The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced the commencement of the sale of application documents for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry (DE) admissions for the 2026/2027 academic session.
The announcement was contained in a photostatement signed by JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, and shared on the Board’s official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Tuesday night.
According to JAMB, applications are now open to suitably qualified candidates seeking admission into tertiary institutions across Nigeria for the 2026/27 academic year.
Age Requirement, Underage Candidates
The Board reiterated that eligibility for admission is age-based, stressed that only candidates who will be at least 16 years old by September 30, 2026, will be considered for admission.
However, JAMB disclosed that underage candidates may be granted waivers under strict conditions. Such candidates will be required to undergo an intensive evaluation and must score a minimum of 80 per cent in the UTME or A-Level, Post-UTME, Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE), and the exceptional candidate assessment. JAMB noted that results for underage candidates will only be released after the full evaluation process is completed.
Registration Timeline
The Board announced that UTME registration, including for candidates from foreign countries, will run from Monday, January 26, to Saturday, February 28, 2026.
The sale of UTME e-PINs will commence on Monday, January 19, and close on Thursday, February 26, 2026, while registration will officially end on February 28, 2026.
For Direct Entry candidates, the sale of application documents and e-PINs will begin on Monday, March 2, and end on Saturday, April 25, 2026. JAMB added that DE registration will be conducted exclusively at its state and zonal offices nationwide.
Fees Breakdown
JAMB outlined three categories of e-PINs:
Direct Entry: ₦5,700
UTME without mock examination: ₦7,200
UTME with mock examination: ₦8,700
The Board explained that the fees cover the application fee, reading text, CBT centre registration and examination charges, bank charges, and an optional mock examination fee.
Examination Dates
The Board announced that the 2026 UTME will take place from Thursday, April 16, to Saturday, April 25, 2026, while the optional Mock UTME is scheduled for Saturday, March 28, 2026.
JAMB urged all candidates to strictly adhere to the registration guidelines and timelines to avoid disqualification.
