IJMB vs JUPEB vs Direct Entry: How To Choose Before You Pay

Every year, families spend hundreds of thousands of naira on IJMB or JUPEB, and then discover that the university they wanted does not take it. That is a painful way to learn.

Before you pay anything, let us go through how Direct Entry works, what the difference is between these programmes, and the questions you must ask first.

What Direct Entry means

Direct Entry (DE) is a way to enter a university at 200 level without writing UTME, if you already have a qualification beyond secondary school. People use ND, HND, NCE, A Level, IJMB or JUPEB for this.

You still need five O'Level credits, including English and Mathematics, in not more than two sittings, and you must register with JAMB.

It is not a back door, and it is not automatic. The university still screens you, and the course you want may need particular subjects.

IJMB and JUPEB: what are they?

Both are one-year-ish advanced programmes that prepare you for 200 level in a university. IJMB is run in affiliation with Ahmadu Bello University, and JUPEB is run through a university-led board that works with many federal and private universities.

Both are taught at approved centres, usually for about nine months, and you write an exam at the end.

The two are not the same, and universities do not treat them the same. Some accept one, some accept both, and some accept neither.

IJMB and JUPEB side by side

Many parents ask which one is "stronger". The better question is which one fits your plan. This is how they compare on the things that matter when you are deciding.

• Who runs it: IJMB is linked to Ahmadu Bello University, while JUPEB is run through a board made up of universities. Because of this, schools in different parts of the country may lean towards one or the other.
• How long it takes: both usually run for about nine months to a year, and you write an exam at the end.
• What you study: you take a set of subjects tied to the course you want, for example Biology, Chemistry and Physics for Medicine, or Literature, Government and CRS for Law.
• What it gives you: a result that a university may use to place you into 200 level through Direct Entry, as long as the school accepts that programme.
• The cost: this changes from centre to centre and from year to year, so ask for a written breakdown before you pay anything.

Notice that none of these points settles the question. Acceptance is the only point that does, and that is decided by the university, not by the centre.

The mistake that costs the most

Do not choose between IJMB and JUPEB because a centre told you its own is "better". Choose based on what your target university accepts.

The University of Ibadan is a clear example. Its 2026/2027 Direct Entry notice says it does not recognise IJMB or JUPEP, and accepts WAEC, NECO, Cambridge A Level, NCE, ND, HND and degree certificates instead.

Other universities may take one or both, and online lists do not always agree with each other.

So the safe step is simple: write to the university's admissions office, or read its latest Direct Entry notice, and confirm in writing that your programme and your course are accepted.

Questions to ask before you pay any centre

A good centre will answer these without complaint. A bad one will talk around them.

• Is the centre approved by the examining board, and can I see the approval?
• Which universities accepted your students last year, and for which courses?
• What is the full cost, including exam fees and materials?
• Which subject combinations do you offer for my course?

Also ask your target university's department what subjects it wants. A student of Law and a student of Engineering will not take the same combination.

A simple way to choose in five steps

Follow these steps in order. They take a few days, and they can save you a full year and a lot of money.

1. Write down two or three universities and the exact course you want in each.
2. Open each university's Direct Entry notice or call its admissions office, and ask in plain words: "Do you accept IJMB, JUPEB, or both for this course?" Get the answer in writing or save the page.
3. Check the subjects that course wants at advanced level, and make sure the centre offers that exact combination.
4. Compare two or three approved centres on fees, results and distance from your home, then pick one.
5. Keep your O'Level in order from day one, because you still need five credits including English and Mathematics.

If the answers are different for your different choices, you have two options. Pick the programme that the school you want most accepts, or choose a route that every school accepts, such as an ND with a good grade or a fresh UTME.

How Direct Entry registration works

JAMB handles registration for Direct Entry, and it does it separately from UTME. For 2026, reports say the e-PIN cost ₦5,700, and you get it after linking your NIN to a SIM and receiving a profile code.

Registration for 2026 has already closed, so the next chance is the 2027 cycle. Watch JAMB's official notices, because dates and centres change each year.

After JAMB registration, each school runs its own screening, usually with online document uploads and a screening fee. Our guide on documents for screening and verification will help you prepare.

What if I have ND or HND?

Many ND and HND holders go to university through Direct Entry. Most schools ask for at least a Lower Credit for ND, and want the course to match the degree you want.

Check our guide on polytechnic ND admission if you are starting from that side.

Is Direct Entry better than UTME?

It depends on your situation. If your UTME score is low but your O'Level is strong, a year in IJMB or JUPEB may give you a better route into a competitive course.

If your score is already close to the cut-off, you may do better to wait for another UTME. Use our cut-off mark checker and the admission eligibility checker to see where you stand.

If you are still looking for options this year, read late admission options that work and admission without five credits.

Warning signs of a bad centre

Be careful with any centre that guarantees admission, asks you to pay into a personal account or refuses to show you its approval.

Nobody can guarantee you a place in a federal university, and many families lose a full year to people who say they can.

The bottom line

IJMB and JUPEB are both real routes to 200 level, and neither is a trick. They only become a problem when families pay first and ask questions later.

Decide your school and course first, confirm what that school accepts, and then choose your centre.

If you are not ready to do this before the next registration window, you may do better to prepare again for UTME and use our guide on changing course or institution to keep your options flexible.