Gaining admission through the JAMB examination can be a challenging and equally frustrating experience for many students in Nigeria.
I wrote JAMB five (5) times, and I know the pain I had to go through those years trying to gain admission to study my dream course at the university.
The truth is, if you’ve been getting a low JAMB score in your previous exams, there are alternative routes you can employ to gain admission to a tertiary institution.
At this point, I want to clarify that these alternatives would still require you to register for the JAMB exam, but your score won’t be a determining factor for your admission. For example, if you get a JAMB score of 200, you can still get the opportunity to study a course like Medical Laboratory Science.
In this post, I will reveal the most reliable ways to gain admission without passing the JAMB exam. Please feel free to comment if you have any questions or need further clarification. I would love to hear from you.
Table of contents
How to Gain Admission Without Writing JAMB in Nigeria
There are five (5) ways you can gain admission without JAMB;
- Pre-Degree Programme
- JUPEB Programme
- School of Nursing Science
- IJMB Programme
- College of Health Technology
Pre-Degree Programme
The pre-degree programme is the best alternative route to gaining admission to the university if you’re struggling with a low JAMB score.
Pre-degree is a one (1) year academic session programme organised by Nigerian universities to teach secondary school graduates O-level and A-level course materials. After completing the programme, successful students will be eligible for admission to the first year at the university.
In simple terms, you purchase the pre-degree form, and after admission, you will receive lectures for two semesters and take tests and exams. A successful student would be admitted to the first year at the school.
For this programme, you would still need to sit for the JAMB exam as the Joint Admission Matriculation Board regulates all admission to the university. But your JAMB score does not affect your admission chances through the pre-degree programme.
What I love about this programme is that you stand a double chance of admission. Since what you would be taught at the pre-degree programme is similar to the JAMB syllabus, you would be able to get a high JAMB score to stand a better chance of admission.
Many universities offer Diploma, Pre-degree, or Remedial Studies programmes. Here are a few examples;
- UNIPORT Diploma
- UNILAG Diploma (Foundation Programme)
- LASU Diploma
- Rivers State University (RSU) Pre-degree
- FUTO Pre-degree
- UNIZIK Foundation Programme
- EBSU Pre-degree Programme
- Many federal and state universities
JUPEB Programme
JUPEB is one of the most popular alternatives to JAMB. JUPEB stands for Joint Universities Preliminary Examinations Board.
It is an A-level programme organised by universities for admission to the second year through the JAMB direct entry.
JUPEB is similar to the pre-degree programme, but the major difference is that, unlike the pre-degree programme, where students start from the first year, JUPEB students will gain admission to the second year. Another difference is cost; JUPEB is more expensive than pre-degree.
How It Works
- You register for JUPEB at an accredited centre or university.
- After the programme, you write JUPEB exams.
- You use the JUPEB result to gain Direct Entry (200 Level) admission into universities that accept JUPEB.
Universities That Accept JUPEB
- UNILAG
- UNN
- UNIZIK
- LASU
- OAU
- UI
- UNILORIN
- EBSU
- UNIBEN
- FUNAAB
- NDU
- FUTA
- FUTO
- Many state and private universities
School of Nursing Science
The College or School of Nursing Science is the best alternative route for students who want to become nurses.
Nursing science is studied at the university for five (5) years, but you can equally attend a College of Nursing Science for three (3) years to become a Nurse.
Some schools of nursing, such as the UNTH School of Nursing, now offer degree programmes in nursing.
Here is how you can gain admission to a school of nursing;
- Buy the school’s admission form
- Write their entrance exam
- Begin your Nursing programme (RN, RM, ND Nursing, HND Nursing)
- Later, you can convert to a university degree through Direct Entry
Popular Schools of Nursing
- UBTH School of Nursing
- UNTH School of Nursing
- LUTH School of Nursing
- Delta State School of Nursing
- OAUTHC School of Nursing
- Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) School of Nursing
- Many state and privately owned nursing colleges
IJMB Programme
IJMB stands for Interim Joint Matriculation Board. It is similar to JUPEB but older and widely accepted, especially in Northern Nigeria.
For this programme, students are taught A-level courses to gain admission to their preferred universities via direct entry to the second year.
Here is how the IJMB programme works;
- 9–11 months programme
- After exams, you apply to any IJMB-affiliated university using Direct Entry.
- You enter the 200 level
Popular Universities that Accept IJMB
- ABU Zaria (founders of IJMB)
- UNIJOS
- GSU
- KASU
- Bayero University
- Many private universities
College of Health Technology
College of Health Technology is an amazing option for science students who want to study medical-related courses like Pharmacy, Medical Laboratory Science, etc.
At this College, you will undergo three (3) years of training where you will be awarded a diploma certificate. With this certification, you can either work as a professional or further your education at the university through direct entry.
School of Health Technology Courses
Some of the courses offered at schools of health technology include;
- Community Health
- Medical Laboratory Technician
- Pharmacy Technician
- Environmental Health
- Public Health
- Health Information Management
I recommend this option for students currently waiting for admission to the university, but who have a low JAMB score.
Conclusion
Gaining admission into a Nigerian university without passing JAMB is 100% possible. Whether you choose JUPEB, IJMB, Diploma, Part-Time, NOUN, or a School of Nursing, multiple pathways fit different goals and certificates.
Let me know using the comment box below if you have any questions or need further clarification. I would love to assist you.
