Amid growing confusion among admission seekers, the UTME to Direct Entry (DE) conversion process has once again taken centre stage, as many candidates scramble for clear guidance on how to avoid losing an academic year. The Nigeria Education News confirms that inquiries about the process have increased significantly in recent weeks, especially from candidates enrolled in A’Level programmes whose results are yet to be released.
Findings by The Nigeria Education News show that many students still misunderstand what UTME to DE conversion actually means. While some believe it is an automatic upgrade, others assume their UTME score still plays a role after conversion. Education consultants say this lack of clarity has left many candidates anxious and uncertain about their admission chances.
UTME to DE conversion is a provision by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) that allows candidates who initially registered for UTME to later switch to Direct Entry status. This option is particularly useful for students awaiting A’Level results from programmes such as JUPEB, IJMB, NCE, or ND, which are often released after JAMB’s official Direct Entry registration window.
Education experts explain that, under normal circumstances, candidates must possess their A’Level certificates before registering for Direct Entry. However, because most A’Level programmes conclude late, many qualified students risk missing admission for that year. The conversion process was introduced to bridge this gap and keep such candidates within the admission cycle.
Speaking with The Nigeria Education News, a JUPEB student, Adebayo Samuel, described the conversion option as “a lifesaver.” According to him, “Without UTME to DE conversion, I would have had to wait another year despite already completing my A’Level programme.”
Another student, Mariam Lawal, noted that many candidates are unaware that their UTME score becomes irrelevant once conversion is done. “Some people still think they need to score high in UTME before converting. I only found out recently that the score no longer counts after conversion,” she said.
The Nigeria Education News also gathered that the conversion process is not done at regular CBT centres. Candidates must visit a JAMB State Office or a JAMB Professional Registration Centre to carry out the conversion. Upon completion, JAMB issues a new registration number starting with the letter “U,” automatically invalidating the previous UTME registration.
Admission officers advise candidates who are confident that their A’Level results will be released late to register for UTME first, rather than wait for Direct Entry registration. Once their certificates are ready, they can then proceed with the conversion, ensuring they remain eligible for admission consideration.
Reacting to the process, ND graduate Kehinde Ojo told The Nigeria Education News that timely information is crucial. “I almost missed it because no one explained it properly. Students really need step-by-step guidance, not rumours,” he said.
As the admission season approaches, stakeholders continue to urge candidates to seek verified information from trusted sources and official JAMB offices. The Nigeria Education News emphasizes that understanding UTME to DE conversion early can make the difference between gaining admission and losing an entire academic year.
