JAMB

JUST IN: JAMB Opens Change of Institution, Course Portal — Result Slip Printing Begins Today

NLTC Team · 18 May 2026 · 8 min read

JAMB has officially opened the portal for change of institution and course for 2026 UTME candidates — and result slip printing begins today, May 18, 2026. Here is everything you need to know and do right now.

Breaking Update — May 15 to 18, 2026

If you wrote the 2026 JAMB Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and have been waiting for news on what happens next, this update is for you. In the space of just a few days, JAMB has made three significant announcements that every 2026 UTME candidate needs to act on immediately. Here is a complete breakdown of everything that has happened and what you need to do.

1. JAMB Has Officially Opened the Change of Institution and Course Portal

On Friday, May 15, 2026, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) officially announced — through a statement by its Public Communication Adviser, Fabian Benjamin — that the portal for change of institution and change of course is now open for all 2026 UTME candidates.

This means that if you are not satisfied with the institution or course you originally chose during UTME registration — whether because your score did not meet your school's cut-off mark, you changed your mind about your course, or you made an error during registration — you can now officially correct it.

"Candidates wishing to change their institution or programme of choice may now proceed to do so by visiting any of the Board's approved CBT centres." — JAMB Spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin

This is not something you can delay. The change of institution portal does not stay open forever, and schools begin shortlisting candidates for POST-UTME and admission as soon as the admission window opens. Acting early gives you the best chance of landing a spot at your preferred institution.

2. Result Slip Printing Begins Today — Monday, May 18, 2026

JAMB also confirmed in the same statement that the printing of original 2026 UTME result slips commences today, Monday, May 18, 2026.

Your result slip is not just a piece of paper showing your score. It is an official JAMB document that contains your passport photograph and security features, and it is a mandatory requirement for POST-UTME screening, institutional registration, and clearance at any tertiary institution in Nigeria. You cannot complete most school registration processes without it.

If you have been checking your score via SMS alone, that is no longer enough. From today, you should print your original result slip at any accredited JAMB CBT centre.

Who Should Change Their Institution or Course?

Not every candidate needs to process a change. But if any of the following apply to you, you should act now:

• Your UTME score is below your chosen school's cut-off mark. If you scored 170 and your first choice school requires 200 minimum, your chances of getting admission there are very slim. Changing to a school that matches your score is the smarter move.
• You have changed your mind about the course you want to study. This happens more often than people admit. If after getting your result you feel strongly that a different course better suits your goals or strengths, now is the time to make that change officially.
• You made an error during registration. Some candidates selected the wrong institution or wrong course during the initial registration process, sometimes by mistake and sometimes due to confusion at the CBT centre. The correction portal allows you to fix this.
• You want to move from a less competitive institution to a more competitive one. If you scored higher than expected and believe you can gain admission into a better institution than the one you originally selected, you can upgrade your choice now.
• You want to change from a university to a polytechnic or vice versa. Some candidates register for a university but after seeing their scores, choose to pursue a polytechnic route instead, or vice versa. This change can also be processed now.

What You Can Change

The JAMB Correction of Data exercise currently open covers the following:

• Change of institution (first choice)
• Change of course or programme
• Correction of biodata errors — including name spelling, date of birth, and gender

Both UTME candidates and Direct Entry (DE) candidates are eligible to use this portal, provided their new institution and course choices are consistent with their subject combinations and qualifications.

How Much Does It Cost?

The official JAMB fee for change of institution or course in 2026 is ₦2,500. In addition, CBT centres typically charge a service fee of between ₦700 and ₦1,000. Budget a total of approximately ₦3,000 to ₦3,500 for the complete process. Note that this fee is non-refundable — so confirm all your details carefully before submitting, because a mistake means paying again.

