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 can sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) but must meet additional requirements to qualify for admission.
JAMB gave the clarification in a video posted on its X account on Thursday as part of its “JAMB Explained” series, titled “5 Frequently Asked Questions About Underage Admission.”
According to the Board, an underage candidate is anyone who has not attained the age of 16 by 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.
The Board explained that the September 30 age cut-off was introduced by the Federal Ministry of Education.
For the 2026 admission exercise, candidates must therefore be at least 16 years old by September 30, 2026, to avoid being classified as underage.
Underage Candidates Can Sit for UTME
JAMB clarified that candidates below the stipulated age are not prevented from taking the UTME.
“Can someone who is less than 16 participate in the UTME? Yes, but they’ll be regarded as underage,” the Board said.
However, the Board stressed that writing the examination does not automatically make an underage candidate eligible for admission.
80% Required for Exceptional Candidates
JAMB said underage candidates seeking admission must meet a higher academic performance threshold to be considered as exceptional candidates.
“An underage candidate must score 80 per cent in UTME, post-UTME and O-level screening to be eligible for admission,” JAMB stated.
This means an underage candidate must achieve at least 80 per cent across the specified examinations and screening processes before being considered for admission.
JAMB further stated:
“Underage candidates are not considered for admission unless they qualify as exceptional candidates.”
The Board’s clarification means that participating in UTME, regardless of the candidate’s score, does not automatically override the minimum age requirement.
80% Score Does Not Guarantee Admission
JAMB also warned that meeting the 80 per cent benchmark does not guarantee admission.
The Board said the final admission decision remains dependent on the institution selected by the candidate.
“Please note that your admission is solely dependent on the choice of your institution,” it stated.
The clarification is particularly relevant to candidates who will not be 16 by September 30, 2026. Such candidates can still take the UTME but must satisfy the additional requirements before they can be considered for admission.
JAMB said the explanation forms part of its ongoing “JAMB Explained” series, designed to provide candidates with clearer information about its admission policies and procedures.
Source: JAMB
