme leading to the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) and practice as a pharmacist.
Physiotherapy
Medical and HealthA five-year programme covering rehabilitation, movement science and therapeutic exercise.
Public Health
Medical and HealthA four-year programme covering epidemiology, health policy and community health.
Radiography
Medical and HealthA five-year programme covering medical imaging and radiological practice.
Speech and Language Therapy
Medical and HealthA four-year programme covering communication disorders and speech rehabilitation.
Veterinary Medicine
Medical and HealthA six-year programme leading to the DVM degree and practice in animal medicine.
Average cut-offs by course, 2026
| Course | Lowest | Average | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medicine and Surgery | 268 | 277.5 | 295 |
| Pharmacy | 249 | 258.3 | 275 |
| Nursing Science | 245 | 254.8 | 270 |
Top institutions for medical and health courses
| # | Institution | Type | State | Avg 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | UNILAG | federal | Lagos | 280 |
| 2 | UI | federal | Oyo | 279 |
| 3 | UNN | federal | Enugu | 277.5 |
| 4 | OAU | federal | Osun | 276.7 |
| 5 | UNIABUJA | federal | FCT | 269 |
| 6 | ABU | federal | Kaduna | 268 |
| 7 | BOWEN | private | Osun | 267.5 |
| 8 | BU | private | Ogun | 267.5 |
| 9 | UNILORIN | federal | Kwara | 266 |
| 10 | UNIBEN | federal | Edo | 266 |
Ranking based on institution-level average UTME cut-off across medical and health programmes in this guide for the 2026 cycle. Of 50 institutions tracked, those listed above offer at least one programme in the category.
Common questions
What is the average UTME cut-off for Medical and Health courses in 2026?
Across the 16 Medical and Health courses tracked in this guide, the 2026 cut-offs range from 245 to 295. The average across the category sits at 264.
Which Nigerian university has the highest cut-off in Medical and Health for 2026?
UNILAG runs the highest average cut-off for Medical and Health programmes in this guide at 280, followed by UI and UNN.
What subjects do I need for Medical and Health courses?
Subject combinations vary by course within the Medical and Health category, but typically include English Language as a constant alongside subject-specific requirements. Medical courses require Physics, Chemistry and Biology.
Are Medical and Health courses competitive in Nigeria?
Medical and Health courses sit at the top of the JAMB competitive ladder. Medicine and Surgery is the longest, most contested undergraduate programme in Nigeria, with cut-offs that anchor the highest tier at every federal university. Pharmacy and Nursing follow in the same band.