Qualified students urged to apply for university placement before deadline

Parents and students camp at gate A at Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) Nairobi campus, on 20th September 2023. KMTC Lockout several students sitting they didn't qualified for the course yet they receive their applications letter through KUCCPS website. [File, Standard]

The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) has issued a fresh call to students who qualified for university admission to submit their applications before the deadline.

This follows growing concern from Ministry of Education officials over the low number of applications submitted so far. Students have until 30 April to apply for placement, with officials from the Ministry of Education, KUCCPS, and the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) urging them to take advantage of the remaining two weeks.

"KUCCPS is concerned about the low turnout in universities and colleges. Kindly let us encourage and support the students to apply," said KUCCPS CEO, Dr Mercy Wahome.

According to the ministry, more than half of the students who scored Grade C+ and above in the 2024 KCSE exams are yet to apply for their preferred university or college courses.

John Oluoch, the KUCCPS Director for Placement and Career Development, said over 100,000 eligible candidates have not yet applied.

"We are nearly getting to half of the total number of students, so we are urging those who have not been able to do so to apply. They should not wait until the last minute to struggle accessing the portal," Oluoch told candidates.

Out of the 246,000 students who scored Grade C+ and above, only 104,000 had successfully completed the application process, with less than a fortnight remaining before the portal closes.

Oluoch also dismissed claims that system downtime during the application process was to blame for the low number of submissions. He stated that KUCCPS had taken measures to ensure smooth access to the system.

To further boost applications, he announced that KUCCPS had deployed officials across the country to support students experiencing difficulties with the process.

"These officers are supporting students and parents to apply so that they are not left out," he said, noting that the officials had already visited several counties to engage directly with students and parents.

The push for applications comes nearly a month after KUCCPS officially opened the portal for the 2025 university and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) placement.

In a notice dated 28 March, KUCCPS invited 2024 KCSE candidates to apply for placement into their preferred programmes. The portal, which was opened for four weeks, is set to close on 30 April 2025.