A Complete Guide on JAMB Subject Combination, O’level Requirements, Direct Entry Requirements, Cut-off Marks, Postgraduate Pathways, Career Prospects and More
INTRODUCTION
Policy and Administrative Studies (PAS) is one of the most relevant social science disciplines in modern governance, development planning and public service delivery. As societies grow more complex, the need for experts who can understand, formulate, implement, analyze, and reform policies becomes critical. Policy and Administrative Studies as a programme equips students with the intellectual tools to understand how governments work, how public problems are identified, how political actors make decisions, how institutions shape human behavior, how resources are managed, and how public services can be improved.In Nigeria and across the world, the demand for specialists trained in administrative processes, organizational management, governance, public budgeting, project management, political analysis, human resource administration and development planning is increasing. Institutions like federal ministries, international NGOs, donor agencies, research institutions, private corporations, local governments, think-tanks, and even private political consultancies constantly need people trained in policy analysis and administration.This course is multidisciplinary. It draws from fields like:
- Political Science
- Public Administration
- Economics
- Sociology
- Law
- International Relations
- Development Studies
- Management Sciences
Because of its multidisciplinary nature, the programme prepares students not only for public sector jobs but also for high-level roles in private and international organizations.This comprehensive guide explains everything you need to know about studying Policy and Administrative Studies in Nigeria—from admission requirements to academic progression and professional opportunities.
JAMB SUBJECT COMBINATION FOR POLICY AND ADMINISTRATIVE STUDIES
To study Policy and Administrative Studies in any Nigerian university, you must write the correct UTME subjects. The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) requires all applicants to select subjects that align with the social science and administrative orientation of the course.
The Correct JAMB UTME Combination Is:
- Use of English — Compulsory for all candidates
- Government / Civic Education — Highly recommended
- Economics or Geography
- Any other Social Science subjectsuch as:
- CRS / IRS
- Commerce
- Mathematics
- Sociology
- History
- Literature in English
Ideal Recommended Combination for Highest Chances of Admission
- Use of English
- Government
- Economics
- CRS/IRS or Geography or Mathematics
Using an incorrect subject combination will automatically disqualify a candidate from admission, no matter the score.
O’LEVEL REQUIREMENTS FOR POLICY AND ADMINISTRATIVE STUDIES
To qualify for admission through UTME, candidates must have a minimum of five (5) O’level credits, obtained from WAEC, NECO or GCE. These credits must be obtained in not more than two sittings.
Required O’level Subjects:
Candidates must have credit passes in the following:
- English Language — compulsory
- Mathematics — compulsory
- Government / Civic Education
- Economics
- Any other Social Science or Arts subject, such as:
- Geography
- CRS/IRS
- History
- Literature in English
- Commerce
- Sociology (if applicable)
Important Notes
- English Language and Mathematics must be at least C6.
- Some universities accept either Government or Civic Education.
- Universities may vary slightly, but the five subjects listed above cover all requirements.
DIRECT ENTRY (DE) REQUIREMENTS FOR POLICY AND ADMINISTRATIVE STUDIES
Students who already have post-secondary qualifications can gain admission through Direct Entry into 200 level.
Acceptable Direct Entry Qualifications Include:
- ND (National Diploma)— preferably in:
- Public Administration
- Social Development
- Local Government Studies
- Business Administration
- Political Science
- Social Work
- Human Resource Management
- Grade must be at least Upper Credit.
- NCE (Nigeria Certificate in Education) – in any relevant Social Science subject with merit.
- HND (Higher National Diploma) — applicants may even be considered for 300 level in some universities.
- A’Level / IJMB / JUPEB
Candidates must have at least two A-level passesin:- Government
- Economics
- History
- Mathematics
- Geography
- Sociology
- Bachelor’s Degree (for transfer students)
Holders of a B.Sc. or B.A. in relevant fields can apply for special entry depending on the university.
JAMB CUT-OFF MARK FOR POLICY AND ADMINISTRATIVE STUDIES
Cut-off marks differ by university, but general trends show that Policy and Administrative Studies falls within mid-range competitive social science programmes.
General JAMB Cut-off Marks:
- Federal Universities: 180 – 220
- State Universities: 160 – 180
- Private Universities: 140 – 160
Competitive Schools May Use Higher Benchmarks
Universities like UNICAL, UNN, UNIABUJA and UNIBEN may set departmental cut-off between 200 – 230.
