In this guide, we’ll provide you with the JAMB and WAEC subject combinations for History.

In addition to that, we have answers to some of the frequently asked questions regarding obtaining a degree in History.

First of all, you must take note that the course comes in different variations. Some universities offer History along with Diplomatic Studies, Strategic Studies, or International Studies. In this post, we’ll cover the requirements for the variations above.

Generally, Nigerian universities have similar O’level (WAEC, NECO, etc.) and JAMB UTME requirements for studying History.

Notwithstanding, it remains imperative to take note of the minor differences before completing your JAMB registration.

Irrespective of the course you wish to study, most Nigerian Universities require at least 5 credit passes in O’level, to include English Language and 4 other relevant subjects.

Requirements for Studying History at Nigerian universities

‘O’ level subject combination (WAEC, NECO, etc.)

To be eligible for admission to study History, you must score at least 5 SSCE credit passes, including History and English Language together with three other Arts and/or Social Science subjects.

In other words, the NABTEB, NECO or WAEC subject combination for History is English Language, History, plus any 3 of Religious Studies, Geography, Economics, History, Government, Civic Education or other relevant subjects.

However, students who wish to study History and International Studies, History & Diplomacy, or History and Diplomatic Studies are advised to have at least five SSCE credit passes to include English Language, Geography, Government/History.

Your overall grade must not stand below five credits in at most 2 sittings combined.

Special considerations for the O’level requirements

• The University of Lagos requires five O/Level Credit passes in English Language, Mathematics, History/Government and any other two Arts subjects from Literature-in-English, CRS/IRS, Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo, Civic Education.
• SAU and UNIBEN require credit passes in English, History/Government, and one other Art subject.
• OOU does not accept Social Science subjects. Candidates must fulfill UTME requirements.
• Imo State University, UNIPORT, NDU & DELSU accept Government in lieu of History.
• UNN, ABU & BABCOCK require Five ‘O’ level credits in English Language, History/Govt. plus any three other subjects.
• UNIBADAN accepts Five ‘O’ level credits at ONE sitting or Six ‘O’ level credit at TWO sittings to include English Language, History, Government, and any other subject from Arts and Social Science. The sixth could be from Science.
• IGBINEDION requires at least a pass in Mathematics. ‘A’ level Government is acceptable in lieu of ‘O’ level Government.
• UMYUK requires five credit passes at SSCE (or its equivalent) in English Language, one of History or Government, any three subjects from Arts or Social Science and a credit pass in Mathematics in not more than two sittings.
• UNILORIN requires Five ‘O’ level credits in English Language, History/Govt. plus any three other Arts/Social Science subjects.
• FED-LOKOJA and UNN accept credit in Government in lieu of History and three other Arts or Social Science subjects.
• OAU requires five “O” level credit passes to include History and English Language plus one Arts subject; and any other two subjects from Arts or Social Sciences. Accepts Government in lieu of History.
• ABU requires Five ‘O’ level credit passes to include History or Government, English Language and three other subjects in Arts or Social Science.
• KASU accepts Government in lieu of History.
• Benue State University requires credit passes in History/Government.
• NDA requires credit passes in English Language, Mathematics, History and two other subjects from Commerce, Geography, Economics, French, Arabic, Account, and Government.
• FED-LAFIA requires credit passes in English Language, Mathematics, History/Government and any other relevant subjects.
• REDEEMER’S accept a pass in Mathematics.
• UNIKINGS requires at least a pass in Mathematics.
• Kogi State University, FED-WUKARI, DELSU and UNIUYO credit pass in Geography is not compulsory but accept any three other Arts or Social Science subjects.
• IBADAN and REDEEMER’S accept a pass in Mathematics.
• AUE and EBSU require a credit pass in Mathematics
• AAU requires History and at least a pass in Science subject.
• Plateau State University, UNIOSUN, and UNIJOS – credit in Geography is not compulsory.
• BOWEN and AJAYI require credit passes must include English Language, History or Government, and any other three subjects Arts or Social Science subjects. Geography is not compulsory.
• BIU requires five ‘O; level credit passes in English Language, Government/History, another Arts subject and any other two Arts or Social Science subjects
• EKSU requires History, one Arts and any other subject.
• The University of Port Harcourt requires Five O’ level subject to include English language and Government
• REDEEMERS requires at least a pass in Mathematics
• UNIOSUN requires Five ‘O’ Level Credit passes to include English language, Government or History or any other social sciences and Arts subjects in SSCE.
• NDU requires five ‘O’ level credit passes in English, History or Government and any other three subjects, two of which must be Art subjects.
• REDEEMER’S requires Five ‘O’ level credit passes to include English Language, Government/ History, two other Arts or Social Science subjects and at least a pass in Mathematics.
• JABU requires five ‘O’ level credit passes in Government or History and any other Arts or Social Science subjects including a pass in Mathematics
• KWASU and ILORIN require Five ‘O’ level credit passes in English Language, History/Govt. plus any three others Arts or Social Science subjects.
• UNIUYO requires credit passes in History or Government, English Language and any two of the following: Literature, Economics, Geography, and French.
• SLUK – A credit pass in Geography shall not be compulsory but accepts any three Arts or Social Science subjects.
• NDU requires at least five credit passes English, History or Government and any other three subjects, two of which must be Art subjects in not more than two sittings.
• AAUA requires credit passes in History or Government, English Language, Mathematics and any two subjects from the arts or social sciences.
• CHRISTOPHER requires five O’ level credit passes at not more than two sittings to include English Language, History/Government.
• Taraba State University requires five ‘SSCE credit passes to include English Language and any one of Religious Studies, Economics and History.

