The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has directed public universities in Nigeria to conclude their 2025 admission processes no later than October 31, 2025.

The announcement, contained in JAMB’s latest weekly bulletin, forms part of a nationwide admission timeline approved during the 2025 Policy Meeting chaired by the Minister of Education.

According to the schedule, private universities are expected to wrap up their admissions by November 30, while all other tertiary institutions whether public or private must close admissions by December 31, 2025.

JAMB explained that the policy is aimed at bringing greater order to the nation’s admission system, stabilising the academic calendar, and ensuring that all applicants have fair access to available spaces across universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.

“Following the directives issued at the 2025 Policy Meeting, all tertiary institutions are required to finalise admissions within the approved timelines,” the board stated. 

“Even where an institution is not yet ready to begin a new session, admissions should be conducted and archived to avoid unnecessary delays.”

The board also stressed that institutions organising post-UTME screenings must complete them promptly to align with the timetable. This, JAMB noted, would help prevent overlaps that often disrupt academic schedules.

By enforcing these deadlines, the admission body hopes to eliminate the frequent extensions that have in the past prolonged admission cycles, allowing schools to plan ahead and students to begin their studies without uncertainty.