JAMB, WAEC, and admissions guides for Nigerian students
How to Gain Admission into UNICAL (University of Calabar): 2026 Guide
The University of Calabar (UNICAL) admits via JAMB UTME plus Post-UTME screening, with a minimum JAMB score of 200 for most courses. Medicine and Surgery, Pharmacy, Law and Nursing typically require 250 or higher, with working cut-offs around 260 to 270 for Medicine in recent intakes. UNICAL admits roughly 7,000 to 9,000 fresh students each year.
Last updated: May 2026 UNICAL is in Calabar, Cross River State, with the main campus in the Etagbor area and the College of Medical Sciences hosted alongside the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH). The school runs 14 faculties plus the College of Medical Sciences. UNICAL is well known for its Faculty of Medical Sciences, Pharmacy, Law, and the unique Tourism Studies programme (one of the few in Nigeria). This guide walks through admission requirements, cut-offs, the Post-UTME process, real costs, and the admission timeline.
Calabar is one of Nigeria’s quieter and cleaner mid-sized cities, with a moderate cost of living. UNICAL benefits from the city’s settled atmosphere and the proximity to the Cross River National Park, which supports its Tourism, Geology, and Forestry programmes.
Why UNICAL
UNICAL has strong reputation in Medical Sciences, Pharmacy, Law, and Tourism Studies. The College of Medical Sciences has trained doctors for the South-South region for several decades, with clinical training at UCTH. The Faculty of Pharmacy is well established, and the Faculty of Law has produced legal professionals across Nigeria. The Tourism Studies programme is distinctive nationally; few Nigerian universities offer tourism as a serious undergraduate discipline.
The campus is spread across the Etagbor and Malabor areas of Calabar, with the medical school adjacent to UCTH. The main campus has halls of residence, lecture theatres, the senate building, the library, and the sports facilities.
The cost of living in Calabar is moderate, between Lagos (high) and Nsukka (low). Off-campus accommodation in the areas around the university is affordable, and the city is regarded as one of the safer Nigerian cities for students.
UNICAL at a glance
Detail
Value
Full name
University of Calabar
Location
Calabar, Cross River State
Year established
1975
Type
Federal University
Number of faculties
14 plus the College of Medical Sciences
JAMB minimum score
200 (most courses); 250+ for Medicine, Pharmacy, Law, Nursing
Post-UTME format
CBT, multiple choice on the four UTME subjects
Post-UTME fee
~₦2,500
Aggregate formula
JAMB and Post-UTME blended
Annual intake
~7,000 to 9,000 fresh students
Website
unical.edu.ng
Admission requirements
O Level requirements. UNICAL 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 the three subjects relevant to your course. For Medicine, those three are Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. For Law, Literature in English, Government, and one other arts subject.
JAMB UTME requirements. UNICAL’s published minimum is 200; working cut-off for Medicine is 260+, Pharmacy 250+, Law 240+, Engineering 220 to 230+.
Direct Entry. UNICAL accepts A Level, IJMB, JUPEB, and HND with at least Upper Credit into the second year of the degree.
JAMB subject combinations by faculty
College of Medical Sciences (Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nursing, Anatomy, Physiology, Medical Laboratory Science, Public Health): Use of English, Biology, Chemistry, Physics.
Engineering (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, Computer, Mechatronics): Use of English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry.
Science (Biochemistry, Microbiology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics): Use of English plus three science subjects.
Law: Use of English, Literature in English, Government, plus one other arts subject.
Arts (English, History, Religious Studies, Linguistics, Foreign Languages): Use of English, Literature in English, plus two arts subjects.
Social Sciences (Economics, Sociology, Psychology, Political Science, Public Administration): Use of English, Mathematics, Economics, plus one social science.
Management Sciences (Accounting, Business Administration, Banking and Finance, Marketing, Insurance, Tourism Studies): Use of English, Mathematics, Economics, plus one of Government, Commerce, Geography.
Education: Use of English plus combination for the teaching subject.
Agriculture (Crop, Soil, Animal, Forestry, Fisheries, Agricultural Economics): Use of English, Chemistry, Biology, plus Mathematics or Physics.
Environmental Studies (Architecture, Estate Management, Quantity Surveying, Geography): Use of English, Mathematics, plus two of Physics, Chemistry, Geography, Fine Arts.
Cut-off marks for popular UNICAL courses
Medicine and Surgery: 260+ JAMB
Dentistry: 250+ JAMB
Pharmacy: 250+ JAMB
Nursing: 240+ JAMB
Law: 240+ JAMB
Medical Laboratory Science: 230+ JAMB
Engineering (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, Computer): 220 to 230+ JAMB
Computer Science: 220+ JAMB
Accounting, Economics: 210+ JAMB
Tourism Studies: 200+ JAMB
Mass Communication: 220+ JAMB
Arts and Education: 200+ JAMB
Post-UTME process
UNICAL Post-UTME is a CBT screening on the four UTME subjects. The fee is around ₦2,500, paid through the UNICAL portal. Screening dates are assigned after registration closes; the bulk of candidates write in July or August at the Etagbor campus.
