KUCCPS unveils new university admission system under CBE

Kenya is preparing for a major transformation in university admissions as the country transitions to the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system.

Speaking on a podcast, KUCCPS CEO Dr. Agnes Mercy Wahome revealed that the new admissions system will introduce a completely new placement criterion aligned to the CBE grading structure.

She explained that the new model will consider learner competencies and performance levels such as “exceeding expectations,” while professional bodies will define subject requirements for various careers.

Dr. Wahome also noted that accountability in university admissions will be strengthened by requiring institutions to clearly declare their capacities before placement begins.

The KUCCPS boss further explained that universities and colleges will be required to submit the exact number of students they can admit for every programme again, ensuring facilities, lecturers, and other resources are available.

“Highly specialised technical courses admit fewer students to maintain quality training standards, while only programmes approved by the Commission for University Education (CUE) are uploaded into the system to guarantee accreditation and academic quality,” Dr. Wahome said.

She further affirmed the government’s commitment to fairness in university admissions by ensuring merit remains the foundation of student placement.

According to her, once the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) releases KCSE results, the automated system developed by KUCCPS ranks students from the highest to the lowest grades based on available slots in every programme.

She explained that competition becomes more intense because students from different capacities compete for limited spaces, meaning the student occupying the final slot automatically determines the cut-off point, protecting integrity and fairness in the selection process.

On the capacity available for new students joining the university, Dr. Wahome revealed that universities have made major investments in the higher education sector, increasing the approved number of student slots for admission.

“Universities currently have more than 322,000 available slots compared to about 270,000 students who attained the minimum university entry grade of C+ and above,” she said.

She added that the CBE pathway will further reduce unnecessary competition by allowing learners to specialise early in STEM, arts, sports, and social sciences, thereby creating broader opportunities for every student.