JAMB Subject Combination for Archaeology and Tourism 2027/2028

Archaeology and Tourism brings together the study of human history, cultural heritage, archaeological materials and tourism-related activities.

Archaeology focuses on understanding past societies through material remains, sites, artefacts and other forms of evidence. Tourism, on the other hand, deals with the movement of people to destinations and the management, promotion and development of tourist attractions and experiences.

The two fields are closely connected because archaeological sites, museums, monuments and other heritage resources can also serve as important cultural tourism attractions.

Candidates searching for the JAMB subject combination for Archaeology and Tourism 2027/2028 should, however, pay particular attention to the exact programme name offered by their preferred university.

This is important because the programme structure has changed at some universities.

Read also:

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• JAMB Registration Accredited CBT Centres 2026/2027

Is Archaeology and Tourism Still Offered as One Course?

Archaeology and Tourism was previously offered as a combined undergraduate programme at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

The programme brought Archaeology, heritage management and Tourism together within one degree structure.

However, the undergraduate structure at UNN has since changed.

The former combined programme was separated into:

Archaeology and Heritage Studies: leading to a B.A. degree.

Tourism Studies: offered as a separate programme.

This means a candidate applying for admission should not automatically search for or select Archaeology and Tourism as one programme without checking the current course name used by the university.

For the 2027/2028 admission session, candidates interested mainly in archaeology and cultural heritage should check Archaeology, Archaeology and Heritage Studies, or another related programme title offered by their preferred institution.

Candidates interested mainly in tourism should check the admission requirements for Tourism Studies or the exact tourism-related course offered by the institution.

The JAMB subject combination may differ between these programmes.

JAMB Subject Combination for Archaeology and Tourism 2027/2028

For the Archaeology side of the programme, the general JAMB subject combination is built around Arts and Social Science subjects.

A suitable combination is:

Subject	Requirement
English Language	Compulsory
History, Religious Studies, Government or Geography	One relevant subject required
Arts or Social Science Subject	Required
Arts or Social Science Subject	Required

Therefore, a typical JAMB combination may be:

English Language, History or Government, Geography, and another Arts or Social Science subject.

Other acceptable combinations may involve Religious Studies alongside relevant Arts or Social Science subjects.

Examples of subjects that may be considered include:

• History
• Government
• Geography
• Religious Studies
• Economics
• Literature in English
• Other relevant Arts or Social Science subjects accepted by the university

The exact combination can still differ by institution.

For example, UNN accepts any three UTME subjects for its Archaeology admission route, with English Language compulsory as required in UTME.

This gives candidates more flexibility, but it does not mean every university offering Archaeology follows the same pattern.

Candidates applying specifically for Tourism Studies should check the Tourism Studies requirements separately because the subject combination for Tourism may differ from the Archaeology combination.

For 2027/2028 admission, the safest approach is to first confirm whether your preferred university offers Archaeology, Archaeology and Heritage Studies, Tourism Studies, or another related programme, then select the JAMB subjects required for that exact course.

O’Level Requirements for Archaeology and Tourism

Candidates should be careful with the O’Level requirements for Archaeology and Tourism because the two areas may now be offered as separate programmes.

The subjects required for Archaeology or Archaeology and Heritage Studies may therefore differ from those required for Tourism Studies.

O’Level Requirements for Archaeology

For Archaeology, candidates generally need five SSC credit passes.

The general requirement includes:

O’Level Subject	Requirement
English Language	Credit required
History, Religious Studies, Geography or Economics	At least one relevant subject
Other relevant subjects	Additional credits required to make five

This means a candidate may use subjects from the Arts, Social Sciences and, in some cases, Sciences, depending on the university.

University requirements can still differ considerably.

ABU: requires five O’Level credit passes including English Language and other relevant Science, Arts or Social Science subjects.

IBADAN: accepts relevant subjects including English Language, History, Literature in English, Government, Geography, Religious Studies, Economics, Biology and Nigerian languages, subject to its required number of credits and sittings.

JOS: requires five O’Level credit passes including English Language, History or Government, Geography, and relevant Arts or Social Science subjects.

UNN: requires five O’Level credit passes including English Language and a Science subject, together with at least an O’Level pass in Mathematics.

Because of these differences, candidates should not assume that History is compulsory at every university offering Archaeology.

O’Level Requirements for Tourism Studies

Tourism Studies follows a different admission pattern and is generally treated as a Social Science or tourism-related programme.

