How To Gain Admission into ABU - Ahmadu Bello University - SCHOOLCONTENTS.info

How To Gain Admission into ABU - Ahmadu Bello University

ABU Complete Admission Guide For UTME, DE, Remeddia, Diploma and IJMB Applicants
ABU logo

You must have heard some myths about ABU.

“They only accept Muslims”. “They only accept applicants from the north”

There are more hearsays really. But how true? Let’s find out.

To say the truth, ABU is one of those universities that take catchment areas seriously. They also recognize educationally less developed states as being required by the federal government.

Before you say, "didn't I tell you", OAU, UI, UNILAG, UNIBEN, UNILORIN, etc. use the same or similar quotas in their admissions. This doesn’t imply that their admission lists are not on merit. They are but there is more to understand about them. 

Let's keep reading.

I explained what catchment areas and less educated states are in my recent post. Recognizing these two criteria is not limited to ABU, other federal universities do the same. If you read the post I referred to above, you will understand me better.

But if I said, you could gain admission to Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria on merit, you’d ask me, "how?" Just follow the guide below.

I’d followed this guide for my students from the southwest for several years and it worked just well.

ABU has no major differences from other universities in Nigeria; except for some important tweaks that will be covered in this post.

Let’s get started. I will be covering the following areas:

  1. Ascertain your O’level results are complete
  2. Choose ABU in UTME as the first choice with the right Course.
  3. Obtain ABU post-UTME when on sales.
  4. Gaining Admission to ABU as Direct Entry Applicants
  5. How Does ABU Treat their Pre-degree or Remedial Students for Admission to 100 level
  6. How ABU Distributes Admission Spaces Among Applicants

Save Me the Time, Give Me The Summary

If you don't want to follow me into the details of gaining admission into  Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, you should check the briefs below. If you want more, read to the end of the post.

Gaining admission into Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) requires meeting specific requirements and following certain steps. Here are the steps with references and citations:

  1. Meet the Admission Requirements: The first step to gaining admission into ABU is to meet the admission requirements. These requirements include meeting the cut-off mark, possessing the right O'level credits, and meeting the faculty-specific requirements. The cut-off mark is determined by JAMB and varies from year to year. As of the most recent admission, the cut-off mark for ABU is 180 for most courses. The O'level requirements are usually a minimum of five credits in relevant subjects, including Mathematics and English Language. For faculty-specific requirements, applicants should check the ABU Brochure for details.
  2. Apply for JAMB: After meeting the admission requirements, you need to register and sit for the UTME examination conducted by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB). Ensure that you select ABU as your preferred choice of institution during the JAMB registration process.
  3. Score High in UTME: The UTME score is a significant determinant of admission into ABU. Applicants should strive to score high in the UTME as it forms a significant portion of the admission criteria.
  4. Apply for Post-UTME: After the UTME, applicants need to apply for the ABU post-UTME screening. The post-UTME screening is a computer-based test. Applicants should prepare adequately for the post-UTME by studying past questions and familiarizing themselves with the admission process.
  5. Check Admission List: After the post-UTME, ABU releases its admission list. Applicants should regularly check the ABU website and JAMB CAPS portal for updates on admission status.

In conclusion, gaining admission into ABU requires meeting specific requirements, registering and sitting for the UTME examination, scoring high in the UTME, applying for the ABU post-UTME screening, and checking the admission list. Applicants should pay attention to details and follow the steps carefully to increase their chances of gaining admission into ABU.

That summary is not enough, I get you covered with the practical explanation as detailed below. Enjoy!

1. Be Sure Your O’level Results Are Complete

Some applicants blindly seek admission without complete results. Some have one or two deficiencies in very important subjects. Yet, they believe, since ABU is a northern university, it can just accept anything weaker or inferior results. Forget that and pay attention to the information below about your O’level results.

ABU is consistently accepting all O’level results including NBAIS; which you might have heard about. I posted some information about the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS) earlier. You can check it out for further details.

You need 5 credit passes in O’level subjects relevant to your proposed course in the school. The university equally allows ordinary passes in SSCE (certain subjects) for some courses. JAMB brochure has details on this on the post, "JAMB Brochure For Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State".

You can combine two O’level results in any way possible e.g. WAEC plus NECO, WAEC plus NABTEB, NECO plus NABTEB, etc. For some courses, you may not use more than a sitting, however. Some schools don’t allow this. I advise you not to process the university's admission into Nursing, Medicine, Law, Pharmacy, and a few other competitive courses with more than one SSCE.

