Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has fixed October 31, 2026, as the deadline for all public universities in Nigeria to conclude their admission processes for the 2025/2026 academic session.
The announcement was made during the 2026 JAMB Policy Meeting on Admissions into Tertiary Institutions held in Abuja.
According to resolutions adopted at the meeting, private universities have until November 30, 2026, to complete their admission exercises.
Polytechnics, monotechnics and colleges of education were also directed to conclude their admissions on or before December 31, 2026.
JAMB stated that all institutions must strictly follow the approved admission schedule to ensure a smooth and coordinated process nationwide.
The board warned that any institution that fails to complete admissions within the stipulated period would lose access to candidates on the Central Admissions Processing System, popularly known as CAPS.
“At the expiration of the period, any institution that failed to conduct its admission will no longer have the candidates on its platform on CAPS,” the board stated.
The examination body also introduced a four-week grace period for candidates to accept admission offers after approval by institutions.
According to JAMB, candidates who fail to accept their admissions within the specified period risk losing the offer permanently.
“Failure to do so will lead to such admissions being deleted, based on the request from the institutions, and the candidates will be placed under the refusal to accept category punishable by ineligibility to be admitted again,” the board explained.
The annual policy meeting brought together vice-chancellors, rectors, provosts and major stakeholders in Nigeria’s education sector to discuss admission guidelines and improve coordination among tertiary institutions.
The latest directive is expected to help reduce delays in the admission process and create uniformity in admission timelines across institutions nationwide.
JAMB’s new admission deadlines are expected to streamline the 2025/2026 admission process and improve coordination among tertiary institutions in Nigeria. Candidates and institutions are now expected to comply strictly with the approved timelines to avoid penalties and missed opportunities.
