Jamb Change of Course Form

Jamb Change of Course Form: Okay, imagine you’ve just finished your senior secondary school in Nigeria, and you’ve written that big university entrance exam called JAMB (Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board). You applied for a specific course, say Medicine at University of Lagos. But maybe after the exam, you had second thoughts. Maybe your scores weren’t quite high enough for Medicine, or you realized you actually love Computer Science more, or maybe you heard about a different course or university that sounds perfect. Panic sets in – “Am I stuck? Did I make a terrible mistake?” Don’t worry too much! This is where the JAMB Change of Course (and sometimes Institution) form comes in. Think of it like a big “oops, let me fix that” button JAMB provides, but you can only press it within a specific time window and under certain rules.

Jamb Change of Course Form

So, what exactly is it? In simple terms, it’s an online service offered by JAMB on their official portal (that’s the JAMB website where you registered for the exam initially). This service allows you to officially change either the course you applied for, the university (or polytechnic, college of education – we call them institutions), or sometimes both, after you’ve already taken the UTME (the JAMB exam). It’s basically telling JAMB, “Hey, remember that choice I made? I want to change it to this new one instead.”

Who needs this? Well, mostly candidates who took the UTME that year and haven’t been admitted anywhere yet. Common reasons include:

1. Score Reality Check: Your UTME score came out, and you realize it might not be enough for your first-choice course/institution. You want to switch to something where your score has a better shot.
2. Change of Heart: You genuinely had a change of mind about what you want to study or where you want to study it. Maybe you discovered a passion for Agriculture instead of Law after talking to someone.
3. Post-UTME Blues: Some universities conduct their own screening exams (Post-UTME). If you realize your score isn’t competitive for your chosen course at that specific uni, you might want to switch courses within the same uni, or even switch to a different uni entirely where the competition is less fierce for your score.
4. Wrong Info During Registration: Sometimes, mistakes happen when you’re filling out the initial form. Maybe you clicked the wrong course code by accident. This is a way to correct it officially.

Here’s the SUPER IMPORTANT part: The Deadline. You absolutely, positively, cannot decide to change your course in December if you wrote the exam in April/May. JAMB sets a strict deadline for change of course/institution requests. This deadline usually falls months before the actual university admissions start rolling out seriously. It’s often around June or July, but you MUST check the official JAMB website or announcements religiously. They announce it clearly. Miss this deadline? Sorry, you’re likely stuck with your original choices for that admission year. So, time is of the essence! Don’t dawdle if you think you need a change.

How to do Jamb Change of Course

Okay, I need to change, and the window is open. How do I actually do it? It’s done entirely online through the JAMB portal. You need the same login details you used when you registered for UTME (your email and password). Here’s a step-by-step walkthrough:

