Education requires careful planning and action. Your parents often start this planning to prepare you for the future. Think of it like a farmer who decides to plant yam. The farmer first finds the best land, sources the best seeds, waits for the right weather, and prepares the soil before planting. At the end of the season, the farmer harvests the yam. Your journey to gain admission into Nigerian Institutions—whether University, Polytechnics, or Colleges of Education—follows a similar path of preparation.
The key point is that you must prepare well and meet the qualifications to gain admission into your desired university and chosen course of study.
I have broken down every step you should take, or should have taken, to reach the stage of securing admission into your choice of Nigerian Institution.
Now let us start.
How to gain Admission into the Nigeria Institutions
This information is detailed, interesting, and educational. The comment section is open in case you have any questions on this topic. Let us go on.
Phase 1 (The Foundation): Obtaining Primary School Leaving Cerificate
Obtaining your Primary School Leaving Certificate is the foundation of your educational progress. It qualifies you for the next level. This primary education usually takes six years to complete. In your final year, typically Primary 5 or 6, you will enrol for the Common Entrance Examination. You need to pass this exam, usually requiring credit/passes in about 7 to 8 subjects, which MUST include English and Mathematics.
From here, you can move to Phase 2: Secondary School. You must have your original leaving certificate because it is a requirement for admission into any Secondary School in Nigeria.
Phase 2: Secondary School
Secondary school in Nigeria also takes six years to complete, but there are stages within it.
The first three years is Junior Secondary (JSS). This stage leads to the Basic Education Certificate (BEC).
The next three years is Senior Secondary (SSS). This stage prepares you for the SSCE examinations (WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB). You are a successful student when you pass the SSCE, either by clearing all subjects or by getting credits in at least five relevant subjects, including English and Mathematics.
I have explained the differences and similarities between WAEC, NECO, and NABTEB on another page. Understand which one you may prefer.
The subjects you pass MUST meet the requirements for your chosen course and institution (University, Polytechnics, or Colleges of Education).
Phase 3: Tertiary Admission (UTME/Direct Entry)
This is the point where you decide between a University (for a Degree), a Polytechnic (for an ND/HND), or a College of Education (for an NCE/Degree).
Check out our other page to better understand the differences between a University, Polytechnic, and College of Education.
However, you must meet specific requirements before you can apply for admission into any Nigerian tertiary institution through UTME or Direct Entry.
These requirements or preparations include:
- Obtaining your NIN from a National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) centre. This is mandatory for generating a JAMB profile code.
- Securing at least five credit passes (including English and Mathematics) in relevant subjects from WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB. For most courses and institutions, you must achieve this in no more than two sittings. Competitive courses like Medicine often require one sitting.
- You must generally be at least 16 years old by the time you apply.
After you gather these documents, you can proceed to the next stage: JAMB Registration (UTME/Direct Entry). This has its own process, including JAMB profile code generation, purchasing an e-PIN, and completing the CBT registration. I have provided a detailed separate page that explains how to register for JAMB UTME from start to finish.
After you complete the JAMB registration, you will sit for the UTME. They conduct this exam on a computer, so they call it a Computer Based Test (CBT).
We have dedicated content on how to check your JAMB score online. You can access the page for the full guide.
Once you complete this step, check your JAMB result. If you meet your institution’s cut off mark, you must upload your final O’Level results to the JAMB Central Admission Processing System (CAPS) portal to be eligible for admission. Your cut off mark helps determine which institution will consider you for admission. Please note that the system does not randomly assign institutions to you. It selects from the institutions and courses you chose during your JAMB registration, based on your score.
The process does not end here.
Phase 4: Examination and Screening
After JAMB releases results, you must monitor your chosen institution’s portal for Post UTME or screening registration. Most schools require a minimum JAMB score (often between 140 and 200+, depending on the institution) and a separate screening fee. Other registration and documentation processes follow. The major requirements are usually your O’Level results and your JAMB result.
Phase 5: Admission Acceptance
You must regularly check your admission status on the JAMB CAPS portal using our guide. Offers will appear as “Admission Offered”. You must officially ACCEPT the admission offer on the CAPS portal if you want it. If you do not, you may lose the admission.
At this point, your admission letter will be available on the JAMB portal for printing. Therefore, after you accept the offer, proceed to print your official JAMB Admission Letter and Result Slip. You need these for physical registration.
Phase 6: Institutional Clearance
Visit your institution’s official portal to pay the non refundable acceptance fee. Then, you must physically present your original credentials (O’Level results, birth certificate, LGA identification) at the institution’s admissions office for final verification and clearance.
After you complete this process, you will receive your matriculation number (also called a registration number). This number identifies you throughout your stay at the institution.
The matriculation/registration number is a unique number the institution gives to each admitted student who has completed all required payments and registration.
Phase 7: Matriculation and Continuation of your Studies
This is the final phase of gaining admission into Nigerian Institutions (Universities, Polytechnics, and Colleges of Education). Your institution will announce a date for matriculation. This day is usually a ceremony for new students. It is also an avenue for the institution to address the new students so they understand the rules and codes of conduct.
As long as you remain disciplined and pay your fees, your studies will continue until your designed year of graduation. This duration varies—some courses take 3 years, 4 years, 6 years, etc. It depends on the course and whether the institutional body goes on strike, which is a major issue that prolongs years of study in Nigeria. We have listed more causes on another page; check it out for full details.
As you have read this whole content, I hope you will share this page with all young and incoming students, and their parents, so they understand the complete steps required to gain admission into any Nigerian University, Polytechnic, or College of Education.
Also, use the comment section below for questions and contributions. One of our admins will always be glad to respond swiftly.