Courses You Can Study Without Mathematics

Without Mathematics, your university options narrow more than with any other missing subject — because Mathematics is a core requirement for most Science, Commercial, and Social Science courses. What remains open is principally Arts and humanities courses, plus selected Social Science and management courses where the institution does not require Mathematics. The list below groups the main options, with the UTME subjects each typically requires. Check the JAMB brochure for your course and institution for the session, because Mathematics requirements vary by institution — and because Mathematics is also a general O’Level requirement (five credits including English and Mathematics) for most university admission, a missing Mathematics credit affects admission itself, not just course choice.

This guide assumes you hold the O’Level Mathematics credit required for general admission, but did not offer Mathematics at UTME, or did not meet a course’s Mathematics requirement. If you lack the O’Level Mathematics credit itself, retaking Mathematics is the priority — it gates admission broadly, not just one course.

Arts and humanities (no Mathematics required at UTME, at most institutions)

• Law (LLB) — English, Literature-in-English, and two other Arts or Social Science subjects.
• Mass Communication — English, Literature-in-English, and two other Arts or Social Science subjects.
• English Language, Linguistics, History, Philosophy, Religious Studies — English and three Arts subjects (as the brochure states).
• Theatre Arts, Fine Arts, Music — English, the relevant Arts subject, and two other Arts subjects (plus audition or portfolio where required).

Social sciences (Mathematics sometimes waived)

• Political Science — English, Government, and two other Social Science or Arts subjects (at institutions that do not require Mathematics — check the brochure; some require Mathematics).
• Sociology — English, Government or History, and two other subjects (same caveat).
• History and International Studies — English, History or Government, and two other subjects.
• Religious Studies, Philosophy — English and three Arts subjects.

What is closed without Mathematics (at most institutions)

• Accounting, Economics, Banking and Finance, Business Administration, Marketing, Insurance — Mathematics is a core UTME requirement.
• Engineering (all disciplines), Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Data Science — Mathematics is a core UTME requirement.
• Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing, and most sciences — Mathematics is a core O’Level requirement, and a UTME requirement for many science courses.
• Architecture, Geology, Mathematics, Statistics — Mathematics is a core requirement.

The honest advice

If you lack O’Level Mathematics, retake it. Mathematics is the single most gating subject in Nigerian university admission: it is a general admission requirement for most institutions, and a course requirement for most Science, Commercial, and Social Science courses. No course list replaces it.

If you hold O’Level Mathematics but did not offer it at UTME, your Arts options above are strong — law and mass communication, in particular, are high-demand courses that do not require UTME Mathematics at most institutions. Choose by the career you want, and check the brochure for your target institution before applying.

If a course you want requires Mathematics and you do not meet it, retaking Mathematics (O’Level or UTME, as applicable) is the only route — no workaround exists, and no agent can waive a brochure requirement.

Related Guides & Next Steps

• Admission Requirements for Nigerian Universities
• How to Choose a Course After JAMB
• How University Admission Works in Nigeria
• Best Universities to Study Medicine in Nigeria
• Courses With Good Job Opportunities in Nigeria

Frequently asked questions

Can I study law without Mathematics? Yes, at most institutions — law requires Literature-in-English and Arts or Social Science subjects, not Mathematics at UTME. (O’Level Mathematics remains a general admission requirement for most institutions — check your institution’s general requirements.)

Can I study accounting without Mathematics? No, at most institutions — Mathematics is a core UTME requirement for accounting, economics, and most management courses. Retaking Mathematics is the route if accounting is your goal.

Can I study mass communication without Mathematics? Yes, at most institutions — mass communication requires Literature-in-English and Arts or Social Science subjects, not Mathematics at UTME.

Can I gain university admission without O’Level Mathematics at all? At most institutions, no — five O’Level credits including English and Mathematics is the general admission baseline. A small number of Arts programmes waive Mathematics, but they are exceptions — check the brochure for your target institution, and prioritise retaking Mathematics if you lack the credit.

Should I retake Mathematics, or choose a course that does not require it? If you lack the O’Level credit, retake it — it gates admission broadly. If you hold the credit but did not offer it at UTME, the Arts options above are strong without retaking. Decide by which gap you actually have.

Sources and last update

• Course groupings and Mathematics-requirement patterns from JAMB brochure patterns and the cluster’s course guides, with per-institution brochure confirmation directed throughout — Political Science and Sociology Mathematics requirements are explicitly institution-dependent.
• General admission baseline (five credits including English and Mathematics) from JAMB admission requirements, as established in the requirements guide.
• Durations and professional routes from the respective course guides (Batches 13–16), summarised here — the course guides govern where they differ in detail.

Last updated: 24 October 2026. Guide — review every 3–6 months and on every JAMB brochure update.