JAMB Subject Combination for 2027 by Course
How the JAMB four-subject rule works, with a table of common course combinations, the science, arts and commercial splits, and where to confirm yours.
ExamPadi Editorial · Updated · 7 min read
Picking the right subjects is the first real decision in your JAMB journey, and it is also the easiest one to get wrong. A candidate who writes a brilliant UTME in the wrong four subjects can end up unable to use the score for the course they want. This guide explains the rule, shows common combinations in a table, and tells you exactly where to confirm yours.
How the four-subject rule works
The UTME is a computer-based test in which you answer questions in four subjects. Use of English is compulsory for everyone. The other three are chosen to fit your course, so a medical applicant leans on the sciences while a law applicant leans on arts and social science subjects.
Your course and your subjects must match. The match is defined by JAMB in its brochure, and each university can then add its own demands, such as particular O'level credits. BusinessDay's 2026 list carries a blunt warning: choosing the wrong subjects can disqualify you from the course you want.
A useful way to think about it: JAMB decides which UTME subjects count for a course, the university decides who among the qualified candidates gets in.
Common course combinations (2026 list)
The table below is a summary of the 2026 combinations reported by BusinessDay, rewritten in our own words. Every row includes Use of English. Treat it as a guide and confirm in the brochure, because JAMB can update combinations each year.
| Course | Use of English plus |
|---|---|
| Medicine and Surgery | Biology, Physics, Chemistry |
| Nursing | Physics, Biology, Chemistry |
| Pharmacy | Biology, Physics, Chemistry |
| Computer Science | Mathematics, Physics, and one of Biology, Chemistry, Agricultural Science, Economics or Geography |
| Civil, Electrical or Mechanical Engineering | Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry |
| Architecture | Physics, Mathematics, and one of Chemistry, Geography, Art, Biology or Economics |
| Law | Literature in English, and two of Economics, Government, History |
| Mass Communication | Literature in English, and two of Economics, Government, History |
| Economics, Accounting, Business Administration | Mathematics, Economics, and one of Government, History, Geography, Literature, French, CRK or Islamic Studies |
| Political Science | Government or History, and two of Economics, Geography, Literature |
| Psychology or Sociology | Any three Arts or Social Science subjects |
| Estate Management | Mathematics and two of Economics, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Geography |
One honest caution on Law. Published lists for Law have not always agreed with each other, and some university pages use different wording. For this course in particular, read the JAMB brochure and your target university's page before you register.
Science, arts and commercial splits
Science courses (Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, engineering, most laboratory sciences) are built on Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics. Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy use the three sciences without Mathematics; engineering swaps Biology for Mathematics.
Arts courses (Law, Mass Communication, English, Theatre Arts) lean on Literature in English, Government, History and religious studies.
Commercial and social science courses (Economics, Accounting, Business Administration, Political Science) are anchored by Economics and Mathematics, with Government or Geography as the flexible fourth.
If you are torn between two courses in different groups, do not try to cover both in one registration. Pick the course you most want, register for that combination, and use JAMB's change-of-course process later if you must. Our guide on how JAMB change of course works explains that fallback.
How to confirm your combination
- Open JAMB's brochure on IBASS and find your exact course name, not just a similar one.
- Open your target university's admission page and note any extra O'level subject requirements.
- Cross-check the course name on the e-PIN or profile screens before you pay anything.
- If anything disagrees, trust JAMB and the university over blogs, including this one.
For detail on the biggest courses, see our pages on the subject combination for Medicine, for Law and for Nursing.
Mistakes students make when choosing
Most combination problems are avoidable, and they tend to follow the same patterns:
- Choosing subjects you like instead of subjects the course accepts. Enjoying a subject is a good reason to study it, but the brochure decides whether it counts.
- Copying a friend's combination. Two courses with similar names can have different requirements, so match your exact course name.
- Relying on a social media post. Lists change, and a post from two years ago may be wrong now.
- Forgetting the university's own O'level rules. Your UTME subjects and your O'level credits are separate checks.
- Leaving it late. Registration windows are short. Decide your course and subjects before the window opens, and ask a teacher or counsellor to review your choice.
A calm ten-minute check of your course, your four subjects and your target school's page can save you a year.
Practise those four subjects
Once your four subjects are fixed, your preparation becomes simple: spread your practice across them according to how far you are from your target. Our guide on what JAMB score you need for admission helps you choose that target, and how to pass JAMB gives a 90-day plan.
ExamPadi has 46,182 practice questions across JAMB, WAEC, NECO and NABTEB, with free daily practice and a Pro tier for full timed mocks. Start with JAMB English since everyone writes it, then go to the other three from your own combination, for example Biology, Physics or Economics.
Nothing here guarantees admission. It only makes sure your hard work is pointed at the right course.
Practise with real past questions and worked answers
Practise your four JAMB subjects freeFrequently asked questions
How many subjects do I write in JAMB UTME?
Four. Use of English is compulsory for every candidate, and you add three subjects that match your course. The 2026 combinations reported by BusinessDay all follow this pattern.
What happens if I choose the wrong JAMB subject combination?
Your result may not count for the course you want. Fixing it before the exam is far easier than after it, so check the JAMB brochure first. Changes are handled through JAMB's own portal, never through a third party.
Where is the official list of subject combinations?
In JAMB's Integrated Brochure and Syllabus System (IBASS) at ibass.jamb.gov.ng. Universities may also add their own O'level and subject requirements, so read your target school's admission page too.
Is the 2027 combination different from 2026?
JAMB has not published 2027 brochure details that we could find as of 29 October 2026. The table below uses the 2026 combinations, so confirm against the 2027 brochure once JAMB releases it.