The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) has unveiled updated subject requirements for all degree programmes ahead of the 2026 placement cycle. The guidelines clearly outline the subject combinations and minimum grades students need for admission into various courses.
KUCCPS organises the requirements into degree clusters, grouping related programmes and assigning shared subject criteria. Most degrees require English or Kiswahili and Mathematics as core subjects, with additional requirements depending on the field of study.
Science & Technology Programmes
-
Engineering, Medicine, and Applied Sciences require strong grades in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
-
Engineering courses usually require at least C+ in Mathematics and Physics.
-
Health programmes like medicine and nursing focus on Biology and Chemistry.
-
Courses in Information Technology, Computer Science, Data Science, and Applied Statistics also require Mathematics and Physics. Computer knowledge is an added advantage.
Business, Humanities & Social Sciences
-
Programmes in Business, Communication, Humanities, and Social Sciences allow flexible combinations of subjects, including Geography, History, Economics, and Religious Studies.
-
Language proficiency, particularly English, is often a key requirement.
Education Programmes
-
Bachelor of Education (Arts) and Bachelor of Education (Science) degrees follow cluster-based subject combinations tied to the teaching subjects students plan to specialise in.
-
Group classifications:
-
Group I: Languages
-
Group II: Sciences
-
Group III: Humanities
-
Group IV: Technical subjects
-
Group V: Creative Arts and Foreign Languages
-
KUCCPS Degree Clusters & Subject Requirements
Law, Business & Management
-
Courses: Law, Commerce, Business Administration, Procurement, Supply Chain, Entrepreneurship
-
Requirements: English/Kiswahili, Mathematics or Group II, one Group III subject, plus one additional from Group II–V
Hospitality, Tourism & Human Resources
-
Courses: Tourism, Hospitality, Hotel Management, Human Resource Management
-
Requirements: English/Kiswahili, Mathematics, any Group II/III subject, plus one additional from Group II–V
Arts, Communication & Social Sciences
-
Courses: Journalism, Mass Communication, Sociology, Psychology, Criminology, Political Science
-
Requirements: English (C+), Kiswahili (C+ for some), any Group II subject, plus one subject from Group III–V
Engineering, Geospatial & Physical Sciences
-
Courses: Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Geospatial Engineering
-
Requirements: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry/Geography, plus one subject from Group II–V
-
Minimum grades: C+ in Mathematics and Physics
ICT, Computer Science & Technology
-
Courses: Computer Science, IT, Software Engineering, Informatics
-
Requirements: Mathematics, Physics/Computer Studies, any Group II/III subject, plus one subject from Group II–V
Architecture, Quantity Survey & Built Environment
-
Courses: Architecture, Quantity Surveying, Urban Planning, Construction Management
-
Requirements: Mathematics, Physics/Geography, any Group II subject, plus one subject from Group III–V
Biological & Life Sciences
-
Courses: Biology, Biotechnology, Microbiology, Biochemistry
-
Requirements: Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry/Physics, plus one subject from Group II–V
Health Sciences & Medical
-
Courses: Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Clinical Medicine, Public Health
-
Requirements: Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics/Physics, English/Kiswahili
Agriculture & Environmental Sciences
-
Courses: Agriculture, Agribusiness, Environmental Science, Forestry
-
Requirements: Mathematics, Biology/Agriculture, Chemistry/Geography, plus one subject from Group II–V
Mathematics, Economics & Statistics
-
Courses: Actuarial Science, Economics, Statistics, Financial Engineering
-
Requirements: Mathematics, English/Kiswahili, any Group II subject, plus one subject from Group III–V
Education (Arts)
-
Courses: Education Arts, Early Childhood Education, Special Needs Education
-
Requirements: Two KCSE teaching subjects, English/Kiswahili, Mathematics/approved alternatives
Education (Science & Technical)
-
Courses: Education Science, Technical Education
-
Requirements: Mathematics, two science subjects (Biology, Chemistry, Physics), English/Kiswahili
Key Advice for Students
Students are strongly encouraged to review cluster requirements carefully before applying. Selecting courses that do not align with their subject qualifications may lead to disqualification during placement.
The post 2026 Placement Alert: KUCCPS Releases Complete List of Degree Subject Requirements appeared first on Bossnana.
