The sales of application forms by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry (DE) have started for admissions into the 2026/2027 academic session.
The information was conveyed in an Image statement on Tuesday, endorsed by the Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, through the official X account of the Board.
The statement reads, “Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for admission into tertiary institutions in Nigeria for the 2026/27 academic session.”
JAMB clarified that eligibility is determined by age, emphasizing that “Only candidates who will not be less than 16 years old by 30th September, 2026 are generally eligible to apply/be considered.”
Nevertheless, the Board gave room for underage candidates, subject to scrutiny. “Candidates less than 16 years old by 30th September, 2026, will have to undergo an intensive evaluation to determine their eligibility for a waiver. Such must have scored not less than 80% in each of UTME/A-Level, PUTME, SSCE, and in the exceptional candidate assessment,” the statement added.
It further said that, “The UTME results of the underage candidates will be released only at the conclusion of the complete evaluation process.”
The Board also released the registration schedule, stating that, “The period of registration for UTME candidates, including those from foreign countries, is from Monday, 26th January, 2026 to Saturday, 28th February, 2026.”
“E-PIN vending for UTME begins on Monday, 19 January 2026, and ends on Thursday, 26 February 2026, while registration closes on Saturday, 28th February, 2026,” JAMB further revealed.
JAMB on Direct Entry applicants said, “Sale of 2026 Direct Entry (DE) application documents and E-PIN vending would commence from Monday, 2nd March, 2026, and end by Saturday, 25th April, 2026, and would only be at the Board’s State and Zonal Offices.”
The Board also released three categories of e-Pins, stressing that, “There will be three categories of E-PINS: Direct Entry (N5, 700); UTME ONLY WITHOUT MOCK (N7200); UTME WITH MOCK (N8700).”
The Board noted that the fee structure comprises, “UTME/DE JAMB Application Fee N3, 500; Reading Text N1, 000; CBT Centre Registration Service Charge – N700; CBT Centre UTME Service Charge – N1, 500; Bank Charges – N500; CBT Mock-UTME Centre Charge – N1, 500.”
JAMB disclosed the examination dates, stating that, “The 2026 UTME will commence on Thursday, 16th April, 2026 and end on Saturday, 25th April, 2026.”
“Mock-UTME (optional) shall hold on Saturday, March 28th, 2026,” it added.