As of now, neither the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) nor the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) has published official dates, vacancies or a course list for the KMTC March 2027 intake. Applications for KMTC certificate and diploma programmes are made through the KUCCPS Students’ Portal, and the most reliable guide to what the 2027 round will look like is the March 2026 cycle, which is described below.
This guide explains the likely timing of the KMTC March 2027 intake, the courses on offer, the entry requirements, the application steps, the KMTC intake for students who miss the window, and the warnings KUCCPS repeats every year. Anything marked as a pattern is not an official date. Check the official websites for the confirmed dates once they are announced.
Is the KMTC March 2027 Intake Open Yet?
No official notice for March 2027 exists at the time of writing. KUCCPS normally publishes a media release and a full advert when a window opens, and KMTC posts the same information on its news page. Both institutions use the same pattern each year, so a notice for the March 2027 intake is expected in early January 2027, but this is an inference from past cycles and not a published date.
Since 2025, KUCCPS runs a phased application process. KMTC and technical and vocational colleges admit students in January, March and May, so KUCCPS opens the KMTC window first, ahead of university placement, to let students enrolling in March apply on time.
KMTC March 2026 Cycle: What Happened Last Time
The March 2026 window gives the best picture of how the next round is likely to work.
| Item | March 2026 cycle |
|---|---|
| Application window | 7 January to 27 January 2026 |
| Where to apply | KUCCPS Students’ Portal (students.kuccps.ac.ke) |
| Vacancies | 21,774 slots |
| Programmes | 36 diploma and certificate programmes |
| Campuses | 98 KMTC campuses across Kenya |
| Who could apply | Qualified KCSE holders who meet each programme’s minimum requirements |
The 2025 KCSE cohort was later directed to a September 2026 intake, which KUCCPS said would open after university placement was complete. The same sequence, with a main early-year window followed by a later intake, is a reasonable expectation for 2027, although the dates must be confirmed.
KMTC Courses Available Through KUCCPS
The programmes offered through KUCCPS in the March 2026 cycle covered nursing, clinical, laboratory, community health and health management fields. The list below shows examples from that cycle; the 2027 list can differ, so always check the advert when it is released.
Certificate programmes
- Community Health Assistant
- Health Insurance Management
- Health Records and Information Technology
- Kenya Enrolled Community Health Nursing
- Medical Emergency Technician
- Medical Engineering
- Nutrition and Dietetics
- Orthopaedic Trauma Medicine
- Public Health
Diploma programmes
- Clinical Medicine and Surgery
- Community Health and Community Oral Health
- Dental Technology
- Emergency Medical Technology
- Health Counselling and Health Promotion
- Health Insurance Management
- Health Records and Information Technology
- Kenya Registered Community Health Nursing
- Kenya Registered Nursing and Kenya Registered Nursing and Midwifery
- Mental Health and Psychiatry
- Medical Engineering and Medical Laboratory Sciences
- Medical Social Work
- Mortuary Science
- Nutrition and Dietetics
- Occupational Therapy
The Certificate in Health Insurance Management is a two-year programme that prepares health workers for the Social Health Insurance rollout. In the 2026 cycle, KMTC lowered its Biology requirement from D+ to D (plain), and KUCCPS stated that the change does not weaken the quality of training. It was offered at the Bondo, Chwele, Mombasa, Nairobi, Nakuru, Nyamache, Nyeri, Rachuonyo, Rera and Webuye campuses.
KMTC Entry Requirements and Minimum KCSE Grades
Requirements differ by programme and are set per subject cluster. In the March 2026 cycle, some diploma courses asked for a mean grade of C (plain), while several certificate courses accepted D+ (plus) or D (plain). Artisan and Level 4 certificate courses have carried lower mean grades in past advertisements.
Applicants must hold a KCSE certificate and meet the stated minimum in the specific subjects for the chosen programme, usually Biology or Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Mathematics and English or Kiswahili, depending on the course. The portal shows the exact subject cut-offs for every programme and campus, and the system only lets an applicant select courses they qualify for.
The KMTC higher diploma courses for qualified health workers are a separate route. They are handled through the KMTC admissions portal and not through KUCCPS.
How to Apply for KMTC Through KUCCPS
The steps below follow the process used in the March 2026 round and are expected to stay the same.
- Log in to the KUCCPS Students’ Portal at students.kuccps.ac.ke with your KCSE index number and the required details.
- Open the list of available programmes, institutions, minimum requirements and guidelines.
- Select the KMTC diploma or certificate programmes for which you qualify, in order of preference.
- Review the choices and submit the application online before the closing date.
- Save the confirmation and wait for the placement results published by KUCCPS.
No physical KCSE certificate or result slip is needed, because KUCCPS verifies results electronically with the Kenya National Examinations Council. Applicants without internet access can use Huduma Centres, where trained staff help with online applications.
KMTC Fees and HELB Funding
Training fees depend on the programme and are published by KMTC for each cycle. For the 2026 round, the government allocated HELB funds for students admitted to KMTC programmes, and eligibility requires placement by KUCCPS. Students who need support should apply for a HELB loan after placement. The HELB application is a separate process with its own dates, so follow the HELB website for the current steps.
What to Do If You Miss the March Window
KUCCPS and KMTC admit in several phases. A student who is not placed in the first window can often apply again in the next round, and the later intake is generally announced after university placement ends. Students who applied but were not placed in January 2026 were allowed to apply again in the next window. Keep watching the KUCCPS portal and the KMTC news page for the next call.
Warnings From KUCCPS
- Nobody should ask for your KCSE certificate or result slip, including cybercafé attendants.
- KUCCPS has reported fake social media pages and accounts impersonating the Placement Service and its CEO. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations has arrested some suspects.
- Do not pay anyone to guarantee a KMTC place. Placement is done by the system.
- Students who consider private institutions should confirm accreditation with the Commission for University Education or the TVET Authority.
Official contacts listed by KUCCPS are the website kuccps.ac.ke, the email info@kuccps.ac.ke, and the phone lines 020 5137400 and 0713 924 444.
How to Prepare Before the KMTC March 2027 Window Opens
- Keep your KCSE index number and the details used for your KUCCPS account ready.
- Compare your subject grades with the minimums of the courses you want, using the last published advert as a guide.
- Choose more than one programme in case the first choice has no vacancy at your preferred campus.
- Check the KMTC campus list to know which campuses offer your course.
- Look at kuccps.ac.ke and kmtc.ac.ke from early January 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will KMTC March 2027 applications open?
No date is published yet. The March 2026 window ran from 7 to 27 January, so early January 2027 is the likely time. Check the official website for the confirmed date.
Do I apply on the KMTC website or on KUCCPS?
KCSE leavers apply for certificate and diploma programmes through the KUCCPS Students’ Portal. Higher diploma applicants who are already health workers use the KMTC admissions portal.
What KCSE grade do I need for KMTC?
It depends on the programme. Several diploma courses asked for a mean grade of C (plain), while some certificate courses accepted D+ or D (plain), with subject minimums that are shown on the portal.
Can I apply with a result slip?
No physical certificate or slip is needed, because KUCCPS verifies results electronically.
Is HELB available for KMTC students?
Yes, HELB funds were allocated for KMTC students placed by KUCCPS in the 2026 cycle. Apply for the loan after placement through HELB.