Kenya, is an African country, situated on the East African
equator with dynamic and multicultural capital city Nairobi. Kenya has been
described as "the cradle of humanity", as some of the most famous
fossils of early humans have been found here. Kenya is named for Mount Kenya,
the second highest mountain in Africa.
The education system has highly developed and today Kenya is
a large provider of higher education programmes, drawing a significant number
of international students. You can choose from numerous accredited programmes
available at both undergraduate and graduate degree level.
Your study abroad experience in Kenya will be complemented by the
fantastic scenery of the African wilderness. Find the best information about
what it’s like to study in Nairobi, including degree course offers, career
opportunities, student life, living costs, and more.
More About Kenya
Kenya lies on the East African equator, with the Indian
Ocean as border in the south east, and surrounded by Tanzania, Uganda, South
Sudan, Ethiopia, and Somalia. In Kenya, you can explore from urban culture to
wildlife-rich savannah grassland.
Kenya is traditionally famous for its safaris and beautiful
wildlife reserves and national parks such as the East and West Tsavo National
Park, the Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru National Park, and Aberdares National Park.
The country is home to the big five animals: the lion, leopard, buffalo,
rhinoceros, and elephant that can be found particularly in the Masai Mara.
After being under the rule of the Arabians, then the
British, Kenya became an independent country under the Kenya Independence Act
1963, and exactly one year later, on 12 December 1964, Kenya became a republic
under the name "Republic of Kenya".
Kenya is a presidential representative democratic republic,
with the president as both the head of state and head of government, and of a
multi-party system. The executive power is exercised by the government.
Kenya has a unique and interesting mix of cultures that
include the Swahili on the coast, several Bantu communities in the central and
western regions, and Nilotic communities in the northwest. Although forming a small
part of the country’s population, tourists mainly know the Maasai tribe,
popular for the excessive body decoration.
The economy of Kenya has the largest by GDP in East and
Central Africa. The major industries supporting the local economy are: agricultural
products, oil refining, aluminium, steel, lead, cement, and tourism.
Kenya's climate is tropical along the coast and temperate
inland to arid in the north. Mainly, you can wear summer clothes the whole
year.
Education system
With more than ten public universities and over twenty
private universities, students have plenty of options from where to choose to
get a higher education degree. Applicants can select from the following types
of higher educational institutions: universities, colleges of higher education,
vocational colleges and polytechnic universities.
Kenya has been attracting a high number of international
students from all over the world. The multicultural environment has played an
important part in continually increasing the number of students.
The language of instruction used in universities is English.
The academic year runs from September to June. Depending on the chosen field of
study, a Bachelor's programme can take four to six years, and they often end
with a research project.
The education system in Kenya is managed by two ministers:
Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and
Technology.
General Application Requirements
All foreign students are required to have a Kenyan pupil
pass before admission (required for all non-diplomatic families or for children
who are in Kenya solely for the purpose of education), validated by The
Principal Secretary Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National
Government of Kenya.
After acquiring the pupil pass, the next step is to complete
the process for university submission.
Here is a list of the required documents:
- A
completed application form
- Copies
of certificates (certificate from the last graduated school)
- Two/three
passport size photographs
- Two
copies of the application fees receipt
Sometimes reference letters (one academic and one
professional) may be required in addition to the rest of the documents; it is
always best to check with the university you are interested in regarding their
list of necessary submission documents.
The usual entry requirements are: International
Baccalaureate, or any final secondary/high school examination certificate
equivalent to the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education as recognized by the
Kenya National Examinations Council or any internationally recognized
examination body.
Study options
Some of the most popular study abroad programmes in Kenya are related to sustainability, humanities, urbanization, health and human rights areas, but you can also find numerous degrees in: history, communications, linguistics, marketing, finance, philosophy or computing. The palette of degree levels covers Bachelor and Master degrees, MBA and Executive MBA, PhD courses.
Language of instruction
Kenya recognises over sixty different languages, with
Swahili and English being the national standard and the official languages.
However, in Kenyan universities, most programmes and courses are taught in
English and applicants from non-English speaking countries will be required to
deliver a certificate stating a high level of English proficiency, such as
TOEFL, IELTS, and others.
English language preparation for studying in Kenya
Develop your academic English language skills in order to
meet the English language requirements at Kenyan universities offering degree
studies for international students. Choose an English language school anywhere
in the world and pick your preferred English exam preparation course from
diverse language course options
Living in Kenya
- Tuition
fees at Kenyan universities are between 1,380 USD – 5,000 USD per year.
- The
cost of living for an average student ranges between 400 and 600 USD per
month.
- According
to the latest regulations from Kenya, international students are not
allowed to work.
- Discover
Kenya’s fabulous culture by attending the Mombasa Carnival, an amazing
spectacle with parades and dancing.
- In
Kenya, you can admire wonderful World Heritage sites like Fort Jesus,
(built in order to guard Mombasa), the Sacred Mijikenda Kaya Forests, or
sacred and fortified villages.
- While
in Kenya, you should check out the Donakey Sanctuary where you can see
around 3,000 working donkeys and visit various museums dedicated to the
culture of Swahili.
- Kenya
is a unique mix of cultures, as it is home to over forty tribes that speak
different languages. However, only six of these tribes, making up more
than half of the population, have largely influenced Kenya’s culture and
traditions.
- Kenyan
environmentalist professor Maathai was the first African woman who won a
Nobel Peace Prize in 2004.
- Before
going to Kenya, you need to complete several mandatory immunizations
(usually against polio, measles and diphtheria).
- For
Kenyans, coffee is considered an export product and not something for
local consumption. They much rather prefer tea and beer, despite the fact
coffee is the biggest income generator.
Student visas for Kenya
Nope, you won't need a visa!
Seeing how you’re from Kenya and you're going to
study in your home country, is there any wonder your journey will start
smoothly and without extra paperwork?
Still, so you wouldn't say we didn't help you with any
advice, let’s go through some really cool things you’re entitled to. For
instance:
- Check
the tuition fee: Because you're going to study in your own country, you
may have to pay lower or even no tuition fees. Which means you'll have
more money to spend. Yeiii!
- More
employment chances: Seeing how you know how things work and you can speak
the language, it means you will have more chances of landing a great job,
so keep an eye out for any opportunities that turn up.
- Language
requirements: No need to worry about them, unless you take a degree taught
in a foreign language in your home country. If you're going to study in
English but you have a different native language, be sure to get a
language certificate to prove your skills.
Bottom line: you won't need a visa. But don't forget you'll
still have to apply to the university in your country, and get accepted!
Even if you're set on studying in your country of origin,
remember you can still travel and visit amazing places, especially as a
student.
Good luck!