Study in Kenya
Kenya, is an African country, situated on the East African equator with dynamic and multicultural capital city Nairobi. Kenya has been described as "the cradle of humanity", as some of the most famous fossils of early humans have been found here. Kenya is named for Mount Kenya, the second highest mountain in Africa.
The education system has highly developed and today Kenya is a large provider of higher education programmes, drawing a significant number of international students. You can choose from numerous accredited programmes available at both undergraduate and graduate degree level.
Your study abroad experience in Kenya will be complemented by the fantastic scenery of the African wilderness. Find the best information about what it’s like to study in Nairobi, including degree course offers, career opportunities, student life, living costs, and more.
Education system
With more than ten public universities and over twenty private universities, students have plenty of options from where to choose to get a higher education degree. Applicants can select from the following types of higher educational institutions: universities, colleges of higher education, vocational colleges and polytechnic universities.
Kenya has been attracting a high number of international students from all over the world. The multicultural environment has played an important part in continually increasing the number of students.
The language of instruction used in universities is English. The academic year runs from September to June. Depending on the chosen field of study, a Bachelor's programme can take four to six years, and they often end with a research project.
The education system in Kenya is managed by two ministers: Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology.
General Application Requirements
All foreign students are required to have a Kenyan pupil pass before admission (required for all non-diplomatic families or for children who are in Kenya solely for the purpose of education), validated by The Principal Secretary Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government of Kenya.
After acquiring the pupil pass, the next step is to complete the process for university submission.
Here is a list with the required documents:
- A completed application form
- Copies of certificates (certificate from the last graduated school)
- Two/three passport size photographs
- Two copies of the application fees receipt
Sometimes reference letters (one academic and one professional) may be required in addition to the rest of the documents; it is always best to check with the university you are interested in regarding their list of necessary submission documents.
The usual entry requirements are: International Baccalaureate, or any final secondary/high school examination certificate equivalent to the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education as recognized by the Kenya National Examinations Council or any internationally recognized examination body.
Study options
Some of the most popular study abroad programmes in Kenya are related to sustainability, humanities, urbanization, health and human rights areas, but you can also find numerous degrees in: history, communications, linguistics, marketing, finance, philosophy or computing. The palette of degree levels covers Bachelor and Master degrees, MBA and Executive MBA, PhD courses.
Check out the following links and learn more about the international scholarship opportunities:
Aga Khan Foundation, The School for Field Studies
Language of instruction
Kenya recognises over sixty different languages, with Swahili and English being the national standard and the official languages. However, in Kenyan universities, most programmes and courses are taught in English and applicants from non-English speaking countries will be required to deliver a certificate stating a high level of English proficiency, such as TOEFL, IELTS, and others.
English language preparation for studying in Kenya
Develop your academic English language skills in order to meet the English language requirements at Kenyan universities offering degree studies for international students. Choose an English language school anywhere in the world and pick your preferred English exam preparation course from diverse language course options