There are five different ways to be admitted into tertiary institutions in Nigeria. It depends on which one you prefer to use to gain admission into Nigerian Universities. The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) oversees every undergraduate admission in Nigeria. The Board places suitably qualified candidates in tertiary institutions after certain conditions have been fulfilled by the candidate. Also, no route will be discussed in this article that won’t pass through JAMB. If You are seeking admission to any school in Nigeria, JAMB must be informed in one way or the other.
The first three ways below will enable you to be admitted into the 200 level if you have a minimum point for your course of study, while the fourth and fifth ways will give you admission into the 100 level.
- Cambridge A level
- IJMB
- JUPEB
- Pre-degree programmes conducted by different Universities in Nigeria
- JAMB (UTME)
I have discovered that most students are aware of JAMB, which is why over one million students sit for UTME every year. However, those who gain admission through this process are not up to 30% of the total number that sit for the exams
Firstly, you need to be aware of the Nigerian University admission requirements. Knowing these requirements indicates that you are taking a good step in the right direction.
- You must have at least 5 O’Level credit passes, including English and Mathematics. The remaining three credit passes must be relevant to your course of study. For example, Medicine and Surgery (Math, English, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology), Economics (Mathematics, Economics, and any two Arts or Social Science subjects), Engineering (Math, English, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology), and Law (English Language, Literature in English, Mathematics, and any other subjects from Arts, Social Sciences or Science).
- The minimum age requirement or age limit is 16 years, i.e., you must not be under 16 during the admission year.
Through JAMB (UTME)
JAMB provides two avenues for candidates to enter a university in Nigeria: UTME and Direct Entry (DE). When you sit for UTME and meet the JAMB cut-off mark (I prefer candidates to score at least 200), you are on your way to gain admission into the 100 level in any University you choose. However, scoring high doesn’t necessarily mean your admission is guaranteed. There are other requirements which you need to satisfy.
Admission into the 200 level in any University in Nigeria is made through Direct Entry (DE) after you have finished your OND/HND with at least Upper credit. Candidates who sat for JUPEB, IJMB, and Cambridge A level and did excellently well can also gain admission through DE into any University in Nigeria.
Through Cambridge A level (CIE A and As)
Most prestigious Universities in Nigeria offer admission into the 200 level to candidates who did well in this exam (when you have BBB, ABB, AAB, and AAA). Some students fear this exam, but I see it as an opportunity to boycott the rigour of entering through UTME. Many students go through UTME while few go through A level. So, if you can do excellently well, it will be an easy ride for you. After finishing this exam, you must purchase a Direct Entry form for the university to offer you admission.
Through JUPEB
The Joint Universities Preliminary Examinations Board (JUPEB) is approved by FG and is responsible for conducting common and standard examinations for candidates seeking direct entry admissions into university courses at the 200 Level in Nigeria. As it is now, more than 50% of the universities in Nigeria partake in JUPEB programs. For example, if you go for the University of Lagos (UNILAG) JUPEB and have 14-15 points, you have almost a 100% chance of being admitted to your chosen course
Through IJMB
Interim Joint Matriculation Board (IJMB) is an approved program by the Federal Government, and Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) is the moderator of it. It is also an excellent way to gain admission into the 200 level through DE once you have at least 13 points in the final exam.
Lastly, to enter a university in Nigeria, you can also obtain a pre-degree form from some universities in Nigeria that are conducting the program. The program is for candidates seeking admission into the 100 level.
