If you were planning to register for IJMB for the 2026/2027 session, that door has closed. The board has shut its registration portal, so no new applications are being accepted. Your Direct Entry plan is not dead, though. For most students in this position, the route still open is JUPEB.
What the portal closing actually means
The IJMB close portal announcement comes down to a few concrete things:
- New candidates cannot create an account or start a fresh application.
- Payments for registration can no longer be made through the portal.
- Applications that were not submitted before the deadline will not be processed.
If you already registered and submitted before the close, your application is not affected. Follow up through the official IJMB channel you applied through so you know what happens next.
Why this matters more than it sounds
IJMB and JUPEB are both Advanced Level programmes. Students take them after secondary school, sit final examinations, and use the result to apply for Direct Entry admission into Nigerian universities, usually into 200 level.
For students who missed the cut-off for a competitive course in JAMB, or who want to skip the 100 level bottleneck, that is the entire point of the programme.
So when registration closes, the problem is not just administrative. It is a full session gone, unless you can find another A-level route quickly. That is why so many candidates are asking whether there is any way around the closing date.
There isn't. Once a board closes its portal, registration stops. Anyone telling you otherwise is not being honest with you.
JUPEB is the route still open
JUPEB, the Joint Universities Preliminary Examinations Board, runs a similar one-year Advanced Level programme, and its result is also used for Direct Entry admission. At the time this was written, JUPEB registration for the coming session was still open.
Two things to keep in mind.
First, the JUPEB window will not stay open forever either, and it can close earlier than students expect.
Second, JUPEB registration is often handled through an affiliated institution or study centre rather than by applying completely on your own. In practice, many candidates register through the school where they intend to do the programme.
So confirm the current status on JUPEB's official platform and speak to the centre you want to attend. Do it this week, not next week.
Steps to take if you have not registered anywhere
- Confirm JUPEB's registration status. Go to the official JUPEB platform or the institution you want to attend. Do not rely on WhatsApp forwards.
- Check that your intended university and course accept the result. Universities publish their Direct Entry requirements, and some courses have specific rules about which A-level results they take.
- Register before the window closes, and keep your payment receipts and confirmation slips.
- If JUPEB is not possible either, look at other entry routes. National Diploma, NCE and other recognised qualifications can also lead to Direct Entry, though requirements differ by institution and course. JAMB's Direct Entry brochure is the document to read.
- Call the admissions office of your target university. They can tell you what they will accept for your course in the coming session.
Mistakes to avoid right now
Paying an agent who claims to have a back door into IJMB registration. If the portal has closed, there is no back door, and money sent to such a person is usually money lost.
Assuming every university treats JUPEB the same way. Direct Entry requirements vary. A result that works for your friend's course at one university may not work for yours at another.
Waiting to see if IJMB reopens. It does not normally reopen mid-session for new candidates, and planning around a possible reopening wastes the weeks you could have spent on JUPEB.
Ignoring the details of the JUPEB programme itself. The subjects you take have to match the course you want, and you should understand how the grades are combined into points before you choose.
Where to confirm the details
Anything about dates, fees, subject combinations and admission requirements should come straight from the official source. For JUPEB, that means the JUPEB board and the affiliated institution you plan to attend. For Direct Entry requirements, that means JAMB's brochure and the university's own admissions office.
This article cannot give you the current JUPEB deadline or fee, because those details change and only the board can confirm them.
If you have not registered for any A-level programme yet, treat this week as your deadline. Check the JUPEB platform, call the centre, and get your application in.
FAQ
Can I still register for IJMB for the 2026/2027 session?
No. Registration has closed for the session and new applications are not being accepted through the portal. Anyone promising to process an IJMB registration for you now is not offering a genuine service.
Is JUPEB registration still open?
At the time of writing, yes. But that status can change quickly, so confirm it yourself on the official JUPEB platform or with the institution you want to attend, rather than relying on a forwarded message.