JAMB UTME Subject Combinations for Popular Courses
Every UTME candidate takes four subjects: English Language is compulsory,
plus three others matched to your course. Below are the standard combinations for 45+ popular
courses. Requirements can vary by institution, so always confirm yours in the official JAMB brochure
before you register.
How to find your exact combination
The tables below cover the common cases. For your specific course and university, confirm against the official source:
Official JAMB brochure — search your course at brochure.jamb.gov.ng. This is the authoritative list and is updated each cycle.
Your CAPS profile — once you choose a course, CAPS shows the requirement for that institution.
The institution’s admissions page — some universities add or swap a subject for the same course.
The combinations here are the standard requirements drawn from the JAMB brochure and
cross-checked across sources. They are a guide — the official brochure for your exact course and
institution always takes precedence.
English Language, Biology, Chemistry and PhysicsStandard is Biology, Chemistry, Physics. Some schools (e.g. ABUAD) also accept Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics.
English Language, Biology, Chemistry and PhysicsBrochure general wording is 'Chemistry, Biology and one (1) other Science subject'; most universities (UNILAG, OAU, UNN, UNIBEN, UNIPORT, etc.) specify Physics as that third subject.
English Language, Physics and any one of Chemistry, Economics or BiologyMathematics (subject) and Physics fixed; third varies (Chemistry, Economics or Biology). Some institutions accept/prefer Further Mathematics.
Physics
English Language, Physics, Mathematics and any one of Chemistry or BiologyPhysics and Mathematics fixed; many universities (FUTO, UNILAG, UNN, UNIBEN etc.) require Chemistry specifically; some (UNILORIN, FUTA) accept Agric Science in lieu of Biology.
Statistics
English Language, Mathematics and any two of Physics, Chemistry and EconomicsMathematics fixed; choose any two of Physics, Chemistry, Economics. Some mirrors also list Biology/Agric Science as accepted options at certain universities.
English Language, Government or History plus any two (2) other Social Science/Arts subjectsGovernment (or History) is the anchor; the other two are any Social-Science/Arts subjects (commonly Economics, Literature, CRS/IRS, Geography, Commerce). Mathematics is NOT required.
Psychology
English Language, Government and any two (2) other Arts or Social Science subjectsSources disagree. Under Social/Mgt Sciences the brochure standard is Government + any two Arts/Social-Science subjects. Where Psychology sits under Science/Education faculties, Biology (and sometimes Mathematics/Economics) is required instead. Confirm the specific institution/faculty.
Sociology
English Language, Any three (3) Social Science or Arts subjectsBrochure leaves the three open as any Social-Science/Arts subjects. Where offered under Arts/Humanities, the requirement tightens to Government/History plus two other Social-Science/Arts subjects.
Mass Communication
English Language, Any three (3) Arts and Social Science subjectsOfficial brochure leaves all three open (any Arts/Social-Science subjects). Many institutions in practice favour Literature-in-English plus Government/Economics; some private universities prefer Mathematics. Confirm per school.
English Language, Mathematics, Economics and any one other Social Science subjectMathematics and Economics fixed; 3rd is any Social Science (commonly Commerce, Government, Geography, or Accounting/Business Studies). Some institutions specify the 3rd subject.
Business Administration
English Language, Mathematics, Economics and any one other Social Science subjectMath and Economics fixed; 3rd is any Social Science (commonly Commerce, Government, Geography, Accounting). Slight institutional variation on the elective.
Banking and Finance
English Language, Mathematics, Economics plus any one (1) of Government and GeographyFaculty of Administration brochure restricts the 3rd to Government or Geography. Under Social/Management Sciences some schools accept any Social Science (e.g. Commerce/Accounting).
Marketing
English Language, Mathematics, Economics plus one (1) other relevant (Social Science) subjectMath and Economics fixed; 3rd is any relevant Social Science (commonly Commerce, Government, Geography, Accounting).
Actuarial Science
English Language, Mathematics, Economics and one (1) other subjectMath and Economics fixed; 3rd is one other subject (Science, Social Science or Arts per brochure; commonly a Social Science such as Government, Geography or Physics/Chemistry at some schools).
