The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially begun selling application forms for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry (DE) admissions for the 2026/2027 academic session.
The announcement was made through a photostatement signed by the Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, and shared on the Board’s official X handle on Tuesday night.
The Board invited applications from candidates seeking admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions, emphasising that eligibility is generally restricted to those who will be at least 16 years old by 30th September, 2026.
Candidates younger than 16 may still apply but must undergo a rigorous evaluation process and meet a minimum score of 80 per cent across UTME, A-Level, PUTME, SSCE, and an exceptional candidate assessment.
UTME results for these underage applicants will only be released after the full assessment has been completed.
JAMB has outlined that the registration window for UTME candidates, including international applicants, will run from Monday, 26th January, to Saturday, 28th February 2026.
E-PIN vending will commence on Monday, 19th January, and end on Thursday, 26th February, while registration closes on 28th February.
For Direct Entry candidates, the sale of application forms and E-PIN vending will start on Monday, 2nd March, and continue until Saturday, 25th April 2026, exclusively at JAMB’s State and Zonal offices.
The board announced three categories of E-PINs: Direct Entry forms at N5,700, UTME forms without mock examinations at N7,200, and UTME forms with mock examinations at N8,700. The fee breakdown includes a N3,500 application fee, N1,000 reading text fee, N700 CBT centre registration charge, N1,500 CBT UTME service charge, N500 bank charges, and an optional N1,500 CBT mock-UTME centre fee.
The 2026 UTME is scheduled to hold from Thursday, 16th April, to Saturday, 25th April, while the optional Mock-UTME will take place on Saturday, 28th March 2026.
JAMB stressed that all applicants, including underage candidates, must comply fully with registration and examination procedures to avoid disqualification.
Prof. Oloyede urged candidates to ensure all biodata provided during registration is accurate and warned against double registration, citing past cases of complications arising from discrepancies. He also cautioned candidates to obtain E-PINs only from official sources to prevent fraud and fake registration links.
Candidates are encouraged to consult the JAMB official portal or board offices for guidance and clarifications on the registration process. The board’s announcement is designed to allow ample time for applicants to complete registration and payment requirements ahead of the 2026 UTME and DE examinations.
