JAMB Subject Combination for Pharmacy
The JAMB UTME subject combination for Pharmacy is Use of English, Biology, Chemistry and Physics. See why each matters and how to avoid costly mistakes.
ExamPadi Editorial · Updated · 6 min read
Pharmacy sits among the health-science courses that many candidates aim for, and it shares its UTME combination with Medicine and Nursing. The set listed for the 2026 UTME is:
Use of English, Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
BusinessDay lists all four as compulsory for Pharmacy. Myschoolnews, which attributes its 2026 list to JAMB, gives the same four. We could not open the JAMB brochure directly, so check it, and your target university's page, before you register.
The combination at a glance
| Slot | Subject | Link to the course |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Use of English | Compulsory for every candidate; accuracy in language matters when reading drug information |
| 2 | Biology | How the body works and how organisms cause disease |
| 3 | Chemistry | The chemistry of drugs, solutions and reactions |
| 4 | Physics | Measurement, energy and the physical behaviour of substances |
The UTME is a computer-based test with four subjects and a score out of 400.
One combination, three courses
If you are comparing Pharmacy, Medicine and Nursing, the list above is the same for all three in the 2026 guides we checked. That gives you room: you can prepare once and decide later. But the courses are not equally easy to get into, and each institution sets its own standards. See the comparison with the Medicine combination and the cut-off mark for Pharmacy page.
Keep in mind that JAMB's list is only the first filter. A university can add its own requirements, so read its admission page for Pharmacy specifically.
Avoid the usual mistakes
Myschoolnews reports that wrong combinations are a leading cause of disqualification. A few rules to protect yourself:
- Write down the four subjects before you go to the registration centre.
- Do not substitute subjects on the advice of an agent. Only the brochure and the institution can tell you what is allowed.
- Recheck your slip and keep a copy.
- Use the same combination logic across your choices. If your second choice is a different course, check that the same four subjects satisfy it too.
For the general logic of combinations across courses, read our JAMB subject combination guide.
O'level requirements
Your WAEC, NECO or NABTEB result is the other half of eligibility. Institutions set O'level requirements by programme. For Pharmacy, expect English, Mathematics and the sciences to matter, but the exact list and grades vary, so read the school's requirements. We have not found a single published national rule to quote.
How to prepare the four subjects
The proposed UTME window for 2027 is 15 to 25 March, which is 137 days from 29 October 2026. It is provisional, so keep an eye on the JAMB 2027 UTME date and timetable page. A balanced plan:
- Chemistry first, but not only. It is the subject most tied to the course, so give it regular time. Do not let it crowd out the other three.
- Biology and Physics need steady topic-by-topic practice. Use short daily sessions rather than one long weekly block.
- Use of English rewards reading widely and practising comprehension and lexis.
- Four-subject timed papers in the final weeks, so that the pace feels normal.
Always use the official JAMB syllabus as your checklist for each subject.
What about the score?
JAMB's national minimum for universities is 150 for 2026/2027, but schools can set higher requirements for Pharmacy. Published figures differ by school, so use the institution's own notice. Our cut-off mark for Pharmacy post explains how to read them.
Topic areas to cover in each subject
Use the official JAMB syllabus as your checklist. As a rough guide, broad areas you are likely to meet are:
| Subject | Broad areas to expect (confirm in the syllabus) |
|---|---|
| Chemistry | Atomic structure and bonding, acids, bases and salts, rates and equilibrium, organic chemistry |
| Biology | Cells and tissues, nutrition, transport, reproduction, genetics, ecology |
| Physics | Mechanics, heat, waves and light, electricity, modern physics |
| Use of English | Comprehension, vocabulary and structure, summary, oral forms |
A sample weekly split
This is advice, not an official plan.
| Day | Focus |
|---|---|
| Monday | Chemistry topic work |
| Tuesday | Biology topic work |
| Wednesday | Physics topic work |
| Thursday | Use of English and review |
| Friday | Mixed, timed questions across all four |
| Saturday | A longer paper and an error-log review |
| Sunday | Rest |
Questions to ask a school before you apply
- Which UTME subjects and minimum score does it require for the current session?
- What O'level subjects and grades are needed, and how many sittings does it accept?
- Does it run a post-UTME screening, and when?
- Is the programme accredited by the relevant professional body? Ask the school for proof and verify it through official channels.
What the course involves
Pharmacy is a science-heavy programme built on chemistry and biology, with practical lab work. You do not need to know everything about it before you apply, but it helps to talk to a pharmacist or a current student about what a typical week looks like. That conversation can save you from choosing a course for the wrong reasons.
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Practise JAMB Chemistry on ExamPadi, then add Biology, Physics and Use of English.
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Practise JAMB Chemistry freeFrequently asked questions
What is the JAMB subject combination for Pharmacy?
Use of English, Biology, Chemistry and Physics, per guides to JAMB's 2026 combinations.
Is Chemistry the most important subject for Pharmacy?
It carries a lot of weight because pharmacy is about the chemistry of medicines, but all four subjects are listed as compulsory, so you need all of them.
Can I take Mathematics instead of Physics?
The 2026 guides list Physics. Confirm any variation in the JAMB brochure and with your chosen institution.
Where do I check the official combination?
In the JAMB brochure and syllabus on jamb.gov.ng, and in the admission requirements published by the university you choose.