The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has released the official schedule and guidelines for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination and Direct Entry admissions into Nigerian tertiary institutions for the 2026/2027 academic session.

Applications are open to candidates who meet the required academic qualifications and age criteria.

Candidates are generally required to be at least 16 years old by 30 September 2026.

Exceptionally gifted candidates below this age may apply, but only under strict conditions, including achieving a minimum of 80 percent across several examinations and undergoing an additional assessment process. Their UTME results will only be released after the evaluation is completed.



UTME registration will be conducted within a specified period, with the purchase of e-PINs preceding registration.

Direct Entry applications will follow later and will be handled exclusively at JAMB state and zonal offices.

The Board has also outlined different fee categories depending on whether a UTME candidate opts to take the mock examination.

Finally, JAMB has fixed dates for both the mock examination and the main UTME, advising candidates to adhere strictly to all timelines and registration guidelines to avoid errors or disqualification.

IMPORTANT DATES TO NOTE

E-PIN sales for UTME: Monday, 19 January 2026 to Thursday, 26 February 2026

UTME registration period (including foreign candidates):
Monday, 26 January 2026 to Saturday, 28 February 2026

Mock UTME (optional): Saturday, 28 March 2026

Main UTME examination:
Thursday, 16 April 2026 to Saturday, 25 April 2026

Direct Entry application and E-PIN sales:
Monday, 2 March 2026 to Saturday, 25 April 2026