Post-UTME Performance Matters
Even if you score 240 in UTME, a poor Post-UTME result can still affect admission chances.
POST-UTME REQUIREMENTS
Most universities will:
- Test applicants on English Language, General Knowledge, Social Science Reasoning, and sometimes Current Affairs.
- Combine your UTME score, Post-UTME score and O’level grades to calculate a weighted departmental score.
COURSE DURATION FOR POLICY AND ADMINISTRATIVE STUDIES
UTME (Regular Entry):
4 years
Direct Entry (DE):
3 years — starting from 200 level.
If on Extended Programme or Carryovers:
May extend to 5 or 6 years.Most universities operate a semester-based academic calendar.
WHAT YOU WILL STUDY IN POLICY AND ADMINISTRATIVE STUDIES
This programme covers a wide range of topics such as:
Core Courses
- Introduction to Public Administration
- Nigerian Government and Politics
- Public Policy Formulation and Analysis
- Development Administration
- Comparative Public Administration
- Administrative Law
- Organizational Behavior
- Public Personnel Administration
- Public Finance and Budgeting
- Strategic Planning and Management
- International Organizations
- Public Sector Economics
- Political Theory
- Project Management
- Governance and Accountability
- Local Government Administration
Skills Developed
Students graduate with skills in:
- Policy analysis
- Problem-solving
- Critical thinking
- Effective communication
- Public speaking
- Report writing
- Research and statistical interpretation
- Leadership and teamwork
- Conflict resolution
- Administrative and organizational management
UNIVERSITIES OFFERING POLICY AND ADMINISTRATIVE STUDIES IN NIGERIA
Not all universities offer this exact course. Some offer similar programmes such as Public Administration, Political Science or Policy Studies. Below are universities known to offer Policy and Administrative Studies:
1. University of Calabar (UNICAL)
One of the most popular for PAS.
Other Universities Offering Related or Equivalent Programmes
- University of Nigeria, Nsukka (Policy and Strategic Studies under Political Science)
- University of Benin
- University of Abuja
- Nasarawa State University
- Ekiti State University
- Babcock University
- Afe Babalola University
- Igbinedion University
- Imo State University
- Abia State University
- University of Uyo (Public Administration / Political Science)
- Ebonyi State University
- Adekunle Ajasin University
- Lagos State University
- Delta State University
- Olabisi Onabanjo University
- Federal University Lafia
- Gombe State University
- Ambrose Alli University
- Federal University Otuoke
- Bowen University
- Crawford University
Many schools classify the programme under:
- Political Science
- Public Administration
- Policy Studies
- Governance Studies
- Development Studies
Equivalent courses are accepted for employment and further studies.
POSTGRADUATE REQUIREMENTS (PGD, MSc, MPA, PhD)
Graduates can further their education in various postgraduate pathways.
POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA (PGD)
Admission Requirements
- HND or Third Class Bachelor’s degree in:
- Political Science
- Public Administration
- Sociology
- Economics
- International Relations
- Management Sciences
- Minimum of Lower Credit for HND.
- At least passes in O’level English and Mathematics.
Duration
- Full-time: 1 year
- Part-time: 2 years
MASTER’S DEGREE (M.Sc. or MPA or MPS)
Graduates can pursue:
- M.Sc. Policy and Administrative Studies
- Master of Public Administration (MPA)
- M.Sc. Political Science
- M.Sc. Development Studies
- M.Sc. Human Resource Management
- Master of International Relations and Strategic Studies (MIRSS)
Requirements
- Minimum of Second Class Lower (2:2)in:
- Policy and Administrative Studies
- Political Science
- Public Administration
- Sociology
- International Relations
- Economics
- Some schools accept PGD + HND.
Duration
- Full-time: 1 – 2 years
- Part-time: 2 – 3 years
DOCTORAL DEGREE (PhD)
Graduates with a strong academic record can pursue:
- PhD in Public Administration
- PhD in Political Science
- PhD in Policy Analysis
- PhD in Public Management
- PhD in Governance and Development Studies
Requirements
- M.Sc. or MPA with a minimum CGPA of 3.0 – 3.5 depending on university policy
- A strong research proposal
- Some universities may require an interview prior to admission.
