By Brian Kiprono - Reporter
Kenya, July 8, 2026 - More than 293,000 students have secured places in universities, colleges and technical institutions after the government released the 2025 Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) results, with authorities also extending the university transfer window to one month.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba announced that 293,869 students had been successfully placed for the 2025/2026 academic year, describing the exercise as one of the largest in the country's history.
The figure represents a significant increase from the annual average of about 70,000 placements recorded in previous years.
Of those placed, 202,133 students secured admission to degree programmes, while 28,246 were placed at the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC).
Another 8,915 students who qualified for university admission chose to pursue Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) courses instead, highlighting growing interest in skills-based education.
The placement also saw 500 students admitted to Diploma in Law (Paralegal) programmes, 765 placed at Kenya Utalii College, and 875 enrolled in secondary Teacher Training Colleges (TTCs).
In a first for the placement agency, students were centrally placed into Kenya Utalii College through the KUCCPS system.
In a move expected to benefit students seeking to change institutions or courses, Ogamba announced that the inter-institution transfer period has been extended from two weeks to one month.
Students can now log into the KUCCPS portal to check the institutions and programmes they have been assigned before deciding whether to request a transfer.
The Cabinet Secretary also directed universities and colleges to begin issuing admission letters and joining instructions immediately to allow successful applicants to prepare for admission.
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"Following the conclusion of the placement, the Higher Education Financing portal is now open for first-time applicants," Ogamba said.
The portal will enable newly admitted students to apply for government scholarships and student loans.
According to the Ministry of Education, 980,535 candidates who sat the 2025 KCSE examination qualified to apply for placement, with 270,508 attaining the minimum C+ grade required for university admission.
KUCCPS Chief Executive Officer Dr Agnes Mercy Wahome said the placement exercise accommodated 81 per cent of all candidates who attained the university entry grade.
She noted, however, that demand for some professional courses continues to exceed available capacity.
For example, 6,500 students applied for the Bachelor of Medicine programme, yet universities had space for only 702 students.
Meanwhile, the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has opened applications for undergraduate subsequent loans, while first-time university students can now submit applications for government scholarships and loans through the Higher Education Financing portal.