Over 116,000 admitted in TCU phase one

DAR ES SALAAM: IN a major boost for higher education in Tanzania, 116,596 applicants have secured admission into undergraduate degree programmes across various higher learning institutions for the 2025/2026 academic year.

This figure represents approximately 79.4 per cent of the 146,879 total applicants, reflecting the continued high demand for university education in the country.

The Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU) has now officially launched the second phase of applications, offering another opportunity for students to secure placements in their preferred programmes.

The first admission phase began on July 15th and ran until August 10th this year.

From the outset, TCU urged applicants to carefully review both the general admission guidelines and specific instructions from individual universities to avoid unnecessary errors, guidance that proved crucial in managing this year’s high volume of submissions.

Speaking during a press briefing in Dar es Salaam yesterday, TCU Executive Secretary Professor Charles Kihampa revealed that applications were submitted to 88 accredited universities and colleges authorised to admit undergraduate students.

“This year, a total of 894 academic programmes have been approved for admission, compared to 856 last year, marking an increase of 38 programmes,” he said.

This growth reflects the expanding diversity and capacity within Tanzania’s higher education sector.

Prof Kihampa also said that the total number of admission slots available this year reached 205,652, up from 198,986 in 2024/2025, a net increase of 6,666 slots or 3.3 per cent.

ALSO READ: EAC to harmonise higher education standards

This, he said, demonstrates ongoing efforts by universities to accommodate more students and support the country’s goal of developing a skilled workforce.

Prof Kihampa noted that applicants who received offers from more than one institution must confirm admission to only one university.

The confirmation window opened yesterday and will remain open until September 21st this year.

To complete the process, applicants receive a unique confirmation code via SMS or email, which must be used through the original application account.

“Applicants who do not receive the confirmation code promptly should log into the admission portals of the respective universities to request it directly,” he said.

To enhance transparency, TCU has published a list of applicants admitted to multiple institutions on its official website, allowing students to verify their status.

The second admission phase, also running from yesterday to September 21st this year, targets applicants who did not apply during the first phase, were not selected or declined initial offers.

Prof Kihampa said that additional slots may become available as applicants finalise their choices, potentially freeing up vacancies for others.

“We urge all prospective students to take full advantage of this opportunity by applying to programmes that still have available spaces,” he said.

He added that all higher education institutions are required to widely advertise programmes with remaining vacancies and that both applicants and institutions must strictly follow the TCU procedures and timelines, as outlined in the TCU Admission Calendar available on its website.