This page contains 2024 WAEC and JAMB subject combination (admission requirements) for Linguistics, including the List of Nigeria Universities Offering this Course, A level requirements and much more.

Is Linguistics a good course in Nigeria?

Absolutely. Linguistics is one of the oldest degrees in Nigeria with a few job roles you can explore. In Nigeria, Linguistics graduate salaries depend on where you work, different employees have different salary packages. A person working as a Linguist in Nigeria typically earns around 74,000 NGN per month. Salaries range from 74,000 NGN (lowest) to 238,000 NGN (highest).

Linguistics is one of the oldest degrees and most competitive. This course is popular amongst art students in secondary school. From our records, 30 Nigerian universities offer this degree course though the degree name may be slightly different.

So while you are here to get information on the O level subject combination for Linguistics, we also expect you consider the total number of students currently studying Linguistics and the employment rate we will show you below so that you will know what you are up against when you choose to study this course.

We have some student guide articles that will be of benefit to you.

• The required documents for admission into Nigeria universities
• How to gain admission easily into Nigeria Universities
• Nigeria University Guides
• How to study online courses and earn a degree
• Study abroad for free through scholarships

WAEC Subject Combination For Linguistics

In WAEC, NECO or GCE, you are expected to register a maximum of 9 subjects for Linguistics. You can register for less than 9 subjects if you are resitting.

However, you must have at least 5 credit passes amongst the 9 subjects listed below before you can gain admission into any Nigerian university to study Linguistics.

Remember, the requirement you’re about to read is also applicable to all o level examinations. (WAEC, NECO and GCE). We have painstakingly highlighted (in red) the core subjects on which you must obtain credit before you can gain admission. Any subject with blue colour means, a pass is allowed.

If however, you fail one of the core subjects, you should read through each university’s special requirements for this course below to see if there is a university that may accept another subject in lieu of the one you failed. The 9 WAEC/NECO/GCE subject combinations for Linguistics are:

• Mathematics
• English
• Civic Education 
• Trade Subject
• Literature In English
• Music/Food and Nutrition/Fine Art
  
• Government
• IRS/CRS
• Any Nigerian Language

If you have your O level result already and the subjects you have is not the same as the admission requirement that is the required O level subject combinations to study Linguistics, don’t give up. You should consider other Linguistics similar courses or take a look at Polytechnic or College of Education related course subject requirements.

You can also study online with a foreign university right from your bedroom or apply for a scholarship to study abroad. Education is now a choice. And please before you make a decision on which University to choose, please read useful guides on how to choose a course and university

JAMB subject combination for Linguistics

For this degree, you are also required to register for 4 subjects and English is compulsory. More so, your JAMB score and your POST UTME score will determine the cumulative score that the university will use to decide your candidacy for admission.

You should score 180 or above in JAMB to stand a better chance of gaining admission to study Linguistics. You can still gain admission if you score between 150-170 upward but you do not stand a chance with those who had scored higher. Try out JAMB Admission Simulator.

The 4 JAMB subject combination for Linguistics are:

• English
• IRS/CRS
• Government
• Literature

I want you to read this

• How to Study Effectively in University and College
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Direct Entry requirement (required A-level result) to study Linguistics

If you’re one of those seeking admission into the University to further your studies, in addition to the required WAEC subjects combination for Linguistics, you are expected to have Two ‘A’ level passes or NCE to include any Language, preferably an African Language.

Here is the list of universities offering Linguistics Degree in Nigeria.

1. Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti – Ekiti State
2. Bayero University, Kano
3. University of Ibadan (UI)
4. Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki
5. Federal University, Ndifu-Alike, Ebonyi State (FUNAI)
6. Fountain University, Oshogbo
7. The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN)
8. University of Jos (UNIJOS)
9. University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID)
10. Benue State University, Makurdi
11. University of Ilorin (UNILORIN)
12. Ekiti State University
13. University of Uyo
14. University of Ibadan (UI) (with Yoruba)
15. Imo State University, Owerri (IMSU) (with Igbo)
16. Delta State University, Abraka (DELSU)
17. Igbinedion University Okada
18. Usumanu Danfodiyo University (UDUSOK)
19. Kings University, Ode Omu (UNIKINGS)
20. Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba
21. University of Abuja, Gwagwalada
22. Osun State University Osogbo (UNIOSUN)
23. Kwara State University, Ilorin (KWASU)
24. Kaduna State University, Kaduna (KASU)
25. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai (IBBU)
26. Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka (UNIZIK)
27. University of Benin (UNIBEN)
28. Kwara State University, Ilorin (KWASU)
29. University of Port-Harcourt (UNIPORT)
30. Nasarawa State University Keffi (NSUK)

