JAMB, WAEC, and admissions guides for Nigerian students
How to Gain Admission into Pan-Atlantic University: 2026 Guide
Pan-Atlantic University (PAU) admits via JAMB UTME plus its own entrance examination, with JAMB scores from 180 and above accepted for most programmes. The university is a boutique-scale private institution, with smaller intake numbers than larger private universities like Covenant or Babcock. PAU is the home of the Lagos Business School (LBS), one of the most respected business schools in Africa, which sits within the university structure.
Last updated: May 2026 PAU is in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, on a purpose-built campus in the eastern coastal axis of Lagos. The university runs the School of Management and Social Sciences, the School of Media and Communication, the School of Science and Technology, and integrates with LBS for executive education. PAU does not run Medicine or Law; its undergraduate programmes focus on Business, Media, Computing, Economics, and the Sciences. This guide covers admission requirements, the internal screening, tuition, and the campus life.
PAU is one of the more expensive private universities by tuition, with fees reflecting its high-end facilities and small class sizes. The school’s selling point is the LBS link and the quality of its Media and Communication programmes.
Why Pan-Atlantic University
PAU’s distinctive feature is the Lagos Business School connection. LBS is one of Africa’s leading business schools, ranked internationally by the Financial Times and other business school rankings. The undergraduate Business programmes at PAU are taught with input from LBS faculty, giving students access to the broader LBS resources and alumni network.
The School of Media and Communication produces graduates who work in advertising, public relations, broadcasting, and digital media in Lagos’s media industry. The campus has well-equipped television studios, radio facilities, and digital production rooms.
PAU is associated with Opus Dei, a personal prelature of the Catholic Church, but the university accepts students of all faiths. The faith ethos is moderate compared to Covenant or Babcock; chapel services are available but not strictly enforced. The dress code is relaxed (smart-casual). The campus environment is professional and adult, oriented towards undergraduates who plan corporate careers.
PAU at a glance
Detail
Value
Full name
Pan-Atlantic University
Location
Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State
Year established
2002 (Pan-African University renamed PAU in 2010)
Type
Private University (Opus Dei affiliation)
Number of schools
3 undergraduate schools plus LBS
JAMB minimum score
180 to 200 (most courses); 220+ working for top programmes
Internal screening
PAU Entrance Examination
Tuition per session
~₦1.8 million to ₦3.5 million
Annual intake
~600 to 1,000 fresh students
Website
pau.edu.ng
Admission requirements
O Level requirements. PAU requires five credits at C6 or above in not more than two sittings of WAEC, NECO or NABTEB. The five must include English Language, Mathematics, and three other subjects relevant to your programme. Mathematics credit is required for all programmes (PAU’s quantitative orientation).
JAMB UTME requirements. PAU’s published JAMB minimum is 180 to 200. Working cut-offs are higher: Computer Science 220+, Mass Communication 220+, Accounting 210+, Economics 210+, Business Administration 200+. The internal screening can lift moderate JAMB scores.
PAU Entrance Examination. Candidates sit PAU’s own entrance exam in addition to JAMB. The exam tests aptitude, English, Mathematics, and general knowledge. It is sat at the Ibeju-Lekki campus on assigned dates. The school also conducts an interview for shortlisted candidates, especially for the most competitive programmes (Media and Communication, Computer Science).
Direct Entry. PAU accepts A Level, IJMB, JUPEB, and HND with at least Upper Credit into the second year of the degree.
JAMB subject combinations by school
School of Management and Social Sciences (Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, Marketing, Finance, International Relations, Project Management): Use of English, Mathematics, Economics, plus one of Government, Commerce, Geography.
School of Media and Communication (Mass Communication, Visual Arts, Information and Media Studies, Public Relations and Advertising): Use of English, Literature in English, Government, plus one of CRS, IRS, Economics.
School of Science and Technology (Computer Science, Information Technology, Computer Engineering, Industrial Mathematics): Use of English, Mathematics, Physics, plus one of Chemistry, Biology, Economics.
Cut-off marks for popular PAU courses
Mass Communication: 220+ JAMB
Visual Arts, Information and Media Studies: 210+ JAMB
Computer Science: 220+ JAMB
Information Technology, Computer Engineering: 210+ JAMB
Accounting: 210+ JAMB
Economics, Banking and Finance: 210+ JAMB
Business Administration, Marketing: 200+ JAMB
International Relations, Project Management: 200+ JAMB
Industrial Mathematics: 200+ JAMB
Tuition, accommodation and what it costs in 2026
PAU is among the more expensive private universities. Tuition runs between ₦1.8 million and ₦3.5 million per session depending on the programme. Media and Communication and Computer Science sit at the higher end because of the equipment-intensive nature of the programmes. Business and Social Sciences sit at the lower end of the band.
