KUCCPS 2023: 5 Universities Only to Offer Architecture Degree [LIST & COST]

Photo collage of university students in a classroom and a house design shared by  House Design Kenya on May 6, 2023
Photo collage of university students in a classroom and an artistic representation of a house design shared by House Design Kenya on May 6, 2023.
Photo
National Defence University/ House Designs Kenya

With the government seeking to streamline the construction sector and only produce fully-trained architects, the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) approved only five institutions to offer Bachelor of Architectural Studies.

According to the portal, which was opened on Wednesday, May 17, students who sat for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams would only pursue a Bachelor of Architecture at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) and Kenyatta University (KU).

Other institutions of higher learning approved to offer the degree include the University of Nairobi (UoN), the Technical University of Kenya (TUK), formally Kenya Polytechnic and the Technical University of Mombasa (TUM).

Stands set up at the University of Nairobi during the Innovation Week on Wednesday May 17, 2023
Stands set up at the University of Nairobi during the Innovation Week on Wednesday, May 17, 2023.
Photo
UoN

Charges

According to details in the KUCCPS portal, the Bachelor of Architecture offered at JKUAT will be the most expensive, costing Ksh367,200 per academic year.

At UoN, students intending to pursue the course would part with Ksh 347,650 in a year, while Kenyatta University charges Ksh306,000.

Bachelor of Architectural Studies cost Ksh288,000 at the Technical University of Kenya and Ksh275,400 at TUM.

Students would be picked depending on their Mathematics, English, Kiswahili and Physics performance. Other subjects would be included depending on the universities' preferences.

The subject selection would determine the cluster points used in the university selection process. In 2021, the cut-off points varied from 39 to 43 points.

Students pursuing architecture would learn the art and science of designing buildings and other structures. It would involve sketching, conceiving, planning, designing, and constructing buildings or other structures.

With the construction sector evolving, fully-trained architects are also expected to gain market-relevant skills, which the selected universities are anchored to equip the students.

Career Opportunities

Some career opportunities related to the field include Architect, Senior Architect, Project Architect, Design Architect and Urban Planner.

Other careers associated with the course include Landscape Architect, Interior Designer,  Construction Manager,  Project Manager and Quantity Surveyor.

Professionals in the field earn competitive salaries ranging between Ksh70,000 to Ksh120,000 per month.

Financing for Courses

To address the financing issue, President William Ruto indicated that government scholarships, loans and bursaries would fund students.

According to the model, the less needy students joining university will be funded through a government scholarship of up to 38 per cent of the programme's cost and 55 per cent in the form of loans.

Their households will pay only seven per cent.

Those joining Technical and Vocational Education and Training Schools (TVETS) will be funded 32 per cent for government scholarships, 48 per cent for loans, and their households will pay 20 per cent of the costs.

A photo collage of KCSE students sitting national examinations in 2021 (left) and a screengrab of the KUCCPS student log in portal (right).
A photo collage of KCSE students sitting national examinations in 2021 (left) and a screengrab of the KUCCPS student login portal (right).
Photo
KNEC /KUCCPS