JAMB Begins Registration For 2026 UTME, DE Forms, Announces & Exam Dates

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has opened registration for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry (DE) for the 2026/2027 academic year.

The announcement was made on JAMB’s X account on Tuesday night.

A statement signed by JAMB Registrar Ishaq Oloyede, said the UTME is open to qualified candidates seeking admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions.

He said the registration will start in January 2026 and close in March, while the UTME exams are set to take place in April.

“UTME is open to suitably qualified candidates for admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions for the 2026/2027 academic session,” Oloyede said.

“Registration commences January 2026 and closes March 2026 (exact dates to be announced by JAMB),” the post read, disclosing that the UTME examination is scheduled to hold in April 2026.

“The period of registration for UTME candidates, including those from foreign countries, is from Monday, 26th January, 2026 to Saturday, 28th February, 2026,” the statement read in part.`

JAMB noted that candidates must have a National Identification Number (NIN) before registering.

The agency added, “Only candidates who will not be less than 16 years old by 30th September, 2026 are generally eligible to apply/be considered.”

But it clarified that, “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/ALEVEL, PUTME, SSCE, and in the exceptional candidate assessment.”

“The UTME results of the underage candidates will be released only at the conclusion of the complete evaluation process,” JAMB said.

For Direct Entry candidates, the “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 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.”

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