Students have one month to apply for university and college courses

Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Services (KUCCPS) CEO Dr. Mercy Wahome at Bandari Maritime Academy trainers
 on October 29,  2021. [Kelvin Karani, Standard]

About a million learners who sat the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination last year have one month to apply for placement to universities, colleges and technical training institutions.

The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) has opened a window for the students to submit their course choices.

“The  online application opened on April 7, 2026 and will run until May 6, 2026. The application targets the 2025 KCSE examination class and other Form Four leavers from previous years,” said KUCCPS Chief Executive Officer Mercy Wahome.

She said the process is structured to match students with programmes based on merit, course preferences and the training capacity available in institutions.

“As required by law, placement of students into institutions will be based on merit, taking into account applicants’ listed priorities, their KCSE performance and the available capacities in institutions,” said Dr Wahome.

KUCCPS further urged the students to consider factors such as passion, cluster subject requirements, additional qualifications, cluster weights and historical cut-off points when selecting the courses. The call for applications comes against the backdrop of rising demand for tertiary education opportunities.

Results from last year’s KCSE examination show that 980,444 candidates sat the national test. Of these, 268,700 attained a mean grade of C+ and above, the minimum qualification for direct university entry, which is an increase from 246,391 in the previous year.

The remaining 711,744 candidates who scored between C plain and E are eligible for diploma, certificate and artisan programmes in technical institutions.

This rise is expected to push cut-off points higher in highly competitive courses such as medicine, engineering and law.

“If the last student admitted to a programme scored 45.5 cluster points in the previous cycle, it is likely to rise slightly this year due to increased competition,” said Wahome.

There are 43 public universities and 31 private universities participating in the placement process.

In addition, 251 public technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges, including 33 TVET institutes within universities, are available for placement this year.

The Commission for University Education has approved 322,396 slots for degree programmes, while institutions regulated by the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority have more than 1.13 million spaces for diploma, certificate and artisan courses.

Teacher training colleges offer an additional 2,480 slots.

Successful applicants admitted to universities are expected to report in September, while those placed in TVET colleges may report earlier, as placement into technical institutions is conducted continuously.

Wahome said this year’s placement exercise is part of a broader government strategy aimed at achieving 100 per cent transition of qualified students from secondary school to tertiary education.

To reach this goal, the placement agency has intensified outreach campaigns and expanded support services to guide students through the application process.

KUCCPS will deploy officers to universities and TVET institutions in all counties to assist applicants and provide career guidance.

Students will also access support through Huduma Centres and the KUCCPS online portal.

Placement is also being aligned with the country’s transition to the Competency-Based Education, which emphasises skills, aptitude and subject-specific strengths rather than raw academic grades alone.