The University of Calabar (UNICAL) has opened its admission portal for the 2025/2026 academic session, providing prospective students with access to check their admission status and complete necessary registration procedures. Established in 1975, this federal university located in Calabar, Cross River State continues to be one of Nigeria's most sought-after higher education institutions.
Accessing the UNICAL Admission Portal
The UNICAL admission portal serves as the primary communication channel between the university and prospective students. Through this digital platform, registered applicants can perform various essential functions including checking admission status, printing admission slips, paying acceptance fees, and completing the mandatory online screening process.
To log into the UNICAL admission portal, follow these straightforward steps: Visit the official admission portal at portal.unical.edu.ng, enter your email address, matric number, or JAMB registration number, provide your username and password, then click the login button to access your dashboard. It is crucial to keep your login credentials secure as you will need them repeatedly throughout the admission process.
Checking Your UNICAL Admission Status
The university releases both merit and supplementary admission lists annually through its online platform. To check your admission status, you must first purchase an Admission Checker PIN costing ₦2,000. This unique PIN appears on your payment receipt and is used alongside your JAMB registration number to verify your admission status.
Prospective students can purchase the Admission Checker PIN through the official admission portal by following these steps: Navigate to the UNICAL Admission Checker PIN page, fill in the required details including your JAMB registration number, full name, email address, and phone number, complete the payment process following the provided instructions. Upon successful payment, you will receive a transaction reference that grants access to your Admission Checker PIN.
Alternative purchase locations include designated banking institutions: UMFB at University of Calabar, Heritage Bank on Calabar Road, Wema Bank on Murtala Muhammed Highway, and First City Monument Bank on Calabar Road.
Steps After Securing Admission
Once admitted into UNICAL, successful candidates must complete several important steps to finalize their enrollment. The immediate requirements include printing the admission status slip for both online and departmental screening, paying the acceptance fee of ₦40,300, and providing all necessary documentation for registration.
Required documents include original JAMB results, O-level certificates (WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB), birth certificate or age declaration, passport photographs, and certificate of origin. Candidates should ensure all documents are authentic and readily available for the screening process.
Payment Procedure for Acceptance Fee
The UNICAL acceptance fee for the 2025/2026 academic session is set at ₦40,300. This fee represents the candidate's formal acknowledgment of the admission offer. Payment can be completed online through the university's official portal using these steps: Access the UNICAL admission portal, enter your JAMB Registration Number and Admission Checker PIN, click the 'Process Payment' button, select 'Pay Acceptance', provide your email address and proceed to payment. Alternatively, candidates can generate a payment invoice and complete the transaction at any commercial bank or the UNICAL Microfinance Bank using the E-tranzact platform.
Online Screening Process
Following successful payment of acceptance fees, newly admitted students must undergo the compulsory online screening process. This verification exercise ensures the authenticity of each student's credentials by thoroughly examining certificates and academic grades.
During the online screening, students must complete their bio-data and upload the following documents: A clear passport photograph on white background (not exceeding 20kb in JPEG format), SSCE, NECO, or NABTEB results (maximum of two sittings), certificate of origin, birth certificate or age declaration, two reference letters, and the admission letter.
After submission, applicants should allow 3 to 7 days for approval from the departmental Desk Officer. Students are advised to regularly check their application status through the portal. Upon approval of documents, students must proceed to pay their school fees through the UNICAL school fees portal before attending the physical screening at their respective departments with all original documents and payment receipts.
Important Admission Information
The University of Calabar has set its cut-off mark for the 2025/2026 academic session at 150 for all courses. This means any candidate who scored 150 or above in the UTME examination is eligible to apply for admission into any program at the institution.
For further inquiries, prospective students can contact the university through these channels: Physical address: University of Calabar, Cross River State, Etagbor, PMB 1115, Nigeria. Contact numbers: +234-812-630-5234 or +234-817-846-5080. Email: enquiries@unical.edu.ng.
UNICAL continues to maintain its position as an educational leader in Nigeria, having been among the first institutions in the country to automate student registration processes through its comprehensive College Portal system. This digital approach has significantly streamlined admission procedures, making them more accessible and efficient for students nationwide.
