"Undergraduates seeking to retake the UTME in 2026 must now formally disclose their existing matriculation status or face total forfeiture of all admissions."
In a significant policy shift for the 2026 admission cycle, JAMB has clarified that while current university undergraduates are not prohibited from sitting for the UTME, they are now legally required to disclose their matriculation status during the registration process. This directive, explained by JAMB Public Communication Adviser Dr. Fabian Benjamin, is aimed at curbing the 'multiple admission' phenomenon that clogs the Central Admission Processing System (CAPS). In previous years, students would remain enrolled in one institution while securing a fresh admission elsewhere, effectively holding two spots and denying other qualified candidates a chance.
This investigative report finds that JAMB's system has been upgraded with a cross-referencing algorithm that checks the 2026 applicant list against the national matriculation list of existing students. If a candidate is found to have concealed their current enrollment, they risk the 'Double Forfeiture' penalty: the immediate cancellation of their existing admission and the permanent withdrawal of the new 2026 offer. This policy is particularly critical for 100-level and 200-level students who seek to change courses or institutions by writing the UTME again rather than using the Inter-University Transfer window.
For these 'cross-over' candidates, the admission chances are now tied to their honesty and the timing of their withdrawal from their current institutions. Once a new admission is accepted on CAPS, the previous admission is legally and technically terminated in the database. This automated 'replacement' logic ensures that university quotas are managed more efficiently. Candidates are warned that 'self-styled' education consultants advising students to hide their status are misleading them into a trap, as the 2026 CAPS is more integrated with individual university registries than ever before. The takeaway for 2026 applicants is clear: transparency is the only way to safeguard your academic future.
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