NDA courses cut-off marks for the 2026/2027 admission period: All you need to know

Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) is a military university in Kaduna, Nigeria. The institution was established in 1964 to train officers for commissioning into one of the three Nigerian Armed Forces services (the Nigerian Army, Navy, and Air Force). The cut-off varies with the course. For years, the minimum for engineers has been 210, while other courses have been 180. So, what is the cut-off mark for NDA courses in 2026?

Key takeaways

• Nigerian Defence Academy has two campuses located in Afaka and Ribadu.
• The institution offers four years of academic training and one year of military training.
• Before considering your application, confirm the updated NDA courses cut-off marks for the 2026/2027 admission period.
• The cut-off varies with the course. Previously, the minimum for engineers was 210, while for other courses it was 180.

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NDA courses cut-off marks for the 2026/2027 admission period

The Nigerian Defence Academy offers a wide variety of courses. To participate in the NDA screening test, a candidate was required to score at least 180 in arts, social sciences, and science and 210 in engineering courses.

The minimum cut-off mark for the screening test varies with the course, but the lowest has always been 180. Below are the NDA military university courses and their cut-off marks. Although the threshold for 2026/2027 has not been released, the figures below are from previous years.

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To be eligible to pursue a particular course in NDA, you should meet at least the required cut-off mark. Besides meeting the requisite UTMENDA score, candidates should also meet the following requirements:

• Must be single male or female without legal obligation to support any child or other individuals.
• Candidates must be medically and physically fit and of good moral character.
• One should be at least 168 cm tall for males and 165 cm for females.
• Candidate must be at least 17 years old and not older than 21, effective September 2026.
• Candidates must have a minimum of five ordinary level credits at GCE, SSCE (WAEC, NECO, NBAIS and NABTEB), English language, Mathematics and three other subjects relevant to the intended programme at not more than two sittings.
• Candidates must present a Certificate of Indigeneship from the state or local government.
• Candidates must have passed the Unified Tertiary Matriculation examinations (UTME) and attained an acceptable minimum national standard (as determined by the JAMB annual policy meeting).
• Interested candidates who did not choose NDA during the UTME Registration but wish to join the university should change to the NDA via the JAMB website.
• Candidates with knowledge of French, Arabic or Mandarin have an added advantage.

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What is the cut-off mark for engineering in NDA?

The cut-off mark for engineering candidates is 210 JAMB points. To be eligible for any engineering undergraduate programme at NDA, you should have five credits at O-level, including Mathematics and English Language, in not more than two sittings.

For Postgraduate studies, candidates wishing to join NDA must have a minimum of a Second-Class Lower Degree. Alternatively, the candidate can have a Higher National Diploma with a Postgraduate Diploma for a Master’s degree and a Master’s degree with a minimum of 3.5 on a scale of 5.0 for Doctorate degrees.

What is the NDA cut-off for the Air Force?

This military university has similar cut-off marks for all armed forces. Check the NDA cut-off for the Air Force, Navy, and Army in the above table.

To qualify for the NDA exam, candidates should score at least 25% out of 600 in the General Ability Test (GAT) and 25% out of 300 in Mathematics.

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What are the courses offered in the NDA?

Below is a look at the NDA courses and departments.

Faculty of Engineering

• Civil Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Mechatronics
• Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

• Defence and Security Studies
• Geography
• History and War Studies
• Languages
• Political Science
• Psychology

Faculty of Science

• Biotechnology
• Biological Science
• Mathematics
• Physics
• Chemistry

Faculty of Military Science

• Computer Science
• Cyber Security
• Intelligence and Security Studies

Faculty of Management Sciences

• Accounting
• Economics
• Logistics and Supply Chain Management
• Management Science

NDA courses and subject combination

Checking courses and subject combinations before applying to the NDA ensures your educational choices align with your goals and that you meet the admission requirements.

Below is an overview of the UTME subjects combination required to join the NDA. Note that the English Language is mandatory in all cases.

• Faculty of Engineering: Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics.
• Faculty of Science: Biology, Chemistry and Physics or Mathematics.
• Faculty of Military Science and interdisciplinary studies: Mathematics, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Agric Science, Economics and Geography.
• Faculty of Management Sciences: Mathematics, Economics and any other Social Science Subject.
• Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences: This one has varying subjects depending on the department candidates choose. Several subject combinations for the departments under Arts and Social Sciences are shared below:
• BSc Economics: Economics, Mathematics and any of Government, History, Geography, Lit-in English, French and CRK/IRK.
• BA French: French and other subjects from the Arts and Social Science.
• BSc Geography: Geography and any two of Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Agricultural Science OR Geography and any two of Arts and Social Science Subjects.
• BA History and War Studies: History/Government and any other two arts subjects.
• BSc Political Science and International Relations: Government/ History and two other Social Science or Arts Subjects.

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NDA recruitment in 2026

NDA recruitment in 2026 is open for two exams, with application periods from 10th to 30th December 2025 for NDA 1, and 20th May to 9th June 2026 for NDA 2, and the exams are scheduled for 12 April 2026 (NDA 1) and 13 September 2026 (NDA 2).

Candidates must apply online via the UPSC website, pass a written exam, and then undergo an SSB interview and medical examination.

NDA salary

The NDA salary starts at about ₦56,100 per year and goes up as one rises through the hierarchy of seniority and years of experience. Senior NDA officials earn a lot more than fresh recruits.

What are the NDA courses cut-off marks for nursing?

The NDA does not specify cut-off marks for nursing because the course is not available at the institution.

What are the minimum marks to qualify for the NDA?

The minimum mark to qualify for the NDA is 180 for most courses, except engineering courses, which have a cut-off mark of 210.

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What is the expected cut-off for NDA 2 2026?

The expected cutoffs for NDA 2 2026 are around 330-340 for the written exam (out of 900) and 680-700 for the final cutoff (out of 1800). However, these are estimates, as the exact cutoffs are determined by the UPSC after the exam based on factors like exam difficulty, number of vacancies, and candidate performance

What is the NDA cut-off mark in 2026?

The new cut-off marks for most universities in 2026 have not yet been announced.

What was the NDA cut-off last year?

The NDA cut-off mark in 2025 was 180 for all courses except engineering.

Which course is best in the NDA?

There is no specific best course in the NDA. Your choice should align with your academic strengths and career goals.

What are defence and security studies in the NDA?

Defence and Security Studies deal with the interrelationship between military institution-building, war and warfare, defence policy, national and international security, military strategy in war and peacetime, alliances and alliance-building, and conflict management.

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To be eligible to pursue defence and security studies, candidates must have five credit passes in not more than 2 sittings, including English Language and Mathematics.

What are the courses under biological sciences in NDA?

Some of the biological courses offered at the Nigerian Defence Academy are Zoology, Botany, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Biological warfare and Biotechnology, Parasitology, Hydrobiology, Plant Physiology, Virology, Bacteriology, Applied Biochemistry, Animal Physiology, and Genetic Engineering.

What is the age limit for NDA 2026?

Each candidate must be at least 17 years old and not older than 21, effective September 2026.

Knowing the NDA courses cut-off marks for the 2026/2027 admission period will help you determine if you qualify to enrol in the Nigerian military university. Hopefully, you are well informed regarding admission requirements, cut-off marks, and subject combinations.

Legit.ng recently published all the details about the University of Abuja courses, fees, and requirements. The Federal University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) was established in 1988 in Abuja, Nigeria's administrative and political capital.

It is a dual-mode university for conventional and distance learning programmes. The University of Abuja is one of the best and oldest Universities in Abuja. UNIABUJA offers a wide range of courses across different faculties.

Source: Legit.ng