You can check my post on “How to Study, Understand and Use JAMB Brochure: Admission Success Channel.” as a guide to know what to look for in the JAMB brochure.

And to know directly if you're qualified for a course at ABU, kindly check your eligibility status here.

Using Awaiting Results for ABU Admission

Having said that O'level result was a must for you, you could as well apply with awaiting results during JAMB registration if you're yet to write any SSCE or you're expecting to make up for a deficiency or two.

ABU entrance
In this case, you will have to return to the JAMB CBT center when your result is out and the required subjects are made. There, you will upload the result which was kept awaiting before.

No institution will give admission to any candidates using awaiting results as at the time admission lists are being prepared.

RecommendedJAMB Brochure For Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State

2. Choose ABU in UTME as the First Choice  

Another silly thinking is that perhaps you can take ABU as a second-choice institution because they are less competitive. Why don’t you ask yourself this, “If ABU is truly less competitive, why couldn’t it admit all its admission seekers?” Hence, I advise you to take ABU as the first choice if you truly need them.

To give you an idea of how competitive courses at ABU can be, check the following stats.

  1. In the 2020/2021 academic session, ABU received over 66,000 applications for admission, while the university only had a capacity of about 12,000 spaces for undergraduate students. This means that the university had to select only about 18% of the applicants to fill the available spaces.
  2. The same year, the Faculty of Medicine had about 1,800 applicants for only 250 available spaces, making the admission process very competitive. Similarly, the Faculty of Law had over 3,500 applicants for only 200 spaces.

Be Careful Choosing Your Course at the University

ABU is one of those federal universities offering good courses with the needed infrastructure. You have enough courses to choose from. However, you’ll need a JAMB brochure to guide you on your choice. This is because you don’t only choose a course, you need to understand the following before you do:

  1. Is the course available at ABU
  2. What are O’level grades and subjects required for your course of choice?
  3. What UTME subjects should you write for the course?
  4. Does ABU has special conditions for the course?

Study the "JAMB Brochure For Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State" to answer these questions and more.

In fact, this area calls for special attention. Don't write Yoruba or Igbo in UTME for ABU. The University does test their applicants (during post-UTME) on the same set of subjects they wrote in UTME.

However, they never set Yoruba or Igbo questions during Post-UTME. Hence, you would be forced to take only three papers instead of four. With this, you've failed the post-UTME and that's the end of your admission.

Therefore, I suggest you write any other Art subject instead or check your eligibility first for the course.

RecommendedHow Does ABU Give Admission to Its Aspirants?

3. Obtain ABU Post UTME When On Sale

Ahmadu Bello University Zaria sells post-UTME forms and tests their candidates.

However, before you can obtain the POST-UTME form and write their test, you must have scored 180 or above for all courses. Though the higher your score above 180, the better your chance. And you'll need a very high score for competitive courses.

In your own interest, however, don’t duel on 180 plus for courses like Medicine, and the like. You will need to score really higher to compete for the university's top degree courses.

ABU Post UTME CBT hall

It’s certain that candidates seeking competitive courses must do well not only in the UTME but also in the post-UTME.

Do you know why? Your post-UTME score is over 400 just as your JAMB is over 400. The university will offer you admission based on your score in post-UTME eventually.

Now you want to know the departmental cut-off marks for your proposed course. Well, I can’t give you anyone specifically, and here is why. Departmental cut-off marks are not static (stable). They change every year depending on certain factors, such as:

  1. Number of students competing for the course
  2. Average performance in UTME
  3. Average performance in post-UTME

How I wish the school make their departmental cut-off marks completely and regularly public. But it's not; at least not yet. However, this is the cut-off mark popularly believed to be used by the university.
  • 220 – 240 – Medicine (O’ Level result with one sitting only) and Nursing
  • 200 – Mass Communication, Common Law, Pharmacy, Anatomy, Physiology
  • 190 – Computer Science, English Language, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Geology, all engineering courses except Agricultural and Biosystem Engineering.
  • 180 – All other courses

You can take a moment to see the updated list of the university's courses and their admission cut-off marks in the post, "Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Departmental Cut-Off Marks".

RecommendedWhen Will ABU Start To Give Admission To Its Aspirants?

Admission to ABU For Direct Entry (DE) Applicants

This section doesn’t concern UTME candidates. So skip. 