The aggregate blends JAMB and Post-UTME, with O Level as a tie-breaker. UNICAL’s blend has been around 50/50 in recent cycles. The school admits across the JAMB-mandated 45-35-20 quota split.
On screening day, bring your JAMB result slip, UNICAL e-slip, passport-style photograph, and valid ID. Phones and watches are banned. Results are published on the UNICAL portal within two to three weeks.
For preparation, drill the JAMB syllabus a second time with sharper timing. Past UNICAL Post-UTME questions are available at the campus bookshop. Sit four to six full mocks in the fortnight before screening.
Tuition, accommodation and what it costs in 2026
UNICAL is a federal university, so tuition is officially free. Each fresh student pays acceptance fee, development levy, faculty levies, ID, examination and library fees. Total first-year obligation in 2025 ran between ₦60,000 and ₦130,000 for most faculties, rising to ₦180,000 to ₦280,000 for the College of Medical Sciences.
UNICAL is largely residential for the first year. Halls of residence at Etagbor include Hall 1 to Hall 6 (mixed male and female). On-campus hostel costs around ₦10,000 to ₦18,000 per session.
Off-campus housing around Etagbor, Malabor, and Calabar town runs ₦50,000 to ₦150,000 a year, sitting between Nsukka (cheaper) and Lagos (expensive). The total cost of education at UNICAL is among the lower at federal universities due to the moderate Calabar cost of living.
For the College of Medical Sciences, clinical years are at UCTH. Some medical students choose accommodation close to UCTH rather than at the main campus.
The UNICAL admission timeline
January to February: JAMB UTME registration; pick UNICAL as first choice.
April to May: sit JAMB UTME.
May to June: JAMB releases results; UNICAL announces Post-UTME registration.
July to August: UNICAL Post-UTME at Etagbor campus.
August to September: admission decisions upload to CAPS.
September to October: CAPS offers visible; accept on CAPS, pay acceptance fee on UNICAL portal.
October to November: online and physical clearance at Etagbor.
November onwards: orientation, hostel allocation, lectures begin.
How to check your UNICAL admission status
Log into JAMB CAPS at portal.jamb.gov.ng. Click Check Admission Status. If UNICAL has uploaded an offer, accept it.
Log into the UNICAL admission portal at unical.edu.ng. Confirm the offer.
Pay the acceptance fee within the published window.
Print the CAPS admission letter and the UNICAL admission letter.
Upload O Level credits, JAMB result, Post-UTME score on the UNICAL portal.
Report for physical clearance at Etagbor on the date specified.
Frequently asked questions
Is UNICAL strict on catchment area?
UNICAL applies the JAMB-mandated 45-35-20 merit-catchment-ELDS split. Cross River State (where UNICAL is located) plus the surrounding South-South states (Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo) fall in the broader catchment pool. Candidates from these states have an edge on the catchment quota. The merit quota (45%) is open nationally.
How does UNICAL compare with UNIBEN for Medicine?
UNIBEN and UNICAL both run strong Medical Schools in the South-South. UNIBEN’s College of Medicine is older and slightly more competitive (working cut-off 270 vs UNICAL 260). UNICAL has the advantage of UCTH on campus for clinical training. The choice often comes down to geography (UNICAL is in Calabar, UNIBEN in Benin City) and personal preference on campus atmosphere. Both produce MDCN-licensed doctors who write the same licensing exam.
Does UNICAL consider O Level grades?
Yes. UNICAL uses O Level as the eligibility filter (five credits) and as a tie-breaker. Strong O Level grades help in competitive course rankings, especially for Medicine, Pharmacy, and Law where the candidate pool finishes within a narrow aggregate band.
How much does first year at UNICAL cost?
Budget around ₦180,000 to ₦400,000 for the first year. Official school charges come to ₦60,000 to ₦280,000. Hostel costs add ₦10,000 to ₦18,000 if you secure on-campus accommodation. Off-campus rent in Calabar runs ₦50,000 to ₦150,000 a year. Personal expenses add ₦25,000 to ₦40,000 a month. Total cost is moderate, among the lower at federal universities.
What is the Tourism Studies programme about?
UNICAL runs one of the few undergraduate Tourism Studies programmes in Nigeria. The programme covers tourism management, hospitality, eco-tourism, cultural heritage, and the business side of the tourism industry. Cross River State is one of Nigeria’s leading tourism destinations (Cross River National Park, Obudu Cattle Ranch, Calabar Carnival), which makes UNICAL the natural home for the programme. Graduates work in the hospitality industry, tour operators, government tourism agencies, and international hotels.
Is on-campus accommodation guaranteed for fresh students?
UNICAL prioritises 100-level students for on-campus halls, and most fresh students secure a bed in their first year. If your ballot does not succeed, off-campus housing around Etagbor and Malabor is the fallback. Returning students often move off campus by year three. Confirm hostel availability on the UNICAL portal during clearance.
University of Calabar official website at unical.edu.ng; UNICAL admission portal; JAMB brochure; UNICAL registry bulletins; University of Calabar Teaching Hospital.
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.
