Sifa za kujiunga na chuo kikuu cha Dar Es Salaam 2026/2026 – UDSM Admission criteria for 2026
Whether you are applying for an undergraduate degree, postgraduate program, diploma, or certificate course, understanding the admission requirements is essential. This guide explains everything you need to know before submitting your application.
About the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM)
The University of Dar es Salaam is the oldest and biggest public university in Tanzania. It is situated on the western side of the city of Dar es Salaam, occupying 1,625 acres on the observation hill, 13 kilometres from the city centre. It was established on 25th October, 1961.
The University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) is Tanzania’s leading public university, renowned for excellence in teaching, research, and innovation. Established in 1961, the university offers hundreds of academic programmes across various colleges and schools.
Students from Tanzania and abroad choose UDSM because of its:
- High academic standards
- Experienced lecturers
- Modern research facilities
- International partnerships
- Wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes
General UDSM Admission Criteria for 2026/2027 Tanzania – Sifa za jumla
Applicants must satisfy the admission requirements set by the Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU) and the University of Dar es Salaam.
The general admission criteria include:
- Valid Advanced Certificate of Secondary Education Examination (ACSEE) results
- Required subject combinations for the selected programme
- Minimum principal passes according to TCU regulations
- Equivalent qualifications for international applicants
- Valid academic certificates
Meeting the minimum qualifications does not automatically guarantee admission because competition varies across programmes.
Undergraduate Entry Requirements
Candidates wishing to be enrolled at the University of Dar es Salaam to pursue the various undergraduate degree and non-degree programmes have to fulfil the general minimum entry requirements as well as the additional entry requirements specific to each academic programme. Candidates applying for programmes under the IUCEA Students’ Exchange Programme must fulfil the entry qualifications for similar programmes at the University of Dar es Salaam in addition to meeting the requirements of the admitting University whose decision shall be final.
1: Admission Requirements for Undergraduate Degree Programmes
1.1 General Minimum Entry Requirements
A candidate shall be deemed eligible for consideration for admission to a first-degree programme of the University of Dar es Salaam if he/she meets one of the following qualifications:
(a) Certificate of Secondary Education Examination (C.S.E.E.) or equivalent, with passes in five approved subjects, three of which must be at Credit level obtained prior to sitting for the Advanced Certificate of Secondary Education Examination (A.C.S.E.E.) or equivalent;
and
(b) Two principal level passes in appropriate subjects in the A.C.S.E.E. or equivalent with total points from three subjects not below 5 (for Arts programmes) and 2 (for Science-based programmes) based on the following grade-to-point conversion scale: A = 5; B = 4; C = 3; D = 2; E = 1; S = 0.5 and F = 0 points.
[Note: Principal level passes in Divinity/Islamic Knowledge are not counted]
Or
(c) An appropriate equivalent Diploma of not less than Second class/Credit level or B grade obtained from a college fully registered by NACTE and approved by the UDSM Senate. For Diplomas that are further classified into Upper and Lower classes, the requirement shall be an Upper Second class or B+ average.
Note: Applicants from countries which follow an 8-4-4 education system need to complete at least one year of study at a university in their own countries before they can be considered for admission into the University of Dar es Salaam.
(d) A minimum score of 100 obtained from the Mature Age Entry Examination (MAEE) consisting of a score of at least 50 in Paper I and 50 in Paper II. MAEE was introduced in order to give the opportunity to exceptionally well-qualified Tanzanian candidates who wish to study for a first degree at the University of Dar es Salaam but do not possess qualifications that satisfy the University’s Direct/Equivalent entry requirements. To qualify for MAEE, one must be 25 years of age or older on the 1st of August of the year in which admission is sought. In addition, one must have obtained at least three credits in approved subjects at the Certificate of Secondary Education Examination or completed Form VI at least five years before the 1st of September of the year in which admission is sought.
1.2 Additional Entry Requirements
In addition to the general minimum entry requirements, there are additional qualifications, specific to the various degree programmes, as shown in the UDSM prospectus.
MODE OF APPLICATION
i) Applicants under the Direct Entry Scheme
The Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU), in collaboration with University Institutions, the National Council for Technical Education (NACTE), and other higher education institutions in the country has established a Central Admission System (CAS) which will be operational starting with the 2010/2011 admissions.
