The University of Nairobi (UoN) is Kenya's oldest and largest public university. It offers over 500 programmes across undergraduate, postgraduate and short-course levels. Annual undergraduate fees range from KES 144,000 to KES 600,000, depending on your course.
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Key takeaways
- UoN offers over 500 programmes across 11 colleges and faculties.
- Annual fees range from KES 144,000 (Arts) to KES 600,000 (Medicine) for the 2025/2026 academic year.
- Government-sponsored students apply through KUCCPS; self-sponsored students apply via the UoN online portal.
- Master's degree fees range from KES 120,000 to KES 350,000 per year.
- The minimum KCSE entry requirement for all undergraduate programmes is grade C+.
About the University of Nairobi
The University of Nairobi was founded in 1970. It began as the Royal Technical College of East Africa in 1956. It became a university college in 1961 before gaining full university status.
Today, UoN has over 84,000 students across ten campuses. It is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). It is also a member of the Association of African Universities (AAU) and the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA).
Which courses does UoN offer?
UoN offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across these colleges and schools:
- Health Sciences — Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nursing, Public Health
- Engineering and Technology — Civil, Electrical, Mechanical and Computer Engineering
- Humanities and Social Sciences — Arts, Linguistics, History, Communication
- Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences — Agriculture, Veterinary Medicine, Food Science
- Biological and Physical Sciences — Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics
- Business — Commerce, Economics, Finance, Accounting
- Architecture and Built Environment — Architecture, Quantity Surveying, Real Estate
- Law — Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
- Education — Arts and Science Education options
Postgraduate programmes at UoN
UoN offers master's and PhD programmes in all the above disciplines. Popular master's courses include:
- MBA — Master of Business Administration
- MA Communication
- MSc Mathematics
- MSc Agronomy
- MA Development Studies
- MSc Agricultural and Applied Economics
The Kenyan university also offers Open, Distance and e-Learning (ODeL) programmes. These include BCom, BEd, Nursing, MBA and PGDE. You access ODeL courses through elearning.uonbi.ac.ke.
How much are University of Nairobi fees?
Annual undergraduate fees for 2025/2026 are set by programme. The table below shows fees for the main clusters.
Programme / cluster | Annual fees (KES) |
Medicine and Surgery (MBChB) | 600,000 |
Dental Surgery | 576,000 |
Veterinary Medicine | 468,000 |
Pharmacy, Human Anatomy, Medical Physiology | 450,000 |
Engineering, Quantity Surveying | 396,000 |
Architecture | 360,000 |
Agriculture, Nursing, and related Health Sciences | 324,000 |
Pure and Applied Sciences | 288,000 |
Basic Sciences | 264,000 |
Hospitality, Media, Project Planning | 240,000 |
Commerce, Law, Economics, Education (Arts) | 216,000 |
Social Sciences and International Studies | 180,000 |
Bachelor of Arts (Humanities) | 144,000 |
Extra costs: Students pay additional administrative and activity fees of approximately KES 20,000–30,000 per year. These cover:
- Medical services
- ICT and library access
- Student services levy
- Examination registration
Government-sponsored students: If you are placed through KUCCPS, functional fees are approximately KES 16,000–48,000 per year. The government covers the balance. You may apply for an HELB loan of KES 35,000–60,000 per year, subject to a means test.
What are the fees for a Master's degree at UoN?
Master's degree fees for self-sponsored students range from KES 120,000 to KES 350,000 per year, depending on the programme. PhD fees range from KES 150,000 to KES 400,000 per year. Examples of annual master's fees include:
- MSc Mathematics: KES 312,000
- MSc Agronomy: KES 260,000
- MA Development Studies: KES 216,000
- MSc Agricultural and Applied Economics: KES 384,000
University of Nairobi entry requirements
The minimum KCSE mean grade for all undergraduate programmes is C+. Many courses require higher grades in specific cluster subjects.
Programme | Mean grade | Key cluster subjects |
Medicine and Surgery | C+ (competitive) | B in Biology, Chemistry, Physics/Maths, English/Kiswahili |
Dental Surgery | C+ (competitive) | B in cluster subjects |
Engineering | C+ | C+ in Maths, Physics, Chemistry |
Computer Science | C+ | C+ in Maths and Physics |
Bachelor of Commerce | C+ | C in Maths and English/Kiswahili |
Law (LLB) | C+ (competitive) | B in English or Kiswahili |
Education (Arts) | C+ | C+ in two teaching subjects |
Diploma holders need a Credit pass or above for entry into undergraduate programmes.
