Does Direct Entry Have a Cut-Off Mark? What DE Applicants Need

No. Direct Entry candidates do not sit the UTME, so there is no UTME cut-off mark for them. The 150 minimum JAMB set for universities in 2026/2027 applies to UTME candidates only. Direct Entry applicants are judged instead on the qualification they bring, such as A-level, IJMB, JUPEB, a National Diploma or an NCE, together with their O'level results.

That does not mean there is no bar. It means the bar is written in grades and points, not in a JAMB score, and each university sets its own.

What replaces the UTME score

Direct Entry admits you into 200 level on the strength of a qualification you have already earned. The university looks at:

• Your Direct Entry qualification. A-level, IJMB or JUPEB passes in subjects relevant to the course, or an ND or NCE in a related field, with the grade or class the department asks for.
• Your O'level results. The same O'level requirements as UTME candidates for that course: usually five credits including English Language and Mathematics, in the subjects the course names.
• The department's own requirements. Some courses accept only certain DE qualifications, or none.

Some universities also screen DE candidates. UNILAG and UI, for example, run their post-UTME exercise for UTME and DE candidates together each year, with separate requirements for each group. Read the DE section of your school's notice, not just the UTME section.

Why DE minimums vary so much

A UTME score is one number on one scale. DE qualifications are not: an IJMB result, a JUPEB result and an ND upper credit are measured differently. So each university, and often each department, sets its own minimum for each qualification. A grade that is enough for one course at one school may not be enough for another course at the same school.

Competition matters too. DE places are limited, and a popular course with few DE places can effectively demand far more than its published minimum, exactly as with UTME cut-offs. Our cut-off marks explainer covers that difference between a minimum and what really gets admitted.

What does still apply to DE candidates

• JAMB registration. DE candidates register with JAMB through the Direct Entry registration, during the window JAMB announces each year.
• CAPS. DE admissions go through CAPS like everyone else's. An offer you cannot see on CAPS is not a valid admission.
• The age rule. The minimum age for admission remains 16 for all candidates.
• Federal quotas. At federal universities, the merit, catchment and ELDS split applies to admissions generally. See how admission quotas work.

Is Direct Entry a good route if your UTME score was low?

It can be. If your UTME score kept you out this year, a one-year A-level programme such as IJMB or JUPEB can take you into 200 level without depending on UTME at all. The trade-off is time and cost, and the risk that the programme you pick is not accepted for your course at your chosen school.

Before enrolling, check three things: that your target university accepts that qualification for your course, the grade or points it expects, and that the programme is run by a recognised centre. Our guide to Direct Entry, JUPEB and IJMB compares the options.

Mistakes Direct Entry applicants make

• Assuming any A-level qualification is accepted everywhere. Acceptance of IJMB and JUPEB results varies by university and sometimes by course. Confirm with the school before you enrol in a programme.
• Ignoring O'level gaps. A strong DE result does not excuse a missing credit in a subject the course requires. Fix the O'level gap first.
• Missing the JAMB DE registration window. It is separate from UTME registration and announced by JAMB each year. Without it, you cannot be admitted through CAPS.
• Not checking CAPS. DE candidates sometimes wait for a school letter and miss the offer sitting on CAPS. Check your dashboard regularly once admissions start.

Frequently asked questions

Do Direct Entry students write JAMB?

They register with JAMB, but they do not sit the UTME. Their admission is based on their DE qualification and O'level results.

What is the cut-off mark for Direct Entry?

There is no UTME cut-off for DE. Each university sets minimum grades or points for each DE qualification, so check your school's DE requirements.

Do DE candidates write post-UTME?

It depends on the school. Some screen DE candidates alongside UTME candidates; others admit on documents alone. The school's notice will say.

Does DE admission go through CAPS?

Yes. Like UTME admissions, DE offers must appear on CAPS and be accepted there.

Whether you go in through UTME or Direct Entry, strong fundamentals in your subjects make every route easier. Practise free on EasyPoint with timed past questions in the subjects your course needs.