What JAMB’s Underage Admission Policy Really Means

Scoring high in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) will not secure a university placement for candidates classified as underage unless they also clear a stricter set of conditions, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has disclosed.

JAMB addressed the issue in a video posted on its X account on Thursday, titled “5 Frequently Asked Questions About Underage Admission,” part of the board’s continuing “JAMB Explained” series aimed at guiding prospective candidates through admission requirements.

The board explained that admission for underage candidates is never automatic, even when the UTME is written and passed. “Underage candidates are not considered for admission unless they qualify as exceptional candidates,” JAMB stated, adding that the final decision still rests with individual Institutions. “Please note that your admission is solely dependent on the choice of your institution,” it noted.

To be classified as underage, JAMB said a candidate must be below 16 years of age as at September 30 of the relevant admission year. “An underage candidate is someone less than 16 years on or before the 30th of September of an admission year,” the board explained, tracing the policy to a directive from the Federal Ministry of Education. “This is a policy instituted by the Federal Ministry of Education,” it said. For the 2026 exercise, this places the cut off at September 30, 2026.

JAMB confirmed that underage status does not bar a candidate from writing the UTME in the first place. “Can someone who is less than 16 participate in the UTME? Yes, but they’ll be regarded as underage,” the board stated.

Where such candidates hope to be considered for admission, JAMB said the performance bar rises considerably. “An underage candidate must score 80 per cent in UTME, post UTME and O level screening to be eligible for admission,” it disclosed, a threshold that applies across all three stages rather than any single assessment.

With the 2026 admission cycle underway, candidates who will remain under 16 past September 30 have been urged to factor these conditions into their preparation, as strong results alone will not override the underage classification.