Application for admission to the Open University of Kenya (OUK) begins through the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) portal.
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Open University of Kenya (OUK) Admission and Entry Requirements
The Open University of Kenya (OUK) was chartered to break conventional barriers and provide opportunities for more Kenyans to access university education in a flexible and convenient manner.
Here, work experience, short courses, or recognition of prior learning will be considered in admitting learners to pursue degree programmes, according to admission requirements released by the university. It is expected to benefit Kenyans who missed early opportunities or faced barriers such as formal grades, age, capacity to pay, gender, or geographical location to access university education, through the flexibility of learning that allows students to learn at their own time, pace, and place.
Degree programmes and two postgraduate diploma courses are on the student placement application portal. The minimum admission requirements for the undergraduate courses include evidence of a KCSE certificate or equivalent and a portfolio for recognition of prior learning.
Programmes/Courses Offered at Open University of Kenya (OUK)
Explore the list of Undergraduate and Post-graduate programmes/courses offered at the Open University of Kenya (OUK).
The undergraduate programmes to be offered are;
- Bachelor of Data Science
- Bachelor of Science in Cyber Security and Digital Forensics
- Bachelor of Technology Education
- Bachelor of Business and Entrepreneurship
- Bachelor of Economics and Statistics
The postgraduate programmes will include;
- Flagship Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership and Accountability
- Postgraduate Diploma in Learning Design and Technology
The Open University of Kenya degree and postgraduate diploma programmes have between 12 and 14 course units per academic year. Learning will take one year for postgraduate programmes while the bachelor’s degree programmes will take four years to complete. However, for open and self-paced learning, a student may decide to take a course unit at a time on the alternative flexible mode and may plan to take longer periods.
Cost of Admission at OUK
To pursue an undergraduate degree at OUK, will cost Ksh. 105,000, except for Bachelor of Technology Education which will cost Ksh. 115,000 per year for full-time study. The cost of pursuing a postgraduate diploma programme is Ksh. 110,000 for the one academic year. The annual cost for studying a degree programme has taken into account a 15% discount that the government negotiated with universities under the new higher education funding model.
At OUK, learners have the flexibility to pay and pursue individual course units at a cost of Ksh. 10,000 per unit. This option is applicable to both the bachelor’s degree and postgraduate diploma programmes on offer. For all the programmes or course units, students outside East Africa will pay 10% more.
Admission Entry Requirements at OUK
The minimum entry requirements for Bachelor’s degree programmes are as follows:
- A mean grade of C+ and above at KCSE where applicable or its equivalent using criteria that the university senate may determine.
- Diplomas or professional qualifications from recognized institutions.
- KCSE certificate or equivalent and a certificate of foundation or bridging courses from recognized institutions.
- Kenya Advanced Certificate of Education with a minimum of 1 principal and subsidiary pass.
- A bachelor’s degree from an institution recognized by the Senate.
Evidence of KCSE certificate or equivalent and a portfolio for the purpose of recognition of prior learning determination with respect to:
- Workplace training of 2 years.
- Work experience in a relevant field of 2 years.
- Two short courses lasting at least 3 months each in relevant fields.
Any other qualifications that may be determined by the senate recognizing prior learning leading to equivalents of the identified criteria, experience, and skills of learners.
How to Apply for Open University of Kenya (OUK)
Applicants with KCSE examination qualifications from 1989 to the present can readily apply on the OUK KUCCPS portal.
How to Access the OUK Admission Portal
Follow these comprehensive step-by-step guide to complete the Open University of Kenya online application form.
- Explore Admission Portal via https://ouk.kuccps.net
- Login with your KCSE Index Number and Year
Use Your Birth Certificate No. OR KCPE Index No (as used in KCSE Exam Registration) as your Initial Password
- Fill out all required details
- Tap on the Login button
KUCCPS and OUK will provide a platform for those with international and other non-KCSE qualifications to upload their application documents.
OUK Application Deadline
The Open University of Kenya (OUK) applications admissible at the KUCCPS portal will be free of charge and without any deadline.
This is due to the uniqueness of the Open University’s mode of learning and flexible modular programme design that will allow students to study at their own pace and convenience. Bachelor’s degree applicants are eligible to apply for government scholarships and loans as per the new funding model criteria.
Contact Details
- P.O. Box 300400, 00100 Nairobi, Kenya
- [email protected]
- Website URL: https://ouk.ac.ke/
