University News
Published: February 18, 2026
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By Emmanuel Iweh
University of Lagos and UI Release 2025/2026 Merit Admission Lists with Record High Cut-offs
"The University of Lagos (UNILAG) and the University of Ibadan (UI) have released their first-batch merit lists, showing a sharp rise in departmental requirements for 2026."
The University of Lagos (UNILAG) and the University of Ibadan (UI) have released their departmental cut-off marks for the 2025/2026 academic session, sending ripples through the applicant pool. The data shows a 5% increase in the aggregate requirements for top-tier courses. For instance, Medicine and Surgery at UI now require an aggregate of 82.5, while Law at UNILAG stands at 78.0. This upward trend is an investigative indicator of the rising quality of UTME scores and the limited carrying capacity of these premium institutions. For candidates, this news is a double-edged sword. While it maintains the institution's prestige, it effectively shuts the door on thousands of qualified applicants who fall just short of these marks. The analysis of these cut-offs suggests that universities are prioritizing academic excellence over geographical spread (catchment areas) in this cycle to maintain global rankings. This shift means that candidates from non-catchment states must significantly outperform their peers to secure a spot. Admission chances are further tightened by the strict adherence to the 45:35:20 ratio (Merit, Catchment, ELDS). Those who do not meet the merit cut-off are encouraged to immediately explore the 'Change of Course' option on the JAMB portal before the window closes. Waiting for supplementary lists is increasingly risky, as universities have indicated a move towards a single-stream admission process to align their academic calendars with international standards. Investigative findings show that the 'Carry-Over' candidates from the 2024 set have saturated the available slots, making the 2026 admission cycle one of the most difficult in a decade. Prospective students are advised to look into affiliate programs or distance learning options if their aggregates fall below the 60% threshold, as the competition for regular face-to-face programs has reached an all-time high. The rise in cut-offs is also attributed to the improved performance in the Post-UTME screening, where a higher percentage of students utilized AI-driven preparatory tools to boost their scores.
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