How to Gain Admission Into University of Lagos (UNILAG)

UNILAG logo

You don’t only want to go to the University of Lagos (UNILAG) because it’s a federal university, but because this great citadel is a hot cake for her name and affordability. Show me parents who will not want their children at Akoka (except you’re worried about the cost of living in Lagos).

Now you’re convinced you deserved to be there but it’s bleak. You don’t seem to have a comprehensive guide on the school’s admission processes. If you’d read a couple of online posts before mine, you could have seen how scanty information was about UNILAG admission processes and where you get something, they’re not just detailed enough; instead of them to help, they leave you more confused.

This piece aims to guide students on steps involved in seeking and being offered admissions into the university. Among schools already covered are UNIBEN, UNILORIN, and AAUA. Others will be right below this post if you care to check.

Then let me share my experiences with you about UNILAG admission. These, I had acquired for more than a decade. My presentation blends with well-researched information from reliable sources.

I will take you through three roads and when we get to the end of the last road, we’re on campus. Don’t be worried about THREE. Though THREE is not a big number, I will cut the journey short, just to retain your patience to the end.

Let’s get to work!

In brief, areas to cover are:

1. UNILAG position on SSCE Results (Road 1)
2. Choosing UNILAG in UTME (Road 2)
3. Registering for and Writing UNILAG Post UTME (Road 3)

Then, I will handle these too:

1. Admission to UNILAG as a Direct Entry Applicant
2. Gain Admission to UNILAG with Influence and Connection
3. How UNILAG distribute Admission Spaces Among Candidates

1. Ensure Your O'level; SSCE Results are Complete

Having the required SSCE result is the first stage in seeking admission into this university. Like any other higher institution of learning, UNILAG takes O'level results seriously - if not more serious. By the required SSCE result, I meant, do you already have 5 needed grades in your relevant SSCE, WAEC, NECO, GCE, NABTEB?

Things get easier for you if you can study the JAMB brochure for what you must-have in the O'level results before you can fight for a space in the proposed faculty. Among the things the brochure is meant to show you is the SSCE subjects requirements. This may sound general though, a few schools do have special requirements that other schools may not demand. Such conditions will be detailed in the JAMB brochure.

The matriculating students on stand

It's not new that most candidates don't just study brochures to avoid a series of well-known errors. Not because they don't have access to it but because they hardly care to check. As a result, JAMB has provided you with a simpler tool to check your proposed school and the course to see if you're qualified or otherwise. See how to Check Institution and Course of Choice Eligibility on JAMB Portal

After entering your SSCE result and JAMB subjects in the tool plus your proposed course and school, JAMB will let you know if you qualify or not. Sound great? You should make use of that to save yourself some future headaches.

Generally, you'll need at least 5 credit passes in relevant subjects in one sitting before you can choose UNILAG. However, some programs require you to use TWO SITTINGS e.g. Part-Time, Distance Learning etc. As a full-time undergraduate UTME and DE, you need only one sitting irrespective of your proposed course.

Recommended: UNILAG Distance Learning Form: Portal, Fee, Closing Date

Using Awaiting Result

Awaiting result is a result you're expecting to sit for or you've sat for but not yet released. JAMB allows you to choose any school during UTME registration and write the exams. And since it's the exams body in charge of giving admission now, it's their responsibility to be sure that those who use awaiting results return back to CBT centers to scan and upload such results after being released. See How JAMB and Each School Will Admit UTME/DE Applicants

Therefore, don't expect admission from UNILAG if you use awaiting result and it has not been uploaded as at the time the admission activities are ongoing. JAMB will not give you admission into any school if you're yet to scan and upload your result to her portal. See How to Upload O'Level (SSCE), ND, and NCE Results to JAMB Portal

Recommended: Can I Gain Admission Into UNILAG Without JAMB?

2. Choosing UNILAG and Course in UTME

The admission process into any school starts with UTME registration. Unless you want to leave home through pre-degree, foundation class, Sandwich, Diploma, IJMB, JUPEB, and the likes, you will have to pass through the hurdle of JAMB UTME.

During your JAMB registration; at the CBT center, select UNILAG as your most preferred institution (first choice). Well, you can’t even choose them as 2nd, 3rd, or 4th choice. Why? JAMB only arranges the likes of UNILAG to 1st choice only.

Now, take your preferred course for the school. You can’t unless you know very well about the course. How will you know very well about your course? JAMB brochure is your solution. JAMB Brochure is a must PLEASE. See 88 UNILAG Courses Accredited for Admissions

The University entrance

Some courses may sound as if you know everything about them but you don’t know if UNILAG has some special conditions attached to the courses. So, save yourself from future disappointment - find a brochure or study it online to provide answers to the following questions:

1. What are the O’level requirements for your proposed course?
2. What subjects must you write in UTME?
3. Does UNILAG attach certain conditions (under the special considerations remarks)?

I have really covered what you must look for and how to look for it in my post, “How to Study, Understand and Use JAMB Brochure: Admission Success Channel”. You SHOULD click to read it if you’ve not. Don’t skip this, please. JAMB doesn’t provide a paper brochure for now but you can read CD type on your computer or study or download it on the JAMB website.

To help further, they now provide you with a tool to check upfront if you're qualified for a school and the course for now. This is going to save you a lot of time if you don't want to worry about the brochure.

Recommended: Will UNILAG Aspirants Write Post UTME or Screening?

