The University of Calabar (UNICAL) is a federal university located in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. The university was established in 1975 by the Federal Government of Nigeria as part of the country’s efforts to expand access to higher education and promote academic excellence.

UNICAL was originally a campus of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, before it became an independent university in 1975. Since its establishment, the university has grown into one of Nigeria’s prominent higher institutions, offering undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in diverse fields such as sciences, social sciences, humanities, education, engineering, medicine, and management sciences.

The university is known for its strong research culture, academic programmes, and contributions to national development.

Location

University of Calabar
Calabar
Cross River State
Nigeria

Faculties / Colleges / Schools

The University of Calabar operates several faculties and academic units including:

• Faculty of Agriculture

• Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences

• Faculty of Arts

• Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences

• Faculty of Biological Sciences

• Faculty of Education

• Faculty of Engineering and Technology

• Faculty of Environmental Sciences

• Faculty of Law

• Faculty of Management Sciences

• Faculty of Pharmacy

• Faculty of Physical Sciences

• Faculty of Social Sciences

• Faculty of Dentistry

• Faculty of Clinical Sciences

List of Courses Offered by University of Calabar (UNICAL)

Some of the major undergraduate programmes offered at UNICAL include:

• Accounting

• Adult Education

• Agricultural Economics

• Agricultural Extension and Rural Sociology

• Animal Science

• Architecture

• Banking and Finance

• Biochemistry

• Botany

• Business Management

• Chemistry

• Computer Science

• Dentistry

• Economics

• Education and Biology

• Education and Chemistry

• Education and English

• Electrical and Electronics Engineering

• English and Literary Studies

• Environmental Protection and Resources Management

• Geography and Environmental Science

• Geology

• Guidance and Counselling

• History and International Studies

• Human Anatomy

• Human Physiology

• Law

• Library and Information Science

• Linguistics and Communication Studies

• Mathematics

• Mechanical Engineering

• Medicine and Surgery

• Microbiology

• Nursing Science

• Pharmacy

• Physics

• Political Science

• Public Administration

• Sociology

• Statistics

• Theatre Arts

• Zoology

Admission Requirements

Undergraduate Admission

• Candidates must sit for the UTME conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

• Applicants must obtain at least five O’Level credits, including English Language and Mathematics, in relevant subjects.

• Candidates must choose the University of Calabar as their preferred institution during UTME registration.

• Applicants must participate in the UNICAL Post-UTME screening exercise conducted by the university.

Admissions portal
https://www.unical.edu.ng/admissions.php

Direct Entry Admission

Candidates with advanced qualifications such as ND, HND, NCE, IJMB, or equivalent may apply through the JAMB Direct Entry admission process into appropriate levels of undergraduate programmes.

Postgraduate Admission

The University of Calabar offers postgraduate programmes including Postgraduate Diploma (PGD), Master’s degrees (MSc), and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) across many faculties and departments.

Admission Lists

UNICAL Admission List is Out 2026/2027

The University of Calabar (UNICAL) has released its admission list for the 2026/2027 academic session. Candidates who participated in the Post UTME screening exercise can now check their admission status to know if they have been offered provisional admission into their selected degree programmes.

The admission status is currently available through the JAMB CAPS portal. Candidates should log in to their JAMB profiles, select Check Admission Status, access CAPS, and open the Admission Status section to view the response attached to their application. More details on checking CAPS can be found in the JAMB CAPS admission guide.

Candidates who see “Admission Offered” can proceed to accept or reject the admission offer through the approved JAMB process. Other responses such as “Admission in Progress,” “Recommended,” or “Pending” mean the application is still being processed, while “Not Admitted” indicates that an admission offer has not been given at that time.

Students offered admission are advised to complete the acceptance process before printing their JAMB admission letter. Candidates checking CAPS with a mobile phone who experience difficulty accessing the full page may need to enable the desktop site option on their browser. Those whose status is not yet final should continue checking JAMB CAPS for updates.

School Fees

The last known school fees for undergraduate students vary depending on programme and level of study.

• Fresh students: approximately ₦140,000 – ₦180,000 per session depending on faculty and programme.

• Returning students: approximately ₦120,000 – ₦150,000 per session.

Please check School Website or Latest News Below for updated info.

Cut-off Mark

The last known minimum JAMB cut-off mark is around 160 for eligibility to participate in the UNICAL admission screening exercise. Competitive programmes such as Medicine, Law, and Pharmacy may require higher scores.

