Without Chemistry, you can still study a wide range of university courses — principally Arts, Commercial, Social Science, and computing courses, plus selected sciences where the institution does not require Chemistry. What you cannot study without Chemistry, at most institutions, is medicine, pharmacy, and most biological and physical sciences. 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 Chemistry requirements vary by institution.
Lacking Chemistry is a constraint, not a dead end — but it is a hard constraint for the courses that require it, and no brochure exception should be assumed without checking.
Arts and humanities (no Chemistry required)
- 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).
Commercial and management (no Chemistry required)
- Accounting — English, Mathematics, Economics, and one other subject.
- Business Administration, Marketing, Human Resource Management — English, Mathematics, Economics, and one other subject.
- Banking and Finance, Insurance — English, Mathematics, Economics, and one other subject.
- Economics — English, Mathematics, Economics, and one other Social Science subject.
Social sciences (no Chemistry required)
- Political Science — English, Government, and two other Social Science or Arts subjects.
- Sociology, Psychology, Geography — English and three Social Science or Arts subjects (as the brochure states).
- Public Administration — English, Mathematics, Economics or Government, and one other subject.
Computing and technology (no Chemistry required, at most institutions)
- Computer Science — English, Mathematics, Physics, and one of Chemistry, Biology, or Economics (at institutions that accept Economics or Biology in place of Chemistry — check the brochure; at institutions that require Chemistry, this course is closed to you).
- Cybersecurity, Data Science, Software Engineering — English, Mathematics, Physics, and a fourth subject as the brochure states (same caveat).
- Mathematics, Statistics — English, Mathematics, Physics, and a fourth subject as the brochure states.
What you cannot study without Chemistry (at most institutions)
- Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing, Medical Laboratory Science, Physiotherapy, Radiography, Dentistry — Chemistry is a core UTME and O’Level requirement.
- Microbiology, Biochemistry, Biology, Botany, Zoology — Chemistry is a core requirement.
- Agriculture and related sciences — Chemistry is a core requirement at most institutions.
- Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Petroleum Engineering — Chemistry is a core requirement.
Related Guides & Next Steps
- Admission Requirements for Nigerian Universities
- How to Choose a University in Nigeria
- How University Admission Works in Nigeria
- Best Universities to Study Medicine in Nigeria
- Courses You Can Study Without Biology
Frequently asked questions
Can I study medicine without Chemistry? No, at most institutions — Chemistry is a core UTME and O’Level requirement for medicine, pharmacy, nursing, and related health sciences. Retaking Chemistry is the route if medicine is your goal.
Can I study computer science without Chemistry? At institutions that accept Economics or Biology in place of Chemistry for computer science, yes; at institutions that require Chemistry, no. Check the brochure for your target institution — this is the single most institution-dependent case in this guide.
Can I study nursing without Chemistry? No, at most institutions — Chemistry is a core requirement for nursing, alongside Biology and Physics. Retaking Chemistry is the route if nursing is your goal.
Should I retake Chemistry, or choose a course that does not require it? If your target course requires Chemistry, retaking is the only route — no workaround exists. If you are open to Arts, Commercial, Social Science, or computing courses, the lists above give you strong options without retaking. Decide by your goal, not by avoidance.
Does lacking Chemistry affect my O’Level requirements too? Yes — courses that require Chemistry at UTME generally require it at O’Level as well. Check both the O’Level and UTME requirements in the brochure for your course and institution.
Sources and last update
- Course groupings and Chemistry-requirement patterns from JAMB brochure patterns and the cluster’s course guides, with per-institution brochure confirmation directed throughout — Chemistry acceptance alternatives are explicitly institution-dependent.
- Durations and professional routes from the respective course guides (Batches 13–15), 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.