O’Level requirements vary considerably by university, but English Language and Mathematics are commonly important.

Depending on the institution, candidates may also need relevant subjects such as:

• Geography
• Tourism
• Economics
• Government
• History
• Civic Education
• Other Arts, Social Science or Science subjects

For example, CALABAR accepts five O’Level credits including English Language, Mathematics, Tourism, Geography or Civic Education, together with other acceptable Social Science, Humanities or Science subjects.

Other universities offering Tourism Studies may use different combinations of Arts, Social Science and Science subjects.

Candidates searching for the former Archaeology and Tourism programme should therefore avoid using one O’Level combination for both fields.

Before applying for 2027/2028 admission, first confirm whether your chosen course is Archaeology, Archaeology and Heritage Studies, Tourism Studies, or another related programme, then compare your WAEC, NECO or other accepted O’Level result with the exact university requirement.

Direct Entry Requirements for Archaeology and Tourism

Direct Entry candidates should check the requirements of the exact programme they intend to study because Archaeology or Archaeology and Heritage Studies and Tourism Studies may have different admission conditions.

Direct Entry Requirements for Archaeology

For Archaeology, candidates may be considered with relevant advanced qualifications in Arts, Social Sciences or related fields, depending on the university.

Common Direct Entry qualifications include:

• A’Level
• IJMB
• NCE
• ND
• HND
• Relevant university diploma qualifications

Some universities apply their own conditions.

ABU: accepts A’Level or IJMB passes involving subjects such as Geography, Biology, History or another acceptable subject. It also accepts NCE with at least Merit and relevant ABU Diploma qualifications.

IBADAN: accepts A’Level passes in any two relevant Arts subjects.

JOS: accepts NCE with Merit or ND with at least Lower Credit.

UNN: accepts two A’Level passes or relevant ND/HND credit or NCE Merit qualifications, subject to the required UTME admission conditions.

Candidates combining Archaeology with a Science or Social Science discipline may also be required to satisfy the admission requirements of the other programme.

Direct Entry Requirements for Tourism Studies

Tourism Studies also accepts different Direct Entry qualifications depending on the university.

Possible qualifications may include:

• A’Level
• IJMB
• NCE
• ND or OND
• HND
• Other relevant qualifications recognised by the university

The area of the qualification is also important.

Relevant fields may include:

• Tourism Studies
• Leisure and Tourism Management
• Hospitality Management
• Hotel and Catering Management
• Geography
• Economics
• Social Studies
• Home Economics
• Business Studies
• Other related programmes accepted by the institution

For example:

CALABAR: accepts qualifications such as NCE in Geography, Economics, Social Studies or another related area. It also considers ND or OND in Leisure and Tourism Management, Hospitality Management, Catering Management or another related field at the required credit or merit level. Relevant HND qualifications may also be considered.

KWASU: accepts IJMB or A’Level qualifications in relevant Social Science or Science subjects. It may also consider ND upper credit, HND lower credit and NCE merit in specified related programmes.

EKSU: accepts relevant ND qualifications in areas such as Tourism Studies, Business Studies, Hotel and Catering Management, Social Work, Environmental Health Technology and Public Administration, subject to its admission conditions.

Direct Entry candidates should therefore verify:

• The exact programme name
• The qualification accepted
• The relevant subject or field
• The minimum grade required
• The O’Level requirements that must also be satisfied
• The university’s specific Direct Entry conditions

Candidates should not assume that a qualification accepted for Archaeology will automatically be accepted for Tourism Studies, or vice versa.

JAMB Subject Combination and Admission Requirements for Archaeology and Tourism at a Glance

The table below summarises the main admission requirements candidates should know when applying for Archaeology, Archaeology and Heritage Studies, Tourism Studies or a related programme.

