UDSM courses and fees undergraduate 2022/2023 | The University of Dar es Salaam UDSM undergraduate entry requirements and entry qualification for the academic year 2022/2023 are detailed on this page. Read carefully.
Candidates interested in enrolling in one of the University of Dar es Salaam’s undergraduate degree or non-degree programmes must meet both the basic minimum entry requirements and the supplementary entrance requirements unique to each academic programme.
Candidates applying for IUCEA Students’ Exchange programmes must meet the entrance requirements for similar programs at the University of Dar es Salaam as well as the requirements of the admitting university, whose decision is final.
UDSM ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMMES
General Minimum Entrance Requirements
If a candidate has one of the following qualifications, he or she will be considered for admission to one of the University of Dar es Salaam’s first-degree programmes:
Certificate of Secondary Education Exam (C.S.E.E.) or equivalent, with passes in FIVE authorized topics, three of which must be at Credit level, earned prior to appearing for the Advanced Certificate of Secondary Education Exam (A.C.S.E.E.) or equivalent;
Two principal level passes in appropriate subjects in the A.C.S.E.E. or equivalent, with total points from three subjects of not less than 5 (for Arts programs) and 2 (for Science-based programs) on the following grade to point conversion scale: A = 5, B = 4, C = 3, D = 2, E = 1, S = 0.5, and F = 0 point.
A suitable equivalent Diploma with a minimum grade of Second Class/Credit Level or B achieved from a fully registered NACTE college and authorized by the UDSM Senate. An Upper Second class or B+ average is required for diplomas that are further categorized into Upper and Lower classes. Note: Applicants from countries with an 8-4-4 school system must finish at least one year of university study in their home country before being eligible for admission to the University of Dar es Salaam.
(d) A minimum score of 100 on the Mature Age Entry Examination (MAEE), with at least 50 points in Paper I and 50 points in Paper-II. MAEE was established to provide exceptional Tanzanian individuals with the option to study for a first degree at the University of Dar es Salaam but who do not have qualifications that meet the University’s Direct/Equivalencia Admissions Criteria. To be eligible for MAEE, you must be 25 years old or older on August 1st of the year you want to apply. In addition, at least three credits in eligible courses must be achieved on the Certificate of Secondary Education Examination or Form VI must be completed at least five years prior to the first September of the year in which admission is requested.
Additional Entrance Requirements
In addition to the general minimum entrance requirements, the UDSM prospectus lists additional prerequisites that are particular to the various degree programmes.
MODE OF APPLICATION
i) Applicants under Direct Entry Scheme: The Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU) has established a Central Admission System (CAS) in collaboration with university institutions, the National Council for Technical Education (NACTE), and other higher education institutions in the country, which will be operational beginning with the 2010/2011 admissions.
Those with direct qualifications, such as those who have passed A-level secondary education (Form VI), must apply through the TCU’s Central Admission System.
ii) Applicants under Equivalent Qualifications: Equivalent CASS will accept applicants with Diplomas in Education, NTA level 6, and NON-NTA level 6 approved by TCU/NACTE. Other qualified applicants (such as those with post-form VI certificates or bachelor’s degrees) will continue to apply to the University of Dar es Salaam.
All undergraduate degree programmes at the University of Dar es Salaam are publicized in the local press (newspapers). All applications must be filled out on the required application forms and are not submitted in the form of letters.
Application forms and instructions to applicants are also available via the Regional Education Officers in Mainland Tanzania and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education for Zanzibar, or can be downloaded from the university website at www.udsm.ac.tz. Applicants must complete the following sections of the application forms:
Before attempting to fill out the forms, carefully read the accompanying “Instructions to Applicants.”
Include photocopies of “O” level and comparable credentials (diploma) certificates, as well as full details of citizenship (including a copy of the birth certificate). Applicants with diplomas from countries other than Tanzania must provide a translation from the National Council for Technical Education (NACTE) confirming equal grades. This is in addition to the initial grades being submitted.
Pay a non-refundable application fee of T.Shs. 20,000/= for Tanzanians and USD 45 for foreigners. Applications that do not include the required application fee will be rejected. Before paying the fees, applicants must ensure that they meet the minimal UDSM undergraduate entry requirements, as funds will not be reimbursed under any circumstances.
Submit the original pay-in slip along with the application forms to the University of Dar es Salaam NBC Bank Account number 040103001709 (UDSM branch) OR CRDB Account number 01J088967000 (UDSM branch).
For those using telegraphic transfer, the Swift Code is NLCBTZTX. For NBC Bank and CORUTZTZ for CRDB Bank.
iii) Applicants who are part of the Mature Age Entry Scheme In order to provide exceptional Tanzania candidates with the opportunity to study for a first degree at the University of Dar es Salaam but who do not meet the UDSM s Undergraduate Direct Entry Requirements, the University of Dar es Salaam offers an alternative method of entry through the Mature Age Scheme for those who meet the following criteria.
Candidates must be 25 years old or older on August 1st of the year they are applying for admission.
