The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced firm deadlines for the 2025 admission cycle, a move designed to restore order to Nigeria’s often disrupted academic calendar.
In its weekly bulletin released on Monday, the examination body directed public universities to complete admissions by October 31, 2025, while private universities must wrap up theirs by November 30, 2025. Other tertiary institutions, including colleges of education and polytechnics, have until December 31, 2025 to conclude the process.
According to JAMB, the new schedule was ratified at the 2025 Policy Meeting chaired by the Minister of Education. Officials explained that the decision is part of a broader effort to ensure fairness in admission opportunities while preventing unnecessary delays that push academic sessions off track.
“Even if an institution is not ready to begin a new academic session immediately, it is still expected to process and archive admissions before the deadline,” the bulletin stressed.
The board also cautioned universities and colleges conducting post-UTME screenings to complete them swiftly in order to comply with the timetable. By enforcing these strict cut-off dates, JAMB hopes to provide students with timely clarity and ensure institutions align with a nationally coordinated academic calendar.
Education analysts say the move could reduce the perennial uncertainty faced by students waiting endlessly for admission lists. For parents and guardians, it also offers predictability in planning ahead for tuition, accommodation, and other academic expenses.
With Nigeria’s tertiary education sector often plagued by disruptions, this policy is being viewed as an important step toward stabilising the academic journey of thousands of young Nigerians.