JAMB, WAEC, and admissions guides for Nigerian students
Subjects Required to Study Mass Communication in Nigeria
To study Mass Communication in Nigeria, you need five O Level credits at C6 or above in English Language, Literature in English, Government or History, plus two of CRS, IRS, Economics, Geography, Mathematics, Yoruba/Igbo/Hausa, or French. Your JAMB UTME subjects are Use of English, Literature in English, Government or History, plus one of CRS, IRS, Economics. The JAMB score needed is 220 to 240 at top federal universities, with working cut-offs of 235 at UNILAG, UI, OAU, UNN.
Last updated: May 2026 Mass Communication in Nigeria is a four-year B.Sc programme leading to careers in journalism, broadcasting, advertising, public relations, digital media, and the growing content creation sector. The course has been competitive at top federal universities for years and has tightened further with the rise of Lagos’s digital media industry. Graduates from UI, UNILAG, OAU dominate top Lagos media houses, ad agencies, and PR firms. This guide covers the requirements, schools, curriculum, and career options.
At a glance
Detail
Value
JAMB compulsory subjects
Use of English, Literature in English, Government or History, plus one arts/social science
O Level credits required
5 at C6 or above
O Level subjects
English, Lit in English, Government, plus two arts subjects
JAMB minimum (federal)
200 (working floor 220-240)
JAMB minimum (state)
210-230
JAMB minimum (private)
180-220
Years of study
4 years (B.Sc Mass Communication)
Professional body
Nigerian Union of Journalists; APCON for advertising; NIPR for PR
O Level requirements in detail
Five credits at C6 or above in not more than two sittings. The required five must include English Language and Literature in English at credit level. The other three flexible credits are typically Government or History (one is needed at most schools), plus two of CRS, IRS, Economics, Geography, Mathematics, Commerce, French, Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, or Music.
Mathematics is required at credit level at most federal universities for Mass Communication, even though the curriculum is arts-leaning. UNILAG, UI, OAU and ABU all require Mathematics credit. State universities often accept a pass in Mathematics. Plan to have a Mathematics credit unless your target school explicitly accepts a pass.
Literature in English is the heaviest weighted credit because the Mass Communication curriculum builds heavily on reading and writing skills. A weak Literature credit at O Level is a signal of weak comprehension and composition; this matters at the screening stage even with a strong JAMB English score.
For the fifth credit, Economics is the most commonly chosen because it overlaps with the Media Economics module in the curriculum. CRS, IRS, History or Government are equally acceptable.
JAMB UTME requirements in detail
The JAMB combination is Use of English, Literature in English, Government or History, plus one of CRS, IRS, Economics. Some schools (UI, UNILAG) accept Economics as the fourth subject; others (OAU, UNN, ABU) prefer CRS or IRS. Check the JAMB brochure for your target school.
JAMB scores: 235 working at UNILAG and UI; 230 at OAU, UNN, UNIBEN; 230 at LASU; 220 to 230 at state universities; 200 to 220 at private universities. The working cut-off has been climbing as Lagos’s media industry recruitment has intensified.
Aim for 240+ JAMB to feel safe at top federal Mass Communication. A 220 JAMB candidate has options at state universities (LASU at 240 is competitive, so 220 puts you at state schools below LASU, or at private schools) but should not bank on federal Mass Communication.
Universities offering Mass Communication in Nigeria
Federal: UI, UNILAG, OAU, UNN, ABU, UNIBEN, UNILORIN, UNICAL, University of Maiduguri, University of Jos, Bayero University Kano.
State: LASU (one of the strongest state Mass Comm programmes), OOU, LAUTECH, Ekiti State, Adekunle Ajasin, UNIOSUN, Imo State, Ebonyi State, Ambrose Alli, Delta State, Niger Delta, Rivers State, Cross River, Kogi State.
Private: Babcock (strong Mass Comm), Pan-Atlantic (School of Media and Communication, very strong), Bowen, Covenant, ABUAD, Bingham, Madonna, Lead City, Caleb, Augustine.
Polytechnics also offer Mass Communication at ND and HND levels. The polytechnic route is a legitimate path; HND Mass Comm graduates work in similar roles to B.Sc graduates, though some senior corporate roles still prefer the B.Sc.
The B.Sc Mass Communication curriculum
The B.Sc Mass Communication runs four years. Year 1 covers foundation (Introduction to Mass Communication, Communication Theory, basic Sociology, Economics, general studies).
Year 2 covers Reporting and News Writing, Editing, Broadcasting (Radio and TV), Advertising, Public Relations, Media Law, Mass Media in Nigeria.
Year 3 covers Advanced Reporting, Investigative Journalism, Media Management, Digital Media, Photojournalism, Documentary Production, plus elective tracks (Print, Broadcast, Advertising, PR, Digital).
