Thousands of admission seekers across Nigeria now have a fresh opportunity to secure tertiary institution admission without sitting for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), following the Federal Government’s approval of exemptions for selected programmes.
The development, which mainly affects Colleges of Education and some specialised programmes, is expected to ease admission pressure on candidates and expand access to higher education.
Under the new arrangement, candidates seeking admission into Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) programmes and certain agriculture-related courses in approved institutions may no longer be required to write UTME before gaining admission.
Education stakeholders have described the policy as a major relief for students struggling with repeated UTME challenges and limited university admission slots.
How To Apply for UTME-Exempted Courses
Candidates interested in the programmes are expected to follow these steps:
Choose an Approved Institution
Applicants are advised to select recognised Colleges of Education or institutions offering the exempted programmes.
Some of the institutions include:
Yaba College of Technology
Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka
Adeyemi Federal University of Education
Check Admission Requirements
Most institutions require:
At least four relevant O’Level credits
WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB results
Credit in English Language
Mathematics for some science-related courses
Visit School Admission Portal
Applicants are expected to:
Fill online admission forms
Upload required credentials
Select preferred courses
Submit passport photographs and identification documents
Pay Application Fee
Application and screening fees vary across institutions, usually ranging from ₦2,000 to ₦10,000.
Participate in Screening
Depending on the institution, candidates may undergo:
Online screening
Physical verification
Interview or aptitude assessment
Await Admission Notification
Successful applicants will receive admission details, registration procedures, and school fee schedules from their chosen institutions.
Despite the UTME exemption, education authorities noted that some schools may still require candidates to register with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board for documentation and admission processing purposes.
The policy is expected to increase enrolment in Colleges of Education and address declining interest in teacher education programmes nationwide.