Direct entry (DE) applicants are those who had completed their BSC, HND, ND, NCE, RN, IJMB, JUPEB, Cambridge A’level, Foundation, etc. in a school and decided to proceed to the university to continue with the same courses or related ones.

To seek admission into ABU as a direct entry applicant, you must also:

  1. obtain the JAMB form. Yours is called the JAMB Direct entry form instead of the JAMB UTME form.
  2. register at any CBT centre nationwide
  3. register for Post DE; at the very time that UTME applicants are registering.

ABU accepts graduates of BSC, HND, ND, NCE, IJMB, DIPLOMA, etc. for its direct entry admission.

RecommendedDirect Entry (DE) JAMB Regularization: Procedures, Price, and Closing Date

ABU also runs IJMB and Diploma programs on her campus and affiliate ones. These candidates are usually their favorites for direct entry spaces. They accept outsiders as well for their degree courses if you have the requirements. Below are what direct entry applicants should know before choosing ABU.

Obviously, before you can apply for ABU post-DE, you must meet the following conditions:

  1. Have a minimum of lower credit for ND holders. The higher your grade the better
  2. Have a Merit grade for Diploma
  3. 9 points in NCE or IJMB

Kindly, visit, study, and understand the JAMB brochure for further information. I explained what you need to look for in the JAMB brochure here in full.

How ABU Treat Its Pre-Degree or Remedial Students for Admission Into 100 Level

Something is important here. If you're a student of the ABU Remedial programme, you are 99% of the time going to be offered admission to the 100 level.

Let me explain!

In my last 10 years of producing students to the ABU Remedial programme, I never recorded a student who was not eventually offered admission to the 100 level. 

This is why!

You must have failed two of the three conditions below before the school will show you the way home.

  1. Failed remedial final exams
  2. Failed in UTME
  3. Failed in Post-UTME

ABU will consider its pre-degree students for admission to the 100 level if they pass the pre-degree exams, but it's advisable to score 180 or above. Such students will be given admission through remedial instead of JAMB.

The school only asks you to attempt UTME for an official record and in order to have a JAMB registration number.  If a remedial student passes UTME and fails remedial exams, he or she will still be offered admission through JAMB if he passes the latter.

But if you fail both, you can't even do post-UTME and you're going to miss your beloved campus.

How ABU Distributes Admission Spaces Among Applicants

Like most federal universities (if not all), ABU usually bites more than it can chew. Abdullahi Kundila, the registrar of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has disclosed that over 63,000 candidates applied for admission but only about 10,000 were admitted in 2017. 

What percentage was that? Then who won, and who lost?

ABU follows the 45, 35, and 20 ratio like its counterparts. By this, it means the university will give admission to 45% on merit, 35% based on catchment areas, and 20% based on less-educated states.

RecommendedABU 19 Catchment and 23 Educational Less Developed States

This doesn’t mean admission given to catchment areas and less educated states is not on merit. No!. It only means, the aggregate mark to be considered for (35%) catchment areas will be less than merit, and (20%) less educated will be lesser.

NEED a guide, update, or answer on something? You can spend just #500 to get professional answers and guides. Click here to request Mr. Techie's INSTANT REPLY

HELP SOMEONE:  People would appreciate it if you could just share this post with them on FacebookTwitterWhatsApp, etc. Use the share icons below for your convenience.

Best Related Posts

  1. UNILAG Admission Complete Guide For UTME, DE, Foundation, and JUPEB Applicants
  2. ATBU Complete Admission Guide for UTME, DE, IJMB, and Diploma Applicants 
  3. Bayero University Kano (BUK) Complete Admission Guide for UTME and DE Applicants 
  4. UI Admission Complete Guide: For UTME, DE, Cambridge Advanced Level Applicants 
  5. OAU Admissions Complete Guide: For UTME, DE, Pre-degree, and JUPEB Applicants 

34 comments:

  1. Good afternoon
    Will ABU Zaria accept D7 in literature (WAEC) because i used it to register for both jamb and post UTME.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Firstly, you can check JAMB brochure to confirm if the university wave English or accepts D7.

      Another way is to use the tool provided by JAMB to check if you're qualified for the school and course.

      Use the search box at the top of this blog to search for "
      Check If You Are Qualified For the University and Course You Chose in JAMB"

      in that post, I detailed how to use the tool.

