Health and Physical Education is an education programme that combines health-related learning, physical activity, fitness, wellbeing and professional teacher preparation.
In some universities, the programme is listed as Physical and Health Education, while others may offer related options such as Health Education, Physical Education, Human Kinetics or Human Kinetics and Health Education.
Because programme titles and admission requirements can differ between institutions, candidates should always check the exact course name used by their preferred university.
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JAMB Subject Combination for Health and Physical Education 2027/2028
The general JAMB subject combination for Health and Physical Education is:
| Subject | Requirement |
|---|---|
| English Language | Compulsory |
| Biology | Required |
| One Relevant Subject | Required |
| One Other Relevant Subject | Required |
The complete combination can therefore be written as:
English Language, Biology and two other relevant subjects.
The two additional subjects depend on the university.
Some institutions require the additional subjects to come from Science subjects, while others accept a wider range of relevant subjects.
For example:
- LAGOS requires Biology and two Science subjects.
- IAUED requires Biology and two Science subjects from Physical Education, Health Science and Physics.
- ABU requires Biology and two Science subjects for Health Education.
- DELSU accepts Biology/Health Science and two other subjects.
- UNN requires Biology and two relevant subjects.
- MAIDUGURI accepts Biology and two subjects from Science or Social Science.
- BABCOCK requires Mathematics, Biology and Chemistry.
Candidates should therefore avoid assuming that the same two supporting subjects are accepted by every university.
Before completing your 2027/2028 JAMB registration, confirm the exact subject combination required by your preferred institution.
O’Level Requirements for Health and Physical Education
Candidates applying for Health and Physical Education generally need five O’Level credit passes or TC II merit passes.
The general entry requires subjects including:
- English Language
- Biology or its equivalent
- Mathematics
- Other relevant subjects
A simple breakdown is shown below:
| O’Level Subject | Requirement |
|---|---|
| English Language | Required |
| Biology or Equivalent | Required under the general entry |
| Mathematics | Included in the general requirement and specifically required by many universities |
| Two Other Relevant Subjects | Depend on the institution |
The exact supporting subjects vary from one university to another.
For example, some institutions accept subjects such as:
- Health Science
- Physical Education
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Agricultural Science
- Economics
- Government
Some universities apply more specific requirements.
LAGOS requires five O’Level credits including English Language, Mathematics, Biology/Health Science/Physical Education, one Science subject and one other subject.
DELSU requires credits in English Language, Mathematics and Biology, together with two other subjects.
AAUA requires English Language, Mathematics and Biology, plus two subjects selected from areas such as Agricultural Science, Chemistry, Physics, Economics, Government, Commerce or Home Economics.
IAUED requires credits in English Language and Mathematics, together with three Science subjects drawn from Biology, Physical Education, Chemistry and Agricultural Science.
Candidates should therefore confirm the exact O’Level subjects required by their preferred university before applying.
Direct Entry Requirements for Health and Physical Education
Candidates applying for Health and Physical Education through Direct Entry may qualify through A’Level, NCE, diploma or other recognised health-related qualifications, depending on the university.
The general Direct Entry routes include:
| Direct Entry Route | General Requirement |
|---|---|
| A’Level | Two passes in relevant Science subjects such as Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Mathematics |
| NCE | Merit in Physical Education or other relevant subjects |
| Relevant Diploma | Accepted in areas such as Health Education, Physical Education, Environmental Sanitation, Social Work or Health Administration |
| Nursing Qualification | Registered Nurse qualification may be accepted by some universities |
| Other Relevant Qualifications | Subject to the institution’s specific requirements |
A’Level Route
Candidates may be considered with two A’Level passes in subjects such as Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Mathematics.
The exact combination accepted depends on the university.
NCE Route
Relevant NCE qualifications may also be accepted.
These may include areas such as:
- Physical Education
- Health Education
- Biology
- Integrated Science
Some institutions require Merit or another specified minimum grade.
Diploma Route
Some universities accept relevant diplomas in areas such as:
- Health Education
- Physical Education
- Environmental Sanitation
- Social Work
- Health Administration
The required grade and supporting O’Level subjects depend on the institution.
Nursing and Health-Related Qualifications
Some universities accept qualifications such as:
- Registered Nurse
- Registered Midwife
- Public Health Nursing qualifications
- Community or Public Health qualifications
- Other recognised health-related professional certificates
These routes are not accepted by every university.
