How to Process a Change of Course or Institution on JAMB Portal

If your UTME results did not turn out the way you expected, your original plans do not have to fall apart. Many students give up hope when they see a low score, forgetting that the system provides a window for correction. If you scored between 150 and 190 and originally picked a highly competitive school or course, your smartest move is to adjust your application data immediately to fit your reality.

The green portal is currently open for data correction, and you can change your choices to schools that match your actual performance.

How to Know If You Need a Data Correction

You need to initiate a data correction immediately if your score falls into any of these real-world scenarios.

First, if your UTME score is below the institutional baseline of your chosen school (for example, scoring 180 when UNILAG requires a minimum of 200). Second, if your score meets the school’s general requirement but falls way below the departmental standard for your course (like having a 210 while aiming for Medicine). Third, if you discovered an error in your subject combination that disqualifies you from studying your chosen discipline.

The Right Way to Select an Alternative Institution

When changing your school, look closely at institutions that actively look for students within your score range.

State Universities: Many state-owned institutions outside major commercial centers accept scores from 150 to 170 for regular courses.

Federal Universities in Emerging Zones: Look toward newer federal institutions in northern or southern locations. They often maintain a lower baseline to meet their admission quotas.

Polytechnics and Colleges of Education: If your score sits between 100 and 140, public polytechnics offer a very secure path. You can complete a two-year National Diploma (ND) program and transition into a university through Direct Entry later.

Step by Step Procedure for Data Correction

You cannot perform this correction through a regular phone browser or a standard cyber cafe link. You must visit an approved registration center to complete the process securely.

Locate the nearest accredited CBT center in your area.

Go with a fee of 2,500 Naira for the official portal correction form (excluding minor center service charges).

Provide your registration number to the operator, who will open your active profile.

Specify the new university or course you want to switch to.

Allow the operator to capture your fingerprints for biometric verification.

Confirm the changes on the operator’s screen before they hit the final submit button.

Collect your newly printed data correction slip for your records.

How Long It Takes for Changes to Reflect

Once you complete the process and collect your slip, the changes register on the main database instantly. However, it might take a few days or up to two weeks for the new institution to pull your data into their internal Post-UTME screening portal.

For this reason, do not wait until the day before a school closes its screening registration to perform a change of institution. Do it early so your data transfers cleanly before the screening deadline catches up with you.