Understanding Admission Lists:  What Does Merit, Supplementary and VC List Mean

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Over the years there have been numerous questions concerning the granting of admission and the system used by the JAMB and higher institutions.

These questions range from why schools grant admission to students separately, why some persons have to wait while others rejoice in seeing their names on the admission lists, why there is delay in the granting of admission to some persons even when they meet the necessary requirements. 

In this article, we will clear the air by explaining the different types of admission lists and how they come to be. This will enable candidates to understand or grasp the reasons why some are admitted earlier than the others. 

 


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In the grant of admission, there are basically 3 (three) types of admission lists in which a candidate’s name can appear. These lists are, the merit list, the supplementary list and the VC list. We will now look at them one after the other.

The Merit List.

Just as the name implies, the merit admission list comprises names of those candidates who chose the institution as their first choice and passed their UTME exceedingly well and have surpassed the cut off mark set by JAMB or the institution applied to.

The list consists of names of candidates who have shown their sound academic prowess during the examinations that they have been classified as worthy of studying the course they applied to.

The Merit List is divided into 2 (two) the first and second merit list. The first merit list is the first list that comes out after the JAMB examinations have been conducted and assessed.

The list is made up of students who scored way past the cut off mark for the particular course they applied for. 

Closely related to this is the second merit list which comes at a later date after the first merit list, but which also includes names of candidates who performed exceptionally well and surpassed the JAMB or school cut off mark.

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For instance, a student who applied to law in the University of Jos which sets its cut off mark at 250, will have his name appear on the first merit list if he scores 300 or above.

Another may have his name appear on the second merit list if he scores 255 or above. In both instances, the candidates surpassed the cut off mark and are deemed worthy of studying their course of choice.

According to the Board, the merit list bears 70% of the total number of admitted candidates yearly 

The Supplementary List.

This is the list that comes after the merit list has been released. It comprises names of candidates who are offered admission into the university or other higher institution even though they do not meet the requirements (the required cut off mark).

In this instance candidates under this list may have passed the examination, but may not have been able to meet up with the cut off mark, so instead of being denied admission altogether, they are offered admission into a closely related but different course of their choice.

Another instance where a candidate’s name would appear on this list is when the candidate applies for a change of course due to his or her inability to reach the cut-off mark for the course initially chosen.

The VC list.

This is the final list in the method of granting admission to candidates. These names contained on this list are names of candidates who have been selected by the Vice Chancellor of the institution they applied to.

Usually some categories of persons (dignitaries) are given some admission slots to give to candidates who are willing to go to school in a particular higher institution, these dignitaries may include the Vice Chancellor of the school, traditional rulers, lawmakers or stakeholders of the school.

The list doesn’t necessarily contain the names of qualified candidates in terms of passing or reaching the cut off mark set by the Board or the school, but because of the goodwill of the mentioned dignitaries. 

Be aware that your passing the required cut off mark is not a guarantee that you would be offered admission in the merit list, you must be among the top 70% before you can enjoy this privilege.

For example, assuming the cut off mark to studying medicine in a particular institution is set at 260, you may not be offered admission on the merit list even though you score 280 if the total number of students to be offered admission on merit list is set at 80 candidates and over 90 students scored 290. You may have to wait for the subsequent lists

Also note that it doesn’t matter which list your name appears on. After admission, all candidates from the different lists undergo the same registration and screening processes in the school. They all pay the same school charges and enjoy the same privileges.

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37 Comments

  1. Thank you for this good post.
    Please when is unilorin likely to release VC list and does it guarantee your chosen course of study

  2. My screening results was 60.6 for public health but the school’s cut off mark is 63..can my name appear on the supplementary list

  3. Pls any update on when unilorin drops their VC’s list because I’m waiting for it and my aggregate is 74 for computer science and any idea about this year’s own

  4. I had a score of 59.19 on my intio in Fushi but my cut off is 63.00 what list am i going tobe on and can I apply for change of course while admission is ongoing
    What is the time rate of the list release

  5. My son’s name is not yet out and I’m worried. Is there any chance of giving him admission into FUTO. He reached cutoff mark and did very well in his waec.

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