Admission Area	Archaeology / Archaeology and Heritage Studies	Tourism Studies
JAMB UTME Subjects	English Language plus three relevant subjects from Arts or Social Sciences, depending on the university	English Language plus three subjects accepted by the university, usually from Arts, Social Sciences or Sciences
Common Relevant Subjects	History, Government, Geography, Religious Studies, Economics, Literature in English	Geography, Economics, Government, History, Tourism and other relevant subjects
O’Level Requirement	Generally five relevant SSC credit passes including English Language	Generally five relevant SSC credit passes, commonly including English Language and Mathematics
Mathematics	Requirement varies by university; some institutions accept an O’Level pass	Commonly required at credit level by several institutions
Direct Entry	A’Level, IJMB, NCE, ND, HND or relevant diploma qualifications may be accepted	A’Level, IJMB, NCE, ND/OND, HND and related qualifications may be accepted
Programme-Specific Requirement	Depends on the university and exact Archaeology programme	Depends on the university and exact Tourism programme

For candidates applying for Archaeology, the UTME subjects generally come from the Arts and Social Sciences, with subjects such as History, Government, Geography and Religious Studies being particularly relevant.

However, some universities provide broader flexibility.

For example, UNN accepts any three UTME subjects for its Archaeology admission route, in addition to the compulsory Use of English.

For O’Level, candidates should expect to provide five relevant credits, but the exact subjects vary by institution.

UNN, for example, requires English Language and a Science subject, while Mathematics may be accepted at pass level for its Archaeology route.

Candidates applying for Tourism Studies should not automatically use the Archaeology requirements.

Tourism programmes commonly draw from Arts, Social Sciences and sometimes Science subjects, and some institutions place stronger emphasis on Mathematics, Geography, Economics or Tourism-related subjects.

For example, CALABAR requires five O’Level credits including English Language, Mathematics and Tourism, Geography or Civic Education, together with other acceptable subjects.

Direct Entry applicants in both areas should also confirm the exact qualification and grade accepted by their preferred university.

The most important point is that candidates should select the admission requirements attached to the current programme name offered by the university rather than relying on the former combined Archaeology and Tourism structure.

Special Consideration and University-Specific Requirements

Admission requirements for Archaeology and Tourism-related programmes can vary significantly from one university to another.

Candidates should therefore check the exact requirements of their preferred institution before selecting UTME subjects or relying on a particular O’Level or Direct Entry qualification.

Archaeology and Archaeology-Related Programmes

ABU: accepts a broad range of relevant Arts, Social Science and Science subjects at O’Level. For Direct Entry, it accepts A’Level or IJMB passes in subjects such as Geography, Biology, History or another acceptable subject. NCE with at least Merit and relevant ABU Diploma qualifications may also be considered.

IBADAN: requires relevant O’Level subjects which may include English Language, History, Literature in English, Government, Geography, Religious Studies, Economics, Biology and Nigerian languages. For Direct Entry, it accepts A’Level passes in two Arts subjects.

JOS: requires five O’Level credit passes including English Language, History or Government, Geography and other relevant Arts or Social Science subjects. It also accepts NCE with Merit or ND with Lower Credit for Direct Entry.

UNN: requires five O’Level credit passes including English Language and a Science subject, together with at least an O’Level pass in Mathematics. For UTME, it accepts any three subjects in addition to the compulsory Use of English. Direct Entry candidates may be considered with two A’Level passes, relevant ND or HND credit, or NCE Merit.

Candidates combining Archaeology with another Science or Social Science discipline may also need to satisfy the requirements attached to that second programme.

Tourism Studies and Related Programmes

Tourism requirements also differ across universities.

CALABAR: requires five O’Level credits including English Language, Mathematics and Tourism, Geography or Civic Education, together with other acceptable subjects from Social Sciences, Humanities or Sciences. It also accepts relevant NCE, ND or OND qualifications for Direct Entry.

KWASU: may accept IJMB or A’Level passes in relevant Social Science or Science subjects. It also considers ND upper credit, HND lower credit and NCE Merit in specified related areas.

EKSU: accepts five O’Level credit passes including English Language, Mathematics and three subjects from the Social Sciences, Sciences or Arts. For Direct Entry, relevant ND qualifications may be accepted in areas such as Tourism Studies, Business Studies, Hotel and Catering Management, Social Work, Environmental Health Technology and Public Administration.

These differences are particularly important because Archaeology, Archaeology and Heritage Studies, Tourism Studies, Hospitality and Tourism, and other related programmes do not necessarily use the same admission requirements.

Before completing JAMB registration or changing course or institution, candidates should confirm:

• The exact programme title
• The accepted UTME subjects
• The required O’Level subjects
• Whether Mathematics is required as a credit or pass
• The Direct Entry qualifications accepted
• The minimum grade required
• Whether special university-specific conditions apply

A candidate who qualifies for Archaeology in one university may not automatically meet the requirements for Archaeology or Tourism Studies in another institution.

