Colleges & Universities in Kenya

Kenya has a diverse higher and tertiary education sector offering opportunities for students, professionals and learners seeking degrees, diplomas, certificates, technical training and vocational qualifications. Colleges and universities across the country offer programmes covering business, technology, health sciences, engineering, education, hospitality, agriculture, law, media, finance and many other fields.

This page helps students and prospective learners discover universities, university colleges, colleges, technical and vocational institutions, national polytechnics, technical training institutes and vocational training centres across Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret, Kiambu, Thika, Nyeri, Machakos, Meru, Kakamega and other towns throughout Kenya.

Kenya's university sector includes public and private universities, while the wider tertiary education system includes technical and vocational institutions offering practical and career-oriented training. The Commission for University Education maintains information on universities authorised to operate in Kenya and approved university programmes.

Technical and vocational education is regulated by the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA), which maintains registers of accredited and licensed TVET institutions and approved programmes.

Whether you are looking for a university degree, diploma course, certificate programme, technical qualification, professional training or vocational skills, this page provides a starting point for discovering institutions based on location, courses, study mode, institution type and other relevant information.

Types of Higher & Tertiary Institutions

Public Universities · Private Universities · University Constituent Colleges · University Campuses · Colleges · National Polytechnics · Technical & Vocational Colleges · Technical Training Institutes · Vocational Training Centres · Specialist Colleges · Professional Training Institutions

Universities in Kenya

Kenyan universities offer undergraduate and postgraduate education across a wide range of academic and professional disciplines.

Bachelor's Degrees · Master's Degrees · Doctoral Programmes · Postgraduate Diplomas · Certificates · Distance Learning · Online Programmes · Research Programmes

Universities may be public or private, with some specialising in particular areas such as technology, agriculture, medicine, business, education, law or specialised professional training.

Colleges in Kenya

Colleges provide a broad range of certificate, diploma and professional programmes, with some institutions specialising in particular industries or career fields.

Business Colleges · Medical Colleges · ICT Colleges · Teacher Training Colleges · Hospitality Colleges · Aviation Colleges · Fashion Colleges · Beauty Colleges · Engineering Colleges · Journalism Colleges · Accounting Colleges · Professional Training Colleges

Some colleges operate independently, while others are affiliated with universities or form part of larger education institutions.

TVET & Technical Colleges in Kenya

Technical and vocational education provides practical and technical training designed to develop skills for employment, entrepreneurship and industry.

TVETA maintains registers of institutions that are registered and licensed to offer TVET programmes.

National Polytechnics · Technical & Vocational Colleges · Technical Training Institutes · Vocational Training Centres · Artisan Training · Craft Courses · Diploma Programmes · Technical Certificates · Competency-Based Training

TVET programmes cover fields including building technology, electrical and electronics, ICT, motor vehicle technology, agriculture, fashion design, food processing, carpentry and other technical disciplines.

Courses & Programmes

Degree Courses · Diploma Courses · Certificate Courses · Artisan Courses · Professional Courses · Technical Courses · Vocational Courses · Postgraduate Courses · Short Courses · Online Courses · Part-Time Courses · Full-Time Courses

Popular Fields of Study

Business & Management · Accounting & Finance · Information Technology · Computer Science · Engineering · Medicine & Health Sciences · Nursing · Pharmacy · Education · Law · Agriculture · Hospitality & Tourism · Aviation · Journalism & Media · Architecture · Construction · Fashion & Design · Social Sciences · Economics · Human Resources · Procurement & Supply Chain · Automotive Engineering · Electrical Engineering · Mechanical Engineering

Study Modes

Full-Time · Part-Time · Evening Classes · Weekend Classes · Online Learning · Distance Learning · Blended Learning · Virtual Classes

Different institutions offer different study modes, so prospective students should confirm current programme availability, admission requirements and delivery methods directly with the institution.

Public vs Private Institutions

Kenya's higher education sector includes both public and private institutions.

Public universities and colleges are established and supported through the public education system, while private institutions are independently established and operated subject to the relevant regulatory requirements.

When comparing institutions, students may consider:

Accreditation · Courses Offered · Entry Requirements · Fees · Location · Facilities · Study Mode · Student Support · Accommodation · Graduation Outcomes · Industry Connections

Admission & Entry Requirements

Admission requirements vary depending on the institution, programme and level of study.

Students may need to meet specific requirements relating to:

KCSE Grades · Subject Requirements · Diploma Qualifications · Certificate Qualifications · Previous Degrees · Professional Qualifications · Interviews · Entrance Examinations · Recognition of Prior Learning

For university programmes, prospective students should check the institution's current admission requirements and confirm that the university and programme are appropriately authorised.