Explainer: List of courses to study without UTME

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has introduced a new admission policy that exempts candidates seeking admission into selected Education and Agriculture-related courses from writing the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

Under the new directive, candidates who wish to study Education programmes, as well as non-engineering Agriculture courses, will no longer be required to sit for the UTME as part of the admission process into tertiary institutions for the 2026 academic session.

According to the policy, affected candidates will still be required to register with JAMB for admission processing through the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS), but their entry will be based primarily on their O’Level results rather than UTME performance.

Education courses exempted from UTME

The Education programmes covered by the new directive include: Adult Education, Business Education, Early Childhood Education, Education and Biology, Education and Chemistry, Education and Economics, Education and English, Education and Geography, Education and Government,

Education and History, Education and Islamic Studies, Education and Mathematics, Education and Physics, Education and Political Science, Education and Social Studies, Educational Management, Guidance and Counselling, Health Education, Human Kinetics, Primary Education Studies, Special Education, and Technical Education.

Agriculture courses exempted from UTME

The Agriculture-related courses exempted from UTME include: Agriculture, Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Extension, Animal Science, Crop Science, Fisheries, Forestry, Soil Science, Agronomy, Horticulture, Plant Science, Animal Production, Fisheries and Aquaculture, and Forestry and Wildlife Management.

These programs are typically accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC) for universities or the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) for colleges.

Read also: JAMB sets 150 minimum score for universities, nursing colleges

However, JAMB clarified that the exemption does not apply to Agriculture-related Engineering courses such as Agricultural Engineering.

How admission will work

Under the new arrangement, candidates will be assessed mainly on their O’Level results, typically requiring at least five credit passes, including English Language and other relevant subjects depending on the course of study.

While UTME is no longer mandatory for the affected programmes, candidates are still expected to meet individual institutional requirements, including post-admission screening where applicable.

JAMB said the policy is part of efforts to address shortages in key professional areas such as teaching and agriculture, while also reducing barriers to entry for students interested in these critical sectors.

The board noted that easing admission requirements in these fields is aimed at encouraging more candidates to pursue careers in education and agriculture, which are essential to national development.

The new policy will take effect from the 2026 admission cycle across approved tertiary institutions, including universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.