DIPLOMA COURSES AND UNIVERSITY/COLLEGE GUIDE

Tanzania Education System follows the structure of 2+7+4+2+3+ meaning 2 years of Pre – Primary
Education, 7 years in Primary, 4 years for O-level Education, 2 years for Advanced Level and minimum 3
years at University Level. This is the main route of formal education.

For the purpose of clarity see the diagram below.

What happens after my A-level Studies?

If you attain a minimum of division II you will be given a chance to apply for BSJ – Community service
program only if you have NO behavior alert and less than three academic alerts combined since form 5.
Whether or not you are successful for BSJ, please refer to the various guidelines updated each year to
understand the options you may have after successfully completing Form 6 at St Jude’s;
1. TCU Undergraduate Admission Guidebook (For Holders of Form Six Qualifications)
2. TCU Guidelines for Online and Blended Delivery Modes of Courses for University Institutions in
Tanzania
3. The National Council for Technical Education National Technical Award Programs Admission
Guidebook for 2024/2025

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 What are the Minimum grades to apply for University?
Please see below for General Minimum Requirements as per Table 1 of the TCU Undergraduate
Admission
Guidebook (For Holders of Form Six Qualifications) 2025/2026
S/N Category of
Applicants Minimum Admission Entry Qualifications
1. Completed A’ Level Two principal passes (‘E’ and above) with a total of 4.0 points in two
Studies before 2014 subjects defining the admission into the respective programme (where A =
5; B = 4; C= 3; D = 2; E = 1; S = 0.5)
2. Completed A’ Level Two principal passes (‘C’ and above) with a total of 4.0 points from two
Studies in 2014 and subjects defining the admission into the respective programme (where A =
2015 5; B+ = 4; B = 3; C= 2; D = 1; E = 0.5)
3. Completed A’ Level Two principal passes (‘E’ and above) with a total of 4.0 points in two
Studies from 2016 subjects defining the admission into the respective programme (where A =
onwards 5; B = 4; C= 3; D = 2; E = 1; S = 0.5)

After Community Service

After you have successfully completed the CS program, you will advance onto the Higher Education stage
of the BSJ-SP program, where you will study a certificate or diploma course in one of the following
APPROVED colleges.

List of Approved Colleges and Courses (This list is not exhaustive and may be subject to change)

Meals &
Transport
Name of Min entry Course Tuition fees per 5000 per
Courses Approved Start date
Institution requirement Duration year day for 6
days
(per year)
1. Diploma in civil &
Irrigation Engineering
2. Diploma in Civil and 4 D passes in
Highway Engineering Science
Arusha
3. Diploma in Electrical subjects plus
Technical
and Biomedical English 1,650,000
College- November 3 Years 1,440,000
Engineering
Arusha
4. Diploma in Laboratory
Sciences and
Technology
5. Diploma in Information
Technology
4 D pass
DON BOSCO
Diploma in Electrical and (Any 2 1,300,000
KIITEC November 3 Years 1,440,000
Industrial Automation science
Arusha
subjects)
Livestock
4 D passes
Training
Diploma in Animals health including any TZS. 992,500
Institute
and production science September 3 years Accommodation 1,440,000
Tengeru
subjects included
Campus (LITA)

Kilimanjaro Diploma in D passes in November 3 Years TZS.2,200,000 1,440,000

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School of
Science Accommodation
Pharmacy Pharmaceutical science
subjects included
(KSP) - Moshi
Kilimanjaro
College of 4 D passes in TZS.1,500,000
Health and Diploma in Optometry Science October 3 Years Accommodation 1,440,000
Allied Sciences subjects included
(KICHAS)
Kilimanjaro
College of 4 D passes in
TZS.1,155,400
Health and Science
Diploma in Physiotherapy November 3 Years Accommodation 1,440,000
Allied Sciences subjects
included
(KICHAS)
Kilimanjaro
College of 3 D Passes TZS.1,260,400
Diploma in Nursing
Health and in Science September 3 Years Accommodation 1,440,000
Allied Sciences subjects included
(KICHAS)
Kilimanjaro
Christian 5 D passes in
Medical Diploma in Medical Science TZS.2,100,000
October 3 Years 1,440,000
University laboratory subjects and
College English
(KCMUco)
National 4 D passes
College of Certificate in Hospitality excluding
September 1 year TZS.1,465,400 1,440,000
Tourism (NCT) Operations religious
- Arusha subjects

