KUCCPS Reports that 8,000 Students have Chosen Diplomas Over University Degrees

KUCCPS Reports that 8,000 Students have Chosen Diplomas Over University Degrees

Over 8,000 students who qualified for university degree programs through the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) have opted for diploma courses instead.

According to KUCCPS, 8,130 candidates who achieved a C+ grade or higher, thus qualifying for university degree programs, have decided to pursue diploma programs.

The institutions they have chosen include the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC), the Kenya School of Law, and the Morendat Institute of Oil and Gas.

Additionally, there has been a sluggish response to university placements, with KUCCPS data indicating that only 104,514 out of 246,391 eligible candidates have applied for degree programs. This suggests that more than half of the qualified candidates have yet to select university courses, with just two weeks remaining before the application deadline.

Overview of the Three Preferred Diploma Institutions

The Kenya Medical Training College is a state corporation under the Ministry of Health, responsible for training professionals in various health fields to meet local, regional, and international demands.

Conversely, the Morendat Institute of Oil & Gas (MIOG) specializes in training related to the oil and gas sector. This institution was established following a resolution made during the 3rd Heads of State Summit in Kigali, Rwanda, on October 28, 2013, where the leaders of Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and South Sudan agreed to create Centres of Excellence to enhance capacity for the Northern Corridor Integration Projects (NCIP).

The Kenya School of Law is the sole bar school in Kenya. After obtaining an undergraduate law degree from a recognized university, students attend the Kenya School of Law to prepare for admission to the Kenyan Bar. For the first time, KSL has partnered with KUCCPS to offer a Diploma in Law program, enabling students who may have previously thought a legal career was unattainable to enroll. Traditionally, entry into the legal profession in Kenya has been restricted to those with high academic qualifications, particularly those qualifying for a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree.

KUCCPS Plans to Extend Application Deadline

To allow for more applicants, KUCCPS plans to extend the application period from April 21 to April 30. Chief Executive Officer Agnes Mercy Wahome, speaking to journalists, encouraged students to consider enrolling in underrepresented programs, such as agriculture, at the degree level.

“So far, we’ve received 104,514 degree applications. We are urging students to pursue agricultural courses at the degree level,” Dr. Wahome stated. She also noted that the integration of KUCCPS with eCitizen has streamlined the application process, and awareness campaigns are currently being conducted nationwide.

Equally, 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-.