How to apply to the University of Nairobi
Applying through KUCCPS (government-sponsored)
- Visit kuccps.net and log in with your KCSE index number.
- Select up to six programme choices in order of preference.
- Pay the KES 1,500 application fee via M-Pesa.
- Submit your application during the open revision window (typically February to April).
- Wait for placement results from KUCCPS.
Applying as a self-sponsored student
- Go to the UoN online application portal.
- Create an account and complete the application form.
- Upload certified copies of your certificates and transcripts.
- Pay the application fee as directed on the portal.
- Receive your admission offer within two to four weeks.
Applying for a master's degree at UoN
- Check the available postgraduate programmes at uonbi.ac.ke.
- Confirm that you hold a relevant undergraduate degree with at least a Second Class Honours (Lower Division).
- Complete the online postgraduate application form.
- Submit academic transcripts, a personal statement and two reference letters.
- Pay the postgraduate application fee as directed.
- The main intake is September; a limited January intake is available for select programmes.
September 2026 postgraduate scholarship: UoN opened institutional Masters Scholarships for the 2026/2027 intake. Eligibility requires graduation from UoN in 2024 or 2025 (2022/2023 for Health Sciences graduates), a First Class or Upper Second honours degree, and full-time enrolment.
University of Nairobi branches and campus locations
UoN operates ten campuses across Kenya. The main campuses are:
Campus | Location | Faculties / schools |
Main Campus | Nairobi CBD | Architecture, Engineering, Humanities, Social Sciences |
Chiromo Campus | Nairobi | Biological and Physical Sciences |
Upper Kabete Campus | Upper Kabete, Nairobi | Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences |
Lower Kabete Campus | Lower Kabete, Nairobi | School of Business |
KNH Campus | Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi | Health Sciences |
Kikuyu Campus | Kikuyu | Education and External Studies |
Kenya Science Campus | Ngong Road, Nairobi | Sciences |
Mombasa Campus | Mombasa | Regional programmes |
Kisumu Campus | Kisumu | Regional programmes |
University of Nairobi contacts
- Website/student portal: uonbi.ac.ke
- Postal address: P.O. Box 30197, 00100 GPO, Nairobi, Kenya
- Telephone: +254 20 318 262
- E-learning portal: elearning.uonbi.ac.ke
- KUCCPS applications: kuccps.net
For programme-specific enquiries, contact the relevant school or faculty directly through the main website.
FAQ
Which courses does UoN offer?
UoN offers over 500 programmes, including Medicine, Engineering, Law, Business, Education, Agriculture, Veterinary Medicine, and Arts. Programmes are available at undergraduate, master's, PhD and diploma levels. You can view the full course catalogue at uonbi.ac.ke.
What are University of Nairobi fees?
Annual undergraduate fees range from KES 144,000 for Humanities to KES 600,000 for Medicine (2025/2026). Government-sponsored students pay lower functional fees of KES 16,000–48,000 per year. Additional administrative levies of KES 20,000–30,000 apply to all students.
What are the fees for a Master's degree at UoN?
Master's degree fees range from KES 120,000 to KES 350,000 per year for self-sponsored students. PhD fees range from KES 150,000 to KES 400,000 per year. Confirm current figures for your specific programme on the UoN postgraduate portal.
How do I apply for a master's degree at UoN?
Apply online at uonbi.ac.ke. You need a relevant undergraduate degree, academic transcripts, a personal statement and two reference letters. The main intake is September. A limited January intake is available for some programmes.
What master's courses are offered at Nairobi University?
UoN offers master's programmes in Business (MBA), Communication, Mathematics, Agronomy, Agricultural Economics, Development Studies, Law, Engineering, Health Sciences and many more. Visit the official postgraduate page at uonbi.ac.ke for the full list.
The University of Nairobi continues to stand as Kenya's premier choice for higher education by offering a diverse array of market-driven courses. Whether enrolling through government placement or self-sponsored routes, students can seamlessly navigate their admissions through dedicated online portals.
Tuko.co.ke also listed Kenyatta University masters programmes, including requirements and fees. KU, one of Kenya's largest public universities, has around 110 approved masters programmes and 17 PhD programmes.
Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Education (M.Ed), and Master of Science in Public Health (MPH) are among the highly sought-after, market-driven postgraduate degrees offered at KU. Discover more in the article.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
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