      Delete
  2. Please does Abu offer petroleum engineering....if yes please what average score should I target to be given admission on merit....am from enugu, Nigeria

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The only to know is to check JAMB Brochure or the school portal. Kindly act accordingly.

      Delete
  3. Sir, I scored 232 in jamb and for law what's my chance that I will gain admission

    ReplyDelete
  4. Pls I want to know when ABU direct entry form will be out for 202

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ABU doesn't sell Direct Entry for. They only sell post DE form. JAMB sells the DE form. As for their 2020 post DE form, no date announced yet.

      Delete
  5. Pls is any body can helpe out whc course can I study in Abu saria with 166 score in janb

    ReplyDelete
  6. Can someone with jamb score 184 gain admission into Abu Zaria to study veterinary medicine?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I doubt that. The course is competitive. However, your performance in the post UTME can boost your chance.

      Delete
  7. Will ABU admit 12 points in ijmb for pharmacy? When is their post DE form on sales.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, they can. However, if there are enough candidates with higher points than you, they may not consider 12 point.

      Delete
  8. I applied for Dental Surgery with 241, should I do change of course? Or is there any hope?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't know what your school will consider. Hence, I may not tell you whether to change course or not.

      Delete
    2. My school is ABU,any chance please? Appreciates!

      Delete
    3. There is no way to judge. Only the admission committee can answer such questions.

      I'm sorry.

      Delete
  9. Can I be given a chance to study medicine at ABU Zaria with D7 in English?

    ReplyDelete
  10. Can I apply for DE if I miss the jamb DE form?

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi, I'm a cameroonian student and I registered DE for ABU zaria, considering the 45,35,20 admission method can I get admission in the university?.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you sir, please I also wish to know if the admission list for the faculty of medicine and surgery for DE applicants is out yet, thank you.

      Delete
    2. I don't have this information. Kindly be following updates on your JAMB CASPS to know when admission is out.

      Delete
  12. Greetings Sir. I'm from Cross River State Nigeria. I wrote Jamb both last year and this year with ABU as my first choice in each case.i used different SIM cards to register the Jamb exams,and I registered two post utme for last year and this year's jamb. Since they're gonna merge the two sections,will I be permitted to write the two post utme exams? Will I be given two admissions at thesame time? Secondly, what is the o' level result grade for studying medicine and surgery. Thirdly,i want to study ophthalmology,but during my jamb registration,the man just filled in medicine and surgery for me. So is it when I get to school before I'll be ushered into the ophthalmology department,or do I need to precisely fill in “ophthalmology" in my jamb instead of just writing medicine and surgery? God bless u as u answer sir

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You can choose to follow you admission for last year instead of this year. If you prefer that, don't bother to register for this post UTME. Just follow the last year all through. If you prefer this year admission, you can still register for the post UTME and sit for this year schedule instead of the last year schedule during the post UTME.

      For Medicine, you need at least C6 in English, Maths, Phy, Chem and Bio. However, the higher your grades, the better.

      The school will separate students into different branches of Medicine at higher level before you graduate.

      Delete
  13. Good day sir am from Niger state, I want to write jamb as awaiting results to Abu zaria and to study medicine and surgery so after writing my jamb sir what will I do next.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You wait for your O'level results to come out. After that, you go to CBT centre to upload that results. You have to also fill the post UTME of the university. Then, partake in their CBT test. Read the post below for more details

      https://www.schoolcontents.info/2021/05/after-jamb-utmede-registration-what-next.html

      Delete
  14. Can I study theater art in ABUzaria with D7 in mathematics

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. According the JAMB brochure, ABU requires Five (5) SSCE credit passes to include English Language and Arts subjects. See that in the link below.

      https://www.schoolcontents.info/2022/04/jamb-brochure-for-ahmadu-bello.html

      With that, it means, you may not need C in Maths. It's worth trying.

      Delete
  15. Good day sir, please can I gain admission to ABU with 166

    ReplyDelete
  16. Is ABU post UTME form for 2022/2023 out

    ReplyDelete
  17. Can someone get admission into Abu before doing jamb Regularization

    ReplyDelete

Just type your comment and post it. It will not appear until it is checked by admins. Check back to see your comment live.

If you want an immediate reply, you can request a reply @ #1000 through WhatsApp only at (08065152292). No call, please!

Techie BEC Konsult 7:54 PM (0 minutes ago) to me