Yes. The University of Calabar runs its own JUPEB programme, and it is one of the main routes into 200 level for students around Calabar. It is usually written as UNICAL-JUPEB. You do not need JAMB for it, and you do not sit Post-UTME. Try free JUPEB past/practice questions.
The programme is a 10-month intensive foundation course. You are taught and tested at the level just under a first-year university student, then you sit the JUPEB examination. Pass it and meet the admission requirements, and you go straight into 200 level.
The three course tracks
UNICAL-JUPEB is split into three tracks. You pick one, and your choice decides the degree courses open to you later.
| Track | What it covers | Where it leads |
|---|---|---|
| Sciences | Theory and practical work in the science subjects | Medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, engineering, computer science, information technology, biotechnology |
| Social / Management Sciences | The basic concepts and principles of social and management sciences, and how to read them | Management science and social science degrees |
| Arts / Humanities | Arts and humanities subjects | Arts and humanities degrees at UNICAL or at any JUPEB partner university |
Pick the track that matches the degree you actually want, not the one your friend is doing. Switching later is not a small thing.
Where the programme can take you
The UNICAL-JUPEB result is not only for UNICAL. It is accepted at JUPEB partner and affiliate universities in Nigeria and abroad, which is why some students from outside Cross River choose it.
Inside UNICAL, successful candidates go into 200 level in places such as the College of Medical Sciences, the Faculty of Law, Engineering, Computing, the Biological Sciences, Management Sciences and the Social Sciences. The receiving faculties are set by the university each session.
What you pay, and when
There are two separate payments, and students often mix them up.
The first is the application fee. You pay it once, online, during registration, and it is not refundable. That is why you should be sure of the programme before you start filling the form.
The second comes after admission. Once you are offered a place, you pay UNICAL school fees for the session like every other student of the university. The application fee does not cover that.
Go to the University of Calabar to start the application and to see the current fee before you pay anything.
How to apply, step by step
- Open the UNICAL-JUPEB application. It sits on the university website, and sale of the form is announced for each session.
- Fill in your personal information. Names, date of birth, contact details. Use the exact names on your O'level result.
- Pay the registration fee. It is a one-time online payment and it is not refundable.
- Complete the rest of the form. Your qualifications, your preferred centre and the track you want.
- Submit and keep your details safe. Your application number and payment receipt are what you will be asked for later.
The whole thing is done online. You do not need to travel to Calabar to apply.
Mistakes that cost people the place
- Paying before checking the track. The fee is non-refundable, so a change of mind afterwards costs you the money.
- Wrong name spelling. If your name on the form does not match your O'level result, you create a problem for yourself that takes weeks to fix.
- Assuming you can apply any time. The form is sold for a session and then it closes. When the advert goes up, treat it as urgent.
- Weak O'level credits. JUPEB entry rests on your O'level result. Sort out your credits before you pay for anything.
- Choosing a centre you cannot reach. You will be attending lectures there for the better part of a year, not visiting once.
Preparing for the JUPEB exam itself
Getting into the programme is the easy part. The JUPEB examination is what actually decides whether you reach 200 level, and it is set at a level most students are not used to after secondary school.
Work through past questions early instead of saving them for the last month. A JUPEB app with past questions is useful here, especially for the subjects where the questions repeat in style year after year.
Questions students still ask
Can I get into UNICAL 200 level through JUPEB without JAMB?
Yes. The JUPEB route does not require JAMB or Post-UTME. What it requires is that you pass the JUPEB examination and meet the admission requirements for the course you want. Passing the exam is not the same as automatic admission, so pick a course you can realistically qualify for.
Is UNICAL-JUPEB the same thing as IJMB?
No. Both are advanced-level programmes that lead to direct entry, but they are run by different boards and end in different certificates. UNICAL runs JUPEB, not IJMB. Universities accept both, so the choice comes down to which programme is available to you and where you want to study afterwards.