Kenyatta University
Nairobi, Kenya • Founded 1965 • World Rank #2984
Updated May 2026
Overview
Founded in 1985, the Kenyatta University is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the suburban setting of the metropolis of Nairobi (population range of 1,000,000-5,000,000 inhabitants).
This institution also has branch campuses in Mombasa, Kitui, Nakuru, Embu, Ruiru, Nyeri, Kiambu, Kericho and Dadaab. Officially recognized by the Commission for University Education of Kenya, Kenyatta University (KU) is a very large-sized coeducational Kenyan higher education institution.
Kenyatta University (KU) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as pre-bachelor's degrees (i.e. certificates, diplomas, associate or foundation), bachelor's degrees, master's degrees and doctorate degrees in several areas of study. This 39-year-old Kenyan higher-education institution has a selective admission policy based on students' past academic records and grades.
The acceptance rate range is 90-99% making this Kenyan higher education organization a least selective institution.
International students are welcome to apply for enrollment. KU also provides several academic and non-academic facilities and services to students including a library, housing, sports facilities, financial aids and/or scholarships, study abroad and exchange programs, online courses and distance learning opportunities, as well as administrative services.
Location & Contact
Need to mail, call, or visit Kenyatta University? Address, phone, and digital contact options below. Religious and cultural accommodation queries route through specific student services.
Academic Details
The basic academic profile of Kenyatta University, including enrolment and faculty composition. Total student count fluctuates intake-to-intake; treat the figure as approximate rather than precise.
Academic Structures
Kenyatta University's internal academic organisation — faculties, schools, and constituent units — is broken down below. Each unit handles a specific subject cluster and houses its own programmes and faculty.
Unit 19 items
- Digital School of Virtual and Open Learning
- Graduate School
- School of Agriculture and Enterprise Development
- School of Applied Human Sciences
- School of Architecture and the Built Environment
- School of Business
- School of Creative Arts, Film and Media Studies
- School of Economics
- School of Education
- School of Engineering and Technology
- School of Environmental Studies
- School of Hospitality and Tourism
- School of Humanities and Social Sciences
- School of Law
- School of Medicine
- School of Public Health
- School of Pure and Applied Sciences
- School of Security, Diplomacy and Peace Studies
- School of Visual and Performing Arts
Degrees
The degree levels available at Kenyatta University — bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and others — are organised below. Each tier signals a different depth of specialisation and minimum study duration.
Bachelor's 108 programs
Bachelor's programmes build foundational expertise, preparing graduates for entry-level professional roles and further postgraduate study.
- Actuarial Science
- Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering
- African Studies
- Agricultural Business
- Agricultural Education
- Agricultural Engineering
- Agricultural Management
- Agriculture
- Analytical Chemistry
- Animal Husbandry
- Applied Physics
- Architecture
- Arid Land Studies
- Bible
- Biochemistry
- Biology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Biotechnology
- Botany
- Business and Commerce
- Cell Biology
- Chemistry
- Civil Engineering
- Coastal Studies
- Communication Arts
- Community Health
- Computer Engineering
- Computer Science
- Construction Engineering
- Crop Production
- Design
- Dietetics
- Economics
- Education
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- Energy Engineering
- Engineering Management
- English
- Environmental Studies
- Fashion Design
- Film
- Fine Arts
- Foreign Languages Education
- Forensic Pathology
- French
- Gender Studies
- German
- Health Administration
- Health Sciences
- Home Economics
- Hotel Management
- Human Resources
- Hydraulic Engineering
- Industrial Chemistry
- Information Sciences
- Information Technology
- Islamic Studies
- Japanese
- Laboratory Techniques
- Law
- Library Science
- Linguistics
- Literature
- Marine Science and Oceanography
- Mathematics
- Mathematics Education
- Mathematics and Computer Science
- Mechanical Engineering
- Media Studies
- Medical Auxiliaries
- Medicine
- Microbiology
- Molecular Biology
- Music
- Natural Sciences
- Nursing
- Nutrition
- Occupational Health
- Parks and Recreation
- Petroleum and Gas Engineering
- Pharmacy
- Physical Education
- Physics
- Plant and Crop Protection
- Police Studies
- Preschool Education
- Production Engineering
- Psychology
- Public Administration
- Public Health
- Real Estate
- Regional Planning
- Religion
- Religious Education
- Religious Studies
- Science Education
- Social Studies
- Sociology
- Software Engineering
- Special Education
- Sports Management
- Statistics
- Surgery
- Swahili
- Telecommunications Technology
- Theatre
- Theology
- Tourism
Master's 120 programs
Master's programmes develop advanced specialised expertise, suited to senior industry positions and applied research.
