Candidates seeking admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions are expected to begin adjustments to their admission details following the release of institutional cut-off marks and ongoing screening exercises across universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.
Institutions are beginning to meet departmental requirements for highly competitive courses such as Medicine and Surgery, Nursing, Pharmacy, Law, Computer Science and Mass Communication. While some candidates comfortably met the benchmarks for their preferred programmes, others fell short and are now exploring alternatives that may improve their chances of securing admission this year.
One of the major options available to affected candidates is the Change of Course or Institution process conducted through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board’s Central Admission Processing System, popularly known as CAPS.
The process allows candidates to switch from one course to another or move to a different institution entirely if their UTME score, O’level result or subject combination does not satisfy the requirements of their original choice.
Tribune Online had earlier reported that JAMB officially opened the 2026 UTME Change of Institution and Course portal for candidates seeking admission adjustments across tertiary institutions in the country.
Although many candidates believe the process can be completed with a mobile phone, admission experts insist that the official procedure still requires biometric verification at an accredited CBT centre before any change can reflect on the CAPS dashboard.
Officials also warn candidates against making random course changes without checking admission requirements because universities rely heavily on CAPS records during final admission processing.
Why candidates apply for Change of Course
The competition for admission into some departments remains one of the biggest reasons candidates apply to change courses every admission season. Courses such as Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy and Law usually attract very high cut-off marks because of limited admission quotas and the large number of applicants seeking placement into those programmes.
Candidates who fail to meet the required scores are often advised to move to related or less competitive courses where their UTME results may still stand a realistic chance of gaining admission.
Apart from low UTME scores, many candidates also discover during admission screening that their O’level subjects do not satisfy the requirements for their chosen programme.
In some cases, students realise too late that they selected the wrong UTME subject combination during registration, automatically making them ineligible for admission into certain departments.
What candidates must know before applying
Before candidates proceed to apply for a change of course JAMB CAPS, first study the admission requirements for the intended course carefully. Many students rush into changing programmes immediately after seeing departmental cut-off marks without verifying whether they possess the required O’level subjects and UTME combination for the new course.
JAMB’s official brochure contains the approved requirements for every programme offered in Nigerian tertiary institutions, and candidates are encouraged to consult it before making any final decision.
Applicants are also expected to confirm whether their preferred institution is still accepting changes because some universities stop processing modifications once screening progresses to advanced stages.
Candidates should equally note that the official JAMB fee for Change of Course or Institution remains N2,500, although accredited CBT centres may charge additional service fees for registration and printing.
Documents and details required at the CBT Centre
Candidates intending to Apply for change of course JAMB CAPS are expected to visit an accredited CBT centre with all necessary details required for the correction exercise.
The JAMB registration number remains the most important requirement because it gives operators access to the candidate’s admission profile. Applicants are also expected to provide the phone number and email address linked to their JAMB account for verification purposes.
Candidates should go with their O’level result details as institutions may reject applications from students who do not possess the compulsory credits required for their preferred programme. Candidates changing to courses without first confirming whether their results satisfy the admission conditions attached to those programmes.
Applicants are equally advised to prepare for the official correction fee and service charges requested by CBT operators. Since biometric verification is compulsory, candidates cannot ask relatives or friends to process the change on their behalf.
Step-by-Step process to apply for change of course JAMB CAPS
Step 1: Visit an accredited CBT centre
Candidates must first go to a JAMB-approved accredited CBT centre to begin the change of course or institution process. Only authorised centres can process corrections on the JAMB CAPS portal.
Step 2: Complete biometric verification
At the CBT centre, biometric verification is carried out to confirm the candidate’s identity before any modification can be made to the profile.
Step 3: Access the JAMB eFacility Portal
After successful verification, the CBT operator logs into the candidate’s JAMB profile through the official JAMB eFacility portal and opens the ‘Correction of Data’ section.
Step 4: Select the Preferred Correction Option
Candidates are required to choose the type of correction they want to make. They can decide to change only their course,change only their institution, change both course and institution simultaneously
Step 5: Enter the new course or institution
The operator then inputs the candidate’s new preferred course and institution based on the candidate’s UTME score, admission requirements and eligibility.
Step 6: Crosscheck all details carefully
Candidates are advised to carefully review all entries before submission. Errors involving spellings, institution codes or programme selections could affect admission processing later.
Step 7: Make payment and submit the request
Once payment for the correction is completed successfully, the request is submitted on the portal.
Step 8: Collect the printout
A printout confirming the correction request is issued immediately after submission as evidence of the successful application.
Step 9: Monitor CAPS for update
The updated information usually reflects on JAMB CAPS shortly after processing. Candidates are advised to regularly monitor their admission status through the official JAMB portal.
Why CAPS consistency matters during admission
Admission experts continue to warn candidates about the dangers of having conflicting records on CAPS and institutional portals during admission processing. Many students successfully update their courses on school portals but fail to reflect the same changes on JAMB CAPS, creating discrepancies that may affect admission approval.
Universities rely heavily on CAPS for final admission uploads and verification. Where the programme displayed on CAPS differs from the one submitted during institutional screening, institutions may be unable to process the admission successfully.
Candidates are therefore advised to ensure that their institution name, course, O’level records and admission details correspond correctly across all admission platforms. Candidates combining two sitting results can also check the official portal on how to go about it.
Likely mistakes candidates may experience during Change of Course
Admission officers warn candidates against making emotional decisions while choosing new courses during the correction process. Some candidates switch to programmes they know little about simply because they believe admission chances may be higher there. Others fail to check if their O’level subjects align with the requirements for the new programme before completing the change.
There are also cases where candidates patronise unofficial cybercafes claiming they can process CAPS corrections without biometric verification. JAMB has repeatedly warned candidates against using unapproved centres because unofficial changes may fail to reflect properly on admission records.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many times can I change my course on JAMB CAPS?
Candidates can apply for multiple course changes depending on admission timelines and institutional deadlines. However, payment is required each time a new correction request is submitted.
Can I apply for a Change of Course using my phone?
No. The official process still requires biometric verification at an accredited CBT centre before any modification can be completed successfully.
How long does it take for Change of Course to reflect on CAPS?
For many candidates, the update appears almost immediately after submission. However, some corrections may take several hours depending on system traffic and processing delays.