If you’re trying to skip the stress of a fresh JAMB cycle and enter university at the 200-level instead of 100-level, the IJMB (Interim Joint Matriculation Board) route is one of the fastest legitimate ways to do it.
Thomas Adewumi University (TAU) in Oko-Irese, Kwara State, is one of a growing number of private universities officially licensed to run this programme, and this guide is built around its IJMB admission form for the 2026/2027 session.
We’ll walk through what the programme actually involves, who qualifies, how registration works, and the questions candidates and parents tend to ask once they’ve decided this is the route to take.
Contents
What Is IJMB, and Why Do Students Choose It?
IJMB is an Advanced Level (A-Level) programme recognised across Nigerian universities.
Instead of starting at 100-level after JAMB, students who complete IJMB and pass with a strong score are eligible for direct entry into the 200-level of a degree programme, effectively saving a full academic year.
It’s a popular alternative for candidates who:
- Didn’t get the JAMB score they needed and don’t want to wait a full year to try again.
- Prefer a more structured, exam-focused route into university.
- Want a backup plan running alongside their JAMB attempt.
- Are aiming for competitive courses where a strong A-Level result improves their chances of direct entry.
About the IJMB Programme at Thomas Adewumi University
Thomas Adewumi University received official approval from the IJMB board to run this programme in June 2023, following a licensing visit by IJMB officials.
This means the university’s IJMB certificate carries full national recognition, a detail worth confirming with any institution offering IJMB, since not every centre advertising the programme is properly accredited.
Here’s what the structure looks like at TAU:
- Duration: Roughly nine to ten months, spread across two semesters.
- Weekly lecture load: Around 8 to 10 hours per week, combining theoretical lectures, practicals, and fieldwork depending on subject combination.
- Teaching style: Delivered through the university’s School of Advanced Studies, with a curriculum designed to mirror international A-Level standards while staying aligned with what Nigerian universities expect for direct entry.
- Campus: Held on TAU’s main campus in Oko-Irese, Kwara State, giving IJMB students access to the same facilities as the university’s degree students.
Eligibility Requirements for TAU IJMB 2026/2027
To register for the IJMB programme at Thomas Adewumi University, candidates are generally expected to meet these requirements:
- A minimum of five (5) credit passes in SSCE, GCE, WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB examinations.
- You must obtain these credits in no more than two sittings.
- The subjects must be relevant to your intended field of study at the degree level; for instance, science-based IJMB combinations for engineering or medical-adjacent courses, and arts/commercial combinations for law, business, or social science-related degrees.
- English Language and Mathematics are typically required among your credits, especially for science and management-related combinations.
If your O’Level results are still pending (awaiting results), it’s worth confirming directly with the School of Advanced Studies whether provisional registration is possible.
In the meantime, you can wait, since policies can vary by session.
Subject Combinations to Consider
Choose your IJMB subject combination based on the degree course you eventually want to study.
A few general examples of how this typically works:
- Science-based courses (Engineering, Computer Science, Medical Lab Science, etc.) combinations built around subjects like Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics.
- Management and Social Science course combinations involving Economics, Government, Accounting, or Commerce.
- Law usually requires a combination that includes Literature-in-English alongside other arts subjects.
- Arts and Education course combinations drawing from Literature, CRS/IRS, History, and Government.
Since exact combination requirements can differ slightly between institutions offering the same degree, it’s best to confirm your chosen course’s specific IJMB subject requirement directly with TAU’s School of Advanced Studies before finalising your registration.
How to Apply for the TAU IJMB Form 2026/2027
Here’s the general registration process:
- Visit the official IJMB registration portal at advancedstudies.tau.edu.ng. This is the School of Advanced Studies website where TAU manages IJMB applications.
- Create an account or log in, and select the IJMB programme option.
- Fill in your bio-data and academic history, including your O’Level results.
- Choose your subject combination based on your intended degree course.
- Upload required documents, typically your O’Level result(s), a passport photograph, and any other credentials requested on the portal.
- Pay the programme fee through the portal’s official payment channel.
- Print your confirmation/registration slip once you have completed payment and submission.
- Resume for lectures according to the academic calendar published by the School of Advanced Studies.
A general applicant portal is also available at portal.tau.edu.ng, where you can track your application status once submitted.
A Word of Caution: Watch Out for Fake “Admission Agents”
During every admission cycle, a wave of posts appears online on forums, blogs, and social media advertising Thomas Adewumi University admission and IJMB forms with random personal phone numbers to “call for assistance.”
Several of these same numbers and scripted messages get recycled across completely different, unrelated universities, which strongly suggests a coordinated scam network rather than genuine admission offices.
To stay safe:
- Only register and pay through advancedstudies.tau.edu.ng or portal.tau.edu.ng.
- Never send registration fees to a personal bank account or a random WhatsApp contact.
- If you’re unsure whether a contact is legitimate, verify directly through TAU’s official website, tau.edu.ng, rather than trusting a number found on a third-party post.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Can I do IJMB at TAU if I already have a JAMB registration for 2026?
Yes. IJMB and JAMB aren’t mutually exclusive; many candidates register for both as a backup strategy.
If your IJMB result qualifies you for direct entry, you can take that route instead of starting at 100 level via UTME.
2. Does completing IJMB at TAU guarantee me a spot at Thomas Adewumi University?
Not automatically.
A strong IJMB result improves your direct entry chances significantly, but admission still depends on available slots in your chosen department and meeting the specific point requirement for that course.
Many IJMB graduates also use their result to apply to other universities, not just the one where they studied.
3. How many points do I need from IJMB for direct entry?
Point requirements vary by course and by university.
Competitive courses like medicine-related fields, law, or engineering typically require higher points than general arts or management courses.
Check the specific minimum point requirement for your target course and institution once your IJMB results are released.
4. Is the TAU IJMB programme only for candidates wanting to study at TAU?
No. While studying IJMB at TAU is convenient if you plan to continue there, the IJMB certificate is nationally recognised, meaning you can use it to seek direct entry admission into other Nigerian universities as well, provided you meet their specific point requirements.
5. What happens if I fail a subject in my IJMB exam?
Depending on the specific subject and your overall performance, you may still qualify for direct entry into certain courses with a lower point requirement, or you may need to consider resitting the affected subject.
It’s best to discuss your options with the School of Advanced Studies once results are released.
6. Can science students switch to an arts-based degree using their IJMB result, or vice versa?
Generally, universities expect your IJMB subject combination to align reasonably with your intended degree course.
Switching between very different fields (e.g., pure sciences to law) using an unrelated combination is uncommon and typically not accepted, so it’s better to choose your combination with your target course firmly in mind from the start.
7. Is accommodation available for IJMB students at TAU?
As IJMB students study on the same campus as degree students, on-campus accommodation is generally available.
However, confirm availability and cost details directly with the School of Advanced Studies during registration.
8. How early should I register for the 2026/2027 IJMB session?
Given that lectures typically begin shortly after registration closes and the programme itself already runs a tight nine-to-ten-month schedule, registering early gives you more time to settle in, choose the right subject combination, and avoid missing the start of lectures.
Final Thoughts
The IJMB route through Thomas Adewumi University offers a legitimate, officially recognised path into 200-level university study, but only if you follow the right channels.
Confirm your subject combination matches your intended course, register only through advancedstudies.tau.edu.ng or portal.tau.edu.ng, and avoid unofficial contacts promising shortcuts.
Done properly, IJMB can save you a full academic year and put you a step ahead of your JAMB-only peers.
Disclaimer: Admission requirements, fees, and registration procedures can change between sessions.
Always confirm current details directly on TAU’s official websites before making any payment or final decision.
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