- Agricultural Business
- Agricultural Economics
- Agronomy
- Analytical Chemistry
- Animal Husbandry
- Applied Linguistics
- Applied Mathematics
- Applied Physics
- Archaeology
- Archiving
- Arid Land Studies
- Biochemistry
- Biological and Life Sciences
- Biology
- Biotechnology
- Botany
- Business Administration
- Chemistry
- Computer Science
- Curriculum
- Design
- Development Studies
- Dietetics
- Ecology
- Econometrics
- Economic and Finance Policy
- Economics
- Education
- Educational Administration
- Educational Psychology
- Educational Research
- Educational Technology
- Educational Testing and Evaluation
- Educational and Student Counselling
- Electronic Engineering
- Energy Engineering
- English
- Entomology
- Environmental Management
- Environmental Studies
- Ethnology
- Fashion Design
- Film
- Finance
- Fine Arts
- Fishery
- Food Science
- Forensic Pathology
- Forestry
- French
- Gender Studies
- Genetics
- Geography
- Geography (Human)
- Health Administration
- Health Education
- Health Sciences
- Higher Education
- History
- Hotel Management
- Hotel and Restaurant
- Human Resources
- Immunology
- Information Sciences
- International Business
- International Relations and Diplomacy
- International Studies
- Justice Administration
- Laboratory Techniques
- Leadership
- Leisure Studies
- Library Science
- Linguistics
- Literature
- Management
- Marine Science and Oceanography
- Marketing
- Mathematics
- Medical Parasitology
- Medicine
- Microbiology
- Music
- Music Theory and Composition
- Musicology
- Nursing
- Nutrition
- Parasitology
- Parks and Recreation
- Peace and Disarmament
- Pest Management
- Philosophy
- Philosophy of Education
- Physical Education
- Physics
- Plant Pathology
- Plant and Crop Protection
- Police Studies
- Preschool Education
- Psychotherapy
- Public Health
- Regional Studies
- Religious Studies
- Rural Studies
- Social Sciences
- Social and Community Services
- Sociology
- Soil Management
- Special Education
- Speech Therapy and Audiology
- Sports
- Sports Management
- Statistics
- Swahili
- Telecommunications Technology
- Theatre
- Tourism
- Translation and Interpretation
- Urban Studies
- Water Management
- Zoology
Doctoral 91 programs
Doctoral programmes train independent researchers, leading to academic, scientific, and senior advisory careers.
- Agricultural Economics
- Agricultural Management
- Agriculture
- Agronomy
- Applied Linguistics
- Applied Mathematics
- Aquaculture
- Art Education
- Botany
- Business Administration
- Chemistry
- Cinema and Television
- Coastal Studies
- Communication Studies
- Computer Science
- Demography and Population
- Design
- Dietetics
- Economics
- Education
- Educational Administration
- Educational Psychology
- Educational Sciences
- Energy Engineering
- English
- Entomology
- Environmental Management
- Environmental Studies
- Fashion Design
- Film
- Fine Arts
- Fishery
- Food Science
- French
- Gender Studies
- Genetics
- Geography
- Geography (Human)
- Health Administration
- Horticulture
- Hotel Management
- Humanities and Social Science Education
- Immunology
- Information Sciences
- International Relations and Diplomacy
- Laboratory Techniques
- Leisure Studies
- Linguistics
- Literature
- Marketing
- Materials Engineering
- Mathematics
- Mathematics Education
- Music
- Music Education
- Nutrition
- Parasitology
- Parks and Recreation
- Peace and Disarmament
- Pharmacology
- Pharmacy
- Philosophy
- Philosophy of Education
- Physical Education
- Physics
- Plant Pathology
- Police Studies
- Political Sciences
- Preschool Education
- Protective Services
- Psychology
- Public Administration
- Public Health
- Regional Planning
- Religious Studies
- Science Education
- Social and Community Services
- Sociology
- Soil Science
- Special Education
- Sports
- Sports Management
- Statistics
- Swahili
- Technology Education
- Theatre
- Tourism
- Town Planning
- Water Management
- Water Science
- Zoology
Faculties & Divisions
All faculties operate under Commission for University Education of Kenya.
