2026 Admission: JAMB Sets 80% Benchmark for UTME, Post-UTME Candidates for Underage Candidates

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has clarified its policy on underage candidates seeking admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions, stating that candidates below 16 years of age can participate in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) but must meet additional requirements to be considered for admission.

JAMB gave the clarification in a video shared on its X account as part of its “JAMB Explained” series, which addressed frequently asked questions about underage admission.

According to the Board, a candidate is considered underage if he or she is below 16 years of age on or before September 30 of the admission year.

“An underage candidate is someone less than 16 years on or before 30th of September of an admission year,” JAMB stated.

For the 2026 admission exercise, candidates must be at least 16 years old by September 30, 2026, to meet the standard age requirement.

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However, JAMB clarified that candidates who are below 16 are still allowed to register for and sit the UTME. Such candidates will simply be classified as underage candidates.

“Can someone who is less than 16 participate in the UTME? Yes, but they’ll be regarded as underage,” the Board explained.

JAMB, however, noted that participating in the UTME does not automatically make an underage candidate eligible for admission.

The Board explained that underage candidates must meet the requirements to be considered exceptional candidates. According to JAMB, such candidates must score at least 80 per cent in the UTME, post-UTME and O-level screening.

“An underage candidate must score 80 percent in UTME, post-UTME and O-level screening to be eligible for admission,” JAMB stated.

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This means that candidates below the age of 16 must demonstrate exceptional academic performance across the required examinations and screening processes before they can be considered for admission.

JAMB further clarified that underage candidates are generally not considered for admission unless they meet the conditions for exceptional candidates.

The Board also stressed that meeting the required academic benchmark does not guarantee admission, as the final admission decision depends on the institution selected by the candidate.

“Please note that your admission is solely dependent on the choice of your institution,” JAMB stated.

The clarification is particularly relevant to candidates participating in the 2026 admission exercise who will not have attained 16 years by September 30, 2026.

Such candidates can still take part in the 2026 UTME, but they must meet the additional requirements before they can be considered for admission into a tertiary institution.

JAMB said the explanation is part of its ongoing “JAMB Explained” initiative, which is designed to provide candidates with clearer information about its examination, registration, and admission policies.

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