Two O’Level sittings means combining credits from two different exam sessions (for example, WAEC and NECO, or two WAEC sittings) to meet the five-credit admission requirement. JAMB’s general policy permits this combination, and the great majority of Nigerian universities accept two sittings — but not for every course, and not at every institution. The one-sitting trap is real: competitive courses at some institutions require all required credits in a single sitting, and students discover that only after a strong UTME and screening.
What two sittings means, precisely
- One sitting: all five required credits (including English Language and, for most courses, Mathematics, plus course-relevant subjects) obtained in a single exam session.
- Two sittings: the five credits split across two exam sessions — for example, three credits from May/June WAEC and two from a subsequent NECO sitting. The combination must still cover all required subjects for the course.
- Maximum: two sittings, not three. A third sitting does not add a third combination — the requirement is five credits in not more than two sittings.
- Awaiting results count as a sitting in the combination: at most two sittings, only one of which may be awaiting.
Universities reported as accepting two sittings
The following are reported across guides as accepting two sittings generally. As with all list articles in this cluster, treat each as a lead to verify on the institution’s current admission page for your course:
University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN); University of Ilorin (UNILORIN); University of Ibadan (UI, generally — see the competitive-course exception below); Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU, generally — see below); Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba (AAUA); Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU); University of Abuja (now Yakubu Gowon University); Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED); Enugu State University (ESUT); Kaduna State University (KASU); Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi (now Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi).
Guides summarise the general position as: almost all federal, state, and private universities accept two sittings for most courses. That summary is useful — and it is exactly why the exceptions below catch people out.
The one-sitting exceptions (course-dependent)
The following are reported as enforcing a one-sitting rule, for competitive courses or specific programmes — not necessarily for all their courses:
- University of Lagos (UNILAG) — reported as enforcing one sitting.
- University of Ibadan (UI) — for competitive courses like Medicine and Law.
- Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) — for certain courses.
- University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) — for competitive programmes.
- Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) — for specific programmes.
Note the overlap: UI, OAU, and UNILORIN appear in both lists. That is not a contradiction — it is the point. The same institution can accept two sittings for most courses and require one sitting for its most competitive ones. The question is never just “does this university accept two sittings?” but “does this university accept two sittings for this course, this session?”
How to protect yourself
- Check the JAMB brochure for your course and institution — it states the O’Level requirements, including sitting rules, for that course.
- Check the institution’s current admission page for the session. If it states one sitting for your course, that statement governs, regardless of what a general list says.
- If you have two sittings and your dream course requires one, your options are: retake the missing subjects in a single sitting (a new exam session covering all required subjects), or choose a course or institution that accepts two sittings for that field. Do not apply hoping the rule will be waived — it will not be, at screening.
- Upload both results on CAPS correctly, with each result’s exam body, year, and sitting clearly entered. A mis-entered second sitting is treated as a missing result, not as a second sitting.
Related Guides & Next Steps
- How to Upload O’Level Result on JAMB CAPS
- JAMB Subject Combination Guide for All Major Courses
- Universities That Accept Awaiting Results
- How University Admission Works in Nigeria
- 2026/2027 University Admission Guide for Nigerian Students
Frequently asked questions
Do all Nigerian universities accept two sittings? No — almost all accept two sittings for most courses, but competitive courses at some institutions (UNILAG, and competitive programmes at UI, OAU, UNILORIN, UNIZIK, among others) require one sitting. Check per course, per session.
Can I combine WAEC and NECO? Yes — that is the commonest two-sitting combination, and it is permitted under JAMB’s general policy, subject to the course-specific exceptions above.
Can I combine three sittings? No. The requirement is five credits in not more than two sittings.
Does two sittings affect my admission chances? For courses that accept two sittings, no — the combination is treated as meeting the requirement. For courses that require one sitting, a two-sitting application does not meet the requirement at all, regardless of grades.
What if my second sitting has better grades than my first? The combination is judged on whether the five required credits are present across the two sittings, with the required subjects covered. Better grades in the second sitting help your screening aggregate where O’Level grades count — they do not override a one-sitting rule.
Sources and last update
- Two-sitting definition and JAMB general policy (five credits, max two sittings, WAEC/NECO/NABTEB/GCE combinations) from JAMB’s admission requirements and guides.
- Accepting list (UNN, UNILORIN, UI, OAU, AAUA, OOU, UNIABUJA, TASUED, ESUT, KASU, UAM) from guides, with “almost all accept” summary noted as a general position, not a per-course guarantee.
- One-sitting exceptions (UNILAG; UI/OAU/UNILORIN/UNIZIK competitive programmes) from guides, with the overlap explicitly explained as course-dependence, not contradiction.
Last updated: 24 October 2026. Guide — review every admission session and on every JAMB policy update.