Agriculture and Environmental Studies (School) 7 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Agricultural Business
- Agricultural Economics
- Agriculture
- Development Studies
- Environmental Management
- Environmental Studies
- Social and Community Services
Common Career Paths
- Agricultural Scientist
- Agronomist
- Farm Manager
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Business, Economics and Tourism (School) 11 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Accountancy
- Business Administration
- Econometrics
- Economics
- Finance
- Hotel Management
- Management
- Parks and Recreation
- Sports Management
- Statistics
- Tourism
Common Career Paths
- Business Analyst
- Operations Manager
- Strategy Consultant
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Digital School of Virtual and Open Learning (School) 21 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Agricultural Business
- Agriculture
- Arts and Humanities
- Business Administration
- Computer Engineering
- Educational Sciences
- Food Science
- Health Education
- Hotel and Restaurant
- Information Technology
- Mathematics
- Natural Sciences
- Nutrition
- Parks and Recreation
- Physical Education
- Social and Community Services
- Social Sciences
- Special Education
- Sports
- Teacher Training
- Tourism
Education (School) 9 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Curriculum
- Education
- Educational Administration
- Educational Psychology
- Educational Sciences
- Educational Technology
- Library Science
- Preschool Education
- Special Education
Common Career Paths
- Teacher
- Educational Administrator
- Curriculum Specialist
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Engineering and Architecture (School) 14 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Agricultural Engineering
- Architecture
- Architecture and Planning
- Civil Engineering
- Computer Science
- Construction Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Electronic Engineering
- Energy Engineering
- Information Technology
- Interior Design
- Mechanical Engineering
- Production Engineering
- Real Estate
Common Career Paths
- Engineer
- Project Manager
- Technical Consultant
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Graduate (School) 8 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Arts and Humanities
- Business Administration
- Education
- Environmental Studies
- Health Sciences
- Mathematics
- Natural Sciences
- Social Sciences
Health Sciences (School) 26 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Anatomy
- Clinical Psychology
- Community Health
- Dermatology
- Dietetics
- Epidemiology
- Health Administration
- Health Sciences
- Laboratory Techniques
- Medicine
- Microbiology
- Nursing
- Nutrition
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology
- Occupational Health
- Orthopaedics
- Paediatrics
- Parasitology
- Pathology
- Pharmacy
- Physical Education
- Physiology
- Psychiatry and Mental Health
- Public Health
- Sports
- Surgery
Common Career Paths
- Research Scientist
- Lab Technician
- Analyst
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Law, Arts and Social Sciences (School) 37 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- African Languages
- Archaeology
- Civil Security
- Communication Studies
- Dance
- Design
- Development Studies
- English
- Film
- Fine Arts
- Foreign Languages Education
- French
- Gender Studies
- Geography
- German
- History
- International Relations and Diplomacy
- Japanese
- Korean
- Linguistics
- Literature
- Mass Communication
- Media Studies
- Modern Languages
- Music
- Peace and Disarmament
- Philosophy
- Political Sciences
- Private Law
- Protective Services
- Psychology
- Public Administration
- Public Law
- Religious Studies
- Sociology
- Swahili
- Theatre
Common Career Paths
- Lawyer
- Legal Consultant
- Compliance Officer
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Pure and Applied Sciences (School) 16 subjects offered
Specialisations & Subjects
- Actuarial Science
- Analytical Chemistry
- Biochemistry
- Biotechnology
- Botany
- Cell Biology
- Chemistry
- Computer Science
- Forensic Medicine and Dentistry
- Forensic Pathology
- Information Sciences
- Mathematics
- Microbiology
- Molecular Biology
- Physics
- Zoology
Common Career Paths
- Research Scientist
- Lab Technician
- Analyst
Illustrative career directions for this field; specific outcomes depend on programme and student choices.
