JAMB Change of Course and Institution 2026: Fee, Steps and Deadline

Maybe your UTME score did not reach the cut-off for your first-choice course. Maybe you discovered your subject combination does not match the course you picked, or the institution you chose is not offering you admission. Whatever the reason, JAMB allows you to change your course, your institution, or both — under its Correction of Data service. This guide covers the real cost, the correct steps, how many times you can do it, and the checks to make before you pay.

How Much Does JAMB Change of Course/Institution Cost?

Budget for two separate charges:

• JAMB’s official fee: ₦2,600. The change is an “Application for Correction of Data”, which JAMB charges at ₦2,500 plus a ₦100 service charge.
• The CBT centre’s service charge: the accredited centre that completes the change for you will add its own fee, typically ₦500–₦1,000. This is set by the centre, not by JAMB.

So a realistic total is ₦3,000 to ₦3,500. If a centre quotes far above that, try another accredited centre. And do not pay a cyber café to “do it online” for you — JAMB has warned repeatedly that it will not entertain complaints about changes made at unapproved centres, and in the current cycle the change has to be completed at an accredited CBT centre anyway.

Who Can Apply, and When?

The change window opens for each UTME cycle after results are released. For 2026 candidates it opened in mid-May 2026. JAMB does not announce one fixed closing date — the window runs alongside the admission exercise, which for 2026 closes on 31 October 2026 for public universities, 30 November 2026 for private universities, and 31 December 2026 for polytechnics and colleges of education.

In practice, your real deadline is earlier than those dates: your new institution must still be screening or admitting when your change is processed, and the change needs time to reflect on your profile. If you are reading this during the admission season, treat it as urgent and confirm at the CBT centre that the institution you want is still accepting changed candidates.

Before You Apply: Five Checks

A change you cannot undo cheaply is a change to research properly.

1. Check the JAMB brochure requirements for the new course — the O’level subjects and UTME subject combination must match, or you will be screened out later.
2. Compare your score with the new institution’s cut-off for that course in recent years. Changing to a course whose cut-off is above your score changes nothing.
3. Confirm the institution accepts candidates who changed to it, and find out whether its post-UTME/screening is still open.
4. Check your current admission status first. If you already have an offer on CAPS, think carefully before disturbing it — see our guide to checking your JAMB admission status.
5. Be certain. You have a limited number of changes (see below), so do not spend one on a guess.

This matters most for competitive courses. If you are switching towards Medicine or another health course, for example, compare what the change involves with our overview of the top medical courses to study in Nigeria — the cut-offs and subject requirements are unforgiving.

Step-by-Step: How to Apply

1. Start on the portal. Go to efacility.jamb.gov.ng and log in with the email and password on your JAMB profile.
2. Select Correction of Data, then Course/Institution. A Transaction ID is generated — note it down, as it is your reference for the payment.
3. Pay the ₦2,600 using the payment options shown (card or other channels listed on the portal). Keep the payment confirmation.
4. Go to a JAMB-accredited CBT centre with your profile code and registration details to complete the change. Your fingerprint/profile will be verified there — this step is why the process cannot be finished from a café or from home.
5. Make your selections carefully at the centre: new institution and/or new course. You can change course and institution together in one application.
6. Submit and print your change slip. Keep it safe; you may need it during admission processing.
7. Confirm the change by logging back into your profile/CAPS after a few days to see that the new institution/course is what now shows.

Changes can take some days to reflect on your profile and on your new institution’s screening portal, so do not leave it until the last day of a screening exercise.

How Many Times Can You Change?

JAMB’s stated position is that course/institution changes are allowed not more than two times — if your first change develops a genuine problem, you get one more. Other data corrections under the same service (name, date of birth, gender, state/LGA of origin) can be made only once. Treat the limit seriously: two changes across an entire admission season disappear quickly if you change on impulse, and each attempt costs the full fee again.

After Applying

Once your change reflects, watch your new institution’s screening announcements and your JAMB admission status on CAPS — your application now competes in the new institution’s pool. If admission does not come through this cycle, use the time well: our guide on how to pass JAMB without studying too hard will help you come back with a score that gets your first choice the first time.

Fees and windows for the 2027 cycle have not been announced by JAMB yet; the figures above are for the current (2026) cycle.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is JAMB change of course and institution in 2026?
JAMB charges ₦2,500 plus a ₦100 service charge (₦2,600). The accredited CBT centre adds its own charge, usually ₦500–₦1,000, so expect ₦3,000–₦3,500 in total.

Can I do the change of course entirely online?
No. You start the payment on the JAMB e-Facility portal, but the change is completed at a JAMB-accredited CBT centre with your biometric/profile verification.

What is the deadline for change of course/institution?
JAMB does not publish a single closing date. The practical deadline is your target institution’s admission/screening schedule, within the 2026 admission exercise (public universities close 31 Oct 2026; private universities 30 Nov 2026; polytechnics and colleges of education 31 Dec 2026).

How many times can I change my course or institution?
Not more than two times, according to JAMB’s stated position. Other data corrections, such as name or date of birth, can be done only once.

Can I change both my course and institution at the same time?
Yes — course and institution can be changed together in one application.

How long before the change reflects?
Usually a few days. Log in to your JAMB profile/CAPS to confirm, and allow the change to reflect before your new institution’s screening deadline.

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Sources: JAMB fee schedule as published for Correction of Data (₦2,500 + ₦100 service charge) — http://schoolnews.com.ng/jamb/change-of-course-institution/ (checked against jamb.gov.ng, 12 Oct 2026); JAMB Correction of Data steps — https://myschool.ng/questions/view/school-based-questions/164509 ; two-change limit (JAMB PRO statement) — https://schoolgist.ng/jamb-2017-change-of-course-institution-can-only-be-done-twice-jamb-55062 ; 2026 admission deadlines — https://businessday.ng/education/article/jamb-unveils-2026-admission-schedule-gives-candidates-four-week-acceptance-window/ ; JAMB e-Facility — https://efacility.jamb.gov.ng/.