Step-by-Step: How to Process Your Change of Institution or Course

1. Confirm your UTME score and research the cut-off mark of both your current first-choice institution and the new institution you want to switch to. Make sure your score qualifies before paying.
2. Confirm that the new institution offers your desired course and that your JAMB subject combination matches the requirements for that course at that school.
3. Visit any JAMB-accredited CBT centre near you. This cannot be done at a random cybercafé — it must be an officially approved JAMB CBT centre. Bring your JAMB registration number, profile code, and the phone number linked to your JAMB profile.
4. Inform the centre staff that you want to process a Change of Institution or Change of Course. They will guide you to the Correction of Data section of the JAMB e-Facility portal.
5. Pay the required fee (₦2,500 official fee plus the centre's service charge) through the official payment channel at the centre. Do not pay cash to any individual.
6. Select your new institution and/or course from the available list on the portal. Double-check every detail before submitting — institution name, course name, and spelling.
7. Provide your biometric verification (fingerprint) to confirm the change. This is mandatory and cannot be skipped.
8. Collect your confirmation printout showing that the change has been processed. Keep this document safely.
9. Log in to your JAMB CAPS profile in the days that follow and confirm that your new institution and course are correctly reflected. Changes typically update within a few hours to a few days.

How to Print Your 2026 UTME Result Slip

Printing your result slip is straightforward. From today, May 18, 2026, follow these steps:

1. Visit any JAMB-accredited CBT centre.
2. Request for the printing of your 2026 UTME result slip.
3. Provide your JAMB registration number and the phone number linked to your profile.
4. Pay the applicable printing fee (usually around ₦1500 depending on the centre).
5. Collect your printed result slip and confirm that your photograph, scores, and personal details are correct.
6. Keep multiple copies safely — you will need it for POST-UTME, school registration, and institutional clearance.

If you notice any error on your result slip — wrong name, wrong date of birth, or incorrect score — report it immediately at the CBT centre or visit the nearest JAMB state or zonal office. Do not assume it will resolve itself.

Important Warning: Avoid Scams

JAMB and education experts consistently warn candidates that the period immediately after UTME results and during the change of institution exercise is one of the most active periods for admission fraudsters. These individuals pose as agents who can "process your change faster" or "help you gain admission" for a fee. They are scammers, and using them can result in incorrect changes on your profile that are costly and difficult to reverse.

• Use only officially accredited JAMB CBT centres for all changes and printing.
• All payments must go through official channels — not cash to individuals, not bank transfers to strangers.
• Verify that any centre you visit is on JAMB's approved list before proceeding.
• If you are unsure, visit the nearest JAMB state or zonal office directly — this is the safest option of all.

A Note on Direct Entry Candidates

JAMB also raised concerns this week about delays in the verification of results for Direct Entry (DE) applicants, with over 2,600 cases still pending verification by institutions. If you are a Direct Entry candidate and your qualification has not yet been verified, follow up with your awarding institution immediately to ensure the verification is forwarded to JAMB. Unresolved verifications can delay or block your admission processing entirely.

What to Do After Processing Your Change

Once you have processed your change of institution or course and printed your result slip, here is what comes next:

• Upload your O'Level results on JAMB CAPS if you have not done so already. This is mandatory for any admission consideration.
• Monitor your chosen institution's official website for the announcement of their POST-UTME screening exercise. Schools are beginning to release their POST-UTME details now.
• Begin preparing seriously for POST-UTME. Your JAMB score gets you to the door — your POST-UTME performance is what opens it.
• Check JAMB CAPS regularly for any admission offers. Once an offer is made, you have a maximum of four weeks to accept it before it may be reassigned to another candidate.

Conclusion

The 2026/2027 admission season is moving fast. With the change of institution portal now open and result slip printing beginning today, every 2026 UTME candidate should be taking concrete action — not waiting. If your score does not match your original school choice, change it now. If your result slip is not yet printed, print it today. And if your POST-UTME preparation has not started yet, there is no better time than right now.

At Next Level Tutorial College (NLTC), we guide students through every stage of this process — from JAMB preparation and result checking to POST-UTME coaching and admission guidance. If you need support or have questions about your next steps, reach out to us today. We are here to help you get in.