Programs Offered
Browse Kenyatta University's programmes by level, or filter by name to find a specific course. The grouping helps when you have a target qualification tier but want to compare specific programme content.
269 programmes on record. Each level below shows a sample. Compare these on the programs page All programs in Kenya
Bachelor's Degree 129 programmes
Showing 10 of 129.
Master's Degree 108 programmes
Showing 10 of 108.
Doctorate 17 programmes
Showing 10 of 17.
Postgraduate Diploma 14 programmes
Showing 10 of 14.
How to apply to Kenyatta University
The standard application path for Kenyatta University, broken into five practical steps with the documents and channels you will need at each stage.
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1
Browse the programme catalogue
Begin by reviewing the programmes section above. Kenyatta University offers 269 programmes grouped by qualification level. Decide on a target tier (bachelor's, master's, or doctoral) before narrowing by subject.
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2
Check eligibility for your chosen programme
Each programme at Kenyatta University has its own entry requirements — academic minimums, language proficiency, supporting documents, and sometimes interviews or portfolios. Check the programme-specific page or contact admissions to confirm eligibility.
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3
Get your documents ready
Most applications require certified academic records, identification documents, language test certificates (IELTS, TOEFL, or equivalent for English-medium programmes), CV/résumé, and a statement of purpose. Allow extra time for document authentication.
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4
Apply through the official channel
Apply directly via Kenyatta University's online portal at www.ku.ac.ke. Complete the application form, upload supporting documents, and pay any application fee. Confirmation emails typically arrive within a few business days.
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5
Reach out and track your application
After submitting, confirm receipt with the admissions office and track your application status through the portal. You can reach the institution by email at [email protected] or by phone at +254 (20) 870 3000. Set reminders for any interview requests, additional document submissions, or admission decision deadlines.
Frequently Asked Questions about Kenyatta University
A short Q&A covering Kenyatta University's essentials — founding, location, scale, ranking, and academic structure.
When did Kenyatta University open?
Kenyatta University traces its founding to 1965 (approximately 61 years ago).
What city is Kenyatta University in?
Kenyatta University operates from Nairobi, Kenya.
What is Kenyatta University's control type?
Kenyatta University is a public institution.
How big is Kenyatta University's student body?
Kenyatta University serves approximately over-50,000 students.
How is Kenyatta University ranked?
Kenyatta University holds rank #2984 globally and #2 in Kenya.
What programmes are available at Kenyatta University?
Kenyatta University offers bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes.
How is Kenyatta University organised academically?
Kenyatta University has 19 academic units.
Is Kenyatta University accredited?
Kenyatta University is accredited by Commission for University Education (CUE); Inter-university Council for East Africa.
What is Kenyatta University's official website?
You can find Kenyatta University online at www.ku.ac.ke.
Members of Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU)
Member institutions of Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) often have reciprocity arrangements on accreditation — degrees from one member institution typically face fewer credential-recognition issues at others.
Faculties at nearby universities
Students considering Kenyatta University often compare it against universities in the same region. Below are nearby institutions with comparable academic departments and student support structures, useful for cross-shortlisting.
Where Else to Study Business & Management
Cohort intake size shapes class culture meaningfully in Business & Management. Some Kenya institutions accept a few dozen, others hundreds — the difference affects peer-learning depth and faculty access.
Universities Compared with Kenyatta University
Comparable peer metrics — selectivity, yield, faculty awards — give a fuller picture than headline rankings alone. The universities below cluster around Kenyatta University on most of these signals.
Studying in Kenya: guides and resources
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