PAU has limited on-campus accommodation. The school has built halls of residence on the Ibeju-Lekki campus, with each room shared between two or three students. Hostel fees run ₦400,000 to ₦700,000 per session, separate from tuition. Some students live with family in Lagos and commute; the campus shuttle service runs from various Lagos points.
Beyond tuition and hostel, candidates pay acceptance fee, ID, and faculty levies, totalling ₦200,000 to ₦400,000 additional per session. Personal expenses in Ibeju-Lekki (a relatively upmarket Lagos area) add ₦40,000 to ₦80,000 a month. Total annual cost runs ₦2.5 million to ₦5 million for residential students.
This makes PAU one of the most expensive university routes in Nigeria. The cost reflects the boutique class sizes, the modern infrastructure, and the LBS connection.
The PAU admission timeline
January to February: JAMB UTME registration; pick PAU as first choice.
April to May: sit JAMB UTME.
May to June: PAU opens entrance exam registration; sit the exam at Ibeju-Lekki campus.
June to July: PAU interviews shortlisted candidates for the most competitive programmes.
July to August: admission decisions upload to CAPS and PAU portal; accept the offer.
August to September: pay tuition for first session; complete clearance.
September: resumption at Ibeju-Lekki campus; orientation, hostel allocation.
October onwards: first semester lectures begin.
How to check your PAU admission status
Log into the PAU admission portal at pau.edu.ng. Check your application status.
Cross-check on JAMB CAPS at portal.jamb.gov.ng; accept the offer if uploaded.
Pay the acceptance fee and first session tuition within the published window.
Upload O Level credits, JAMB result, entrance exam result, and interview confirmation (if applicable).
Report to Ibeju-Lekki campus on the resumption date.
Frequently asked questions
How much is PAU tuition?
Tuition runs between ₦1.8 million and ₦3.5 million per session depending on the programme. Mass Communication and Computer Science sit at the higher end (₦2.5 million to ₦3.5 million); Business Administration and Economics at the lower end (₦1.8 million to ₦2.5 million). Hostel fees of ₦400,000 to ₦700,000 are separate. Total cost of a four-year degree at PAU runs ₦8 million to ₦18 million depending on programme and accommodation choice.
Does PAU offer Medicine or Law?
No. PAU does not run Medicine, Law, Pharmacy, or Engineering programmes. The school’s focus is on Business, Media, Communication, Computing, and Economics. Candidates aiming at Medicine should look to federal universities, Babcock, Bowen, ABUAD, or Igbinedion. Candidates aiming at Law should look to UNILAG, UI, OAU, ABU, or specialist Law schools.
What is the LBS connection?
The Lagos Business School is part of PAU. LBS is a graduate business school offering MBA and Executive Education programmes, ranked among the top business schools in Africa. Undergraduate Business and Economics students at PAU benefit from the LBS connection through guest lectures, access to LBS resources, and the broader alumni network. Some PAU undergraduate graduates progress directly to LBS for postgraduate study; the academic standards at PAU undergraduate level are calibrated to feed into the LBS pipeline.
Is PAU faith-based like Covenant or Babcock?
PAU has a Catholic faith affiliation through Opus Dei but the practice is moderate. Chapel services are available; attendance is not strictly required for all students. Dress code is professional smart-casual rather than the formal/conservative codes at Covenant or Babcock. Students of all faiths attend and graduate from PAU. The Opus Dei influence is more felt in the values teaching (work ethic, integrity, personal development) than in formal religious observance.
Can I commute to PAU instead of living on campus?
Yes. Some PAU students live with family in Lagos and commute. The school runs a campus shuttle from various Lagos points, which makes commuting practical for students based in Lagos Island, Lekki, Victoria Island, or Ajah. Ibeju-Lekki is along the same coastal axis. Living on campus is the better experience for many students because of the immersion and the access to facilities, but it is not mandatory. Tuition without hostel runs ₦1.8 million to ₦3.5 million; with hostel adds ₦400,000 to ₦700,000.
Are PAU graduates employable in Nigerian companies?
Yes, and well placed. PAU’s reputation in Business, Media, and Computing is established. Graduates are well represented in Lagos’s banking, oil and gas, consulting, and tech sectors. The LBS connection means PAU graduates have access to a strong alumni network that often helps with internship and job placement. For Media and Communication, the school’s links with the Lagos media industry are strong, with graduates working in advertising, broadcasting, and digital media.
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Lagos-based education writer covering JAMB, WAEC and NECO, and tertiary admissions across Nigeria. Chinedu tracks cut-off marks, admission lists, and school portal updates so students and parents do not have to.
