Published by Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially activated the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) change of institution and course process, giving candidates who participated in the examination a vital window to adjust their choices before admissions are finalised. The board made the announcement on Friday, May 15, 2026, through a statement issued by its spokesperson, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, on its official X handle. According to JAMB, candidates who wish to change their institution or programme of choice may now proceed to any of the board’s approved Computer‑Based Test (CBT) centres nationwide to effect the changes. The development comes weeks after the board released the 2026 UTME results, during which candidates could only access their scores via SMS while the printing of official result slips was delayed.
JAMB has strongly advised candidates to visit only accredited CBT centres to carry out the change of institution or course process, warning that unofficial centres or online portals may lead to errors, invalid modifications, or fraud. At the accredited centres, candidates will be required to make a payment for the service, which typically includes a ₦2,500 mandatory fee plus a service charge levied by the CBT centre, usually between ₦700 and ₦1,000. The process allows candidates to change their preferred institution, alter their course or programme of study, and correct admission‑related choices based on their performance or the admission requirements of their target institutions. Candidates are urged to carefully confirm the admission requirements, UTME subject combinations, and cut‑off marks of their new choices before proceeding with any change.
In the same notice, JAMB announced that the printing of the original 2026 UTME result slips will commence on Monday, May 18, 2026. Candidates have been advised to visit accredited CBT centres to obtain their original result slips and access other related services. The result slip is a critical document for candidates proceeding through the university admission process, as tertiary institutions typically require it as part of their screening and post‑UTME documentation. JAMB has in recent years centralised most of its candidate services through accredited CBT centres spread across the country, a policy intended to decentralise access and reduce bottlenecks at its zonal and state offices. Candidates who are internet‑savvy may also print their result slips online via the JAMB portal, though the board has recommended using accredited centres to avoid technical issues.
The activation of the change of institution window and the commencement of result slip printing mark a crucial phase in the 2026 UTME cycle, which has drawn significant public attention following widespread reports of poor candidate performance that sparked national debate over examination standards, curriculum delivery, and student preparedness at the secondary school level. The board had earlier announced the release of the 2026 UTME results but had delayed the printing of official result slips, allowing candidates to check their scores only via SMS. This delay had caused anxiety among many candidates who rely on the physical result slip for admission processing. The new timeline gives candidates a clear window to correct errors and adjust their choices before admission decisions are finalised.
The 2026 UTME cycle has also seen significant policy shifts. Earlier in May, JAMB announced that candidates seeking admission into Education programmes and Agriculture non‑engineering courses are now exempted from the UTME, a move aimed at creating alternative admission pathways for those pursuing teacher training and agricultural studies. At the annual policy meeting, the board fixed 150 as the minimum cut‑off mark for admission into Nigerian universities for the 2026 academic session. The board has also reminded candidates that the correction of bio‑data and other personal information can be carried out at accredited CBT centres alongside the change of institution or course process. Candidates are advised to print a confirmation slip after each transaction as proof of the modification.
The board has urged candidates to take advantage of the window to make informed decisions about their admission choices, noting that the change of institution and course process is time‑sensitive and should be completed before institutions begin releasing their admission guidelines and screening procedures. Candidates are also reminded to ensure they meet the requirements of their new choices before effecting any changes, as indiscriminate switching may negatively affect their chances of admission. With the original result slip printing now scheduled to begin, candidates can finally obtain the official document required for the next stages of the admission process, bringing clarity and a sense of direction to thousands of students awaiting placement into tertiary institutions across the country.
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