Universities offering Bachelor of Architecture in Kenya and admission requirements

Architecture is among the leading course for A, A- and B+ graduates in Kenya. It’s also one of the few marketable courses in the country. Below are universities offering the course and admission requirements:

• University of Nairobi

Bachelor of Architectural Studies/Bachelor of Architecture

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Minimum Admission Requirements

A student must satisfy the prescribed University of Nairobi requirements for admission to the Bachelor of Architectural Studies/Bachelor of Architecture (B.A.S./B..Arch.) by having any of the following qualifications:

K.C.S.E. with a mean grade C+ or equivalent and in addition, a candidate must also have attained a minimum grade of C+ at the K.C.S.E. examination from a recognized secondary institution in the following subject clusters:

a)English or Kiswahili

b)Mathematics

c)Physics or Chemistry or Biology or Physical Science or Biological Sciences

d)Art and Design or Drawing and Design, or Building Construction, or Music, or Economics, or Geography, or Social Education and Ethics, or History and Government.

• K.C.S.E. with a mean grade C plain or equivalent Plus a Diploma in Architecture from a recognized post-secondary institution.
• K.C.E./E.A.C.E. Div. III/Ordinary G.C.E. or equivalent Plus a Diploma in Architecture from a recognized post-secondary institution.
• K.A.C.E. or E.A.A.C.E./Advanced G.C.E. certificate with three principal passes in Mathematics and any two of the following subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Geography, Economics, Art and Design and a Credit pass in English Language at K.C.E or equivalent examination.
• Diploma course holders must have attained the KNEC Diploma in Architecture, Building Construction or related fields with a Credit pass or equivalent.
• A degree from a recognized university in any of the following: Land Economics, Building Economics, Design, Civil Engineering, Surveying, Urban and Regional Planning or any other degree relevant to the Built Environment.
• In categories (3.1.5) and (3.1.6), candidates may be required to present portfolios and appear for interviews.

Progress from Bachelor of Architectural Studies to Bachelor of Architecture.

• Entry into the second tier will be open to holders of the B.A.S. degree.
• Holders of at least Second Class Honors Lower Division of the Bachelor of Architectural Studies (B.A.S.) from the University of Nairobi will proceed directly into the B.Arch. from one prescribed University calendar to the next University calendar and are automatically registered students of the B.Arch.
• Holders of a Pass Degree grade of the Bachelor of Architectural Studies (B.A.S.) from the University of Nairobi will proceed into the B.Arch. with at least one (1) year of architectural work experience and are automatically registered students of the B.Arch.
• Holders of the B.A.S. shall remain registered for the B.Arch. for a period of 4 years within which they can proceed to the fifth year of study. Holders of the B.A.S. who take a break of more than four years from the course shall be required to apply for re-admission. Students applying for re-admission shall submit a satisfactory portfolio of relevant work done within the period of the break of their studies.
• Holders of a degree of B.A.S. or its equivalent qualification from another recognized university can apply for admission to the second tier of the B.Arch. degree programme. In addition to fulfilling 3.1.9 or 3.1.10 above, they shall submit a satisfactory portfolio.

Credit Transfers and Exemptions

A student seeking a credit transfer for any course or courses shall send a formal application on the prescribed forms to the Academic Registrar through the normal university procedures attaching relevant documents.

A Student from a recognized University, or any other equivalent institution recognized by the University of Nairobi Senate, wishing to transfer to the B.A.S./B.Arch programme at the University of Nairobi shall be allowed to transfer credits from his/her University if those credits are deemed relevant and meet the required minimum contact hours.

A University of Nairobi student who obtains a credit or credits from a recognized university shall also be allowed to transfer those credits to the University of Nairobi.

• The transferred credits shall not be more than a third (1/3) of the total prescribed credits and/or course units required for the award of B.A.S./B.Arch degree.
• Where a student wishes to be exempted from any course unit, he/she shall follow the procedure set out below:
• The student shall send a formal application for exemption to the Academic Registrar through the Dean of the School, justifying his/her request and attaching evidence of the credentials, which would support such a request.
• The student shall undertake to submit himself/herself to an exemption examination set and administered by the School and approved by the Senate.  In any such examination, the pass mark shall be 50%.
• A student who has to take an exemption examination shall be required to pay to the University an exemption fee as may be prescribed from time to time by the School.
• The School may, for reasons of exceptional academic merit, recommend to Senate the exemption of an applicant from a core course or an elective course without being subjected to an exemption examination.
• No exemption shall be considered for Diploma, studios/portfolios and research projects. The exemption shall not exceed 1/3 of the total number of course units. For a course to be considered for exemption a candidate should have attained a Credit at Higher Diploma or in a Degree and it shall not apply to the last two years of study.  The exemption shall be in accordance with approved senate regulations.