JAMB UTME subject combination

In addition to the compulsory Use Of English, candidates who wish to study History at any Nigerian University must register for History and two other subjects from Arts or Social Science.

As for applicants of History and Diplomatic Studies, History & Diplomacy or History and International Studies, you are free to register for either Government or History in the UTME.

Special consideration for JAMB UTME subject combination

• UNILAG requires History/Government and any other two subjects from Arts (or one from Arts and one from Social Sciences).
• OAU and OOU require History and any two Arts subjects.
• UNIZIK requires Lit. in English, History/Government and any other Arts or Social Science subject.
• NDU require English Language, Govt./History plus any other two subjects.
• ABUJA, FED-LOKOJA, ABSU, PHC & DELSU accept Government in lieu of History.
• IGBINEDION requires Government/History plus any two of Economics, Literature in English, Geography and French.
• BENIN accepts History or Government, one Arts subject and any other subject.
• SAU and ILORIN accept Government in lieu of History.
• ABU requires History or Government and any other two subjects from Arts and Social Sciences.
• BSU accepts Government in lieu of History.
• TSUJ accepts Hausa and any two relevant Arts or Social Science subjects.
• FED-LAFIA requires CRK/IRS and any other relevant subject.
• UNN accepts History or Government and two other Arts or Social Science subjects.
• Taraba State University requires History/Government, Religious Studies and any two other subjects.

Direct Entry Requirement (A’Level)

To gain admission to study History through Direct Entry, you need to score at least two ‘A’ level passes in History and any other related subjects.

History & International Studies/History & Diplomatic Studies/History & Diplomacy applicants can choose between History & Government.

