List of Nigerian Universities That Accept IJMB for Admission 2025/2026

1. What is IJMB? (Definition & quick overview)

IJMB stands for Interim Joint Matriculation Board (commonly called IJMB or IJMBE). It is a nine-month Advanced-level (A-level) programme administered under the authority of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) and coordinated through IJMB study centres across Nigeria. On successful completion, candidates receive an IJMB certificate that many Nigerian universities recognize for Direct Entry (DE) admission into 200-level (second-year) for qualifying courses.

IJMB is popularly used by candidates who:

Missed the JAMB/UTME route or did not score high enough in JAMB, and want to gain direct entry into 200L.

Want an A-level style preparation to strengthen subject knowledge.

Prefer to spend one academic year on a focused advanced programme.

Official IJMB portal and coordinating pages provide registration and centre information. Always confirm that a specific university will accept an IJMB result for your intended course for the target year.

2. How IJMB works and why students use it (benefits & outcomes)

How the programme runs

Duration: Nine months (one academic year).

Subjects: Candidates typically study three core subjects relevant to their intended degree and one General Paper (GP).

Assessment: Continuous assessment plus final IJMB external exams. Results are issued as the IJMB certificate and sometimes grade points that universities convert to DE places.

Outcome: Eligible candidates can apply for Direct Entry (DE) into 200L at participating universities if they meet the course-specific IJMB grade requirements.

Why students choose IJMB

Faster pathway: One-year route to direct entry into 200L without having to repeat UTME/JAMB.

Academic preparation: Strong emphasis on subject depth; helps with readiness for degree-level work.

Alternative when UTME fails: Many use IJMB when they underperform in JAMB or want another route.

Recognized by many universities: Numerous federal, state and private universities accept IJMB — though acceptance and course coverage vary.

Practical note: Some universities accept IJMB into many faculties but restrict certain programmes (e.g., Medicine, Law, Engineering) or require higher IJMB points for those courses. Always check the target university’s direct-entry guidelines and departmental requirements.

3. Who accepts IJMB? — short answer and how acceptance works

Short answer: A large number of Nigerian federal, state and private universities accept IJMB for direct-entry admission into 200L for many courses — but not every university or every course accepts IJMB, and some accept it only for specific faculties or with restrictions.

How acceptance works:

IJMB is an A-level equivalent. Universities decide whether to recognize the certificate and set the minimum IJMB grade points (usually converted into “points” like 4, 5, 7, 10, etc.) for each course.

Some universities accept IJMB broadly (many faculties), while others accept it selectively (e.g., not for Medicine or Engineering).

There are three broad categories of accepting institutions:

Federal universities (many accept IJMB for many courses)

State universities (many accept IJMB but sometimes with conditions)

Private universities (often flexible and may accept IJMB widely)

 

Sources that maintain up-to-date lists include the official IJMB portal and recognized IJMB information hubs — they publish the universities that have historically accepted IJMB and update lists each year. But because acceptance can change, always confirm with the university admissions office for 2025/2026.

 

4. Full regional list of Nigerian universities that commonly accept IJMB (2025/2026) — with notes

> The list below is compiled from official IJMB coordinating resources and IJMB information hubs that track university acceptance. It focuses on universities that commonly accept IJMB for direct-entry. For each region I list high-profile examples and notes about typical restrictions. This is not an exhaustive legal list (some smaller/private universities not listed here may also accept IJMB), so confirm with each university before applying.

 

4.1 Federal universities (examples that commonly accept IJMB)

Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi.

Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.

Bayero University Kano (BUK).

Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUTMINNA).

Federal University Lokoja (FULOKOJA).

Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB).

University of Ilorin (UNILORIN).

University of Benin (UNIBEN).

University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT).

University of Jos (UNIJOS).
Notes: Many federal universities accept IJMB for a broad range of courses — but medicine, pharmacy, and engineering often have stricter point requirements or may disallow IJMB for certain years. Check departmental DE adverts.

4.2 State universities (examples)

Delta State University, Abraka (DELSU).

Abia State University, Uturu (ABSU).

Ekiti State University (EKSU).

Akwa Ibom State University (AKSU).

Benue State University (BSU).

Cross River University / University of Calabar (UNICAL).
Notes: State universities commonly accept IJMB, but specifics vary by state and department. Some state institutions may only accept IJMB for certain programmes or during certain intakes.

4.3 Private universities (examples)

Afe Babalola University (ABUAD) — sometimes accepts IJMB.

Babcock University — check DE guidelines.

Lead City University, Caleb University, and other private institutions often accept IJMB.
Notes: Private universities tend to be more flexible but also set their own DE requirements. Contact admissions directly.

4.4 Regional breakdown (representative, not exhaustive)

North-West & North-East: ABU Zaria, BUK, ATBU, Federal University Gashua, Federal University Kashere.

North-Central: UNILORIN, UNIJOS, Benue State University, Federal University Lafia.

