The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially commenced registration for the 2026 Direct Entry (DE) programme, marking the latest phase of the tertiary admissions exercise for the 2026/2027 academic session.
In a statement published on its official X (formerly Twitter) account, the board confirmed that applications opened on Monday, March 2, 2026, and will run through Saturday, April 25, 2026. Prospective Direct Entry candidates are urged to complete their registration within this period to avoid missing the deadline.
JAMB stressed that all aspects of the process — including the purchase of e-PINs and sale of application documents — must be done exclusively at its accredited state and zonal offices across Nigeria. This directive is aimed at ensuring compliance with official protocols and curbing fraudulent practices that can undermine the integrity of the admissions process.
Direct Entry remains a popular pathway for candidates who hold advanced qualifications such as National Diploma (ND), Higher National Diploma (HND), Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE), A-Level certificates or other approved equivalents, enabling them to gain admission directly into the 200 level of university programmes without writing the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The commencement of the Direct Entry registration follows the conclusion of the 2026 UTME registration, which closed on February 28, 2026. The extended window for DE applications gives eligible candidates several weeks to secure their forms and complete the necessary registration formalities.