Special considerations and waivers for Direct Entry Students

• UDU, UYO, OOU and MAIDUGURI accept NCE at merit pass level in relevant subjects. (NAU requires two ‘A’ level passes in History and any other related subject.)
• GSU accepts NCE merit in History as Major subject.
• IMSU – No Direct Entry
• DELSU require NCE (merit), HSC or GCE ‘A’ level in History/Govt. and at least one of Econs, Literaturein-English, Geography or any other related subject
• JOS accepts NCE Hist/Govt major
• ABU accepts Two ‘A’ level papers including History at IJMB or NCE. General English/Use of English at NCE satisfies’ O’ level English requirement.
• IGBINEDION as in Political Science.
• ABUJA accepts ND (Lower credit) with UTME requirements plus two years post qualification.
• OOU requires ‘A’ level passes in History, Government and Economics.
• BENIN accepts ‘A’ level pass in Government in lieu of History, NCE (credit) in History; Government or Social Studies.
• SAU accepts two ‘A’ level passes in History or Government, credit passes in NCE in relevant subjects.
• IBADAN accepts two ‘A’ level/NCE passes in History and any other related subjects.
• UNN requires O’ level with a minimum of five credits which must include History or Government, English Language, and a science subject.
• ABUJA accepts: A minimum of 10 points in NCE or Upper credit in National Diploma in addition to O’ Level requirements OR two A Level credit passes including History or Government and one other Arts subject.
• LAGOS requires very good passes in three (3) JUPEB/A-LEVEL subjects: History and/or Government and any two (2) or one (1) of Igbo, Yoruba, CRS,IRS, Lit-in-English, French, Music and Fine Arts.
• CALABAR accepts NCE (credit) in History/Government/Social Studies. Does not accept IJMB.
• AJAYI accepts NCE/ND (merit passes in History and Government.
• LASU accepts
  • ‘A’ Level Passes in History/Government OR NCE (Merit Passes) in History/Government, Political Science, Social Studies, ND in a Related Discipline (Upper Credit), two Passes at the GCE/HSC ‘A’ Level, Five ‘O’ Level credit Passes in other subjects at the SSCE or its equivalent which must include History or Government.
  • ND (Upper Credit ) in a related discipline.
• BENIN requires two ‘A’ passes in GCE or HSC or their recognised equivalent in History/Government any other related subject: it accepts NCE Credit level pass in History, Government or Social Studies.
• UNIZIK accepts NCE with at least a merit pass in History
• AJAYI accepts two ‘A’ level passes (or equivalents) in History or Government plus three other ‘O’ level credit passes.
• LASU requires five (5) ‘O’ Level Credit Passes in SSCE/NECO OR GCE at not more than two sittings to include: English Language and History or Government plus a good performance in the UTME which must include English, History or Government.
• AL-HIKMAH accepts two A’ level passes to include History or Government and any other related subject.
• EKSU requires another Art subject apart from History/Government.
• UNIOSUN requires ‘A’ level passes in History or Government. Accepts NCE, one of which must be History combination.
• EBSU accepts HND, NCE and ND with a minimum of Merit and Upper credits respectively in relevant fields.
• KWASU requires three A’ level passes in relevant subjects.
• ILORIN accepts:
  • Government in lieu of History
  • NCE (Merit Pass) in History and or Government/Political Science as major and any other Arts or Social Science Subject.
  • NCE Social Studies Double major with at least a merit pass.
  • National Diploma (Merit) in Administrative Management, Conflict Resolution, Law, Mass Communication, Public Administration, Industrial Relations and Social Work and Development Studies with at least merit pass.
• MCPHERSON accepts
• NCE (merit) in History/Government/Social Studies.
• ND (Upper) credit in Mass Communication/ Journalism, History, Public Administration, Social Works, English & Communication, and Linguistics Studies.
• JUPEB/IJMB (A’ level) or equivalent in related discipline.
• UYO accepts
  • Passes in two A Level subjects including History or Government.
  • NCE with merits in 3 subjects including History or Government.
• AAUA accepts
  • Passes in two A Level subjects including History or Government.
  • NCE with merits in 3 subjects including History or Government.
  • Diploma in International History and Strategic Studies or other qualifications recognized by the University.
• CHRISTOPHER accepts HND, ND or NCE with credit passes in the relevant subjects
• TSUJ accepts NCE in relevant subjects or Bachelors’s Degree in any other course from recognized institutions.

JAMB cut off mark for History

In general, Nigerian Universities allow students to partake in their Post UTME for History if they score at least 180 in the JAMB UTME.

