Tanzania university admission opens amid sweeping curriculum reforms

The admission window will close on August 10.

This year’s intake is unique as is the first to be conducted after comprehensive curriculum reviews in line with the 2023 edition of the Education and Training Policy of 2014, which underscores the need for relevant and skills-oriented education.

“This is not just another admission cycle. There are upgraded degree programmes with content tailored to fit current job market demands,” said TCU Executive Secretary Prof Charles Kihampa during a press briefing in Dar es Salaam on July 15.

Reforms reflect the government's commitment to making education more responsive to technological advancements, industrial development, and the demands of the global economy.

They also aim to bridge the gap between academic training and employability, a challenge that has for years affected the relevance of tertiary education in Tanzania

The curriculum reform drive—spanning from pre-primary to higher education—has been a key priority of the government.

The minister for Education, Science and Technology, Prof Adolf Mkenda, has consistently urged universities to synchronise their academic offerings with the latest national education policy.

“Curriculum transformation must respond to the realities of our society, especially in producing graduates who are relevant and employable,” Prof Mkenda said during a stakeholders’ meeting held in Dodoma last year.

He emphasised that tertiary institutions have a role not only in advanced knowledge production but also in preparing teachers equipped to deliver the reformed lower-level curricula, a dual responsibility that underpins the ministry’s approach to holistic education reform.

Central to this transformation is the Higher Education for Economic Transformation (HEET) project, funded by the World Bank and implemented across public universities in Tanzania.

HEET aims to modernise academic infrastructure, retrain lecturers, and support the development of market-driven academic programmes. Institutions like the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), Ardhi University, and Mbeya University of Science and Technology (MUST) have already rolled out revamped courses in areas such as artificial intelligence, climate-smart agriculture, and applied health sciences.

“We’ve introduced new undergraduate programmes which we have already submitted to TCU for accreditations. We believe the new programmes will be available when we begin the new academic year later in November this year,” UDSM’s deputy HEET project Coordinator, Dr Liberato Haule.

“These respond directly to national development goals and are attractive to both students and employers.”

For many Form Six leavers, the new offerings bring a renewed sense of purpose.

“I’ve always wanted to pursue something related to environmental science, but previous programmes were too theoretical,” said a recent graduate from Kibaha Secondary School, Emmanuel Mwita, who scored Division I and hopes to join UDSM.

This year’s Form Six examination results, released earlier this month, revealed a strong performance in science and social science combinations, indicating a growing interest in technical and applied fields.

With a 96 percent pass rate, many students—especially those with Division I and II—are optimistic about securing university placements, particularly in the newly developed programmes.

Education experts view the developments as a positive shift toward solving Tanzania’s youth unemployment crisis.

“For years, we’ve been producing graduates with degrees that lack alignment to the job market. This reform is timely,” said an education economist Dr Frank Ndunguru.

“It gives room for innovation, encourages entrepreneurial skills, and reduces reliance on white-collar jobs.”

“The HEET-supported reforms are vital, but universities must also strengthen internship and industry linkage components in their programmes,” added Dr Ndunguru.

TCU calls for vigilance

Prof Kihampa has urged applicants to carefully read university-specific guides and consult official platforms to avoid misinformation.

“Applicants should apply through official university systems and not fall prey to self-proclaimed agents,” he warned.

“They must also ensure proper certification if they hold foreign qualifications.”

Students are required to apply through universities’ electronic systems, with international students and those with foreign certificates expected to first verify their credentials with NECTA or NACTVET.

The ongoing reforms, coupled with the momentum generated by HEET and the revised education policy, signal a new dawn for Tanzania’s higher education sector.

While challenges remain such as ensuring teaching quality and improving infrastructure stakeholders agree that this is a step in the right direction.

“For the first time in years, we’re seeing curriculum reforms designed not just for academics but for real-life application,” concluded Dr Ndunguru.

As application windows open, thousands of hopeful youths across the country are looking not just to earn a degree, but to acquire the tools they need to build a better future—for themselves and the nation.