JAMB Change of Course and Institution: How It Works

Not every candidate ends up with the course and school they first picked. Maybe your score is lower than expected, maybe the course cut-off rose, or maybe you simply changed your mind. JAMB allows candidates to change their course or institution within certain limits, and doing it properly can rescue your admission chances. This guide explains the process as reported for 2026, and how to avoid the common pitfalls.

Rules, fees and timing are set by JAMB each year. The 2027 change window has not been announced that we could find. Always confirm on jamb.gov.ng and the official portal.

When it makes sense

Consider a change if:

• Your UTME score is clearly below your target course's recent cut-off.
• You want a related course with a lower demand.
• You prefer another university, polytechnic or college of education.
• There is an error in your recorded course or school.

Before you change, compare your score with the options. Our guide on the JAMB score you need for admission shows how to think about cut-offs.

What the process looks like (as reported for 2026)

Reports describe these steps. The portal menus may be worded differently in your year.

1. Go to the e-Facility portal at efacility.jamb.gov.ng and log in.
2. Open "Correction of Data" on your dashboard and choose course change, institution change or both for your exam year.
3. Pick the new course and institution. Make sure the course accepts your four UTME subjects.
4. Pay the fee through the payment options the portal offers, and keep the receipt.
5. Check whether a CBT centre visit is needed. Reports conflict: some guides describe an online-only route, while others say payment and biometric verification must be done at an accredited CBT centre, with an extra service charge. Follow what the portal tells you for your year.
6. Save your correction slip, then confirm on CAPS that your new course and institution appear.

Use only JAMB's official channels. Do not give your login details to an agent who promises to "change it for you".

Fees: what is reported

Sources disagree. Most put the official fee at about N2,500 plus a CBT centre service charge. One guide mentions N3,500 for institution or biodata corrections, and another mentions a very small figure if done at a centre. Treat all of these as reports only and check the amount shown on the portal before you pay. Pay only through official payment steps, and keep your receipt.

Check eligibility before you start

• Subject combination. If your new course needs different subjects from the ones you wrote, you cannot use that course. See our subject combination guide.
• Score versus cut-off. Guides say the new course's cut-off should not exceed your score. A school may also set a higher departmental mark.
• Timing. One guide says the window typically closes when post-UTME registrations begin, but others say JAMB has not announced a closing date. Check the portal and ask the school if you are unsure.
• Limits. School Registry NG, a third-party guide, says you can make a maximum of three changes each for course and institution. We could not confirm that with JAMB, so plan to change once, not many times.
• After accepting admission. Reports say you cannot change once you accept an offer on CAPS.

Common mistakes

• Picking a course without checking subjects. You pay and still cannot be considered.
• Waiting too long. If the window closes, you cannot change.
• Using unofficial agents. Scams target candidates in a hurry.
• Ignoring the post-UTME. Some schools screen candidates by their chosen course; changing late may leave you without a slot.
• Forgetting to check CAPS. The change only helps if it shows up there.

After the change

1. Confirm the new course and school on CAPS.
2. Read the new school's post-UTME or screening notice and register on time.
3. Check how your scores combine in the school's formula with our post-UTME aggregate calculator guide.
4. Keep an eye on your admission status: see how to check JAMB admission status.

If a change is not possible

If your score is too low for any suitable change, there are other roads: a polytechnic or college of education, Direct Entry later with an A-level or national diploma, or a retake. Read our JAMB Direct Entry guide for that route, and how to check your JAMB result to confirm the score you are working with.

A short decision checklist

Before you spend money, tick each item:

• I know my UTME score and my four subjects.
• The new course accepts those four subjects.
• I have compared my score with the new course's published or recent cut-off.
• I have checked whether the school has deadlines for screening.
• I am using only the official JAMB portal (and an accredited centre if the portal asks for one).
• I have a receipt and a plan to confirm the change on CAPS.

If you cannot tick them all, pause. A rushed change can leave you worse off than before.

Finally, speak to someone who has been through it. A teacher, a senior student in your target department or the school's admissions office can tell you how competitive the course really is. That conversation is free, and it often reveals options that online lists miss.

Keep building your score

If you plan to retake the UTME, or you need a stronger post-UTME mark to make a new course work, regular practice is your lever. ExamPadi has 46,182 practice questions across JAMB, WAEC, NECO and NABTEB, with free daily practice and a Pro tier for full timed mocks. Start with the JAMB practice hub. We cannot promise admission, but a clear plan and steady practice put you in a stronger position whichever course you choose.