Without Physics, you can still study a wide range of university courses — principally Arts, Commercial, and Social Science courses, plus selected biological and agricultural sciences where the institution accepts Mathematics in place of Physics. What you cannot study without Physics, at most institutions, is engineering, medicine, pharmacy, and most 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 Physics requirements vary by institution — some institutions accept Mathematics in place of Physics for courses listed here as requiring it, and some do not.
Lacking Physics 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 Physics 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 Physics 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 Physics required)
- Political Science — English, Government, and two other Social Science or Arts subjects.
- Sociology, Psychology (where Biology is not required), Geography — English and three Social Science or Arts subjects (as the brochure states — check per institution, as some Psychology programmes require Biology).
- Public Administration — English, Mathematics, Economics or Government, and one other subject.
Biological and agricultural sciences (Physics sometimes waived)
- Microbiology, Biochemistry — English, Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Mathematics (at institutions that accept Mathematics in place of Physics — check the brochure; at institutions that require Physics, these courses are closed to you).
- Biology, Botany, Zoology — English, Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Mathematics (same caveat).
- Agriculture, Agronomy, Animal Science — English, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics or Physics (same caveat).
What you cannot study without Physics (at most institutions)
- Engineering (all disciplines) — Physics is a core UTME and O’Level requirement.
- Medicine, Pharmacy, Medical Laboratory Science, Physiotherapy, Radiography — Physics is a core requirement.
- Computer Science (at most institutions) — Physics is a core UTME subject (some institutions accept a fourth subject in place of Physics — check the brochure, but do not assume it).
- Architecture, Geology, Geophysics, Physics, Chemistry (pure) — Physics 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 Chemistry
Frequently asked questions
Can I study medicine without Physics? No, at most institutions — Physics is a core UTME and O’Level requirement for medicine, pharmacy, and related health sciences. Retaking Physics is the route if medicine is your goal.
Can I study computer science without Physics? At most institutions, no — Physics is a core UTME subject for computer science. A small number of institutions accept a fourth subject in place of Physics — check the brochure for your target institution, and do not assume the exception applies.
Can I study microbiology without Physics? At institutions that accept Mathematics in place of Physics for microbiology, yes; at institutions that require Physics, no. Check the brochure for your target institution — this is the single most institution-dependent case in this guide.
Should I retake Physics, or choose a course that does not require it? If your target course requires Physics, retaking is the only route — no workaround exists. If you are open to Arts, Commercial, or Social Science courses, the lists above give you strong options without retaking. Decide by your goal, not by avoidance.
Does lacking Physics affect my O’Level requirements too? Yes — courses that require Physics 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 Physics-requirement patterns from JAMB brochure patterns and the cluster’s course guides, with per-institution brochure confirmation directed throughout — Physics acceptance in place of Mathematics is 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.