By Rosemary Etim Bassey
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced the start of registration for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). This examination is written by students seeking admission into universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education across Nigeria.
According to JAMB, registration officially began on January 26, 2026, and will close on February 28, 2026. The board advised candidates to complete their registration early and not wait until the deadline.
Before registration, candidates are required to buy an e-PIN, which is used to begin the registration process. The sale of e-PINs started on January 19 and will end on February 26, 2026.
JAMB also released the approved fees for the 2026 UTME. Candidates who want to write only the UTME will pay N7,200, while those who choose to take the UTME along with the mock examination will pay N8,700. For Direct Entry (DE) candidates, the registration fee is N5,700.
The board explained that the fees cover several things, including the registration form, a reading textbook, CBT centre charges, and other service costs.
The main UTME examination is scheduled to hold between April 16 and April 25, 2026. JAMB also announced that the optional mock examination will take place on March 28, 2026. The mock exam is meant to help candidates understand how the real UTME works and reduce exam fear.
For candidates applying through Direct Entry, registration will take place from March 2 to April 25, 2026.