The Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) in Imo State is one of Nigeria’s federal universities of technology.
It admits students into programmes in engineering, agriculture, the sciences, environmental design, health technology, computing and management technology.
Admission depends on three things:
A UTME score at or above the university’s minimum, a post-UTME or screening result, and the departmental cut-off mark set for the chosen programme.
This article explains each of these and lists the courses by school with the cut-off ranges that apply for the 2026/2027 admission session.
FUTO JAMB Cut-Off Mark for 2026/2027
FUTO
Sets a general minimum UTME score of 150 for application.
Programmes in higher demand require more, and the minimum falls into three bands:
150: the general minimum, which applies to many programmes in agriculture, the biological and physical sciences, and management technology.
170: applies to more competitive programmes such as Computer Science and Science Laboratory Technology.
200: applies to the most selective programmes, such as Medicine and Surgery.
A score at the minimum only qualifies a candidate to apply.
Admission lists are filled from the highest aggregate scores downward, so candidates in popular programmes usually need scores well above the minimum.
Published figures for individual courses vary slightly from one listing to another, and the university can revise them during the session, so candidates should confirm the final figure for their course on the official admission portal before choosing it.
Courses Offered in FUTO and Their Cut-Off Marks
FUTO organises its undergraduate programmes into schools. The ranges given for each school below are indicative, and a specific course can sit above or below its range in a given year.
Agriculture and Agricultural Technology (typical minimum: 150–170)
Programmes in this school cover crop production, animal husbandry, farm economics, soil management and food processing.
They include Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Extension, Animal Science, Crop Science and Technology, Food Science and Technology, Soil Science, and Fisheries and Aquaculture.
These sit at the lower end of the cut-off scale, mostly at the 150 minimum. Candidates apply with Biology or Agricultural Science and Chemistry, depending on the programme.
Food Science and Technology and Fisheries and Aquaculture attract more applicants than the others and tend to close at higher scores.
Engineering and Engineering Technology (typical minimum: 170–200)
Engineering is FUTO’s most recognised area of study and the most competitive after the health programmes.
The school offers civil, mechanical, electrical and electronics, chemical, petroleum, agricultural, food, materials and metallurgical, and polymer and textile engineering. Minimum scores here run from 170 upward, and Electrical/Electronics, Mechanical, Civil and Petroleum Engineering usually draw the largest applicant pools.
A candidate with a score near the minimum faces strong competition in these programmes and should consider a related engineering course with fewer applicants.
Biological Sciences (typical minimum: 150–180)
Biochemistry, Biology, Biotechnology and Microbiology make up this school. Cut-off marks fall between 150 and 180. Biochemistry and Microbiology are the more subscribed programmes, and their graduates move into laboratory work, pharmaceuticals, food processing and research.
Environmental Sciences (typical minimum: 150–180)
This school covers the built and natural environment, with programmes in Architecture, Building Technology, Estate Management, Quantity Surveying, Surveying and Geoinformatics, and Urban and Regional Planning. Architecture is the most selective and usually requires a higher score than the others.
Most of the remaining programmes are accessible from the 150 to 170 range, though demand pushes the final admission mark higher.
Health Technology (typical minimum: 170–200)
Medical Laboratory Science, Public Health Technology, Environmental Health Science and Biomedical Technology fall under health technology.
Medical programmes sit at the top of the cut-off scale, with Medicine and Surgery at 200 for candidates who are considered for it.
Candidates for health programmes need strong results in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
Information and Communication Technology (typical minimum: 170–190)
Computer Science is fixed at a minimum of 170, and related programmes such as Cyber Security, Information Technology and Software Engineering fall in a similar range.
Interest in computing keeps demand high, so the effective admission mark is often higher than the published minimum.
Physical Sciences (typical minimum: 150–170)
Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics, Industrial Chemistry and Science Laboratory Technology belong to this school.
Science Laboratory Technology is set at 170, and most of the others run from 150 to 170.
These programmes are a common alternative for candidates whose scores fall short of engineering or computing requirements, since the foundation subjects overlap.
Management Technology (typical minimum: 150–170)
Business Administration, Project Management Technology and Logistics and Transport Technology combine management training with a technology focus.
They generally require the 150 minimum, although Logistics and Transport Technology and Project Management attract more interest than other options in the school.
JAMB Cut-Off Mark vs Departmental Cut-Off Mark
The JAMB cut-off mark and the departmental cut-off mark are two separate thresholds.
The JAMB figure is the minimum UTME score that allows a candidate to choose FUTO and a given programme.
The departmental cut-off mark is the final benchmark a candidate must reach to be admitted, and it is determined after screening, once the number of applicants and available places in each programme are known.
The departmental mark is calculated from a combined score that includes UTME performance and post-UTME screening performance.
It differs by programme and changes each year. Highly competitive programmes produce higher departmental marks, while programmes with fewer applicants produce lower ones.
A candidate who meets the JAMB minimum but falls below the departmental mark does not receive admission into that programme.
The university may offer a change of course to another programme with available spaces.
FUTO Admission Requirements
Beyond the cut-off mark, candidates for undergraduate admission through UTME need the following:
A minimum of five O’level credit passes, including English Language and Mathematics, in not more than two sittings.
The other credits must match the chosen programme.
A UTME score at or above the programme’s minimum, with the correct subject combination.
FUTO selected as the first choice institution during UTME registration, since the university prioritises candidates who choose it first.
Registration and participation in the university’s post-UTME screening exercise.
Direct entry applicants need qualifications such as A’level results, an OND, an NCE or an equivalent certificate with grades acceptable for the programme, and they register for a separate direct entry screening.
FUTO Subject Combinations for All Courses
Each programme has its own UTME subject combination, and a wrong combination disqualifies a candidate regardless of score.
In general, engineering and physical science programmes require English Language, Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. Agricultural and biological programmes use Biology and Chemistry, often with Physics or Mathematics.
Management programmes usually combine Mathematics with Economics or other relevant subjects. The current JAMB brochure gives the exact combination for every course and should be checked before registration.
How to Improve Admission Chances
Choose a course whose cut-off mark matches the realistic UTME score instead of the most popular programme.
Select FUTO as the first choice institution and the intended course as the first choice course.
Prepare for post-UTME screening, which carries weight in the aggregate score.
Keep a second option in a related field with a lower cut-off mark in case the first choice closes above the candidate’s score.
Check the admission portal and official announcements for updated cut-off marks, screening dates and supplementary admission lists.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the general JAMB cut-off mark for FUTO in 2026/2027?
The general minimum UTME score is 150. Several programmes require 170, and the most selective, such as Medicine and Surgery, require 200.
What is the cut-off mark for Computer Science in FUTO?
The minimum UTME score for Computer Science is 170. The mark at which admission closes is usually higher because of the number of applicants.
Is the JAMB cut-off mark the same as the departmental cut-off mark?
No. The JAMB cut-off mark allows a candidate to apply. The departmental cut-off mark is set after screening and decides who is admitted.
Can a candidate with 150 get admission into FUTO?
Yes, in programmes with a 150 minimum and lower demand, provided the candidate also passes screening and meets the departmental mark. Engineering, health and computing programmes require higher scores.
Can the cut-off marks change?
Yes. The university can adjust figures during the admission session, so candidates should verify the current mark on the official admission portal.