List of Key Resolutions From 2026 JAMB Policy Meeting, Admission Deadlines, Cut-Off Marks Announced
- The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has set 150 as the minimum cut-off mark for universities and 100 for polytechnics nationwide
- Admission deadlines have also been fixed, with admissions ending between October 31 and December 31, 2026
- Candidates have been given four weeks to accept admission offers or risk withdrawal or reassignment
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The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced new decisions that will guide admission into tertiary institutions for the 2026 academic year.
Source: Twitter
The resolutions were made at its annual policy meeting on Monday, May 11, where education stakeholders reviewed cut-off marks, admission timelines, and general rules for entry into universities, polytechnics, and colleges across the country.
According to the decisions, the minimum score required for admission into universities has been set at 150. The same benchmark also applies to Colleges of Nursing. For polytechnics, the minimum cut-off mark has been fixed at 100. These figures are expected to guide all institutions in their admission processes for the year.
JAMB also stated that institutions must not admit students beyond their approved quotas. This means schools are expected to strictly follow the number of candidates officially allowed for each programme.
Candidates who are offered admission will now have a maximum of four weeks to accept their offer. Failure to do so may lead to the offer being withdrawn or reassigned.
Admission deadlines disclosed
Clear deadlines have also been fixed for the 2026 admission exercise. Public universities are expected to complete admissions by October 31, 2026. Polytechnics have until November 30, 2026, while monotechnics and colleges of education must conclude their admission processes by December 31, 2026.
The board further explained that the change of course and the institution portal will only be activated after the mop-up examination. It also directed institutions to continue uploading O’Level results within approved timelines to avoid delays in the admission process.
JAMB added that universities and other tertiary institutions are expected to begin announcements for Post-UTME and screening exercises immediately after the policy meeting.
The new guidelines are expected to shape how institutions handle admissions for the 2026 academic year, while also setting stricter timelines for candidates and schools.
Source: Twitter
Teacher urges review of UTME cut-off
In a related development, Legit.ng reported that a teacher wrote an open letter to JAMB and the Federal Ministry of Education ahead of the 2026 policy meeting.
The educator argued that reduced entry scores could weaken academic standards, especially in critical institutions like Colleges of Education, where teachers are trained.
While urging education authorities to raise admission benchmarks and strengthen foundational learning, he insisted that Nigeria must prioritise merit and competence to protect the integrity of its tertiary education system.
NUC ends HND to BSc conversion
Previously, Legit.ng reported that the National Universities Commission has ordered the immediate discontinuation of all HND to BSc conversion and top-up degree programmes across Nigerian universities. nationwide.
Universities such as Kwara State University and Al-Hikmah University, which have confirmed compliance, announced the suspension of their top-up admissions and directed all future undergraduate entry processes strictly through JAMB.
The directive has left uncertainty for students already enrolled in the programmes, as institutions await further guidelines from the NUC on how ongoing cases will be handled moving forward.
Source: Legit.ng
