KUCCPS Sets Record Straight on Reducing Cut-Off Points for Universities
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The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) has refuted allegations that it reduces the cut-off points of universities to facilitate the admission of students into the various degree courses, noting that admission cut-offs are determined by the level of competition of the applicants.
According to KUCCPS Chief Executive Officer Agnes Mercy Wahome, the commission just coordinates the placement process by taking into account the performance of the applicants, their preferences and approved capacities of universities.
“The Commission then approved the university capacities, after which applicants were ranked according to their performance index. Students are ranked based on their cluster weights, and as they apply for programmes, the last student admitted into the available capacity determines the cutoff point for that programme in that university,” Wahome said.
“There has been a misconception that KUCCPS sets cutoff points, with some universities even requesting lower cutoffs for certain programmes. However, KUCCPS does not determine the cutoff points. Students set the cutoffs themselves through competition for the available slots,” she added.
How the KUCCPS Placement Process Works
Wahome explained that the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) candidates are currently undergoing the 2026/27 placement cycle, the 13th national placement exercise since KUCCPS was established.
She said the exercise began after the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) submitted KCSE examination results to KUCCPS.
Universities then submitted their programme capacities, which were validated by the Commission for University Education (CUE) before the placement process proceeded.
Also Read:KUCCPS CEO Explains How Students Were Selected for Bachelor of Medicine in the 2026 Placement
“The 2025 KCSE candidates are going through the 2026/27 placement cycle, which is the 13th placement exercise since KUCCPS was established. The process began with receiving KCSE results from KNEC, followed by universities submitting their capacities, which were then validated by the Commission for University Education (CUE),” Wahome said.
She noted that KUCCPS then computes cluster weights for every applicant.
These weights compare an individual student’s performance against national performance in the subjects required for a specific degree programme.
According to the CEO, all degree programmes are grouped into 18 subject clusters, each carrying different subject requirements, meaning students compete only with others applying for similar programmes based on their performance in the relevant cluster subjects.
“After that, KUCCPS computed cluster weights, which measure an individual student’s performance against the national performance in the subjects required for a specific programme. All degree programmes are grouped into 18 clusters, each with its own subject requirements. A student’s performance in those cluster subjects determines their cluster weight for placement,” she explained.
Medicine Illustrates Intense Competition
To demonstrate how cut-off points emerge naturally, Wahome cited Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery programmes, saying they remain among the most competitive courses in the country.
She revealed that public and private universities collectively offered only 702 medicine slots during the placement cycle.
Out of about 1,900 students who scored an A plain in KCSE, 1,535 applied for medicine, meaning more than 80 per cent of all A-grade candidates selected the programme.
An additional 3,328 students who attained A- also submitted medicine applications, bringing the total number of applicants to approximately 6,500 competing for only 702 available places.
“To determine who secures admission, KUCCPS considers performance in the medicine cluster subjects: Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology and a language subject. Students compete based on their cluster weights derived from these subjects, and they are ranked from the highest-performing candidate to the lowest,” Wahome said.
She explained that admissions are then allocated according to each university’s approved capacity.
For example, if an institution has room for 100 medicine students, the 100th-ranked student admitted becomes the institution’s cut-off point.
Because capacities and applicant competitiveness vary across universities, cut-off points also differ.
Wahome noted that the University of Nairobi recorded a medicine cut-off point of 46, while another university admitted students with a cut-off point of 45.
Also Read:CS Ogamba Issues Fresh Directive to KUCCPS on Students Who Missed 2026 Placements
Majority of Qualified Students Applied
KUCCPS further disclosed that 270,508 candidates attained the minimum university entry grade of C+ and above in the 2025 KCSE examination, representing 27.4% of all candidates.
The Commission also reported that applications to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions have remained open throughout the year, eliminating the need for the large-scale TVET placement exercise previously conducted.
Among candidates who scored a straight A, 96.3 per cent submitted applications through KUCCPS, while 75.1% of all students who attained C+ and above also applied through the placement system.
“This means KUCCPS can account for about 81% of all candidates who qualified for university admission. The remaining 19% are believed to have taken alternative pathways, including studying abroad, joining the military, or enrolling as self-sponsored students in public and private universities,” Wahome said.
She added that the figures demonstrate the effectiveness of the placement system in reaching students eligible for university admission.
“For KUCCPS, this demonstrates that the placement system has successfully reached and served the majority of candidates who attained the minimum university entry grade of C+ and above,” Wahome concluded.
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UON Medicine students in a practical. PHOTO/UON