University-Specific Examples
DELSU accepts NCE Merit in Health Education, relevant DELSU Diploma qualifications and certain recognised health-related qualifications.
AAU accepts relevant NCE and health-related qualifications, including areas such as Health Education, Physical Education and Environmental Sanitation.
OAU accepts relevant NCE and certain recognised nursing or health qualifications for its Physical and Health Education or Health Education options.
UNN accepts different qualifications depending on whether the applicant is seeking Physical Education or Health Education.
LAGOS accepts relevant NCE qualifications, JUPEB subjects and its recognised Human Kinetics Education diploma route.
Candidates should therefore confirm the exact Direct Entry qualification, minimum grade and supporting O’Level requirements accepted by their preferred university before applying.
Health and Physical Education Admission Requirements at a Glance
The general admission requirements for Health and Physical Education are summarised below:
| Admission Category | General Requirement |
|---|---|
| Programme | Health and Physical Education / Physical and Health Education |
| JAMB English | Compulsory |
| Main UTME Subject | Biology |
| Other UTME Subjects | Two relevant subjects |
| O’Level | Five credit passes or TC II merit passes |
| Important O’Level Subjects | English Language, Biology or equivalent, and institution-specific requirements including Mathematics |
| Direct Entry | A’Level, NCE, relevant Diploma or accepted health-related qualification |
| A’Level Subjects | Relevant subjects such as Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics |
Candidates should note that universities may apply different requirements for Health Education, Physical Education or Physical and Health Education options.
Special Consideration and University-Specific Requirements
Ambrose Alli University
AAU offers options in:
- Health Education
- Physical Education
For Direct Entry, AAU accepts relevant qualifications such as NCE in areas including:
- Health Education
- Physical Education
- Environmental Sanitation
- Social Work
- Nursing
AAU also accepts credit in English Language and General Mathematics at NCE level in place of the corresponding O’Level requirements under its stated condition.
For O’Level admission, AAU requires English Language and Biology, with a pass in Mathematics under its specific requirement.
Delta State University
DELSU accepts several Direct Entry routes, including:
- NCE Merit in Health Education
- Merit in a relevant DELSU Diploma
- Environmental Sanitation
- Social Work
- Health Administration
- Registered Nurse qualification
For O’Level, DELSU requires five credit passes including:
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Biology
- Two other subjects
For UTME, DELSU requires:
Biology/Health Science and any two other subjects, alongside compulsory English Language.
Obafemi Awolowo University
OAU applies special conditions for Physical and Health Education.
For Direct Entry, it accepts qualifications such as:
- NCE in Physical and Health Education
- Nursing-related qualifications
- Health Education qualifications
- Community/Public Health or Hygiene-related qualifications
- NCE in Primary Education Studies or another teaching subject
For its Physical and Health Education option, Biology is not mandatory under its special consideration.
For O’Level, OAU accepts five credits or TC II merit including English Language and approved subjects from Science, Social Science or Arts.
University of Nigeria
UNN applies separate requirements for Physical Education and Health Education.
For Physical Education Direct Entry, it accepts qualifications such as:
- A’Level passes including Biology or Zoology
- NCE Merit in Physical and Health Education
- NCE Merit in Integrated Science
- NCE Merit in Food and Nutrition
- Merit in a National Institute for Sports certificate
For Health Education, UNN accepts selected health-related qualifications such as nursing and community health qualifications, as well as relevant NCE qualifications.
For UTME, UNN requires:
Biology and any two relevant subjects, together with compulsory English Language.
University of Lagos
LAGOS requires the following UTME combination:
English Language, Biology and two Science subjects.
For O’Level, candidates need credits in:
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Biology/Health Science/Physical Education
- One Science subject
- One other subject
For Direct Entry, LAGOS accepts relevant qualifications such as:
- NCE Credit/Merit in Physical Education, Physical and Health Education or Human Kinetics and Health Education
- Very good JUPEB passes in relevant subjects
- Its recognised Human Kinetics Education Diploma
Ahmadu Bello University
ABU has separate conditions for Health Education and Physical and Health Education.
For Health Education, the UTME subjects are:
English Language, Biology and two other Science subjects.
For Physical and Health Education, ABU requires:
Biology and two relevant subjects, alongside compulsory English Language.
ABU also accepts relevant Direct Entry qualifications such as:
- NCE in appropriate subject combinations
- A’Level/IJMB passes in Science subjects
- ABU Diploma in Physical and Health Education with Merit
Ignatius Ajuru University of Education
IAUED requires:
English Language, Biology and two Science subjects from Physical Education, Health Science and Physics.
