The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) has opened applications for admission to the Open University of Kenya accredited on August 3.
KUCCPS Chief Executive Officer Agnes Mercy Wahome said the applications will be free of charge and without any deadline. “This is due to the uniqueness of the Open University ’s mode of learning and flexible modular programme design that will allow students to study at their own pace and convenience,” said Wahome.
For the first time in Kenya’s history, work experience, short courses or recognition of prior learning will be considered in admitting learners to pursue degree programmes, according to admission requirements released by the university.
The university seeks to break conventional barriers and provide opportunities for more Kenyans to access university education in a flexible and convenient manner.
The Open University of Kenya (OUK) was chartered on 3rd August, 2023 by President William Ruto to benefit Kenyans who missed early opportunities or faced barriers such as formal grades, age, capacity to pay, gender or geographical location to access university education.
The university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Elijah Omwenga, has requested the placement body to list five degree programmes and two postgraduate diploma courses on the student placement application portal.
The minimum admission requirements for the undergraduate courses include evidence of KCSE certificate or equivalent and a portfolio for recognition of prior learning.
The university will offer undergraduate programmes including Bachelor of Data Science, Bachelor of Science in Cyber Security and Digital Forensics, Bachelor of Technology Education, Bachelor of Business and Entrepreneurship and Bachelor of Economics and Statistics.
The postgraduate programmes will include flagship Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership and Accountability and Postgraduate Diploma in Learning Design and Technology.
Self-paced learning
The degree and postgraduate diploma programmes have between 12 and 14 course units per academic year.
Learning will take one year for postgraduate programmes while the bachelor’s degree programmes will take four years to complete.
However, for open and self-paced learning, a student may decide to take a course unit at a time on the alternative flexible mode and may plan to take longer periods.
This option applies to both the bachelor’s degree and postgraduate diploma programmes.
For all the programmes or course units, students outside East Africa will pay 10 per cent more.
The minimum entry requirements for Bachelor’s degree programmes are as follows:
1. A mean grade of C+ and above at KCSE where applicable or its equivalent using criteria that the university senate may determine OR
2. Diplomas or professional qualifications from recognized institutions
3. KCSE certificate or equivalent and a certificate of foundation or bridging courses from recognized institutions
4. Kenya Advanced Certificate of Education with a minimum of 1 principal and subsidiary passes
5. A bachelor’s degree from an institution recognized by Senate,
6. Evidence of KCSE certificate or equivalent and a portfolio for the purpose of recognition of prior learning determination with respect to:
a) Workplace training of 2 years OR
b) Work experience in a relevant field of 2 years OR
c) Two short courses lasting at least 3 months each in relevant fields
7. Any other qualifications that may be determined by senate recognizing prior learning leading to equivalents of the identified criteria, experience and skills of learners.
