The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that the sale of application forms for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry (DE) admissions will commence on January 26, 2026, ahead of the 2026/2027 academic session.
The Board disclosed this in a photostatement signed by its Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, and shared on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Tuesday night.
According to JAMB, applications are open to suitably qualified candidates seeking admission into tertiary institutions across Nigeria for the 2026/27 academic year. Eligibility, the Board noted, is largely age-based.
“Only candidates who will not be less than 16 years old by September 30, 2026 are generally eligible to apply or be considered for admission,” the statement read.
However, JAMB said underage candidates may be considered under strict conditions. Candidates below 16 years must undergo an intensive evaluation process to qualify for a waiver and must score at least 80 per cent in each of the UTME or A-Level, Post-UTME, Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), and the exceptional candidate assessment.
The Board added that results of underage candidates would only be released after the completion of the evaluation process.
On registration timelines, JAMB announced that UTME registration, including for candidates from foreign countries, will run from Monday, January 26, 2026, to Saturday, February 28, 2026. E-PIN vending for UTME candidates will begin on Monday, January 19, and end on Thursday, February 26, 2026.
For Direct Entry applicants, the sale of application documents and E-PIN vending will commence on Monday, March 2, 2026, and close on Saturday, April 25, 2026. JAMB noted that DE registration will be conducted only at its state and zonal offices.
The Board outlined three categories of e-PINS: Direct Entry at ₦5,700; UTME only without mock examination at ₦7,200; and UTME with mock examination at ₦8,700.
JAMB explained that the fees cover the application form, reading text, CBT centre registration and UTME service charges, bank charges, and mock examination fees where applicable.
The Board also announced the examination schedule, stating 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.
