School of Science and Technology

Admission to undergraduate degree programs are based on academic achievement at the secondary level. All applicants are expected to satisfy procedures and criteria for admission to USIU-Africa, and to submit acceptable original documents which verify that they have satisfactorily completed, and met all admission requirements.

Applicants for admissions into the undergraduate degree programs are subject to selective screening based on academic achievement at the secondary level.

Kenyan Applicants

The table below shows the standards for evaluating secondary school credentials for undergraduate admissions.

It should be noted that:

• For Bachelor of Pharmacy, a minimum aggregate grade of KCSE ‘B-’ and minimum of a C+ in the following subject clusters (Math/Physics, English/Kiswahili, Chemistry and Biology) will be required.
• For Bachelor of Science in Epidemiology & Biostatistics, a minimum aggregate of KCSE ‘C+’ and attained the following minimum grades in the specified cluster subjects: Biology C+; Mathematics B-; and English B; or
• All International credentials will be evaluated in accordance with the International Academic Credentials Handbook, the Commission for Universities Education (CUE) Standards, and the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) Equation.
• Meeting the minimum entrance requirement for any of the programs does not guarantee admissions into the University program.

International Applicants
International applicants are considered for admission on the same basis as local applicants and evaluated in accordance with the International Academic Credentials Handbook, but must also demonstrate English proficiency.
All students for whom English is not a first language are required to show English proficiency before beginning an academic program.

U.S. citizens/permanent residents must submit their SAT or ACT scores for evaluation. The scores are evaluated in conjunction with the high school grade point average.

It should be noted that:

• A Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 79 and above in the internet based, IELTS score of 7 or better, or a Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English of grade C or better is required for those applicants whose language of instruction is not English..
• Meeting the minimum entrance requirement for any of the programs does not guarantee admissions into the University program.

Transfer Admissions
Official evaluation of undergraduate transfer credit is under the authority of the dean or designee of a school in consultation with the Admissions Office. All degree-seeking undergraduate applicants must submit official high school records (showing date of graduation) and college records.

The Admissions Office evaluates transfer students' previous academic work completed at the undergraduate level for possible credits to be applied to their degree programs at USIU-Africa. Allowable transfer credits are formally identified and documented by the Admissions Office. An official transcript must be received before final transfer work can be accepted. Course descriptions may also need to be provided if requested.

Degree requirements are determined by combining the transfer credits allowed and the required academic work to be successfully completed at USIU. Students can request a copy of the transfer evaluation from the Registrar's Office.
Transfer evaluation will be based on higher education work completed where grades of C or better were earned. Applicants with less than 12 semester units completed will have their secondary school record also evaluated. Students who have completed 18 semester units or 27 semester units will not be required to submit SAT or ACT scores.

Transfer Credit Limits
A maximum of 90 trimester units of credit earned may be accepted for transfer from accredited undergraduate institutions. The final 30 semester units toward a degree must be completed at USIU-Africa to comply with residency requirements. USIU-Africa reserves the right to waiver this requirement for USIU students participating in Student Exchange programs. Once a student has matriculated at USIU-Africa, all further transfer credits must have prior approval of the dean or designee.

Basis for Institutional Transfer Credit
Transfer credits may be accepted from institutions of higher education that are accredited by one or more of the following agencies.

• Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges
• New England Association of Schools and Colleges
• North Central Association of Schools and Colleges
• North Western Association of Schools and Colleges
• Southern Association of Schools and Colleges

Western Association of Schools and Colleges International students from government-recognized institutions must submit original or certified transcripts, translated into English, showing courses completed, grades obtained, and length of program. A syllabus or course description in English covering each course being considered for transfer credit should be submitted with the transcript to the Admissions Office. Transcripts and syllabi documentation are evaluated for the minimum C grade equivalency requirement and subject matter content to determine the number of transfer credits allowable.

During the transfer credit evaluation process, academic work from other colleges and universities is compared to USIU-Africa courses within the appropriate degree program, and transfer credits are awarded on the basis of similar syllabi. College and university courses completed elsewhere may be considered for transfer credits as electives even though the courses are not offered at USIU-Africa.