Admission Rate:

Linguistics is one of the oldest degrees in Nigeria with few job roles you can explore, and the competition for this course is high in Nigerian universities. Linguistics has a 100% admission rate. Check the Linguistics related courses below to also know their admission rate.

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Linguistics is how many years course?

In Nigeria, if you gain admission to study a Linguistics degree course at the university through JAMB UTME, you will study Linguistics for four years. If you gain admission through direct entry, you will study this course for three years. And of course, there is room for more years if you have an extension; the aftermath of carryover courses.

Linguistics is under which faculty in Nigeria?

According to JAMB, a body responsible for your admission into the University or other institutions, Linguistics is under the Faculty/School/College of Art but may be under a different faculty in some universities in Nigeria.

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Who can study Linguistics?

Can science or commercial students study Linguistics at the university? By default, this course is meant for art students only. But the curriculum of this course allows students with commercial or science backgrounds to study it as long as they have the right O level subject combination for Linguistics.

This simply means that even though you were a commercial or science student in secondary school, you can still qualify to study this course with the right O level subject for Linguistics.

Linguistics Course Description

A Linguistics degree connects the study of language to real-world problems and their solutions. It can, therefore, prepare you for a variety of careers. The goal of linguistics as a course is the enrichment of knowledge about the nature, grammar, and history of human language.

Linguistics is a theoretical and applied discipline, akin to Linguistics, anthropology, and cognitive psychology. The core areas of linguistic theory are phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics. A grammar is a system of rules that characterize the phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics of a natural language.

Now I am confident that you know the compulsory subjects needed to study Linguistics in WAEC. But note this — Some Universities may accept D7 or E8 in some a compulsory subjects instead of Credit. And some may accept or reject two sittings. That is combinations of WAEC, NECO, or GCE results.

Special consideration (waiver) for Linguistics

• Kings University, Ode Omu (UNIKINGS) and University of Benin (UNIBEN) require SSCE credit passes in Lit. in English, one Arts subject and at least a pass in Mathematics
• University of Ibadan (UI) and University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) require ‘O’ level credit passes in Arts and Social Sciences. University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) requires at least one Nigerian Language) or Lit. in English and one other Art subject. University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) accepts Science subjects.
• Osun State University Osogbo (UNIOSUN) and the University of Uyo require credit pass in Literature in English.
• University of Lagos (UNILAG) requires five ‘O’ level credits to include English Language, Mathematics and three (3) other subjects from Arts, Science or Social Sciences. Social Studies and Civic Education are also accepted.
• University of Ibadan (UI) requires 5 or 6 ‘O’ level credit passes at one or two sittings to include English Language, Arts and any other two subjects. Credit passes in the African language and Mathematics will be an advantage.
• Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki – requires a credit pass in Mathematics and a pass in Nigerian Language will be an advantage.
• University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) requires O credit passes in Arts and Social Sciences. Also requires at least one Nigerian Language or Literature in English and one other Arts subjects.
• Delta State University, Abraka (DELSU) requires a credit pass in Literature in English.
• Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Ikeji-Arakeji requires five SSCE credit passes including English Language and Literature in English.
• University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) – as in Linguistics, Igbo and other Nigerian languages.
• Kwara State University, Ilorin (KWASU) requires credit passes in English, Literature, Mathematics (Pass), plus any other three Arts/Social Science/Science subjects
• Benue State University, Makurdi requires five SSCE credit passes in Arts and Social Sciences including Literature in English Language.
• Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba requires credit passes in English, Mathematics one Language, plus any other two Arts/Social Science

Further reading on Linguistics:

• Top Career Opportunities for Linguistics Students
• Courses Related to Linguistics
• List of Courses Under Linguistics
• Required documents for admission to Nigeria
• How to gain admission easily to study Linguistics
• How to get scholarship updates to study for free.
• How to obtain a quick student loan