The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced the commencement of the sale of application forms for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry (DE) admissions for the 2026/2027 academic session.
The examination body made the announcement on Tuesday night through a statement posted on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle.
The statement, signed by the Registrar of JAMB, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, confirmed that the UTME is open to candidates seeking admission into universities, polytechnics, colleges of education and other tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
According to the board, registration for the 2026 UTME will begin in January and end in March 2026, with specific dates to be formally communicated.
JAMB however, disclosed that the main registration window for UTME candidates, including those applying from foreign countries, would run from Monday, January 26, to Saturday, February 28, 2026.
The examination itself is scheduled to take place in April 2026.
JAMB emphasised that possession of a valid National Identification Number (NIN) is mandatory for all candidates before they can register for either UTME or Direct Entry.
It also reiterated its age requirement policy, stating that candidates must be at least 16 years old by September 30, 2026, to be eligible for admission consideration.
The board, however, noted that underage candidates may be granted special consideration under strict conditions.
Candidates below 16 years who wish to apply must undergo an intensive assessment process to qualify for a waiver.
Such candidates are required to score a minimum of 80 per cent in UTME or A-Level examinations, Post-UTME, Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations (SSCE), as well as in the board’s exceptional candidate assessment.
JAMB added that the UTME results of underage candidates would only be released after the completion of this evaluation process.
For Direct Entry applicants, JAMB announced that the sale of application documents and e-PIN vending would commence on Monday, March 2, 2026, and close on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
The board noted that Direct Entry registration would be conducted strictly at its state and zonal offices nationwide.
The board further disclosed that the 2026 UTME examination would be conducted between Thursday, April 16, and Saturday, April 25, 2026.
In addition, the optional Mock-UTME has been scheduled to hold on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
JAMB advised prospective candidates to adhere strictly to the guidelines and timelines to avoid disqualification, stressing that it remains the sole authorised body responsible for coordinating admissions into Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