1. Go to the JAMB Portal: Open your internet browser and go to the official JAMB e-facility website. Be careful! There are fake sites. The real one is https://efacility.jamb.gov.ng/.
2. Log In: Enter the email address and password you used during your initial UTME registration. Click “Login”.
3. Find the Service: Once logged in, look for the menu options. There should be something like “Registration (2024)” or similar. Hover over or click on it. You should see an option like “Change of Course/Institution” or “Correction of Data” (this is often where it sits). Click on that.
4. Select Service Type: The portal will likely ask you what exactly you want to change. Choose either:
   • Course Only: Just changing the program (e.g., from Medicine to Pharmacy).
   • Institution Only: Just changing the university (e.g., from UNILAG to University of Ibadan, keeping the same course).
   • Both Course and Institution: Changing both the program and the school.
5. Make Your New Choices: This is the crucial part. You’ll see the institution(s) and course(s) you originally applied for. You’ll need to carefully select your NEW preferred institution and your NEW preferred course from drop-down menus. BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL HERE! Double-check, triple-check the codes and the names. Universities have similar course names sometimes. Make sure you pick the exact course and institution you now want. You might also need to rearrange your choices (like making the new one your first choice).
6. Review: The portal will usually show you a summary screen. Check it meticulously! Is the new institution name correct? Is the new course name exactly what you intended? Are the choice numbers (1st, 2nd, etc.) in the order you want?
7. Payment: Changing isn’t free. You have to pay a fee. The exact fee changes slightly year to year, but it’s usually around ₦2,500 (Two Thousand Five Hundred Naira). Crucial Payment Tip: JAMB doesn’t take cash at their offices for this. You pay online using the methods they provide, which are usually:
   • JAMB Payment via Remita: This generates a Remita Retrieval Reference (RRR) number. You then take this RRR number to a bank (any commercial bank branch) and pay there. The bank teller processes it.
   • Online Card Payment: Sometimes you can pay directly online using your ATM card (Visa, Mastercard, Verve) through the portal’s payment gateway. This is often faster if it works.
   • USSD Code: Sometimes they offer a USSD code option (5656*55019# or similar – ONLY use the code specified on the official JAMB portal during the process). DO NOT PAY ANYONE DIRECTLY CLAIMING TO HELP YOU DO IT UNLESS YOU ARE PHYSICALLY AT AN ACCREDITED JAMB OFFICE OR CBT CENTRE. SCAMS ARE RAMPANT.
8. Confirmation and Printing: Once payment is successful and confirmed on the portal (it might take a few minutes after bank payment), your change is processed. THIS IS VITAL: You MUST go back to the portal and reprint your JAMB Admission Slip. This reprinted slip is your proof that the change has been made. It will now show your NEW course and/or institution choices. Keep this slip safe; you’ll need it for admission processing and school registration. You might also see an option to print a confirmation of the change itself.

What happens after you change?

• JAMB Updates: JAMB updates your profile in their central system with your new choices.
• Universities See the Change: When universities start accessing the JAMB list for candidates who chose them, they will see your UPDATED choices, not the old ones.
• Admission Consideration: You will now be considered for admission based on your new course and institution selection(s), using your UTME score and any other required criteria (like Post-UTME if applicable). It doesn’t guarantee admission, but it means you’re now in the running for the new choices.
• Original Choice Gone: Your original choice is effectively replaced. You can’t be considered for it anymore through JAMB for that year.

Important Things to Remember (Pitfalls to Avoid):

1. Deadline is King: Seriously, I can’t stress this enough. Check the JAMB website or official bulletins for the exact closing date. Set a reminder on your phone!
2. Verify Course Codes & Names: Don’t just guess the course name. Make sure you know the official JAMB code for the course and institution you want to switch to. A small mistake here could land you in Nursing instead of Nutrition, or at a completely different school! Use the official JAMB brochure (available on their site) to confirm codes.
3. Payment is Mandatory: No payment, no change. It won’t process until JAMB confirms your fee.
4. Reprint Your Slip: This is your proof. Don’t skip this step. The old slip is useless now.
5. Do It Yourself: While you can get guidance, do the actual change yourself on the official portal using your own login details. Don’t give your password to “agents” or random helpers. Go to an accredited JAMB office or CBT centre if you need physical help, but watch what they do.
6. It’s Mostly for Before Admission: This is primarily for candidates who haven’t received any admission offer yet. If you’ve already been offered admission somewhere (even if it’s not your first choice), changing becomes very complicated and might not be possible through this simple online form. You might need to reject the offer first or go through a different process, which is much harder. So, do the change early in the admission cycle.
7. Limited Number of Changes: While sometimes you can do it more than once within the window, there’s often a limit (like two changes allowed). Check the current year’s guidelines. Don’t change frivolously.
8. It Doesn’t Affect Your Score: Changing your course/institution doesn’t change your UTME score. You still have the same score; you’re just applying it to different options.

In essence, the JAMB Change of Course/Institution form is a valuable second chance, a safety net. It allows you to adjust your university application strategy based on your actual exam results or a genuine change of plan. But it operates under strict rules and tight deadlines. Treat it seriously, act quickly once you know you need it, double-check every detail, pay properly, reprint your slip, and avoid scams. It’s your opportunity to steer your admission journey in a new direction, so use it wisely! Good luck!