Gombe State University (GSU) has disclosed that demand for admission in the 2026/2027 academic session has far exceeded its available capacity, with more than 13,000 candidates seeking admission into the institution’s 7,000 available slots.
The announcement was made during the official commencement of the university’s admission exercise at a media briefing held in the Senate Chambers and attended by community representatives from the state’s 11 local government areas as well as members of the media.
Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sani Ahmed Yauta, said the admission process would remain highly competitive as the institution seeks to maintain academic standards while ensuring fair access to prospective students.
The university also reaffirmed its compliance with the national minimum admission age of 16 years. However, exceptionally gifted candidates below the age requirement may still be considered under a special admission pathway approved by the Senate.
To qualify under this category, applicants must score at least 380 in the UTME and possess outstanding O’Level results, demonstrating exceptional academic ability beyond normal entry standards.
Professor Yauta noted that competition is particularly intense in professional courses, where available spaces fall far short of the number of applicants. Medicine and Surgery recorded 2,231 applications for just 100 admission slots, while Nursing Science attracted 2,363 candidates competing for 100 spaces. Law received 1,187 applications for 50 places, Computer Science had 1,241 applicants for 200 slots, and Pharmacy recorded 967 candidates vying for 100 spaces.
Given the limited admission opportunities in these programmes, the university advised candidates with moderate UTME scores to consider other viable academic disciplines with better admission prospects.
To ensure equity and inclusiveness, the institution said admissions would be guided by a quota system. Seventy per cent of available spaces will be distributed among the 11 local government areas of Gombe State, while 10 per cent will be allocated based on national merit. Another 10 per cent is reserved for applicants from outside the state, with the remaining 10 per cent set aside for special considerations and exceptional talents.
The university further announced that all admission processes for the 2026/2027 academic session must be completed by October 31, 2026.
While the general UTME cut-off mark remains 150 for most programmes, higher requirements apply to professional courses, with Medicine, Nursing, Law and Pharmacy requiring a minimum score of 200.
Professor Yauta also commended Governor Inuwa Yahaya for supporting the expansion of the university’s infrastructure, saying the improvements would help accommodate future increases in student enrolment.
Over 13,000 Candidates Battle for 7,000 Admission Slots at Gombe Varsity
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