The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and heads of tertiary institutions have retained 150 as the minimum cut-off mark for admission into universities for the 2026/2027 academic session, while exempting eligible Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) applicants from sitting the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The decision was reached on Monday at the 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions into Tertiary Institutions held at the Body of Benchers Complex in Abuja. The meeting hosted by JAMB was chaired by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa.
Stakeholders at the meeting including vice chancellors, rectors, and provosts also retained 100 as the minimum cut-off mark for polytechnics and monotechnics, while Colleges of Nursing Sciences will admit candidates with at least 150.
They agreed that the benchmarks proposed should be strictly enforced across all institutions. Mr Alausa reiterated that candidates seeking admission into universities must score at least 150 in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and 100 for polytechnics and monotechnics.
JAMB Registrar, Is-haq Oloyede, a professor said the decision reflected collective agreement among stakeholders. “The decision was not exclusively JAMB’s, but a collective one that was unanimously endorsed by all the relevant stakeholders, especially the heads of tertiary institutions,” he said.
He explained that institutions had earlier submitted their preferred cut-off marks, which were later harmonised and adopted through a voice vote.
NCE applicants, agriculture programmes exempted from UTME
At the meeting, the minister announced that candidates seeking admission into the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) programme with at least four credit passes will no longer be required to sit UTME.
“Candidates seeking admission into the NCE programme, who possess a minimum of four credit passes, will no longer be required to sit for the UTME,” Mr Alausa said.
He stressed, however, that all such candidates must still register with JAMB and undergo credential verification through the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS).
The exemption also extends to candidates seeking admission into National Diploma programmes in non-technology agriculture and agriculture-related courses.
According to him, the policy is designed to expand access while easing pressure on the UTME system.
“This approach strikes a necessary balance between widening access and preserving the integrity of our admission system. It will not only ease the pressure associated with UTME but also encourage greater participation in teacher education and agricultural programmes, both of which are critical to national development,” he said.
JAMB to introduce “Bring Your Own Device” UTME model in 2027
The JAMB registrar announced that from 2027, candidates will have the option of writing the UTME using their personal computers under a “Bring Your Own Device” model.
Under the arrangement, a secure flash drive will be installed on the devices to check malpractice; stressing that the initiative aims to improve examination experience and reduce logistical challenges.
“We are working towards a system that gives candidates a smoother experience while still protecting the credibility of the examination,” Mr Oloyede said.
He noted that the option would cut costs and simplify logistics, while also addressing repeated complaints from candidates that machines provided by the board sometimes switched off during examinations.
The registrar added that other innovations, now 90 per cent ready, will launch in 2027 as well.
14-day deadline for admission acceptance proposed
JAMB has proposed a 14-day window for candidates to accept admission offers.
Under the proposal, unaccepted offers will automatically lapse and be reassigned to other qualified candidates.
Mr Oloyede explained that the system will notify the admitting institution once the acceptance period lapses and release the vacancy to other qualified applicants.
16-year entry age retained
Still at the meeting, the minister announced that the Federal Government has maintained 16 years as the minimum age for admission into tertiary institutions.
“Following extensive consultations and policy reviews, the government has maintained 16 years as the minimum age for admission into tertiary institutions,” he said.
He added that exceptions would only apply to “exceptionally gifted” candidates under strict and clearly defined guidelines.
Admissions outside CAPS declared illegal
Mr Alausa also issued a stern warning that any admission conducted outside CAPS will no longer be recognised.
“Admissions conducted outside this framework are illegal and will not be recognised,” he warned.
He added that institutions operating parallel admission systems risk sanctions, including possible withdrawal of operating licences.
2026 admission calendar released
The policy meeting approved deadlines for the 2026 admission cycle. Public universities are to conclude admissions by 31 October, while private universities have until 30 November.
Polytechnics, monotechnics and colleges of education are expected to complete admissions by 31 December.
Top UTME candidates emerge
JAMB also announced the top three performers in the 2026 UTME. Owoeye Jesudunsin from Ekiti State emerged as the overall best candidate after scoring 372 in the examination. She sat the UTME in Ogun State and selected Medicine and Surgery at the University of Lagos as her first-choice course.
Enwere Ikenna from Imo State followed closely with 370 marks and applied to study Computer Science at NILE University of Nigeria.
Bamisile Ayomide Emmanuel from Ondo State ranked third with 369 marks, choosing Software Engineering at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA).
LASU retains most sought-after university title
For the second consecutive year, Lagos State University (LASU) topped the list of most sought-after institutions, attracting 84,426 first-choice applications, representing 3.76 per cent of total applications.
The University of Lagos followed with 78,240 applications, while Obafemi Awolowo University ranked third with 60,370.
The University of Ibadan and the University of Benin completed the top five, with 58,895 and 55,425 applications respectively.
Nnamdi Azikiwe University, University of Ilorin, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, and University of Port Harcourt completed the top 10 list.
Sierra Leone observes admission process
Officials from Sierra Leone attended the meeting to understudy Nigeria’s centralised admission system.
According to JAMB spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, the delegation was led by the country’s Deputy Minister of Education, Sarjoh Kamara, alongside two vice-chancellors.
He said Sierra Leone plans to establish a similar centralised admission body.
Final policy meeting for Oloyede as registrar
The 2026 edition marks the final Policy Meeting under the tenure of Oloyede as JAMB Registrar, following his reappointment in 2021.
The annual meeting brings together heads of tertiary institutions and regulatory agencies including the National Universities Commission (NUC), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE).
