The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced the start of the sale of application documents for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry admissions for the 2026/2027 academic session.
The announcement was made in a statement signed by the Registrar, Prof Ishaq Oloyede, and shared on JAMB’s official X account on Tuesday night.
JAMB said applications are open to suitably qualified candidates seeking admission into tertiary institutions across Nigeria. It stated that candidates must be at least 16 years old by 30 September 2026 to be eligible for admission consideration.
The board, however, made room for underage candidates under strict conditions. According to the statement, candidates below 16 must undergo an intensive evaluation to qualify for a waiver. Such candidates must score at least 80 per cent in UTME or A-Level, Post-UTME, SSCE and the exceptional candidate assessment. JAMB added that results for underage candidates will only be released after the evaluation process is completed.
Registration for UTME candidates, including those applying from foreign countries, will run from Monday, 26 January 2026 to Saturday, 28 February 2026. E-PIN vending for UTME begins on Monday, 19 January and ends on Thursday, 26 February 2026.
For Direct Entry candidates, the sale of application documents and E-PIN vending will start on Monday, 2 March 2026 and close on Saturday, 25 April 2026. JAMB said Direct Entry registration will only take place at its state and zonal offices.
The board announced three categories of e-PINs: Direct Entry at ₦5,700; UTME without Mock at ₦7,200; and UTME with Mock at ₦8,700. The fees cover the application, reading text, CBT registration, examination charges and bank fees.
JAMB also confirmed that the 2026 UTME will hold from Thursday, 16 April to Saturday, 25 April 2026, while the optional Mock-UTME is scheduled for Saturday, 28 March 2026.
