Studying for a Degree Course in Kenya (Admission to Graduation)

Studying for a Degree Course in Kenya (Admission to Graduation)

Below is a step by step procedure of studying for a University degree course in Kenya. All that you need to learn from application, admission to Graduation requirements.

Qualifications of Doing a Degree Course

The general qualifications of studying for a degree course in Kenya either on government sponsor or self-sponsored is a minimum of KCSE mean grade of C + and above.

You can also study for a degree course in Kenya if you did not attain KCSE C+ and above but meet the following requirements:

• KCSE C- plus a certificate and diploma
• KCSE C plus diploma
• KCE, EACE (ordinary level) division 1 or 2 plus diploma
• KACE (Advanced level) plus two principal passes
• Level Division 2 plus diploma
• Level division 3 plus certificate and diploma

NOTE 1: For international students wishing to study in Kenya, entry qualifications vary from one University to another

NOTE 2: Other than meeting the minimum Entry University grade of C+, each degree programme has its additional requirements that you should meet (Read all Degree programmes Requirement).

After you have met the minimum entry grade of doing a degree course, the next step is application. There are two types of University applications.

One is Government-sponsored students application and the other is self or private sponsored students applications.

Government Sponsored students application process

Students who would wish to study for a degree programme in any University in Kenya under government sponsorship are required to apply through KUCCPS portal. Applications begin at the start of the year and end around June to July.

We have written a detailed guide on KUCCPS Course Revision and Application.

Self-Sponsored students application process

For students wishing to study for a degree programme in Kenya under self-sponsored, you need to do the application via the respective university website.

Go to List of Universities in Kenya 

University Admission Process

Once you have successfully applied for a course either under self-sponsored or government sponsored, and you have received your admission letter the next step is admission.

The Admission letter will indicate the campus and date that you are supposed to report. New students are expected to report between 8.00 .m to 5.00 p.m on the first day of admission at the respective Campuses.

During the first day of reporting, the university will verify your identification details and school certificate documents. The following details are mandatory:

• Copy of birth certificate
• Copy of educational certificates (KCPE and KCSE)
• Identity Card (ID) or Student Passport
• Bank Fee Payment Receipts
• Admission Letter

NOTE: Students who are not citizens of East Africa must have a valid passport. Temporary travel documents are not allowed.

School Fees

Students should pay their school fees either through bankers cheque or a bank deposit. First years are required to pay all their school fee for the first semester before admission.

For continuing students, school fees can be paid depending on the deadline of payment set by the University.

University school fees for Government sponsored students per semester range from Ksh. 20,000 to Ksh 50,000.

Note: Cash is not acceptable.

On-Campus and Off-Campus Accommodation

If you want to reside in the University halls, you will be required to pay accommodation fees every semester (it is not part of school fees).

Some universities will require you to apply for On-Campus accommodation through their online hostel application portals before admission day. Others will provide on-campus accommodation on a first come first serve basis. However, most universities do provide accommodation to all interested first years who have cleared their fees.

If you do not want to reside in University Hostels, then you are required to make your own arrangements for off-campus accommodation.

Degree Study Period

The number of study years vary from one Course to another. Social Science and Arts and Humanity degree courses take about four years to complete while Medicine, Law and Engineering courses take 4 to 7 years to complete. Each Academic year has a minimum of 2 semesters.

Some courses are not that strict, in that you can transition to the second academic year even if you failed in any unit in the first academic year. However, you should ensure that you have done resit exams for the units that you failed before graduation.

In other courses like Medicine, you will not be allowed to transition to the next academic year if you failed or did not attend the required lecture hours.

Academic Reports

Report 1: During the final year of study, you will be required to submit a report. Your course department will assign a lecturer who will oversee the report writing and submission process (Read on sample final year report).

Report 2: Every student doing a degree course in Kenya is required to go for industrial attachment. Industrial attachment normally takes place before the last year of academic calendar and lasts for 3 months.

Students are supposed to submit an industrial attachment report detailing what they learnt in their place of attachment (Read on the importance of Industrial attachment).

Graduation

You will not be allowed to graduate if you have not cleared your school fees and met the minimum requirements in all course units. Most University graduation ceremonies do take place in the month of December.