Applicants with direct qualifications (i.e., those who have completed A-level secondary education (Form VI)), will have to apply through the Central Admission System as advertised by the TCU.
ii) Applicants under Equivalent Qualifications
Equivalent Applicants with Diplomas in Education, NTA level 6 and NON-NTA level 6 recognized by TCU/NACTE will also apply through CAS. Other equivalent applicants (such as post-form VI certificates, and bachelor degree holders) will continue lodging their applications with the University of Dar es Salaam. All University of Dar es Salaam undergraduate degree programmes are advertised in the local media (newspapers) and on the University’s website. All applications are submitted by filling in the requisite application forms and not in the form of letters. Applicants are urged to apply after the programmes have been advertised and not before. Applicants are advised to obtain Application Forms and Instructions to Applicants from the Directorate of Undergraduate Studies through the following address:
Director of Undergraduate Studies, University of Dar es Salaam, P. O. Box 35091 Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Tel: 022-2410513 E-mail: dus@udsm.ac.tz
Application forms and Instructions to Applicants can also be obtained at the offices of the Regional Education Officers in Mainland Tanzania, and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education for Zanzibar, or can be downloaded from the University website at www.udsm.ac.tz
When filling out the application forms, applicants must:
(a) carefully read the accompanying ‘Instructions to Applicants’ before attempting to fill out the forms.
(b) give full particulars of citizenship (including a copy of the birth certificate) and enclose photocopies of “O” level and equivalent qualifications (diploma) Certificates. Applicants with diploma qualifications obtained outside the country must submit a translation by the National Council for Technical Education (NACTE) indicating equivalent grades to Tanzanian ones. This is in addition to submitting the original grades.
(c) pay a non-refundable application fee of T.Shs. 20,000/= for Tanzanians and USD 45 for Non-Tanzanians. Applications without the required application fee will not be processed. Applicants must ascertain themselves that they possess the minimum entry qualifications before they pay the fees as the fees will not be refunded under any circumstances.
(d) deposit all fees into the University of Dar es Salaam NBC Bank Account number 040103001709 (UDSM branch) OR CRDB Account number 01J088967000 (UDSM Branch) and submit the original pay-in-slip together with the application forms.
For those using telegraphic transfer, the Swift Code is NLCBTZTX for NBC Bank, and CORUTZTZ for CRDB Bank.
iii) Applicants under the Mature Age Entry Scheme
In order to give an opportunity to exceptionally well-qualified Tanzania candidates who wish to study for a first degree at the University of Dar es Salaam but do not possess qualifications which satisfy the University’s Direct Entry Requirements, the University of Dar es Salaam offers an alternative method of entry by the Mature Age Scheme for persons who satisfy the following conditions:
(a) Candidates must be 25 years of age or older on the 1st of August of the year in which admission is sought;
(b) Candidates should have attempted the Certificate of Secondary Education Examination and obtained at least 3 credits in approved subjects or completed Form VI, at least 5 years before the 1st of August of the year in which admission is sought;
(c) Candidates should be able to show: –
- That they have attended extra-mural classes or residential courses, in which case a recommendation from the extra-mural class tutors will be necessary. Or
- That they have attended a residential course at any Adult Education Institute, in which case recommendation from the institute attended will be necessary. Or
- That they can obtain from a person acceptable to the University a recommendation that they are qualified to benefit from university education.
(d) No candidate who has previously attended one of the former Colleges of the University of East Africa or this University shall be readmitted to the University under these regulations to a course for which he/she failed to qualify during previous attendance unless the candidate produces evidence of further study satisfactory to the University; and if, in the opinion of the University, candidates have complied successfully with conditions (a) to (d) above, they will be required to take a Special Entrance Examination.
(e) Non-Tanzanians are not eligible for the mature age entry scheme. Candidates who comply with conditions 1(i) to (v) above may be admitted to the University of Dar es Salaam.
Postgraduate Admission Requirements
For postgraduate programmes, applicants generally need:
Master’s Degree
- Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized university
- Minimum GPA as specified by UDSM
- Relevant academic background
PhD Programmes
Applicants should have:
- Master’s Degree
- Research proposal
- Academic transcripts
- Recommendation letters
Specific departments may request interviews or additional documents.
Required Documents
Applicants should prepare:
- Birth Certificate
- National ID or Passport
- Academic Certificates
- Academic Transcripts
- Passport-size Photograph
- Payment Receipt
- Valid Email Address
- Phone Number
International applicants may need additional immigration documents.
To Apply Visiti Here: https://admission.udsm.ac.tz/index.php?r=site%2Flogin#