UNICAL Courses 2026 and Programmes Offered: Full Guide for 2026/2027 Admission

If you are searching for UNICAL Courses 2026 and Programmes Offered, you are probably trying to answer one important question: Which courses can I study at the University of Calabar (UNICAL) for the 2026/2027 academic session?

The University of Calabar, popularly known as UNICAL, offers a wide range of undergraduate programmes across areas such as Arts, Sciences, Engineering, Education, Medicine, Health Sciences, Agriculture, Social Sciences, Management Sciences, Law, Environmental Sciences and other professional disciplines. The university currently states that it has 100+ programmes across more than 15 faculties.

This guide explains the UNICAL courses for 2026, the major programmes available, admission considerations, subject combinations, and how prospective students can confirm that their preferred course is available before applying.

Important: Course names, programme availability, admission requirements and departmental conditions can change. Candidates should always confirm their chosen programme with UNICAL and JAMB before making an application or changing institution/course.

UNICAL Courses 2026: What You Need to Know

The search intent behind “UNICAL Courses 2026 and Programmes Offered” is mainly informational and admission-related.

A prospective student searching this phrase normally wants to know:

• The full list of courses offered by UNICAL.
• Which faculties and departments exist at UNICAL.
• Whether UNICAL offers a particular course.
• The best courses to choose based on their UTME subjects.
• UNICAL admission requirements for a particular programme.
• JAMB subject combinations for UNICAL courses.
• Whether a course is available for the 2026/2027 academic session.
• What UTME score is required to participate in the admission process.
• Whether the candidate can apply through UTME or Direct Entry.

Therefore, this article is designed to answer those questions in simple language without assuming that the reader already understands university admission terminology.

Full List of UNICAL Courses and Programmes

UNICAL has programmes covering many academic and professional areas. Because the university’s programme structure can be updated, prospective students should use the list below as a guide and verify the exact programme title and current admission status before completing their JAMB or UNICAL application.

1. Medicine and Health-Related Courses

Students interested in healthcare have several options at UNICAL. These programmes are suitable for people interested in medicine, clinical practice, laboratory work, public health and other healthcare professions.

Some of the programmes associated with UNICAL’s health and medical fields include:

• Medicine and Surgery
• Nursing Science
• Medical Laboratory Science
• Physiotherapy
• Radiography and Radiological Science
• Public Health
• Human Anatomy
• Human Physiology
• Human Nutrition and Dietetics
• Pharmacology
• Doctor of Pharmacy

UNICAL’s Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences identifies programmes including Medical Laboratory Science, Nursing Science, Physiotherapy, Public Health and Radiography/Radiological Science.

Candidates interested in medical programmes should pay particular attention to O’Level requirements and JAMB subject combinations. Medical courses can also have stricter requirements than many other programmes.

For example, UNICAL specifically stated in its 2026/2027 Post-UTME announcement that Medicine and Surgery does not accept O’Level results at two sittings.

2. Science Courses

Science students can choose from several programmes in the natural and applied sciences.

Common UNICAL science programmes include:

• Biochemistry
• Botany
• Chemistry
• Geology
• Microbiology
• Physics
• Mathematics
• Statistics
• Applied Chemistry
• Applied Geophysics
• Genetics and Biotechnology
• Zoology and Environmental Studies
• Science Laboratory Technology
• Electronics and Computer Technology

These programmes can lead to careers in scientific research, laboratories, technology, environmental management, education, industry and related fields.

If you studied science subjects in secondary school, do not select a university course simply because its name sounds attractive. Check the JAMB subject combination and O’Level requirements first.

3. Engineering Courses

Engineering remains one of the popular areas among Nigerian university applicants.

Courses associated with engineering at UNICAL include programmes such as:

• Civil Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Electrical/Electronic Engineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Agricultural Engineering
• Petroleum Engineering
• Computer Engineering

Engineering programmes generally require strong performance in Mathematics, English Language, Physics and Chemistry, although the exact JAMB combination depends on the specific course.

Applicants should therefore check the current JAMB requirements for the exact engineering programme they intend to study.

4. Computer and Information Technology Courses

Technology-related programmes are increasingly attractive to students because digital skills are relevant to many industries.