South-West: UNILORIN, FUNAAB, Adekunle Ajasin University (AAUA), Ekiti State University (partial).

South-South: UNIBEN, UNIPORT, UNICAL, DELSU, UNIuyo.
These clusters are illustrative; check specific departmental acceptance and point requirement for 2025/2026.

5. How to use your IJMB result to gain admission — step-by-step (2025/2026)

Below is a practical guide for turning an IJMB certificate into a 200L Direct Entry admission.

Step 1 — Confirm eligibility and required subjects

Check the IJMB grade requirements for your target course at the university (some courses require higher points).

Ensure you took the correct subject combination (three relevant subjects + General Paper).

Step 2 — Obtain your official IJMB certificate & result

After the IJMB external exam, request/collect official results and certificate from your IJMB centre or the IJMB portal.

Step 3 — Prepare your documentation

Scanned copies of IJMB certificate/result, O’level results (WAEC/NECO) if needed, birth certificate/ID, passport photo, and any other documents required by the university.

Step 4 — Apply for Direct Entry (DE)

Apply on JAMB DE portal if required (some universities require JAMB DE registration or confirmation).

Apply directly to the university’s admissions portal for DE candidates (some universities manage DE applications internally).

Pay application fees where necessary.

Step 5 — Await departmental screening and admission offer

Some universities conduct DE screening exercises (interviews or subject tests). Attend these if invited.

If your IJMB grade meets the departmental cut-off and you pass any screening, the university may offer a 200L admission.Step 6 — Accept offer and register

When you receive a provisional admission letter, follow the university’s instructions to accept the offer, pay acceptance and school fees, and register for courses.

Important: Some universities require JAMB DE regularization even for IJMB entrants. Confirm the exact process for your chosen university for the 2025/2026 intake.

6. IJMB vs JUPEB vs Direct JAMB route — comparison and which to choose

Quick definitions

IJMB: Nine-month A-level programme coordinated by ABU; yields IJMB certificate accepted for DE into many Nigerian universities.

JUPEB: Joint Universities Preliminary Examinations Board — a similar A-level pathway coordinated by different universities and councils; also widely accepted.

UTME/JAMB (Direct UTME route): Standard unified tertiary matriculation examination; traditional route into 100L entrance.

Major differences

Duration: IJMB and JUPEB ≈ 9–12 months; JAMB route depends on UTME results and year.

Direct Entry: Both IJMB and JUPEB commonly allow 200L entry, avoiding the 100L re-do in many cases; JAMB UTME is typically for 100L admission.

Recognition variability: JUPEB has gained traction and some high-profile universities have publicized JUPEB acceptance; IJMB remains a trusted ABU-coordinated programme accepted by many universities. Recent coverage shows JUPEB acceptance lists are evolving. (For 2025/2026 candidates, check both JUPEB and IJMB acceptance where relevant.)

Which to choose?

Choose IJMB if you prefer an ABU-coordinated A-level programme, you have a reliable IJMB centre, and your target universities accept IJMB.

Choose JUPEB if target universities specifically prefer JUPEB or publish DE pathways favoring JUPEB.

Use JAMB UTME if you prefer the mainstream 100L route or your course/university does not accept A-level DE.

Practical tip: If your aim is to enter competitive courses (Medicine, Law, Engineering), compare departmental IJMB/JUPEB point requirements and recent admission patterns — sometimes UTME + high JAMB score is the safer route.

 

7. Points, grades and cut-offs — how universities score IJMB candidates

IJMB results typically come with grades per subject. Universities convert these grades into points for DE selection. Each university sets its own minimum point cut-off per course.

Typical patterns (illustrative)

For some universities, lower-demand courses may require 4–7 points.

Science/Engineering/Law/Medicine may require 8–15+ points depending on the university.

Education and Arts often have lower minimums (e.g., 4–9 points).

Some universities set a total score threshold (e.g., “minimum 10 points for DE into most courses”).

Because points/grade conversion differ by institution and year, always consult the target university’s official DE admission brochure or admissions office for the exact 2025/2026 cut-offs. Historical patterns are helpful but not definitive.

8. Pros and cons of using IJMB for university admission in Nigeria (2025/2026)

Pros

Fast track to 200L: One-year programme may grant DE into 200L (saves time).

Subject mastery: Strong focus on advanced subject content.

Alternative to UTME: Useful for candidates who underperformed in UTME/JAMB or prefer a different route.

Accepted by many universities: Large number of federal, state and private institutions accept IJMB.

Cons

Not universally accepted: Some universities or specific faculties (especially Medicine, Law, Engineering) may not accept IJMB or may set very high points.

Verification & bureaucracy: Some universities require JAMB DE regularization or additional steps.

Cost/time & centre quality: IJMB fees vary by centre; quality of instruction affects outcomes. Choose accredited centres.

Competition & limited DE slots: DE slots per department can be limited — having the certificate does not guarantee admission.