The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has begun the sale of application forms for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry (DE) admissions for the 2026/2027 academic year.
In a statement signed by its Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, and shared on the Board’s official social media on Tuesday, JAMB invited qualified candidates seeking admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions to apply.
The Board reiterated its age requirement, stating that applicants must be at least 16 years old by September 30, 2026, to be considered for admission. However, underage candidates may still be eligible under special conditions.
According to JAMB, candidates below 16 must undergo a rigorous assessment to qualify for a waiver and must score a minimum of 80 per cent in UTME or A-Level, Post-UTME, SSCE, and the exceptional candidate evaluation. The results of such candidates will only be released after the completion of the full assessment process.
JAMB announced that UTME registration, including for candidates in foreign countries, will run from Monday, January 26, to Saturday, February 28, 2026. Sales of e-PINs for UTME will begin on January 19 and end on February 26, while registration officially closes on February 28.
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For Direct Entry applicants, the sale of application forms and e-PINs will start on Monday, March 2, and end on Saturday, April 25, 2026. JAMB noted that DE registration will be conducted strictly at its state and zonal offices nationwide.
The Board also outlined three categories of e-PINs: Direct Entry at ₦5,700; UTME without mock examination at ₦7,200; and UTME with mock examination at ₦8,700. The fees cover the application charge, reading text, CBT registration and examination services, bank charges, and, where applicable, the mock UTME fee.
On examination dates, JAMB disclosed that the 2026 UTME will hold from Thursday, April 16, to Saturday, April 25, 2026. The optional mock UTME is scheduled for Saturday, March 28, 2026.
