If you’re unaware or find it confusing, a transfer approval is a JAMB CAPS feature that lets higher institutions propose a transfer to another course.
This is for students who don’t meet the admission requirements for their original course of choice.
Let’s take for example, if you applied for Medicine and Surgery but didn’t meet the cutoff mark, the school will suggest a transfer to another course, like Biochemistry or Microbiology.
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It is their way of saying “We can’t give you admission in your chosen course which is Medicine and Surgery but we have other options for you.
Now, when a school sends you a transfer approval request, they expect you to either accept or reject it.
By the way, the request means the school wants to know if you’re open to accepting admission into a course different from what you applied for.
When you accept it, you tell them yes, that you are open to an alternative course since your chosen course isn’t available.
However, if you reject it, you’re shutting down the option of another course and therefore won’t be offered any admission by the school again except if you apply the following year.
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Your decision to either accept or reject the course is entirely on you, however, your choice will determine whether you get admission to the school or not.
Does transfer approval guarantee admission?
The short answer is no, accepting a transfer approval does not automatically guarantee admission. It is just you confirming to the school that you’ll take the new course if they offer you admission to study it.
When you accept a transfer approval request, you’re telling the school “Okay, fine, since you can’t give me what I want and you have another option, I want to go with the option you’re giving me”.
Understand that this does not mean that you’re telling the school “Fine, I have accepted your admission to the alternative course”, no.
You’re just saying that you’re open to taking the alternative course.
Now, it is left for the school to decide whether to offer you the alternative course (which you accepted that you’ll take if offered to you) or not.
In other words, the school can decide not to offer the alternative course to you again even though you accepted that you’re open to it.
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Therefore:
While transfer approval indicates that the school is still considering you for admission, it does not mean you are automatically admitted.
Accepting the transfer is just the beginning of the journey.
The choice to accept going for the alternative course is yours, while the choice to offer you the alternative course which you’re open to accept is for the school to make.
If after accepting the transfer approval request, the school decides to offer you the course.
You’ll be required to accept the offer of admission to the new course.
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This will make it the second time you’ve accepted a request from the school, however, this time, you’re accepting the admission offer to study the new course itself.
Why accepting transfer approval is important
Even though accepting the transfer approval does not guarantee admission, if you do not accept it, you’ll automatically close all your chances of getting admission into the new course or any course at all in the school.
But by accepting the transfer, you’ll show the school that you’re willing to take the new course if offered to you.
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This keeps your admission hopes alive.
Is it possible to reject an admission offer for a new course after already accepting the transfer approval?
Yes, you can reject the admission offer for the new course even after accepting the transfer approval.
Accepting the transfer approval request does not mean you must accept the admission when offered to you.
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If you have a better option elsewhere, you can reject the offer from the school that you previously accepted their transfer approval request.
How long does transfer approval last for JAMB?
A transfer approval request lasts for 2 weeks on JAMP CAPS, if you do not accept the request within this period, it’ll be withdrawn by the issuing school.
Once withdrawn, you’ll not be offered admission into any course again by the school for that current academic year.
How long does it take to get admission after accepting transfer approval?
It takes between 1 week to 6 weeks to get admission after accepting transfer approval on JAMB CAPS.
Once you accept the transfer approval, JAMB will inform the school that you have accepted their transfer request and the school will proceed to offer you admission.
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The school admission office will upload your name and that of other admitted candidates to JAMB CAPS where you’ll see your status change to “admitted”.
Once I accept the transfer, will I automatically be admitted?
No, it doesn’t work that way. Accepting transfer approval only signifies your willingness to accept the new course if you’re offered admission to study it, it does not mean an admission offer.
The school can still decide not to offer you admission into the new course even after you accept their transfer approval request.
Can I reject the transfer and still get admission to my original course?
No, you can’t. When you reject the transfer approval request, the school will no longer consider you for admission.
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This is why you must weigh your options carefully before deciding.
Can I be rejected after accepting the transfer?
Yes, you can. While accepting the transfer shows you’re interested in getting admission into the new course, you could still be rejected if you fail to meet the new course’s admission requirements or if the new course’s quota is filled.
What happens if I do not accept the transfer approval on time?
If you do not accept the transfer approval within the stipulated 2 weeks, you’ll lose the admission opportunity entirely for that academic session.
Can I change my mind after accepting the transfer approval?
No, once you accept a transfer approval, it cannot be reversed. Before you click the “Accept” or “Reject”, button think about your choice thoroughly.
I cannot find the transfer approval tab on my CAPS, what should I do?
If you can’t find the transfer approval on your JAMB CAPS, it means no transfer has been initiated for you by any school.
If you’re expecting any school to initiate one for you, you can confirm with the school or wait for further updates from them.