Nairobi has Kenya’s largest concentration of universities and colleges, public and private, and students from across East Africa and beyond.
Universities
Among the best known in and around Nairobi:
- University of Nairobi - Kenya’s oldest university, beside the CBD
- Kenyatta University - on Thika Road
- Strathmore University - private, in Madaraka
- USIU-Africa - private, off Thika Road
- Aga Khan University - health sciences and media
- Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) - in Juja, with a Nairobi campus
Many are on the map.
Check accreditation
Universities are accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE), which publishes the list of accredited universities and programmes. Technical and vocational colleges (TVETs) are overseen by the TVET Authority. Check a course is accredited before paying, especially with smaller private colleges.
Kenyan students
- Placement. Government-sponsored places at public universities and colleges are allocated through the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS), based on exam results and choices.
- Funding. The student-centred funding model combines government scholarships and loans, administered with the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), according to need. Apply on time each year.
Foreign students
International students need a student pass from the Directorate of Immigration Services, applied for with an admission letter from an accredited institution. The university’s international office usually guides you through it. A student pass does not allow you to work.
Living as a student
- Housing. Halls of residence, private hostels near campuses, and shared flats. Areas near the main campuses fill up at the start of the year.
- Getting around. Matatus serve every campus, and many universities run shuttle buses.
- Money. See the budget planner and Cost of living in Nairobi.