Transfer Credit Limits

Transfer Credit in General Education
Undergraduate students transferring to USIU from approved institutions may meet some or all of the General Education requirements by presenting credits earned in baccalaureate transferable courses from such institutions with grades of C or better.
Grades Required for Transfer Credit
Transfer credit is accepted from accredited institutions only if the grade received is C or better. Credit may be accepted where a D grade was received under one of two conditions:

• a next higher course in a sequence has been completed at another institution with a C grade or better (e.g., courses in mathematics, language); or
• a higher course in a sequence is completed at USIU with a C grade or better.

Applicants to USIU must submit official transcripts of credit from all previously attended institutions. All grades earned at other accredited institutions will be used to compute the grade point average for admission purposes. The computed transfer credit grade point average from the other institution does not appear on the USIU permanent record.
Correspondence and Extension Courses
USIU does not offer correspondence courses and does not accept credit for such courses. Undergraduate university-level extension courses completed at a regionally accredited institution of higher education can be accepted as transfer credits at USIU. The extension course must be similar in content to a regular course offered at the transferring institution and at USIU. The student must have received a grade of C or better in the course. No more than 23 trimester units of extension credits may be applied toward the undergraduate degree requirements at USIU.
Military Course Credit
The University is guided by the recommendations of The ACE (American Council on Education) Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services regarding credit for Military Service toward the bachelor's degree. Transfer credit will be assessed on a course by course basis.
To obtain credit for military service, the student must have matriculated, be enrolled at the University, and submit Form DD-214 or DD-295.
Credit by Examination
A maximum of 30 units of examination credit from all sources will be accepted by the University. The last 36 units of course requirements may not be fulfilled by examination.
Variant Courses
Vocational or technical courses, Diplomas from other universities or TVET colleges, remedial high school courses, and other courses below collegiate level are not accepted at USIU as transfer credits even if the courses were completed at an accredited institution of higher education.

Graduate admission requirements vary depending on the Master’s degree sought. In addition to the degree requirements for admission, the following are University-wide graduate admission requirements:

• Official undergraduate/bachelor’s degree certificate and transcripts of all college work undertaken (degrees and dates awarded must be posted);
• Proof of graduation from secondary/high school or signed attestation on the USIU-Africa application form or its equivalent (including month and year);
• Submission of a personal narrative;
• Two letters of recommendation; and
• Any other requirements as detailed on the application form, or as may be requested by the University.

International Applicants
International applicants are considered for admission on the same basis as local applicants and evaluated in accordance with the International Academic Credentials Handbook, but must also demonstrate English proficiency.
All students for whom English is not a first language are required to show English proficiency before beginning an academic program.
It should be noted that:

• A Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 550 for Paper-based, 213 for Computer-based, 90 for Internet-based Test (IBT) and above, or a Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English of grade C or better is required for those applicants whose language of instruction is not English
• Where applicable, an official translation of all academic records will be required
• Meeting the minimum entrance requirement for any of the programs does not guarantee admissions into the University program.

Doctoral admission requirements vary depending on the doctoral program sought. In addition to the degree requirements for admission, the following are University-wide doctoral admission requirements:

• Official graduate/master’s degree certificate and transcripts of all college work undertaken (degrees and dates awarded must be posted);
• Official undergraduate/bachelor’s degree certificate and transcripts of all college work undertaken (degrees and dates awarded must be posted);
• Submission of a personal narrative;
• Letters of recommendation; and,
• Any other requirements as detailed on the application form, or as may be requested by the University.

International Applicants
International applicants are considered for admission on the same basis as local applicants and evaluated in accordance with the International Academic Credentials Handbook, but must also demonstrate English proficiency.

All students for whom English is not a first language are required to show English proficiency before beginning an academic program.
It should be noted that:

• A Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 550 for Paper-based, 213 for Computer-based, 90 for Internet-based Test (IBT) and above, or a Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English of grade C or better is required for those applicants whose language of instruction is not English.
• Where applicable, an official translation of all academic records will be required.
• Meeting the minimum entrance requirement for any of the programs does not guarantee admissions into the University program.