The Open University of Kenya (OUK), the nation’s first entirely virtual university, is now open to applications for its degree programs.
Prospective students aiming to enroll in the five inaugural degree programs, as recently announced by the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (Kuccps), will need to fulfill specific prerequisites.
Agnes Mercy Wahome, CEO of Kuccps, confirmed that the application process will be free of charge and without any fixed deadline.
The university’s admission criteria acknowledge work experience, short courses, and recognition of prior learning as factors for admitting students to their chosen degree tracks, as outlined in the provided admission requirements.
The offered undergraduate programs encompass Bachelor’s degrees in Data Science, Cyber Security and Digital Forensics, Technology Education, Business and Entrepreneurship, and Economics and Statistics.
Minimum entry requisites for undergraduate courses entail presenting a KCSE certificate or its equivalent, along with a portfolio for assessing prior learning credentials.
For applicants seeking Bachelor’s degree programs, the following requirements are in place:
- Attainment of a C+ grade or higher in KCSE, where applicable, or an equivalent as defined by university senate criteria.
- Diplomas or professional qualifications from recognized institutions.
- A KCSE certificate or its equivalent, coupled with a foundation or bridging course certificate from recognized institutions.
- Kenya Advanced Certificate of Education with a minimum of 1 principal and 1 subsidiary pass.
- Submission of KCSE certificate or equivalent, along with a portfolio detailing prior learning outcomes, based on either: a) Two years of workplace training, b) Two years of relevant work experience, or c) Completion of two short courses lasting at least 3 months each in pertinent fields.
- Consideration of other qualifications at the discretion of the senate, recognizing prior learning and equating it to the specified criteria, experiences, and learner competencies.
For postgraduate programs, such as the flagship Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership and Accountability and the Postgraduate Diploma in Learning Design and Technology, applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from an institution recognized by the university Senate.
The learning approach at the university involves open and distance learning methods.
The curriculum for the available programs was developed this year by a consultant team and subsequently endorsed by the Commission for Higher Education.
