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The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS), which is the governing body that places KCSE students in degree, diploma, and other courses sponsored by the government, every year sees thousands of students applying through KUCCPS in a bid to land their desired course based on their KCSE results.
A frequent concern among applicants is whether English, one of the core subjects in the KCSE, is a strict prerequisite for all courses.
On scrutinizing official placement documents and credible sources for educational guides, one can clearly determine that English language requirements differ according to program level and type, hence not being compulsory for some certificate and diploma programs, despite being a basic requirement for most degree program placements.
KUCCPS’ placement policies outline minimum entry criteria for various levels: generally, a mean grade of C+ for degree courses and C- for diploma courses, while certificate programmes may accept D+ or higher, depending on the field.
The official KUCCPS documentation indicates that compulsory subjects, including English, Kiswahili, and Mathematics, are “employed as a measure of merit” when mean grade is the only requirement, meaning that for certain diploma and certificate courses, strict subject minima may not be enforced if the mean grade is sufficient.
Understanding English Requirement Across Course Levels
For degree programmes, the official KUCCPS cluster system typically requires English or Kiswahili as part of the cluster of subjects used to calculate weighted points for placement.
These requirements are course-specific and published in the KUCCPS Degree Cluster Documents.
Across most arts, science, and professional degrees, English will be part of the required subjects, making it essentially compulsory in practice for degree entry.
However, at the diploma and certificate levels, English is not always a strict minimum subject.
Though most of the diploma courses have a C- as a minimum KCSE requirement and include English or Kiswahili, there are others where English is not a subject requirement, especially where other abilities or skills would be valued in technical or artisan courses.
In such cases, it may be the mean grade that is of great importance and can preclude a subject.
Also Read: KUCCPS Courses Where Chemistry is Compulsory
Diploma and Certificate Programmes with Flexible English Requirements
The placement data and reputable education guides suggest the following patterns:
• Technical and Artisan Certificates (TVET):
Many artisan or certificate-level courses offered through TVET institutions, require only overall KCSE performance, often as low as D- or D (plain), without specifying English as a mandatory subject.
These include basic technician, hospitality service, and certain technical crafts.
• Some Diploma Courses:
There are instances where diploma programmes, especially at TVET colleges or within non-professional technical fields, focus on the overall performance threshold and relevant technical subjects rather than English.
For example, certain diploma pathways in hospitality, tourism operations, or artisan technical skills may emphasize competency in practical subjects instead of English scores.
Also Read: KUCCPS-Approved KMTC Courses for Students Who Scored C to D+ Available in 2026
Why Degree Programmes Still Require English
The reason English remains central for most degree-level courses is tied to the cluster point system used by KUCCPS.
Courses such as law, commerce, education, humanities, and sciences all use English or Kiswahili in cluster subject calculations.
Regardless of whether Kiswahili may substitute, one language score is almost always factored into cluster calculations for degrees.
Therefore, although English might not be mandatory in certain TVETs/Certificate programs, it is paramount in degree placement programs.
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KUCCPS CEO Dr Agnes Wahome. PHOTO/KUCCPS/X
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