Social science programmes sit between the high-pressure medical and engineering tier and the more accessible arts tier. Economics and International Relations remain the most competitive in the category, while Public Administration and Political Science are broadly more accessible.
Courses in this category
Anthropology
Social SciencesA four-year programme covering human cultures, evolution and society.
Cooperative and Rural Development
Social SciencesA four-year programme covering cooperative management and rural development.
Criminology and Security Studies
Social SciencesA four-year programme covering crime, justice systems and security studies.
Demography and Population Studies
Social SciencesA four-year programme covering population dynamics, fertility, migration and statistics.
Development Studies
Social SciencesA four-year programme covering economic development, policy and governance.
Economics
Social SciencesA four-year programme covering micro, macro and development economics.
Geography
Social SciencesA four-year programme covering physical and human geography, mapping and spatial analysis.
Industrial Relations and Personnel Management
Social SciencesA four-year programme covering labour relations, HR and organisational behaviour.
International Relations
Social SciencesA four-year programme covering diplomacy, global politics, international law and foreign policy.
Library and Information Science
Social SciencesA four-year programme covering library management, information systems and archives.
Peace and Conflict Studies
Social SciencesA four-year programme covering conflict resolution, peace-building and security.
Political Science
Social SciencesA four-year programme covering political theory, governance, comparative politics and international relations.
Psychology
Social SciencesA four-year programme covering human behaviour, cognition and clinical psychology.
Public Administration
Social SciencesA four-year programme covering governance, policy, public sector management and administration.
Social Work
Social SciencesA four-year programme covering welfare, community development and social services.
Sociology
Social SciencesA four-year programme covering social structures, behaviour and societal change.
Average cut-offs by course, 2026
| Course | Lowest | Average | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|
| International Relations | 223 | 235.3 | 252 |
| Economics | 220 | 233.9 | 254 |
| Political Science | 216 | 227.8 | 245 |
| Public Administration | 210 | 223.8 | 243 |
Top institutions for social sciences courses
| # | Institution | Type | State | Avg 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | UNILAG | federal | Lagos | 248 |
| 2 | UI | federal | Oyo | 247.8 |
| 3 | OAU | federal | Osun | 244 |
| 4 | UNN | federal | Enugu | 242.3 |
| 5 | PAU | private | Lagos | 238.3 |
| 6 | AUN | private | Adamawa | 237.8 |
| 7 | CU | private | Ogun | 237.5 |
| 8 | NDA | federal | Kaduna | 235 |
| 9 | LMU | private | Kwara | 234.3 |
| 10 | ABUAD | private | Ekiti | 233.3 |
Ranking based on institution-level average UTME cut-off across social sciences 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 Social Sciences courses in 2026?
Across the 16 Social Sciences courses tracked in this guide, the 2026 cut-offs range from 210 to 252. The average across the category sits at 230.
Which Nigerian university has the highest cut-off in Social Sciences for 2026?
UNILAG runs the highest average cut-off for Social Sciences programmes in this guide at 248, followed by UI and OAU.
What subjects do I need for Social Sciences courses?
Subject combinations vary by course within the Social Sciences category, but typically include English Language as a constant alongside subject-specific requirements. Social science courses typically require Mathematics, Government and Economics.
Are Social Sciences courses competitive in Nigeria?
Social science programmes sit between the high-pressure medical and engineering tier and the more accessible arts tier. Economics and International Relations remain the most competitive in the category, while Public Administration and Political Science are broadly more accessible.