UNICAL has programmes in areas such as:

• Computer Science
• Computer Engineering
• Information Technology
• Information Systems
• Cyber Security
• Electronics and Computer Technology

These courses can prepare students for careers in software development, cybersecurity, networking, information systems, data-related work, technology support and other digital fields.

However, studying Computer Science or another technology course does not automatically make someone a software developer. Students should expect to build practical skills alongside their university education.

5. Arts and Humanities Courses

Students who enjoy languages, history, culture, religion, literature and creative subjects can consider UNICAL’s Arts and Humanities programmes.

Examples include:

• English and Literary Studies
• Linguistics
• Linguistics and Communication Studies
• History and International Studies
• French
• Theatre Arts
• Music
• Philosophy
• Christian Religious Studies
• Religious Studies
• Fine and Applied Arts

Arts courses can lead to careers in education, communication, publishing, media, public service, cultural organisations, research and creative industries.

6. Social Science Courses

Social Science programmes focus on people, society, government, economics and social behaviour.

UNICAL courses in this broad area include:

• Economics
• Sociology
• Political Science
• Public Administration
• Social Work
• Criminology and Security Studies
• Peace and Conflict Studies
• Geography and Environmental Science
• Tourism Studies

These programmes may be suitable for students interested in government, policy, development, social research, public administration, security, economics and community development.

7. Management and Business Courses

Students interested in business, finance and organisational management can consider programmes such as:

• Accounting
• Banking and Finance
• Business Management
• Marketing
• Policy and Administrative Studies

A degree in one of these fields can provide a foundation for careers in banking, accounting, business operations, marketing, administration and entrepreneurship.

Students choosing Accounting, Banking and Finance or related programmes should also check whether they meet the required Mathematics and other O’Level conditions.

8. Education Courses

UNICAL offers a wide range of education-related programmes. These are particularly relevant to candidates who intend to build careers in teaching, educational administration, counselling, educational technology or related areas.

Examples include:

• Adult Education
• Agricultural Science and Education
• Business Education
• Education and Biology
• Education and Chemistry
• Education and Economics
• Education and English Language
• Education and French
• Education and Geography
• Education and History
• Education and Mathematics
• Education and Physics
• Education and Political Science
• Education and Religious Studies
• Education and Social Science
• Education Arts
• Educational Administration and Planning
• Educational Technology
• Environmental Education
• Guidance and Counselling
• Home Economics
• Human Kinetics and Health Education
• Library and Information Science
• Special Education

The exact programme title matters. For example, Education and Mathematics is not the same programme as simply studying Mathematics. Candidates should confirm the correct course code and JAMB combination before registration.

9. Agriculture and Environmental Courses

UNICAL also has academic programmes connected with agriculture, natural resources and the environment.

Examples include:

• Agriculture
• Agric-Economics and Extension
• Animal Science
• Fisheries and Aquaculture
• Food Science and Technology
• Forestry and Wildlife Management
• Soil Science
• Environmental Protection and Resources Management
• Geography and Environmental Science
• Surveying and Geoinformatics
• Estate Management
• Urban and Regional Planning
• Architecture
• Building

These programmes can be relevant to students interested in food production, environmental management, construction, land administration, natural resources and sustainable development.

Does UNICAL Offer Law?

Yes. Law is among the programmes associated with UNICAL.

Students interested in Law should not rely only on the general UNICAL course list when applying. Law has specific admission requirements and professional considerations, so candidates should verify the current requirements with UNICAL and JAMB.

Does UNICAL Offer Mass Communication?

Yes, Mass Communication appears among the undergraduate programmes associated with UNICAL.

Students interested in journalism, broadcasting, public relations, digital media and communication-related careers may consider this field. However, prospective applicants should confirm the current programme title, admission requirements and JAMB subject combination before selecting it.

Does UNICAL Offer Computer Science?

Yes. Computer Science is listed among UNICAL’s academic programmes, and the university’s official academic information highlights Computer Science among its programmes.

Students interested in computing should distinguish between Computer Science, Information Technology, Information Systems, Cyber Security and Computer Engineering. Although these areas overlap, they are not identical degrees.

UNICAL Admission Requirements for 2026/2027

The admission requirements depend on the course you want to study.

For the 2026/2027 Post-UTME screening exercise, UNICAL announced that candidates who selected the university as their first choice and scored at least 150 in the 2026/2027 JAMB UTME were eligible to apply. The university also stated that candidates who did not originally select UNICAL but wished to switch to the university could apply if they met the stated UTME score requirement.

