JAMB Opens 2026 UTME, Direct Entry Registration; Announces Exam Dates

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has launched the sale of application documents for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry (DE) admissions for the 2026/2027 academic session. A statement signed by the Board’s Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, and shared on JAMB’s official X handle on Tuesday outlined the registration schedule, eligibility requirements, and examination dates.

Eligible candidates must be at least 16 years old by 30 September 2026. However, JAMB will consider younger candidates under strict conditions, requiring them to undergo an intensive evaluation and achieve a minimum score of 80% in UTME, A’Level, PUTME, SSCE, and the exceptional candidate assessment. Results for underage applicants will only be released after the evaluation process is complete.

UTME registration opens on Monday, 26 January 2026, and closes on Saturday, 28 February 2026. E-PIN vending for UTME candidates will begin on 19 January and run until 26 February 2026. Foreign candidates are included in this registration period. Direct Entry candidates can purchase application documents and obtain E-PINs from Monday, 2 March 2026, to Saturday, 25 April 2026, exclusively at JAMB State and Zonal offices.

The Board has set three categories of E-PINs: Direct Entry, ₦5,700; UTME without Mock, ₦7,200; and UTME with Mock, ₦8,700. Fees cover the application, reading text, CBT centre charges, bank charges, and optional mock UTME. The 2026 UTME will be held from Thursday, 16 April 2026, to Saturday, 25 April 2026, with the optional Mock-UTME scheduled for Saturday, 28 March 2026. JAMB emphasized that all candidates must adhere strictly to the registration and examination timelines to avoid disqualification.