The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has announced sweeping changes to Nigeria’s tertiary admission process for the 2026/27 academic session, including a new minimum cut-off mark for universities and the exemption of some candidates from sitting the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.
At its annual policy meeting held in Abuja on Monday, JAMB fixed 150 as the minimum admissible score for admission into universities, while polytechnics will admit candidates with a minimum score of 100. Colleges of Nursing were also given a benchmark of 150.
The decision, according to the board, followed deliberations and voting by vice-chancellors and other stakeholders present at the meeting, which was attended by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa.
Under the new guidelines, universities across the country are expected to admit candidates who score at least 150 in the UTME, although institutions retain the authority to set higher cut-off marks depending on the competitiveness of their programmes.
Highly sought-after courses such as Medicine, Law, Pharmacy and Engineering are expected to maintain admission benchmarks significantly above the minimum approved by JAMB.
In a related development, JAMB also announced that candidates seeking admission into Education programmes and agriculture-related non-engineering courses would no longer be required to sit for the UTME.
The board disclosed this in a post on its X handle during the ongoing policy meeting, stating, “Candidates seeking admissions into Education Programmes and Agriculture non-Engineering Courses are now exempted from UTME.”
The announcement follows a recent Federal Government policy aimed at widening access to teacher education and agricultural studies.
Speaking at the meeting, Alausa said candidates seeking admission into the Nigeria Certificate in Education programme with a minimum of four credit passes would no longer be required to take the UTME.
“However, it is imperative to emphasise that such candidates shall mandatorily register with JAMB, and their credentials shall be duly screened, verified, and certified for the issuance of admission letters through CAPS, in accordance with extant regulations,” the minister said.
He added that the exemption would also apply to candidates seeking admission into National Diploma programmes in non-technology agricultural and agriculture-related courses.
According to the minister, the reforms are designed to expand access to tertiary education without compromising academic standards.
“This approach strikes a necessary balance between widening access and preserving the integrity of our admission system,” Alausa stated.
“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.”
The reforms mark one of the most significant shifts in Nigeria’s tertiary admission system in recent years, as the UTME has traditionally served as the standard entrance examination for universities, polytechnics and colleges of education nationwide.
Candidates seeking admission for the 2026/27 academic session are expected to begin processing their applications in line with the newly approved guidelines.