Candidates must have taken the Certificate of Secondary Education Examination and received at least 3 credits in recognized topics or finished Form VI at least 5 years prior to the start of the admission year;
Candidates must be able to demonstrate that they have taken extra-mural classes or residential courses, in which case a letter of recommendation from the extra-mural class teachers is required. OR. • They have taken a residential course at any Adult Education Institute; in this case, recommendations from the institute will be required. • Or that they may receive a reference from a person acceptable to the institution that they are qualified to benefit from university study.
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 or 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 previously attended one of the former Colleges of the University of East Africa or this University, no candidate shall be readmitted to the University under these regulations to a course for which he or her.
The senior age entry plan is not open to non-Tanzanians. Candidates who meet conditions 1(i) to (v) above may be accepted to Dar es Salaam University.
REGULATIONS ON STUDENT CREDIT TRANSFER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF DAR ES SALAAM
General Regulations
- Only across universities can students transfer credits.
- Undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs are both eligible for credit transfer.
- Credit transfer is only permitted if the credits were gained during the last two years.
- Students who have been dismissed from other universities are unable to transfer their credits to the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM).
- At UDSM, students will be required to complete at least one of their degree program credit units. As a result, the maximum credit permissible for transfer is of the needed credit units of a UDSM degree program.
- UDSM students enrolled in study-overseas programs will be able to transfer credits earned abroad.
Conditions governing credit transfer from other Universities to UDSM
The Higher Education institution from which a student wishes to transfer credit must have been a University with full accreditation from a recognized body in the country that is responsible for such matters, and the institution’s accreditation status must be independently verified by UDSM and the Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU). If you’re unsure, UDSM retains the right to conduct a performance verification test on any candidate or to reject the application.
- The applying student must be enrolled in a degree program at his or her institution.
- The applicant’s previous university academic entry qualifications must be comparable to those required by UDSM, including the equivalent.
- Conditions governing credit transfer from UDSM to other Universities Transfer of credits from UDSM to other universities will be governed by the regulations of the receiving University.
Criteria for Establishing Equivalency of Courses
- The course must be from a programme of the same level as that of UDSM i.e. Bachelor's degree course for undergraduate and postgraduate degree courses for postgraduate. Courses at intermediate levels such as Advanced Diploma, or Higher Diploma levels are not acceptable.
- The course must have a theoretical component i.e. involving final examination, excluding clinical-based courses.
- Course content must be at least 75 percent similar to that of the UDSM course.
- The number of teaching hours required to complete the course must be at least 75% of those at UDSM. 4.5 Once a course has been determined to be equivalent to a UDSM course based on the criteria, it will be assigned the same amount of units as the UDSM course, regardless of the units earned at the other university.
Rules for Grades Conversion
- Grade conversion will be done by anchoring the other institution’s pass mark to that of UDSM and calculating the range of marks in the other university for the UDSM grades.
- If just grades (rather than scored marks) are given, the lower corresponding grade is assumed.
Procedures and Administration of Student Credit Transfer
- Credit transfer applications should be submitted in writing to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), together with copies of any needed supporting papers.
- Before reaching the Senate for approval, all applications must be evaluated by relevant admissions committees at the Department, Faculty/Institute/School/College, and Directorate of Undergraduate Studies or Graduate School (for Postgraduate applicants) levels.
- Students transferring to UDSM from another university must apply for credit transfer at least three months prior to the start of the semester in which they wish to enroll. Cases involving UDSM study-abroad students will be handled on a case-by-case basis.
- Credit transfer application supporting documentation must include the following: Transcript in its original form (to be sent by the other university) From the previous university, a letter of introduction/recommendation A course description, catalog, or syllabus is a document that describes a course (to include a number of hours of teaching, method of assessment and grading system)
- The original documents have been translated into English by an official translator (in case of non-English documents) Personal identifying documents with photos, such as a birth certificate, passport, or driver’s license Original certificates that were utilized to gain admission to the prior university, certified copies.
- In addition to meeting credit transfer standards, the following reasons are admissible for credit transfer: Courses that aren’t offered at the university where you’re registering (applies only for short-term transfers) ailment (to be certified by UDSM medical officer in-charge) Programmes of exchange Situation of refugees Returning visitor
- Credit transfer applicants must pay a non-refundable charge that is decided on a regular basis; however, UDSM study-abroad students do not have to pay such fees because they previously paid the amount while applying for admission to the University.
Undergraduate Fees
At the beginning of the academic year, all students will be required to produce evidence of sponsorship by the Government or any other organizations, otherwise they will be expected to pay full tuition and University fees (or the portion not covered by the sponsor) by the beginning of the term/semester before they can be permitted to use the University facilities. All local payments for fees should be by Bankers Cheques payable to the Bursar, University of Dar es Salaam or by other acceptable modes with approval of the Bursar. All payments must be received. The following Table depicts Tuition Fees for Tanzanian and Non-Tanzanian Nationals: