The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially commenced the sale of application documents for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry (DE) admissions for the 2026/2027 academic session, following a statement published by the Board and shared on its official channels.
JAMB’s announcement, signed by Registrar Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, outlines the registration timeline, eligibility criteria, fees and categories of e-PINs, examination schedule, and important registration guidelines for candidates seeking admission into universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education across Nigeria.
Registration Timeline
JAMB disclosed that e-PIN vending for UTME candidates will begin on January 19, 2026, with registration for UTME starting on January 26 and running until February 28, 2026. The Board noted that UTME e-PIN sales close on February 26, 2026, while the overall registration process ends on February 28, 2026.
For Direct Entry candidates, the sale of application documents and e-PIN vending will commence on March 2, 2026, and will end on April 25, 2026. Direct Entry registration is to be carried out only at JAMB’s State and Zonal Offices nationwide.
Eligibility and Age Requirements
The Board reiterated that only candidates who will be at least 16 years old by September 30, 2026 are generally eligible to apply and be considered for admissions. It also indicated that provisions have been made for underage candidates under strict conditions, requiring them to undergo an intensive evaluation before qualifying for a waiver, with their results released only after the evaluation process is concluded.
Fees and E-PIN Categories
JAMB announced three categories of e-PINs for the 2026 admission exercise. The categories include Direct Entry at N5,700, UTME only without Mock at N7,200, and UTME with Mock at N8,700. A detailed breakdown of charges shows that the UTME and Direct Entry application fee remains at N3,500, with additional charges for reading text, CBT centre registration service, CBT UTME service, bank processing, and optional mock examination where applicable.
Examination Schedule
The Board has set the dates for the 2026 UTME to be conducted from Thursday, April 16 to Saturday, April 25, 2026, with the optional Mock-UTME slated for Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Registration Guidelines
JAMB cautioned aspirants against registering more than once, stressing that candidates are not permitted to register multiple times. The Board advised that in the event of errors during registration, candidates should seek corrections through JAMB procedures rather than obtain a fresh application, as duplicate applications violate registration rules and could attract sanctions.
In announcing these guidelines, JAMB also highlighted the importance of having a valid National Identification Number (NIN) and functional contact details ahead of registration.
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