University application portal to close at midnight as 2025 KCSE candidates urged to register

The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) has issued a final call to 2025 KCSE candidates to complete their university and college applications ahead of the midnight deadline.

In a statement on Wednesday, KUCCPS CEO Dr Agnes Mercy Wahome said the application portal will close on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at 11:59 p.m., urging students not to miss out on the opportunity.

“Many students have selected their courses and placed them in the ‘course basket’ but have not clicked the final submission button,” said Dr Wahome.

“Adding programmes in the course basket is not an application. You must complete the process and submit your choices before the midnight deadline to be considered in this first round of placement.”

KUCCPS reassured candidates and their parents that there is sufficient capacity across institutions, with over 1.4 million available slots this year. These include 322,396 spaces in universities and more than 1.1 million in TVET institutions, spread across 508 public and private institutions nationwide.

Of the 268,714 candidates who attained the minimum university entry grade of C+ in the 2025 KCSE examination, 207,308, representing 77 per cent, had submitted their applications by Wednesday morning.

Dr Wahome, however, raised concern over incomplete applications, warning that failure to submit choices would lock out candidates from the initial placement round.

She also encouraged learners to consider technical courses, noting strong performance in subjects such as drawing and design, music, electricity and woodwork, which recorded pass rates above 80 per cent.

For those who may miss the deadline or fail to secure their preferred courses, KUCCPS announced a second revision window starting from May 16.

“No student will be left behind. Following the closure of the portal tonight, we will process applications and then re-open for a second revision from May 16 to May 22, 2026, for those who may need to adjust their choices,” she said.

Students have been urged to finalise their applications through the KUCCPS portal before the deadline lapses.