The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has extended the deadline for candidates with outstanding admission offers from 2021 to date to either accept or reject their admissions. The affected offers may be from universities, polytechnics, colleges of education and other institutions participating in the JAMB admission process.
The Board has moved the deadline to Wednesday, 30 September 2026, providing affected candidates with additional time to regularise their admission status on the JAMB platform.
JAMB had previously announced Monday, 31 August 2026 as the deadline for candidates to respond to outstanding admission offers. The latest extension is being presented as a final opportunity, meaning candidates with pending offers are advised to take action before the new deadline expires.
Candidates With Pending JAMB Admission Offers Should Act
Candidates who have received admission offers but have not yet selected either the accept or reject option on their JAMB profile are encouraged to resolve their admission status as soon as possible.
The directive covers both regular and CUIIA admission offers that remain pending on candidates’ profiles.
Candidates should not assume that an old admission offer will automatically disappear. Instead, they should log into their JAMB CAPS profile, check their admission status and make the appropriate decision.
What Happens After Accepting the Admission?
Candidates who choose to accept their outstanding admission offers will be able to proceed with the relevant admission documentation, including the printing and collection of their JAMB admission letters.
Candidates who still intend to take up the offered admission should therefore ensure that they complete the acceptance process within the period provided by JAMB.
What Happens After Rejecting a Previous Admission?
Candidates who no longer wish to take up an old admission offer may reject it through their JAMB profile.
After rejection, the admission status will revert to “Not Admitted.” This allows JAMB to update its database and ensure that the candidate's record accurately reflects their current admission position.
Candidates Who Have Changed Institution or Course
JAMB has also addressed the situation of candidates who have moved away from the institution where their previous admission was offered or who are now studying a different programme.
Such candidates may accept the outstanding admission and subsequently apply for the relevant correction or deletion of the admission record, where necessary.
This option allows the Board to properly reconcile the candidate's admission history with their current academic status.
Candidates Pursuing Another Degree
Candidates who are currently enrolled in a second degree but still have an earlier admission offer showing as pending on their JAMB profile may reject the previous offer and continue with their present programme.
Such candidates should ensure that the old admission is properly resolved rather than leaving it pending indefinitely.
Will Rejecting an Old Admission Affect a 2026 Admission?
JAMB has clarified that candidates who have already secured admission through the 2026 admission exercise but still have an older admission offer pending should not be concerned.
They may reject the previous admission offer, and rejecting the old offer will not adversely affect their 2026 admission.
This clarification is important for candidates who have progressed to a new admission but still have an unresolved offer from an earlier admission exercise.
JAMB Warns Candidates Not to Miss the Final Deadline
According to JAMB, the extension is intended to provide affected candidates with a final opportunity to clearly indicate whether they want to retain or decline their outstanding admission offers.
It will also enable the Board to maintain accurate and up-to-date national admission records.
Candidates are strongly advised not to wait until the last day before taking action. They should check their JAMB CAPS profiles early and resolve any outstanding admission offer.
No Further Extension After September 30
JAMB has made it clear that there will be no further opportunity after the extended deadline.
At the end of the period, any outstanding admission offer from 2021 to date that has neither been accepted nor rejected will automatically be changed to “Not Admitted” and recorded accordingly in the Board's database.
Candidates should therefore treat the deadline as final and take the necessary action before it expires.
Important Notice to Candidates
Failure to accept an admission offer within the stipulated period may cause the offer to become invalid.
All affected candidates are advised to log into their JAMB CAPS accounts, review their outstanding admission offers and select the appropriate option without further delay.
