More than 8,000 students who qualified for university degree entry through the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) placement have chosen diploma courses instead.
According to the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS), 8,130 candidates who scored C+ and above, making them eligible for university degree programs, have opted to apply for diploma programs.
The chosen institutions include the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC), the Kenya School of Law, and the Morendat Institute of Oil and Gas.
At the same time, there is a slow uptake of the university placements, with KUCCPS data showing that only 104,514 out of 246,391 eligible candidates have applied for degree programs.
This means more than half of the qualified candidates are yet to select university courses, just two weeks before the application deadline.
About the 3 Preferred Diploma Institutions
The Kenya Medical Training College is a state Corporation under the Ministry of Health entrusted with the role of training professionals in various health disciplines to serve the local, regional and international markets.
On the other hand, Morendat Institute of Oil & Gas (MIOG) provides specialized training in oil and gas-related courses.
The institution was established as a result of a resolution made during the 3rd Heads of State Summit held in Kigali, Rwanda, on October 28, 2013.
During this summit, the presidents of Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and South Sudan agreed to create Centres of Excellence across the region to build capacity for the Northern Corridor Integration Projects (NCIP).
The Kenya School of Law is the only bar school in Kenya.
After completing an undergraduate degree in law from a recognized university, students attend the Kenya School of Law to prepare for admission to the Kenyan Bar.
However, for the first time, KSL partnered with KUCCPS to offer a Diploma in Law program, allowing students who may have thought a career in the legal field was out of reach to enroll.
Traditionally, joining the legal profession in Kenya has been limited to students with high grades, particularly those qualifying for a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree.
Also Read: Highest Paying KUCCPS Degree, Diploma & Certificate Courses
KUCCPS To Extend Application Deadline
To accommodate more applicants, KUCCPS intends to extend the application window from April 21 to April 30.
Chief Executive Officer Agnes Mercy Wahome while speaking to Business Daily urged students to consider under-enrolled programs like agriculture at the degree level.
“So far, we’ve received 104,514-degree applicants. We are encouraging students to take up agricultural courses at degree level,” Dr. Wahome said.
At the same time, the CEO added that KUCCPS integration with eCitizen had made the application process smoother, and sensitization campaigns are ongoing nationwide.
Additionally, about 15% of the eligible candidates are expected to pursue further studies abroad or in private universities and other institutions.
KUCCPS says students who sat the 2024 KCSE can use its portal to apply for both university and TVET placements, with most academic programs expected to begin between August and September this year.
Also Read: KUCCPS Launches New Course for C Students
Application for Courses
KUCCPS opened applications for the 2025 intake in March, inviting the 2024 KCSE candidates and form four graduates from previous years to apply for placement in universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions.
The application window remains open until April 30, 2025. Candidates who attained a minimum mean grade of C+ in the 2024 KCSE are eligible to apply for degree programs.
Additionally, students who were previously placed in diploma program but qualified for university admission now have the opportunity to upgrade to degree courses.
Also, form four leavers who sat the KCSE between 2000 and 2024 and attained grades between C and E can apply for various TVET programs.
These include Artisan Certificate courses (Level 4) for those with an E grade, Craft Certificate courses (Level 5) for those with a D plain, and Diploma programs (Level 6) for those with a C-.
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