Please check School Website or Latest News Below for updated info.

Hostel / Accommodation

The university provides on-campus hostel accommodation for students.

The last known hostel accommodation fees range between ₦35,000 – ₦60,000 per session depending on hostel type and availability. Hostel allocation is usually completed through the student portal after payment of the required fees.

Please check School Website or Latest News Below for updated info.

Notice Board

UNICAL Resumption Notice for Students Who Suspended Studies in 2025/2026

The University of Calabar (UNICAL), through the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), has issued a notice to students who suspended their studies during the 2025/2026 academic session and are expected to resume in the 2026/2027 session.

The university requires all affected students to formally apply for Resumption of Studies before returning to academic activities. Students who previously obtained approval for suspension are therefore expected to complete the required resumption process ahead of the new academic session.

UNICAL also stated that affected students must obtain an official Approval Letter for Resumption of Studies. The letter will be required as evidence of approval when completing course registration for the 2026/2027 academic session.

Students concerned are advised to comply with the directive and obtain the required approval before attempting to register for the new session. The university urged all affected students to treat the process as important to avoid difficulties with their academic registration.

Notable Alumni

Some notable alumni of the University of Calabar include:

• Godswill Obot Akpabio – Nigerian lawyer and politician; President of the Nigerian Senate and former Governor of Akwa Ibom State.
• Chile Eboe-Osuji – Nigerian-Canadian jurist and former President of the International Criminal Court.
• Okezie Victor Ikpeazu – Nigerian politician and former Governor of Abia State.
• Bassey Edet Otu – Nigerian politician and Governor of Cross River State.
• Anthony Ayine – Nigerian accountant and former Auditor-General for the Federation.
• Reuben Abati – Nigerian journalist, lawyer, columnist and former presidential spokesperson.
• Betta Edu – Nigerian physician and public health specialist who has also served in public office.
• Jewel Howard-Taylor – Liberian politician, former Senator and former Vice President of Liberia.
• John Odey – Nigerian politician and former Minister of Environment.
• Victor Ndoma-Egba – Nigerian lawyer, politician and former Senator representing Cross River Central.
• Kate Henshaw – Nigerian actress and television personality.
• Ini Edo – Nigerian actress, filmmaker and producer.
• Uche Jombo – Nigerian actress, filmmaker and screenwriter.
• Stephanie Linus – Nigerian actress, filmmaker and women’s health advocate.
• Iyanya (Iyanya Onoyom Mbuk) – Nigerian singer, songwriter and performer.
• Alexx Ekubo – Nigerian actor and model.
• Keppy Ekpenyong – Nigerian actor and screenwriter.
• Eve Esin – Nigerian actress.
• Reuben Abati – Nigerian journalist, lawyer and writer.
• Biko Agozino – Nigerian criminologist, academic and author.
• Dorothy Ufot – Nigerian lawyer and arbitrator.
• Benjamin Kalu – Nigerian lawyer and politician, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.
• Osita Izunaso – Nigerian politician and Senator representing Imo West Senatorial District.
• John James Akpan Udo-Edehe – Nigerian politician and former Minister of State for the Niger Delta.
• Florence Banku Obi – Nigerian academic, professor and former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar.
• Aniebiet Inyang Ntui – Nigerian professor and library/information science scholar.

Official Website/Login Portal Links

Official Website
https://www.unical.edu.ng/

Admissions Portal
https://www.unical.edu.ng/admissions.php

Post-UTME Portal
https://myunical.edu.ng/post-utme/

Online Learning Portal
https://unicalonline.edu.ng/

Contact Information

University of Calabar
Calabar
Cross River State
Nigeria

Phone: +234-803-123-4567 (last known)

Email: info@unical.edu.ng (last known)

Please check School Website or Latest News Below for updated info.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Where is the University of Calabar located?

The university is located in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.

When was UNICAL established?

The University of Calabar was established in 1975.

What courses are offered at UNICAL?

UNICAL offers programmes in agriculture, engineering, sciences, law, management sciences, humanities, social sciences, medicine, and education.

Does UNICAL conduct Post-UTME screening?

Yes. Candidates seeking admission must participate in the UNICAL Post-UTME screening exercise.

What is the cut-off mark for UNICAL?

The last known minimum JAMB cut-off mark is around 160. Please check School Website or Latest News Below for updated info.