For O’Level, it requires credits in English Language and Mathematics together with three Science subjects selected from:
- Biology
- Physical Education
- Chemistry
- Agricultural Science
For Direct Entry, IAUED accepts relevant A’Level, NCE and OND qualifications.
University of Calabar
CALABAR has an important admission condition for this programme.
The listed requirement states no admission through UTME for the relevant Physical and Health Education entry.
Candidates interested in CALABAR should therefore confirm the available admission route before applying.
Important Admission Note
The general JAMB subject combination for Health and Physical Education is:
English Language, Biology and two other relevant subjects.
However, the exact combination can vary considerably by university.
Some institutions require the other two subjects to be Sciences, while others accept a broader range of relevant subjects.
Candidates should also remember that:
- OAU has a special provision under which Biology is not mandatory for its Physical and Health Education entry.
- CALABAR states no admission through UTME for the relevant entry.
- Some universities treat Health Education and Physical Education as separate options with different requirements.
- Direct Entry qualifications differ widely and may include NCE, A’Level, Diploma, Nursing and other health-related qualifications.
Before completing your 2027/2028 JAMB registration, confirm the exact requirements for the programme title and option offered by your preferred university.
Health and Physical Education and Related Courses
Health and Physical Education is closely related to programmes concerned with health education, physical activity, human movement and sports.
Related programmes include:
- Health Education
- Physical Education
- Human Kinetics
- Human Kinetics Education
- Human Kinetics and Health Education
- Physical Education and Recreation
- Sport Science
- Health and Safety Education
Some universities may offer Physical and Health Education as a separate programme, while others place it under Human Kinetics or provide separate Health Education and Physical Education options.
Candidates should therefore check the exact course title available at their preferred institution before applying.
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Core Focus Areas in Health and Physical Education
The exact curriculum differs by university, but Health and Physical Education broadly combines health-related learning, physical activity and professional education.
Common areas associated with programmes of this type may include:
- Physical Education: Developing knowledge and practical understanding of physical activity and movement.
- Health Education: Learning about healthy practices, wellbeing and health awareness.
- Physical Fitness: Understanding fitness, exercise and the maintenance of physical wellbeing.
- Human Movement: Studying how the body moves during physical activity and exercise.
- Sports and Recreation: Developing knowledge connected with sporting activities and recreational programmes.
- Health Promotion: Understanding approaches used to encourage healthy behaviours and lifestyles.
- Personal and Community Health: Examining health issues affecting individuals, families and communities.
- Exercise and Wellness: Understanding the role of regular physical activity in maintaining wellbeing.
- Teaching Methods: Developing approaches for teaching physical and health education effectively.
- Professional Teacher Education: Building the educational knowledge and classroom skills required for teaching-related roles.
Universities may organise these areas differently, especially where Health Education, Physical Education or Human Kinetics is offered as a separate option.
How Health and Physical Education Differs from Human Kinetics
Health and Physical Education and Human Kinetics are closely related, but their emphasis may differ.
Health and Physical Education generally combines health education, physical activity and professional education. Where it is offered as an education degree, the programme may place greater emphasis on preparing students to teach physical and health-related subjects.
Human Kinetics focuses more directly on human movement, exercise, physical activity, fitness and related areas.
However, the distinction is not identical at every university. Some institutions offer Physical and Health Education as an option under Human Kinetics, while others list Human Kinetics, Health Education and Physical Education separately.
Candidates should therefore check the exact programme name and structure used by their preferred institution rather than assuming that both courses have identical admission requirements.
Typical Career Paths
Health and Physical Education can lead to different roles in education, sports, fitness and health promotion, depending on the graduate’s training and additional qualifications.
Possible career directions include:
- Physical and Health Education Teacher: Teaches physical education, health education or related subjects in schools.
- Physical Education Teacher: Focuses mainly on physical activity, fitness, sports and movement education.
- Health Education Teacher: Teaches health-related subjects and promotes healthy practices among students.
- Sports Programme Officer: Helps organise and coordinate sports activities and development programmes.
- Fitness Instructor: Guides individuals or groups in physical fitness and exercise programmes where appropriately qualified.
- Recreation Officer: Supports the planning and organisation of recreational activities and programmes.
- Health Education Officer: Assists with programmes aimed at improving health awareness and healthy behaviour.
- Education Officer: Supports educational planning, programme delivery and school-related activities.
