JAMB 2026/2027 UTME and Direct Entry Registration Begins: Official Dates, Form Cost, Exam Schedule and Requirements

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has announced the commencement of the sale of application forms for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination and Direct Entry admissions for the 2026/2027 academic session.

The announcement was made through an official statement signed by the Registrar of the Board, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, and released via JAMB’s verified social media platform on Tuesday.

According to the Board, applications are open to suitably qualified candidates seeking admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions for the 2026/2027 academic session. JAMB emphasized that eligibility for admission is closely linked to age requirements.

The Board stated that candidates must be at least 16 years old by September 30, 2026, to be eligible for consideration. However, provisions have been made for underage candidates under strict evaluation guidelines.

JAMB explained that candidates who are below 16 years of age by the stipulated date may be considered only after undergoing an intensive assessment process. Such candidates must achieve a minimum score of 80 percent in each of the UTME or A-Level, Post-UTME, Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination, and an exceptional candidate evaluation conducted by the Board. The UTME results of underage candidates will only be released after the conclusion of the full assessment process.

On the registration timeline, JAMB announced that the registration period for UTME candidates, including those applying from foreign countries, will commence on Monday, January 26, 2026, and close on Saturday, February 28, 2026. The sale of e-PINs for UTME candidates will begin on Monday, January 19, 2026, and end on Thursday, February 26, 2026.

For Direct Entry candidates, the Board disclosed that the sale of application documents and e-PINs will start on Monday, March 2, 2026, and end on Saturday, April 25, 2026. JAMB noted that Direct Entry registration will be conducted exclusively at its state and zonal offices across the country.

The Board also announced the pricing structure for the 2026 examination forms. Direct Entry e-PINs will cost ₦5,700. UTME candidates who opt not to sit for the mock examination will pay ₦7,200, while those who choose to participate in the mock UTME will pay ₦8,700.

JAMB provided a breakdown of the fees, which includes an application fee of ₦3,500, a reading text fee of ₦1,000, a CBT centre registration service charge of ₦700, a CBT centre UTME service charge of ₦1,500, bank charges of ₦500, and a mock UTME centre charge of ₦1,500 for candidates who choose the mock option.

In addition, the Board announced the examination schedule for the 2026 UTME. The main UTME examination will commence on Thursday, April 16, 2026, and end on Saturday, April 25, 2026. The optional mock UTME is scheduled to hold on Saturday, March 28, 2026.

JAMB advised candidates to adhere strictly to the registration guidelines and timelines and to ensure that all application processes are completed through approved channels to avoid disqualification or loss of application fees.