The official UNICAL Post-UTME portal likewise lists eligibility for candidates with a UTME score of 150 or above.

However, 150 should not be interpreted as the guaranteed admission score for every course.

A minimum screening eligibility score is different from the score that may eventually be needed to compete successfully for admission into a highly competitive programme.

O’Level Requirements for UNICAL Courses

Applicants should also pay close attention to their WAEC, NECO or NABTEB results.

Many university programmes require candidates to have the appropriate O’Level credits, but the specific subjects depend on the chosen course.

For example, a candidate applying for an engineering course will normally need the relevant science subjects, while an applicant for an Arts programme may have a different combination of required subjects.

Do not assume that having five credits automatically qualifies you for every course.

The subjects in which you have the credits matter.

Also, some professional programmes may impose stricter conditions. UNICAL’s 2026/2027 Post-UTME announcement specifically highlighted a one-sitting O’Level requirement for Medicine and Surgery.

How to Choose the Right UNICAL Course

Choosing a course should involve more than selecting the programme with the highest popularity.

Start with your academic strengths.

If you perform well in Mathematics and the sciences, you may have several options in science, engineering, computing and related fields. If you are stronger in Literature, Government, History or languages, Arts and Social Science programmes may be more suitable.

You should also consider your career interests.

Ask yourself:

What type of work do I want to do after university?

For example, someone interested in software development may consider Computer Science or another computing-related programme, while someone interested in clinical healthcare should examine the relevant health programmes.

You should also consider the cost of studying the programme, the length of study, professional requirements and your willingness to develop practical skills.

Check Your JAMB Subject Combination Before Applying

One of the most common mistakes applicants make is choosing a course first and checking the subject combination later.

Do it the other way around.

First identify your preferred programme. Then check its current JAMB UTME subject combination and O’Level requirements. After that, confirm that your subjects and results meet the conditions.

If your subjects do not match, choosing the course simply because you like it could create problems during the admission process.

UNICAL Post-UTME 2026/2027

UNICAL officially announced its Post-UTME/Direct Entry screening exercise for the 2026/2027 academic session in May 2026.

According to the university’s announcement, registration opened on 1 June 2026, with a stated deadline of 31 July 2026. The screening fee was announced as ₦2,000, payable through the university’s online process.

The official UNICAL screening portal provides options for UTME and Direct Entry candidates and contains current instructions for candidates completing their applications.

Because admission deadlines and procedures can change, applicants should always check the official UNICAL website and screening portal rather than relying on old blog posts or social media messages.

Is UNICAL a Good Choice?

The University of Calabar is a federal university in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. Its official academic information describes a broad academic structure with more than 100 programmes and undergraduate degrees across diverse faculties.

Whether UNICAL is the right university for you depends on your preferred course, admission eligibility, finances, career goals and personal circumstances.

A university should not be judged only by the number of courses it offers. Prospective students should also examine the curriculum, professional accreditation where applicable, learning environment, facilities, academic support and career opportunities connected with their chosen programme.

Frequently Asked Questions About UNICAL Courses 2026

How many courses does UNICAL offer?

UNICAL states that it offers 100+ programmes across more than 15 faculties. The exact number and programme names may change as academic programmes are reviewed or introduced.

What is the minimum JAMB score for UNICAL in 2026?

For the 2026/2027 Post-UTME screening exercise, UNICAL announced a minimum UTME score of 150 for eligible candidates. This is a screening eligibility threshold and should not be treated as a guaranteed admission score for every programme.

Can I study Medicine at UNICAL?

Yes, Medicine and Surgery is among the programmes offered by UNICAL. Applicants should pay special attention to the course-specific requirements, including the O’Level condition announced by the university for the 2026/2027 admission exercise.

Does UNICAL offer Nursing Science?

Yes. Nursing Science is among the health programmes associated with UNICAL.

Does UNICAL offer Computer Science?

Yes. Computer Science is one of the programmes highlighted in UNICAL’s academic information.

Can I change my course after choosing UNICAL?

Course and institution changes are subject to JAMB and university procedures. Candidates should follow the current instructions from JAMB and UNICAL rather than relying on unofficial advice.