- Sports Administrator: Assists with the organisation and management of sporting programmes, teams or institutions.
Career opportunities may differ depending on whether the programme is offered as Physical and Health Education, Health Education, Physical Education or Human Kinetics.
Important Things to Know Before Choosing Health and Physical Education in JAMB
Candidates interested in Health and Physical Education should pay close attention to both the general requirements and the special conditions of their preferred university.
Important points include:
- English Language is compulsory in JAMB.
- Biology is the main general UTME subject for Physical and Health Education.
- The general UTME combination requires Biology and two other relevant subjects.
- Some universities require the two additional subjects to be Science subjects.
- Some institutions accept Health Science in place of Biology for specific options or admission requirements.
- Mathematics is important at O’Level and is specifically required by many universities.
- Candidates generally need five O’Level credit passes or TC II merit passes.
- The general Direct Entry routes may include A’Level, NCE, relevant Diplomas and selected health-related professional qualifications.
- Relevant Direct Entry subjects may include Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics.
- Some universities accept qualifications such as Registered Nurse, Registered Midwife, Public Health or other recognised health-related certificates.
- OAU has a special consideration under which Biology is not compulsory for its Physical and Health Education entry.
- CALABAR states no admission through UTME for the relevant Physical and Health Education entry.
- Health Education and Physical Education may have different admission requirements even within the same university.
- Some universities offer Physical and Health Education under a broader programme such as Human Kinetics.
Before completing your 2027/2028 JAMB registration, confirm the exact course title, UTME subjects, O’Level requirements and Direct Entry conditions used by your preferred institution.
FAQ About JAMB Subject Combination for Health and Physical Education 2027/2028
What is the JAMB subject combination for Health and Physical Education?
The general JAMB subject combination for Health and Physical Education is:
English Language, Biology and two other relevant subjects.
Some universities require the two additional subjects to come specifically from Science subjects, so candidates should check the requirements of their preferred institution.
Is Biology compulsory for Health and Physical Education?
Biology is the main subject in the general UTME combination for Physical and Health Education.
However, some universities have special considerations. For example, OAU has a provision under which Biology is not mandatory for its Physical and Health Education entry.
Candidates should therefore confirm the exact requirement of their preferred university.
Is Mathematics compulsory for Health and Physical Education?
Mathematics is required at O’Level by many universities offering Health and Physical Education.
It is also included in several institution-specific admission requirements.
However, the exact requirement may vary depending on whether the programme is offered as Health Education, Physical Education, Physical and Health Education or Human Kinetics.
What are the O’Level requirements for Health and Physical Education?
Candidates generally need five O’Level credit passes or TC II merit passes.
Important subjects commonly required include:
English Language
Biology or its equivalent
Mathematics
Two other relevant subjects
The exact supporting subjects depend on the university.
What are the Direct Entry requirements for Health and Physical Education?
Direct Entry applicants may be considered with qualifications such as:
Two A’Level passes in relevant Science subjects
NCE in Physical Education, Health Education or related areas
Relevant Diploma qualifications
Nursing or recognised health-related qualifications where accepted
Relevant A’Level subjects may include Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics.
The qualification and minimum grade accepted depend on the institution.
Is Health and Physical Education the same as Human Kinetics?
No. They are closely related but may be structured differently.
Health and Physical Education generally combines physical activity, health education and professional education, particularly where the programme prepares students for teaching.
Human Kinetics focuses more directly on human movement, exercise, fitness and physical activity.
Some universities may, however, offer Physical and Health Education as an option under Human Kinetics, so candidates should check the exact programme structure of their preferred institution.
Conclusion
Health and Physical Education is an education programme that combines physical activity, health education, fitness and professional teacher preparation.
The general JAMB subject combination for Health and Physical Education is:
English Language, Biology and two other relevant subjects.
For O’Level, candidates generally need five credit passes or TC II merit passes, with important subjects commonly including:
- English Language
- Biology or its equivalent
- Mathematics
- Two other relevant subjects
For Direct Entry, accepted routes may include A’Level, NCE, relevant Diploma qualifications and selected health-related professional qualifications, depending on the university.
Candidates should remember that admission requirements are not identical across institutions. Some universities require the additional UTME subjects to be Sciences, while others accept a broader range of relevant subjects. Special conditions also apply at some institutions, including OAU and CALABAR.
Before completing your 2027/2028 JAMB registration, confirm the exact programme title, UTME subjects, O’Level requirements and Direct Entry conditions used by your preferred university.