Universities where you can study History, plus other options

History

The following Nigerian universities offer simply History, as listed on the JAMB brochure:

1. Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
2. University of Abuja, Gwagwalada
3. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli
4. Yobe State University, Damaturu
5. Bauchi State University, Gadau
6. Bayero University, Kano
7. University of Benin (UNIBEN)
8. Benue State University, Makurdi
9. Federal University, Lafia, Nasarawa State
10. Federal University, Dutsin-Ma, Katsina (FUDUSOK)
11. Federal University, Ndifu-Alike, Ebonyi State (FUNAI)
12. Federal University, Lokoja, Kogi State (FULOKOJA)
13. Gombe State University, Gombe
14. University of Ibadan (UI)
15. Kaduna State University, Kaduna (KASU)
16. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai (IBBU)
17. Legacy University, Okija Anambra State
18. University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID)
19. Nasarawa State University Keffi (NSUK)
20. Nigerian Defence Academy Kaduna (NDA)
21. Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (OAU)
22. Samuel Adegboyega University, Ogwa
23. Sokoto State University
24. Usumanu Danfodiyo University (UDUSOK)
25. Kings University, Ode Omu (UNIKINGS)
26. Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka (UNIZIK)
27. Umar Musa Yar’ Adua University Katsina (UMYU)
28. University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN)

History and Strategic Studies

The following universities offer History & Strategic Studies:

• University of Lagos (UNILAG)
• Redeemer’s University, Mowe

History and International Studies

The following Nigerian Universities offer the course as History and International Studies:

1. Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma
2. Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba
3. Abia State University, Uturu
4. Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti – Ekiti State
5. Ajayi Crowther University, Ibadan (ACU)
6. Akwa Ibom State University of Technology, Uyo
7. Adeleke University Ede (AUE)
8. Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo
9. Bowen University, Iwo
10. University of Calabar (UNICAL)
11. Delta State University, Abraka (DELSU)
12. Federal University, Birnin Kebbi (FUBK)
13. Federal University Gashua, Yobe Umar Suleiman College of Education, Gashua
14. Federal University, Gusau Zamfara (FUGUS)
15. Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa (FUOTUOKE)
16. Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State
17. Godfrey Okoye University, Ugwuomu-Nike – Enugu State
18. Gregory University, Uturu
19. Imo State University, Owerri (IMSU)
20. University of Ilorin (UNILORIN)
21. Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Ikeji-Arakeji
22. Sule Lamido University, Kafin Hausa, Jigawa (SLU)
23. University of Jos (UNIJOS)
24. Kogi State University Anyigba
25. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai (IBBU)
26. Lagos State University, Ojo (LASU)
27. Northwest University Kano (NWU)
28. Plateau State University Bokkos (PLASU)
29. Nigeria Police Academy Wudil
30. Edo University Iyamo
31. Ekiti State University
32. Renaissance University, Enugu
33. Ritman University, Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom
34. Hezekiah University, Umudi
35. Osun State University Osogbo (UNIOSUN)
36. University of Uyo
37. Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma
38. University of Jos

History and Diplomatic Studies

The following Nigerian Universities offer History and Diplomatic Studies:

1. Anchor University Ayobo Lagos State
2. Caleb University, Lagos
3. Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin
4. Christopher University Mowe
5. Clifford University Owerrinta Abia State
6. Coal City University Enugu State
7. Crown Hill University Eiyenkorin, Kwara State
8. Federal University, Kashere, Gombe State (FUKASHERE)
9. Federal University, Wukari, Taraba State (FUWUKARI)
10. Kola Daisi University Ibadan, Oyo State
11. Mcpherson University, Seriki Sotayo, Ajebo
12. Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye
13. University of Port-Harcourt (UNIPORT)
14. UMMIT

In addition to the universities above, Taraba State University offers History & Archaeology while Niger Delta University offers History and Diplomacy.

What does a degree in History mean for you?

It is an academic discipline that trains students to investigate the past, assess primary sources, and craft evidence-based arguments.

Frequently asked questions

Final note

We advise you to check the latest JAMB brochure for more information, as the Universities reserve the right to alter their requirements for studying History.