KUCCPS clarifies path for students struggling with course and university selection
By Aloys Michael, April 18, 2026The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) has introduced a series of measures aimed at assisting thousands of students who are struggling to choose their preferred courses and institutions in the current placement application cycle.
“Students should confidently apply for programmes they qualify for based on cluster points, regardless of the indicated cut-off figures,” she advised.
Concerns raised by students during the session highlighted confusion around course selection, university preferences, and the overall application process, prompting the agency to issue clarifications.
The KUCCPS CEO explained that while cut-off points have been displayed on the portal, they will not be the determining factor in final placement decisions in 2026.
Moreover, Wahome clarified that student placement will be determined purely by cluster points and weighting, alongside course groupings and the capacity available in various programmes and institutions.
She further explained that cut-off points serve only as a reference for eligibility and are not intended to limit or discourage learners from applying for their preferred courses.
At the same time, the CEO explained that cut-off points are not fixed and tend to change each year based on KCSE performance outcomes.
KUCCPS noted that when candidates generally perform well, cut-off points rise because more students compete for a limited number of available slots. On the other hand, weaker overall performance leads to lower cut-off points since competition for programmes decreases.
Students were encouraged to fully utilise the six application options provided to them in order to improve their chances of placement, even though completing all choices is optional.
Second revision process
However, KUCCPS advised applicants not to repeat the same programme multiple times within one institution, while allowing the same course to be selected across different universities.
During the second revision phase, KUCCPS will notify applicants who do not secure placement in their initial choices through SMS alerts sent to the phone numbers provided during application. The agency has clarified that this revision stage will be free of charge, with candidates required only to reuse their original Ksh1,500 payment code for verification purposes.
Students are encouraged to ensure they submit active and accessible phone numbers to receive timely updates and instructions.
Additionally, KUCCPS has stated that any transfers from private to public universities must be done through the official inter-university transfer process, which will be announced separately.
The placement body has also cautioned applicants against sharing their login credentials, including with cyber café operators, due to increasing cases of account tampering and fraud.