3. Register for and Write UNILAG Post UTME

UNILAG doesn’t spare you from Post UTME. You’re to register for the post-UTME form when it’s out. It’s the custom of the university to only allow or call candidates who score 200 or above for their Post UTME. 

If by ill luck you have 199, forget the university admission this year. Get set for the next UTME or immediately consider the change of institutions to schools that can consider that. See JAMB Change of Institutions/Courses: Schools You Can Consider With Lower Marks

If you make it out with 200 or more, then you’ll be on campus for the computer-based post-UTME. They'll test you on your UTME subjects. If you write English, Maths, Physics, and Chemistry in UTME, prepare same for UNILAG Post UTME.

Post UTME session

UNILAG gives admission to you based on your performance in O’level, UTME, and Post UTME. In other words, being offered admission will follow the three criteria: SSCE results, UTME results, and Post-UTME scores. The school put the three together on calculation before you know whether you'll remain at home or join the winners on campus.

Recommended: Will UNILAG Transfer Me to Another Course?

UNILAG Admission Grading System

In this grading system, your O’level is weighted at 20%, UTME at 50%, and Post UTME at 30%.

Points awarded for O’level (only 5 relevant subjects for your proposed course should be calculated)

A1 = 4.0
B2 = 3.6
B3 = 3.2
C4 = 2.8
C5 = 2.4
C6 = 2.0

For the UTME, your score is divided by 8 i.e. UTME/8.

For Post UTME, your total mark is 30. Then you divide what you get by 2 i.e. PUTME/2. Note that if you score less than

Recommended: Does UNILAG Accept 2nd Choice Candidates? Updated Answer!

Calculating the Aggregate Score

Now let’s calculate the aggregate. I will have to take you off this page to a post on UNILAG aggregate score calculation. I love the way I illustrated the calculation of the aggregates. I hope you'll love it too. This post will open in a new window or tab so you come back here and complete your reading. See it here.

Judgment

If your aggregate score meets or beats the school departmental cut-off mark, congratulations and welcome to campus!

In case, you’re unfortunate to meet the departmental cut-off mark, don’t give up yet. UNILAG usually publishes some courses for candidates who have certain points (aggregate) to consider instead. You have to be on the lookout for this because this opportunity doesn’t last weeks. You can also consider a change of institution to any available institution if you’re not satisfied with the published courses.

Recommended: FUOYE Diploma Form: Portal, Price, and Years

UNILAG Admission Through Direct Entry 

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

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

To seek admission to UNILAG as a direct entry applicant, you must also:

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

Recommended: 

1. Do Direct Entry (DE) Applicants Have to Write UTME or Post DE?
2. Direct Entry Candidates Applying With Awaiting Results (AR): What You Must Know

Direct entry applicants should note these:

1. You're exempted from writing post-DE, so relax.
2. You will submit your completed post-DE application print-out, credentials, and transcripts to the school admission office
3. Experience has shown that it’s easy to gain admission to UNILAG through direct entry if: (i) you’re their foundation or diploma candidate or (ii) an education candidate i.e a holder of NCE (willing to do education courses at the school), ND candidates with strong upper credit or distinction

Recommended: How to Obtain UNILAG Direct Entry Form

UNILAG Admission with Influence and Connection

I don’t have a lecturer’s number to give you for help. Most lecturers I know sometimes have one slot to spare yearly. These people are equally placed under certain conditions. You don’t just bring someone who failed in the post-UTME. Some of them can only help you in the last re-published courses because merit comes first.

Sincerely if you'd helped yourself, you didn't need help from a professor to enter UNILAG.

That’s why I will only advise a few of my students to consider UNILAG. I place my judgment on their performance in O’level and their academic abilities. Give me 5 distinctions, a good UTME, and a Post UTME score - then you win my stamp.

Recommended: UNILAG Evening/Part-Time Form: Portal, Price, Closing Date

How Does UNILAG Distribute Admission Spaces Among Candidates?

If you’re on the list of admitted candidates to the University of Lagos, you're obviously one of those candidates selected based on formulas 45, 35, and 20. This is the yardstick used by federal institutions to distribute their spaces among the lucky ones.

By 45, I mean 45% of the admitted are on merit. This means these are candidates who had met or beat the departmental cut-off marks. These candidates, to me, are wow no matter their courses. It’s not easy dude!

By 35, I mean 35% of the admitted are favored because they belong to the catchment areas of the school. They’re equally on merit but the aggregate marks drawn for them are usually less than the general departmental cut-off marks. These are indigenes of Lagos State and some neighboring states.

By 20, I mean 20% of the admitted are from less educated states. These candidates are majorly from the northern part of the country. The law formula favors them to be considered with lesser marks than the departmental cut-off marks. I have less educated or less privileged states covered in my post, "Admissions Based on Educationally Less Developed States, Catchment Areas, and Merit"

Sorry! You want to hear this too. A few may be manipulated to the list through lecturers’ slots. But don’t get scammed for seeking cheap admission. Once you do your things rightly, you don't need a man to eat on your parents’ hard-earned money -  with little or no hope. Remember, "no receipt for runz money” 🤣🤣

Conclusion

Gaining admission to the University of Lagos doesn’t have to be easier than this. You need something good, you must work for it then. If you want inferior, you, of course, know where to turn. But a great institution will not just take her reputation for granted.

I had guaranteed admissions to the university for my clients most recently and it worked. On one condition – follow my guide to detail.

See you at Akoka sooner!

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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, Predegree and JUPEB Applicants