The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released a new admission framework taking effect from the 2026/2027 academic session for candidates applying to Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) and Agriculture-related National Diploma (ND) programmes, alongside major changes for Colleges of Education (COEs) nationwide.
Key Changes in the 2026/2027 JAMB Guidelines
- No More Affiliated Degree Admissions in Colleges of Education: Starting from the 2026/2027 session, candidates will no longer be admitted directly into 100 or 200 Level degree programmes or affiliated university degree programmes inside Colleges of Education. All admissions into regular Colleges of Education must now go through the NCE route.
- Options for Affected Affiliated Degree Applicants: Candidates who already applied for affiliated degree programmes in COEs can change their institution at no cost, transfer to the parent university of the affiliated programme, switch to their second-choice institution, or migrate to an NCE programme.
- One Admission Mode at a Time: Candidates can only be processed under one admission mode at a time. Applying through the NCE route automatically suspends any ongoing UTME or Direct Entry process, and vice versa.
- Mandatory O'Level Verification Code & Fees: Before registration, all applicants must obtain an O'Level Verification Code from the relevant examination body (WAEC/NECO/NABTEB/NBAIS) and pay ₦1,500 for one sitting or ₦2,000 for two sittings so JAMB can authenticate results electronically.
Special Provision for 2026 UTME Candidates
Candidates who already sat for the 2026 UTME and chose a College of Education or an Agriculture-related ND programme will have their records migrated automatically. They do not need to pay the regular ₦3,500 application fee; instead, they only need to obtain their O'Level Verification Code and pay a ₦700 registration fee to update their records.
How Fresh NCE / ND Agric Applicants Should Register
- Generate a JAMB Profile Code using your National Identification Number (NIN).
- Create or update your profile on the JAMB e-Facility portal.
- Visit any accredited CBT Centre or Institutional Professional Registration Centre (IPRC) to provide your verified O'Level results, select up to three (3) Colleges of Education, upload your documents, and complete biometric capture.
- Monitor JAMB CAPS to accept your admission offer and print your admission letter.
If you are preparing for the UTME to enter a university degree programme directly, practice with the Mentra JAMB CBT app, available on both Android and iOS.
Published by Mentra Academic Research
Every study guide, syllabus analysis, and timing breakdown is cross-checked against official examination criteria (JAMB UTME, POST-UTME, and WAEC) by subject matter specialists.