Year 4 covers Advanced specialisation in the chosen track, Media Research, Media Ethics, Final-Year Project. SIWES at the end of year 3 places students at media houses (TVC, Channels TV, BusinessDay, The Guardian, agencies like SO&U, Insight Communications).
Graduates do not have a single licensing exam. The Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) is the main professional body for journalism careers; APCON (Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria) is required for advertising practice; NIPR (Nigerian Institute of Public Relations) for PR. Each requires registration after graduation plus continuing professional development.
Career outlook and cost
Mass Communication graduates work in broadcasting (NTA, AIT, TVC, Channels, radio stations across the country), print and online media (The Guardian, BusinessDay, Premium Times, The Cable, Daily Trust), advertising agencies (DDB, Insight, SO&U, Noah’s Ark), PR firms (RedDot, BHM, CMC Connect), corporate communications departments (banks, telcos, oil companies), and the growing digital content sector (YouTube creators, podcasters, social media managers).
Entry-level salaries in Lagos media: ₦150,000 to ₦400,000 a month at established media houses; ₦300,000 to ₦600,000 at top advertising and PR firms. Corporate communications roles at banks and telcos start at ₦400,000 to ₦800,000. Senior media professionals (Editors, Creative Directors, Corporate Comms Heads) earn ₦1.5 million to ₦5 million a month at top firms. The digital content sector has highly variable income; successful creators earn substantial revenue from YouTube ad share, sponsorships, and brand deals.
Tuition cost: Federal universities run free tuition with first-year fees of ₦80,000 to ₦150,000. State universities for indigenes: ₦50,000 to ₦150,000 per session. Private universities for Mass Comm: ₦1.2 million to ₦3 million per session (Pan-Atlantic at the higher end). Total B.Sc Mass Comm cost: ₦400,000 to ₦800,000 at federal, ₦800,000 to ₦1.5 million at state, ₦5 million to ₦12 million at private.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mass Communication competitive?
Yes, especially at top federal universities and at Pan-Atlantic. Working cut-offs at UNILAG, UI, OAU sit at 230 to 235 JAMB. The reason is Lagos’s strong media industry that recruits aggressively from these schools. The candidate pool is also growing because of the digital media boom; many young Nigerians see Mass Communication as the academic foundation for content creation and digital media careers.
What is the difference between Mass Communication and Journalism?
Mass Communication is the broader degree covering all media disciplines: journalism, broadcasting, advertising, PR, digital media, media management. Journalism is a specialisation within Mass Communication focused on news reporting, editing, and investigative work. Most Nigerian universities run B.Sc Mass Communication with journalism as a specialisation track in the senior years. A few schools also run B.Sc Journalism as a separate degree; the curriculum is narrower but the career path overlaps.
Can I study Mass Communication without Mathematics credit?
At most federal universities, no. Mathematics credit is required at UI, UNILAG, OAU, UNN, ABU, UNIBEN for Mass Communication admission. A few state universities and private schools accept a pass in Mathematics for Mass Comm; check each school’s admission notice. The curriculum has limited quantitative content but the schools still require the Mathematics credit at the eligibility stage. If your Mathematics is weak, retake it (WAEC GCE or NECO).
Are HND Mass Communication graduates competitive?
Yes, at the working-journalism and mid-tier corporate level. HND graduates from accredited polytechnics (YABATECH, Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Federal Polytechnic Ilaro) work in major media houses, ad agencies and PR firms. At senior corporate roles and at the most competitive ad agencies, B.Sc holders still have an edge. The HND-to-B.Sc top-up route is available for HND graduates wanting the degree title.
Is Pan-Atlantic Mass Communication worth the tuition?
For students with the financial means, Pan-Atlantic’s School of Media and Communication is a strong choice. The school has well-equipped TV and radio studios, digital production facilities, and active partnerships with Lagos media houses. Graduates have strong access to internships at top agencies and media firms. The high tuition (₦2.5 million to ₦3.5 million per session) is a real filter; for students who cannot sustain it, federal universities (UI, UNILAG, OAU) offer competitive Mass Communication at a fraction of the cost.
How important is internship for Mass Communication careers?
Very important. SIWES placements at 300 level are often the route to a post-graduation job. Top Lagos media houses, ad agencies, and PR firms recruit substantially through interns who proved themselves. Network through SIWES placements; the relationships built during industrial training often translate to job offers. Also build a portfolio during the degree: write for the student newspaper, run a podcast, produce video content, manage a social media campaign. The portfolio plus internships beat just the degree at hiring time.
JAMB 2026 brochure; Nigerian Union of Journalists; APCON (Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria); NIPR (Nigerian Institute of Public Relations); university admission portals.
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.