Fee structure

• JKUAT

Bachelor of Architecture

Admission Requirements
KCSE Mean grade B- (minus) and mean grade for a total score in the four cluster subjects of at least B- and C+ in Mathematics, Physics, any group III, IV, or V.

• Technical University of Kenya

BACHELOR OF ARCHITECTURAL STUDIES/ BACHELOR OF ARCHITECTURE

Admission Requirements

• KCSE Mean Grade C+ (plus) with C+ (Plus) in Maths A, Physics and Eng./Kis.

• Kenyatta University

Bachelor of Architecture/Architectural Studies (B.Arch)

Entry Requirements
A candidate wishing to be admitted into the Department of Architecture in pursuit of a Degree of Bachelor of Architectural Studies/Bachelor of Architecture must:-
a. Satisfy the minimum entrance requirement of the University.
b. Score a minimum grade of C+ in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education and have a minimum grade of C+ in the following subjects
i) Mathematics
ii) English or Kiswahili
iii) Physics and any 2nd Group II (Biology or Chemistry)
iv) Any Group III (Geography or History or Religious Education)
v) Any group IV (Home Science or Art and Design or Agriculture or Aviation Technology or Computer Studies)
vi) Any group V (French, German, Arabic, Music, Business Studies)
c. A-Level – Two Principal Passes in any one of the following subjects: Economics, History, Geography, Commerce, or any other relevant subject, and a credit pass in the English language and Mathematics at KCE level or equivalent.
d. Approved Diploma – Candidates with a Kenyatta University approved diploma or Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) Diploma with at least a credit in: Building Construction, Architectural Studies, Land Surveying and Civil Engineering; or Diploma in Estate Agency and Property Management; or Diploma in Technology (Dip. Tech) in Land Administration may be admitted into the first year of study.

Examinations
Kenyatta University examination regulations shall apply. The final written examination shall constitute 70% of the total marks while the continuous assessment tests and assignments will constitute 30%.

The pass mark for all courses shall be 40%. Each unit shall be marked out of a 100. The marks shall be transferred into literal grades as follows:
a. 70-100% – Grade A
b. 60-69% – Grade B
c. 50-59% -Grade C
d. 40-49% – Grade D
e. 39% marks and below – FAIL

Supplementary Examinations
a) A candidate who fails not more than half the units per academic year at the ordinary examination shall be required to sit a supplementary examination in all the failed units during the supplementary period immediately following the ordinary examinations.
b) A candidate who fails more than half the units taken in an academic year shall not proceed to the next academic year and shall be required to retake the units failed and be served with an academic warning by the Dean.
c) A candidate who fails a unit in a supplementary examination shall not be allowed to proceed to the next academic year and shall be required to retake the units when next offered.
d) A candidate who fails a practical examination shall be required to re-submit.
e) A candidate who fails to re-submit a practical examination shall be discontinued.
f) A candidate who fails in the re-submitted examination shall not be allowed to proceed to the next academic level and shall be required to retake the failed units.

Industrial Attachment
a) A candidate must satisfactorily undertake industrial attachment and pass the industrial training before proceeding to the next level of study.
b) A candidate who fails in industrial attachment shall not be allowed to graduate.
c) The industrial attachment shall be assessed as either a pass or a fail.

Discontinuation
a) A student who fails in all units in any one semester will be discontinued.
b) A student whose cumulative failures after an academic warning from the previous semesters are more than half the units taken in two consecutive semesters shall be discontinued.
c) Any Appeal against discontinuation shall be addressed to the Vice-Chancellor.

Completion
A candidate who fails to complete a degree programme in double the duration of the programme shall be discontinued.

Certification
The programme will lead to the award of: Bachelor of Architectural Studies (B.A.S) and Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.) respectively.