Archaeology and Tourism and Related Courses

Archaeology and Tourism connects with several programmes in the Arts, Social Sciences, heritage studies and tourism fields.

Closely related courses include:

• Archaeology
• Archaeology and Heritage Studies
• History and Archaeology
• Heritage Studies
• History
• Tourism Studies
• Hospitality and Tourism
• Hospitality and Tourism Management
• Tourism and Event Management
• Sociology and Anthropology
• Geography
• Environmental and cultural heritage-related programmes

Although these courses may overlap in some areas, their main focus and admission requirements can be different.

Archaeology: focuses on studying past human societies through archaeological sites, artefacts and other material remains.

Archaeology and Heritage Studies: combines archaeological study with the understanding, preservation and management of cultural heritage.

History and Archaeology: brings historical study together with archaeological approaches to understanding past societies.

Heritage Studies: focuses more broadly on cultural and historical heritage, including its preservation, interpretation and management.

Tourism Studies: concentrates on tourism destinations, tourism development, visitor activities and the management of tourism-related services.

Hospitality and Tourism: combines tourism with areas connected with hospitality services and visitor management.

Tourism and Event Management: places additional emphasis on tourism activities and the planning and management of events.

Sociology and Anthropology: examines human societies, cultures and social behaviour and can overlap with Archaeology in the study of people and culture.

History: studies past societies mainly through historical evidence and records, while Archaeology relies more directly on material evidence from human activity.

Geography: can overlap with Tourism and Archaeology through the study of places, landscapes, environments and human interaction with space.

Candidates should not assume that these related courses use the same JAMB subject combination.

For example, Archaeology or Archaeology and Heritage Studies may require a stronger Arts and Social Science combination involving subjects such as History, Government, Geography or Religious Studies, while Tourism Studies may accept a broader mix of Arts, Social Science or Science subjects depending on the university.

This is why candidates should always match their UTME subjects and O’Level result with the exact programme title offered by their chosen university.

Core Focus Areas

Archaeology and Tourism-related programmes cover areas connected with the study of past societies, cultural heritage, tourism development and the management of heritage resources.

The exact courses will depend on the university and whether the programme is offered as Archaeology, Archaeology and Heritage Studies, Tourism Studies, or another related title.

Common focus areas may include:

• Archaeological methods: learning approaches used to investigate and interpret archaeological evidence.
• Fieldwork and practical studies: gaining practical experience through archaeological or tourism-related field activities.
• Museum studies: understanding museums, collections, exhibitions and the interpretation of cultural materials.
• Cultural resource management: studying how archaeological and cultural resources can be protected and managed.
• Heritage studies: examining cultural heritage and how it can be conserved, interpreted and presented.
• Conservation: understanding the preservation of archaeological sites, cultural resources and heritage attractions.
• Tourism planning and development: studying how tourism destinations and activities are planned and developed.
• Cultural and heritage tourism: examining how historical sites, museums and cultural resources can form part of tourism.
• Tourism management: understanding the organisation and management of tourism-related activities.
• Research and project work: applying research methods to Archaeology, heritage or Tourism-related issues.

Students may also encounter areas such as public archaeology, archaeological site management, tourism and the environment, and the relationship between heritage conservation and tourism development.

How Archaeology Differs from Tourism Studies

Archaeology and Tourism Studies can overlap in areas such as cultural heritage and heritage tourism, but they have different primary areas of focus.

Archaeology: focuses on understanding past human societies through material evidence such as archaeological sites, artefacts and other remains of human activity. It also involves areas such as archaeological methods, fieldwork, museums, heritage and conservation.

Tourism Studies: focuses more on tourism activities, destinations, planning, development and the management of tourism-related services and experiences.

In simple terms:

Archaeology: concentrates mainly on discovering, studying, interpreting and preserving evidence of the human past.

Tourism Studies: concentrates mainly on understanding and managing tourism, destinations and visitor-related activities.

The two fields can meet through heritage tourism, where archaeological sites, museums, monuments and other cultural resources become attractions that visitors can experience.

Typical Career Paths

Graduates of Archaeology, Archaeology and Heritage Studies, Tourism Studies or related programmes may work in different areas depending on their specialization and additional qualifications.