Duration
- Full-time: 3 – 5 years
- Part-time: 5 – 7 years
JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR POLICY AND ADMINISTRATIVE STUDIES GRADUATES
Career prospects for PAS graduates are vast due to the multidisciplinary nature of the programme.
1. Government and Public Sector Jobs
- Administrative Officer
- Policy Analyst
- Research Officer
- Legislative Aide (House of Assembly, House of Reps, Senate)
- Local Government Administrator
- Public Relations Officer
- Immigration/Customs Officer
- Foreign Affairs Officer
- Civil Service Administrator
- Public Budgeting Officer
- Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Officer
- National Orientation Agency Officer
- National Assembly Committee Researcher
- Public Sector Project Manager
2. Corporate and Private Sector Jobs
- Human Resource Manager
- Public Relations Manager
- Corporate Affairs Manager
- Customer Relations Officer
- Business Development Officer
- Management Consultant
- Operations Manager
- Administrative Manager
- Training and Capacity Building Executive
- Project Coordinator
- Compliance Officer
3. International Organisations and NGOs
- UN Agencies (UNDP, UNICEF, UNHCR, UNESCO)
- African Union (AU)
- ECOWAS institutions
- NGOs such as WHO, Plan International, Oxfam, Save the Children
- International research institutes
- Humanitarian organizations
- Development agencies (USAID, GIZ, DFID, World Bank)
Roles include:
- Programme Officer
- M&E Officer
- Advocacy and Policy Officer
- Governance Specialist
- Research and Data Analyst
- Development Analyst
4. Academia and Research
Graduates can become:
- University Lecturer
- College Lecturer
- Research Fellow
- Policy Researcher
- Development Research Consultant
5. Entrepreneurship Opportunities
Graduates can start businesses in:
- Consultancy services
- Training and capacity building
- NGO management
- Political consultancy
- Research and data analytics
- Project management services
6. Political Sector and Governance Roles
PAS graduates often serve as:
- Political Consultants
- Campaign Managers
- Public Opinion Analysts
- Media Advisors
- Governance Advisors
- Legislative Researchers
7. Security and Intelligence Agencies
- DSS
- EFCC
- NDLEA
- NSCDC
- Nigerian Police (Administrative roles)
- Military (non-combat administrative roles)
WHY STUDY POLICY AND ADMINISTRATIVE STUDIES?
1. Versatile Career Opportunities
Graduates can work in public, private, non-profit and international sectors.
2. High Demand for Policy Experts
Governance challenges require professionals who can analyze public problems and recommend solutions.
3. Global Relevance
The skills gained are transferable worldwide.
4. Strong Foundation for Politics and Leadership
Many political leaders studied Public Administration or Political Science.
5. Opportunities for Further Studies
PAS graduates can pursue careers in law, MBA, international relations, governance, and public management.
6. Excellent Salary Prospects
With experience, policy experts and administrators earn attractive salaries both locally and internationally.
CHALLENGES OF STUDYING POLICY AND ADMINISTRATIVE STUDIES
Like any course, PAS comes with challenges:
- High volume of reading materials
- Need to understand politics, governance, and international issues
- Competitive job market in Nigeria
- Need for strong communication skills
- Demand for continuous learning
- Occasionally theory-heavy curriculum
However, with the right mindset and skills, graduates excel.
TIPS FOR SUCCESS AS A PAS STUDENT
- Develop strong reading and writing skills.
- Stay updated with current affairs, political developments and global issues.
- Build communication and public speaking ability.
- Learn data analysis tools (SPSS, Excel, STATA, PowerBI).
- Attend workshops, seminars and policy-related programs.
- Network with professionals in government and development agencies.
- Engage in volunteerism and community development projects.
- Learn proposal writing and project management.
- Join student associations related to governance or administration.
- Improve digital literacy and leadership skills.
CONCLUSION
Policy and Administrative Studies is a powerful, relevant and highly valuable course for anyone who wishes to build a career in governance, administration, policy analysis, development work, public service, NGO management or international organizations. It equips students with essential skills for solving societal problems, managing public institutions, and shaping future development.Whether your dream is to work with the government, influence national policy, join international agencies, lead a political movement, or become a consultant, this course provides the foundation. By understanding the structures, systems and processes of governance, graduates become key actors in national transformation.Studying Policy and Administrative Studies is not just about obtaining a degree—it is about becoming a leader, a change agent, a thinker and a problem-solver who contributes meaningfully to society.
