How Students Choose KUCCPS Courses for TVET and University Placement

The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) opened applications for the 2025 intake, inviting the 2024 KCSE cohort and form four leavers from previous years to apply for placement to universities and TVET institutions.

The exercise, which began on March 28, 2025, will close on April 30, 2025.

Candidates who scored a mean grade of C+ and above in the 2024 KCSE can apply for degree programmes.

Those who were recently placed in diploma programmes but qualified for university entry are also allowed to apply for upgrading to degree courses.

At the same time, Form Four leavers who sat for the KCSE between 2000 and 2024 and scored grades between C and E are eligible to apply for TVET courses.

These include Level 4 (Artisan Certificate) for those with grade E, Level 5 (Craft Certificate) for grade D plain, and Level 6 (Diploma) for grade C-.

They are also eligible for a Diploma in Teacher Education programmes. Those who scored C plain qualify for the Diploma in Primary Teacher Education, while those with a C+ meet the requirements for the Diploma in Secondary Teacher Education.

How Students Choose Four KUCCPS Courses for TVET and University Placement

When applying for university through KUCCPS, students with a KCSE mean grade of C+ and above are allowed to choose a maximum of four degree programmes.

Applicants will be allowed to make a maximum of 6 choices for degree programmes, where 1(a), 1(b), and 1(c) must be similar programmes, unless the programmes are not offered in other institutions.

Choices 2, 3, and 4 must contain different courses. The applicants are also allowed to select 4 for diploma programmes.

Structure of the 6 Choices

Choices 1(a), 1(b), and 1(c):

These must be for similar programmes — meaning they should be in the same field or category (e.g., all Engineering or all Education degrees).

You’re basically saying, “I want this type of course, and here are my top 3 universities offering it.”

Example:

Let’s say you want to pursue Engineering:

1(a): BSc. Mechanical Engineering – University of Nairobi

1(b): BSc. Mechanical Engineering – JKUAT

1(c): BSc. Mechanical Engineering – Moi University

Choices 2, 3, and 4

These choices are for different programmes or fields from your 1(a)–(c) choices, providing alternatives in case you’re not placed in your first choices.

You can choose different courses from the same university or different universities.

For example:

2: BSc. Computer Science – Kenyatta University

3: BSc. Physics – Egerton University

4: B.Ed. Science – Maseno University

Also Read: Common KUCCPS Application Mistakes That Cost Students When Applying for Courses

Applicants with an overall grade of C- and above will be allowed to make a maximum of 8 choices, with 4 for diploma programmes and 4 for craft certificate programmes.

Students who scored an overall grade of D and above will be allowed to make a maximum of 8 choices, with 4 for craft certificate programmes and 4 for artisan certificate programmes.

Applicants with KCSE grade below D will be allowed to make a maximum of 4 choices, all from artisan certificate programmes.

Further, an applicant is allowed to apply for more than one level of programmes if they qualify for multiple.

However, one must explicitly opt-in to multiple category processing if they want the second level to be considered.

This means that if you miss your first set of applications, you will be considered for the second, i.e. you may be placed on one of the Craft courses if you miss all your diploma choices.

Applicant Choices

Category	Minimum Mean Grade	Choices
Degree	C+ and Above	1(a, b, c), 2, 3, 4
Level 6 / Diploma	C-	1, 2, 3, 4
Level 5 / Craft Certificate	D	1, 2, 3, 4
Level 4 / Artisan	E	1, 2, 3, 4

KUCCPS Application Guidelines

How to Log in to the Portal

Access the Portal:
Visit the Student’s Portal via the link kuccps.net or through the official KUCCPS website at www.kuccps.ac.ke.
Login:
- Click the Login tab in the top right corner of the page.
- Input your credentials as indicated on the login form.

Application Procedure

Download Programme Lists:
Once logged in, click on the Programme Lists tab in the menu bar to download the list of available Degree Programmes and the Degree Cluster document.
- These documents contain the following:
  - Degree Programmes
  - Universities offering them
  - Minimum Subject Requirements
  - Cut-Off Points for 2023 and 2024
Select Degree Programmes:
Use the downloaded documents as a reference when selecting your Degree courses before applying on the portal.
- The previous years’ cut-off points help you select courses that are more likely to secure placement based on competition.
Compare Cluster Weight:
On the portal, compare your cluster weight with the 2024 cut-off points.
- To improve your chances of securing a Degree course, apply for it in a university where the previous cut-off point for that programme is lower than your cluster weight.
View TVET Courses:
- Click on the All Programmes tab to view TVET courses.
- Programmes are grouped by level: Degree, Diploma/Level 6, Certificate/Level 5, and Artisan/Level 4.
- Select the courses you’re interested in among the available levels (Level 6, Level 5, Level 4) to view their codes, minimum requirements, and the institutions offering them.
- Alternatively, use the Search Tool on the All Programmes page to find specific courses by typing keywords like Education, Agriculture, Clothing, etc.

Also Read: How KUCCPS Determines Placement and Cut-Off Points for College and University Admissions

5. Check Minimum Requirements:

As you select courses, ensure you meet all the minimum subject requirements for the programme.

- You can only apply for courses whose minimum requirements you satisfy.

6. Apply for Programmes:

- Click on the Application tab, then select Apply Now.
- Enter the Programme Codes in the provided form, listing them in order of priority, starting with your preferred course (1a, 1b, 1c), which should be the same course in three different universities.
- Continue entering your other choices in order of priority.

7. Submit Your Application:
After entering all the Programme Codes for the courses you wish to apply for, click Submit.

- A prompt will appear asking: “Would you like to be placed in any other programme in case you don’t secure your choices?”
- Choose ‘Yes’ or ‘No’. Selecting ‘Yes’ means you are allowing KUCCPS to place you in any other course or institution if you do not secure any of your selected choices.

8. Payment:
After submitting your application, you will be required to pay Ksh 1,500.