Bachelor’s Degree Admission Guidebook for the 2026/2027 Academic Year
(For Holders of Secondary School Qualifications)
1.1 Introduction
The Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU) has prepared this Bachelor's Degree Admission Guidebook to guide prospective applicants/students, parents/guardians, sponsors and other stakeholders on the procedures and criteria for students' admission to Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Tanzania. The Guidebook is further intended to provide information about institutions which offer Bachelor's degree programmes, accredited programmes in the respective admission cycle, minimum entry requirements, programmes admission capacities, and duration of each programme. Applications for admission into Bachelor's degrees in HEIs are directly submitted through the online admissions systems of the respective institutions. The process is interactive in such a way that the applicant can easily and conveniently follow the instructions given by the system in the course of applying. In addition, the Guidebook has the following information:
a) Applications and admission procedures;
b) Admission eligibility requirements;
c) Admission entry schemes and pathways;
d) Approved institutions and programmes;
e) Minimum entry requirements for each programme;
f) Important dates to be followed during the application process; and
g) Quality assurance fee.
1.2 Applications and Admission Procedure
i) Applications are conducted online through the respective institutions' Online Admission Systems/Portals accessible on their websites.
ii) Applicants should ensure that they have adequate information for the programmes of their choice by considering available capacities, one's passes, competitions, and career aspirations.
iii) Applicants should ensure that their names and index numbers used in the applications match with those used during secondary schools or college examinations.
iv) Applicants should carefully read and understand the guidelines and admission requirements of programmes anticipated to apply for, provided in this Guidebook and on the websites of the individual institutions, and ensure that they are consistent with the application process.
v) In processing admission of foreign applicants holding pre-university qualifications, it shall be the responsibility of the receiving university to determine the equivalencies of foreign qualifications to Tanzania's Advanced Certificate of Secondary Education qualifications. For foreign applicants holding foreign university awards, it shall be the responsibility of the receiving university to process and obtain assessment of recognition of awards from TCU.
vi) Tanzanians possessing foreign qualifications should obtain equivalencies from NECTA/NACTVET, get an index number and AVN, apply as Tanzanians and compete with fellow Tanzanians for available admission slots through the systems connected with the TCU integrated admission system. It shall be the responsibility of the applicant to apply for and obtain recognition of foreign university awards from TCU and submit the same to the university during the application for admission.
vii) Applicants admitted to more than one institution shall be required to confirm their admissions to the most preferred programmes and institutions.
viii) Queries related to applications or admissions have to be lodged with the respective institutions to which the applicant has applied for admission.
ix) Applicants who do not have at least two principal subject passes in their Advanced Certificate of Secondary Education Examination results with at least a total of 4.0 points are advised not to apply as they do not meet the minimum requirements for admission.
1.3 Admission Eligibility Requirements
1.3.1 Entry Schemes and Pathways into Bachelor's Degree Programmes
Two major entry schemes to Bachelor's degree programmes are recognised by the Commission:
i) The Direct Entry Qualifications, with the following pathways:
a) Holders of Form Six Qualifications; and
b) Holders of Foreign Secondary Education Certificates.
ii) The Equivalent Entry Qualifications, with the following pathways:
a) Holders of Ordinary Diploma or Equivalent Qualifications;
b) Holders of Foundation Certificate granted by the Open University of Tanzania; and
c) Holders of a Bachelor's Degree Award.
1.3.2 General Minimum Entry Qualifications for Admission into Bachelor's Degree Programmes
Bachelor's degree programmes general minimum entry qualifications for admission into all Bachelor's degree programmes, other than Health and Allied Sciences, are provided in Table 1, whereas Table 2 provides harmonised minimum entry qualifications for Health and Allied Sciences programmes.
2026/2027 Bachelor's Degree Admission Guidebook for Holders of Secondary School Qualifications
2026/2027 Bachelor's Degree Admission Guidebook for Ordinary Diploma/Equivalent Applicants