By Adeola Badru
The University of Ibadan (UI) has declared that limited admission quotas and inadequate physical space on campus should no longer prevent qualified candidates from obtaining admission into the institution, offering them an alternative route through its Open, Distance and eLearning (ODeL) programme.
The university said the initiative was designed to provide a second opportunity for candidates who participated in its Post-UTME screening exercise but could not secure admission through the conventional face-to-face mode because of limited admission quotas and physical space constraints.
The institution disclosed that the special application window for the 2025/2026 academic session would close on August 15, 2026, while classes for the special cohort are scheduled to commence on August 17, 2026.
The Director of the UI Distance Learning Centre (DLC), Prof. Olufade Onifade, stated this in a statement issued by the centre, urging eligible candidates to take advantage of the opportunity before the application deadline.
Onifade said candidates who sat for the University of Ibadan Post-UTME examination could switch from the conventional on-campus mode to the ODeL programme at no cost.
He said, “The UI-ODeL programme provides flexible virtual classes with mobile learning, interactive course materials and physical revision sessions. Courses are taught by the same faculty lecturers who handle conventional programmes, and learners graduate with the same prestigious University of Ibadan degree.”
According to him, the ODeL programme provides access to first-degree programmes across a wide range of disciplines, thereby enabling qualified candidates to pursue university education without being constrained by the limitations of physical classroom capacity.
Onifade listed some of the programmes available under the initiative as B.Sc. Computer Science, B.Sc. Statistics, B.Sc. Psychology, B.Sc. Economics, B.Sc. Political Science, B.Sc. Sociology, B.A. English, B.A. Communication and Language Arts, B.Ed. Educational Management and B.Sw. Social Work, among others.
He further explained that candidates who participated in the 2026 UI Post-UTME exercise were eligible for the free change-of-mode offer.
“Candidates who took the 2026 UI PUTME qualify for the free change-of-mode offer. Such candidates are required to visit the official change-of-mode application portal to switch their mode of study from the conventional on-campus option to the ODeL programme,” he said.
The DLC director added that other interested candidates who met the requirements could also submit fresh applications to join the special cohort.
He urged eligible applicants to act promptly, stressing that the August 15 deadline was fast approaching and available spaces could be taken up quickly.
“Other interested candidates who are qualified may submit a fresh application for the special cohort. With the August 15 deadline fast approaching, the university encourages qualified candidates to act immediately, as slots are expected to fill up quickly,” Onifade said.
The university maintained that the ODeL pathway offers candidates the opportunity to obtain a University of Ibadan degree while benefiting from flexible learning arrangements that combine virtual instruction, mobile learning, interactive academic materials and physical revision sessions.
The post UI removes admission quota barrier for distance learning candidates appeared first on Vanguard News.