Law & Arts
Course
UTME subjects (English + three)
Law
English Language, Literature-in-English and any two other Arts or Social Science subjectsBrochure baseline is 'any three Arts/Social Science subjects', but most universities (DELSU, ABU, etc.) require Literature-in-English as one of them; O'level mandates Lit-in-English. UNILAG excludes Music/Fine Arts/Principles of Accounts and accepts Economics OR Commerce (not both).
English Language (Education/Arts)
English Language, Literature-in-English and any two other Arts subjectsStated as 'Literature-in-English, one other Arts subject, and another Arts or Social Science subject'. Education/English variant identical at UTME level.
History and International Studies
English Language, History or Government, and any two other Arts or Social Science subjectsMust include History or Government; remaining two from Arts/Social Sciences (Geography, Economics, Literature, CRS/IRS). Same combo as International Relations/Diplomacy.
English Language, Government or History, and any two other subjectsCommon baseline 'Government and any two subjects'; some schools (BU, SAU) accept Government OR History plus other Arts subjects. Highly flexible course.
Linguistics
English Language, Any one Language and any two other subjectsVerbatim: 'English Language(*), Any Language and two (2) other subjects'. Many sources specify Literature-in-English as one of the two. Same combo as Linguistics + an African Language variants.
English Language, Mathematics, Economics and one other subjectMathematics and Economics fixed; third is one elective. Geography commonly preferred; some schools accept Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Technical Drawing instead.
Urban and Regional Planning
English Language, Mathematics, Geography and any one of Economics, Physics, ChemistryStandard combo is Maths + Geography + one of Economics/Physics/Chemistry. Notable variation: FUTA requires Maths plus any two of Physics, Chemistry, Economics, Geography; FUTO and others differ.
English Language, Chemistry, Biology/Agriculture and any one of Physics and MathematicsChemistry fixed; Biology OR Agriculture for the second; third is one of Physics/Mathematics. Ilorin/UDU/IMSU accept Economics or Geography in lieu of Physics/Maths; some schools (LAPAI, ABUAD) fix the trio differently.
Building
English Language, Mathematics, Physics and ChemistryAll three fixed (Maths, Physics, Chemistry). Some institutions allow substitution/waiver for Chemistry; verify per school.
Education
Course
UTME subjects (English + three)
Education and Biology
English Language, Biology and any two (2) of Chemistry, Mathematics and PhysicsBiology fixed; pick any two of Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics. Some institutions specify particular pairs; check school's special consideration.
English Language, Any three (3) subjectsBrochure (Faculty of Education) requires English plus any three subjects, no fixed trio. Some universities recommend social-science/arts subjects; consult brochure remarks per school.
Library and Information Science
English Language, Any three (3) subjectsUnder Faculty of Education: English plus any three subjects. Note: where offered under Faculty of Sciences/Social Sciences the requirement is Mathematics, Physics and one of Biology/Chemistry/Agric Science/Economics/Geography. Verify the offering faculty per institution.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many subjects do I take in the UTME?
Four. English Language is compulsory for every course, plus three other subjects chosen to match the course you want to study. So your combination is always English plus three.
Is English Language compulsory for all courses?
Yes. Every UTME candidate must take English Language, regardless of course. The tables below show the other three subjects to pair with it.
Can the required subjects differ between universities for the same course?
Yes. The combinations here are the standard requirements, but individual universities sometimes vary the third or fourth subject. Always confirm the exact requirement for your chosen course AND institution in the official JAMB brochure before registering.
What does “any two of …” mean in a combination?
It means you may choose which of the listed subjects to offer — pick the ones you are strongest in and that your O’level results support. As long as your four UTME subjects satisfy the rule, you are eligible.
Where do I check the official subject requirement?
Use the official JAMB brochure at brochure.jamb.gov.ng, your CAPS profile, or the admissions page of your target institution. The brochure is the authoritative source and is updated each cycle.
What happens if my UTME subjects don’t match my course?
You may be considered ineligible for that course or refused admission even with a good score. Choose a subject combination that matches your intended course from the start, and confirm it before you register.
Standard combinations compiled from the official JAMB UTME brochure
(brochure.jamb.gov.ng) and
cross-checked across admissions references. JAMB revises requirements periodically and institutions
may vary them — always confirm the current requirement for your course and university.