Possible career areas include:

• Museums: working with collections, exhibitions, documentation and heritage interpretation.
• Heritage institutions: supporting the protection and management of cultural resources.
• Archaeological research: participating in archaeological investigation, documentation and related research.
• Cultural heritage management: working with heritage sites and cultural resources.
• Tourism organisations: supporting tourism planning, promotion or administration.
• Tour operations: working in organisations that plan and organise tours and travel experiences.
• Tourism boards and corporations: working in tourism development and related public-sector activities.
• Hotels and hospitality organisations: working in tourism and hospitality-related operations.
• Government ministries and agencies: particularly those connected with culture, tourism and heritage.
• Research and education: pursuing further study, research or education-related opportunities.

The exact career available to a graduate will depend on the programme studied, area of specialization, practical experience and any additional professional or postgraduate qualifications.

Important Things to Know Before Choosing Archaeology and Tourism in JAMB

Candidates interested in Archaeology and Tourism should pay close attention to the exact programme offered by their preferred university before completing JAMB registration.

1. Archaeology and Tourism may no longer be offered as one combined programme: Some universities now separate the fields into programmes such as Archaeology and Heritage Studies and Tourism Studies. Candidates should therefore search for the current programme title used by the institution.

2. Archaeology and Tourism Studies do not necessarily have the same JAMB subject combination: Archaeology generally draws more strongly from Arts and Social Science subjects such as History, Government, Geography and Religious Studies, while Tourism Studies may accept a broader combination depending on the university.

3. History is important but not compulsory at every university: Some institutions accept Government, Geography, Religious Studies or other relevant Arts and Social Science subjects in place of History.

4. Mathematics requirements vary: Some Archaeology programmes may accept Mathematics at pass level, while several Tourism Studies programmes require Mathematics as an O’Level credit.

5. Geography can be particularly useful: Geography appears frequently among accepted subjects for both Archaeology-related and Tourism-related programmes, but candidates should still check the exact university requirement.

6. O’Level combinations differ by institution: One university may require History or Government, another may emphasise Geography, while another may accept a wider selection of Arts, Social Science or Science subjects.

7. Direct Entry requirements are also university-specific: Depending on the institution, candidates may be considered with A’Level, IJMB, NCE, ND, HND or relevant diploma qualifications.

8. Related programmes are not automatically interchangeable: Archaeology, Archaeology and Heritage Studies, History and Archaeology, Heritage Studies, Tourism Studies, Hospitality and Tourism, and Tourism and Event Management may have different admission requirements.

9. Check the exact programme before changing course or institution: A candidate who meets the requirements for Archaeology may not necessarily qualify for Tourism Studies, and the reverse is also true.

Before submitting your JAMB choices for the 2027/2028 admission session, compare your UTME subjects, O’Level result and Direct Entry qualifications, where applicable, with the exact requirements of the programme and university you intend to choose.

FAQ About JAMB Subject Combination for Archaeology and Tourism 2027/2028

Conclusion

Choosing the correct JAMB subject combination for Archaeology and Tourism is important for candidates preparing for the 2027/2028 admission session.

Candidates should also be aware that Archaeology and Tourism may no longer be offered as one combined programme in some universities. Depending on the institution, you may instead find programmes such as Archaeology, Archaeology and Heritage Studies, Tourism Studies, History and Archaeology, or other related courses.

For Archaeology, the UTME combination generally includes:

English Language and three relevant Arts or Social Science subjects, with subjects such as History, Government, Geography and Religious Studies commonly accepted depending on the university.

For Tourism Studies, the acceptable UTME and O’Level subjects may be different, with some universities accepting combinations drawn from the Arts, Social Sciences and Sciences.

At O’Level, candidates generally need five relevant credit passes. However, the exact subjects required, particularly Mathematics, History, Geography and other relevant subjects, can vary from one institution to another.

Direct Entry candidates may also qualify through A’Level, IJMB, NCE, ND, HND or other recognised qualifications, depending on the university and programme.

Before submitting your JAMB choices, compare your UTME subjects, O’Level result and Direct Entry credentials with the exact requirements of the university and programme you want to apply for.

Do not rely only on the old Archaeology and Tourism programme name. Confirm whether your preferred institution currently offers Archaeology, Archaeology and Heritage Studies, Tourism Studies or another related programme, then follow the admission requirements attached to that exact course.

For more 2027/2028 admission guides, continue exploring our JAMB subject combination articles for related courses in History, Geography, Tourism, Hospitality, Sociology, Anthropology and other Arts and Social Science programmes.