Studying in Kenya or Rwanda as a Francophone Student: What English Level You Need

Why English proficiency decides your application in Kenya and Rwanda

Most degree programs in Kenya and Rwanda run in English, not French. If your secondary school or first degree used French as the language of instruction, in Cameroon, Senegal, Ivory Coast, DR Congo, or another Francophone country, you need to prove your English level before a Kenyan or Rwandan university registers you. The proof comes from a recognized test score or a completed foundation program, not a self-declaration on your application form.

Kenya: apply to the university directly, not through KUCCPS

The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) places Kenyan citizens who sat the KCSE exam into government-sponsored university slots. It does not process applications from students outside Kenya. As a Francophone applicant, you apply straight to the university's international or admissions office, whether that is a public institution like the University of Nairobi or a private one like USIU-Africa or Strathmore University.

Public and private universities in Kenya generally ask non-English-educated applicants for an English certificate: IELTS, TOEFL, or a C1-level certificate such as Cambridge C1 Advanced. Private universities publish exact numbers. USIU-Africa asks undergraduate applicants for a TOEFL iBT score of 79 or higher, or an IELTS score of 6.0. Students from English-official countries skip this rule, but Francophone countries do not qualify for that exemption.

Score thresholds differ by university and by program level, postgraduate programs often ask for a higher band than undergraduate ones. Confirm the exact figure with your target university before you register for a test, and keep the certificate current. Most institutions want a score issued within the last one to two years.

Rwanda: English has been the language of instruction since 2009

Rwanda moved its official language of higher education instruction from French to English in 2009. Every applicant, Rwandan or foreign, demonstrates English proficiency to register, and students continue to sit English checks as they progress through their studies. This makes Rwanda one of the few East African countries where a Francophone secondary qualification alone will not get you into a degree program, even though French remains widely spoken in the country.

Apply directly through the University of Rwanda international students office . Foreign secondary certificates and degrees go through evaluation by the Rwanda Education Board before you register, on top of meeting the English requirement. Build extra time into your application timeline for this evaluation step.

What to do if you do not have a test score yet

Three routes work for Francophone applicants who need to raise their English level before enrolling.

• Book an IELTS or TOEFL sitting through a certified test center in your home country or in Kenya or Rwanda, and register several months ahead of your intended intake so results arrive in time.

• Enroll in an English foundation or bridging year run by the university or an affiliated language center. Several Kenyan and Rwandan institutions run these for international entrants who need to raise their level before starting a degree.

• Take a Cambridge C1 Advanced or similar certificate course through a British Council center. Several operate across Central and West Africa.

Documents to prepare alongside your English certificate

Whichever country you target, gather these before you apply.

• Secondary school or prior degree certificates and transcripts, translated into English if issued in French.

• Proof of equivalence, or an evaluation request submitted to the relevant national body, the Rwanda Education Board in Rwanda.

• Your English test certificate, or proof of enrollment in a foundation program if you have not tested yet.

• A valid passport and, once admitted, a student visa or permit application for Kenya or Rwanda.

Start the English test process first. Everything else in your application depends on it, and test slots in some countries book out weeks ahead.