Tengeru 1. Diploma in Community

Year 1
Institute of Development 4 D passes in
TZS. 715,000
Community 2. Diploma in Project Science
September 3 Years Year 2-3 1,440,000
Development Management for subjects
TZS. 850,000
(TICD) Community
Development
Year 1
TZS. 933,000-
Computing
1. Diploma in TZS. 883,000-
Institute of Accountancy 4 D passes Non-computing
Accountancy 2. Diploma in Finance and excluding
September 3 Years 1,440,000
Arusha (IAA), Banking religious Year 2-3
Arusha 3.Diploma in Multimedia subjects TZS. 1,183,000-
Computing
TZS. 1,108,000-
Non-computing

Year 1
1. Diploma in Journalism 4 D passes TZS 1,120,000
Habari Maalum and Media Production excluding
September 3 Years 1,440,000
College-Arusha 2. Diploma in Multimedia religious
subjects Year 2-3
TZS 1,300,000

JR Institute of 1. Diploma in 4 D passes October 3 Years 1,400,000 1,440,000

Information Information excluding
Technology Communication religious
Technology subjects
2. Diploma in Graphic
Designing
3. Diploma in

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 Electronics &
Telecommunications

1. Diploma in Clinical
Huruma Medicines
College of 2. Diploma in Social
Health and Work
Allied Sciences 3. Diploma in Nursing
and Midwifery

Dar es Salaam
Institute of
Technology TAMISEMI
(DIT), Dar es
Salaam

Mbeya
University of
Science and TAMISEMI
Technology
(MUST), Mbeya

Muhimbili
University of
1. Diploma in
Health and
Radiography
Allied Sciences
(MUHAS), Dar
es Salaam

Please note, the above academic requirements are minimum NOT maximum criteria. Colleges may decide
to take higher achieving applicants, depending on the applicant pool.

Disbursement of scholarships
1. Scholarships will be up to TZS. 3,000,000 and will contribute towards Tuition and a Daily Living
Allowance only. This amount may not be enough to cover all college costs. The college scholar’s
family will be expected to finance the difference where necessary.
2. The Daily Living Allowance will be a maximum of TZS. 5,000 per day for six (6) days a week;
depending on a scholar’s remaining balance. This amount is a contribution towards lunch and
transport to and from home.
3. Scholars attending approved Colleges will receive financial support for accommodation as long they
have balance from their scholarship packages after having all the educational expenses deducted.
All other scholars must either live at home or have their parents support their accommodation.
4. Each scholar will be given a contribution of TZS. 700,000 towards the purchase of ONE laptop for
the duration of their course. This amount is outside the scholarship package.

When will I know how much financial support I am receiving?

All college scholars will know their scholarship amounts by May 2025 (before college applications open).

Can I apply for a government loan for my college course?

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Yes. A government loan is currently issued to scholars pursuing select Diploma and Bachelor’s degree and
above. You are welcome to visit BSJSP office to know more.

What if I am selected by TAMISEMI to join a College outside Arusha and Moshi?

At the moment, the BSJ-SP team will approve and financially support volunteers selected to join below
colleges only;
 Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology (DIT),
 Mbeya University of Science and Technology (MUST)
Students hoping to be sponsored by TAMISEMI are STRONGLY encouraged to prioritize choosing the
following colleges through Sel-Form from TAMISEMI provided to each student before the Form 4 NECTA
exams.

General Questions on Post O-level Options

 Diploma Programs through APP- These are more career-oriented and often combine academic
learning with practical skills. Students who choose a diploma after Form 4 are often looking to enter
the workforce sooner or gain specific skills for particular careers, such as in fields like nursing,
engineering, or business related.

Which option is best for me?

Before you make any decision, please read below carefully and discuss as a family, in order to work out
which choice is the right one for you.
If you like physical and technical jobs such as plumbing, masonry, electric work, physiotherapy, tinkering
with devices etc. then the Alternate Pathway program may be for you. This is because:
1. Diploma courses are filled with technical and hands on training,
2. Some Diploma courses have a higher than normal employment rate in the job market (such as
those courses listed in this document) making it easier to find a job after graduating
3. It is a good exit for those not willing to do A-level and University
4. Finishing A-level but scoring below D grade marks would take you back to a Diploma course as you
won’t be accepted into a university degree course.
5. The government has set aside some funds to support college diploma graduates who want to start
their own businesses.
6. Taking a Diploma and then a Degree in the same career path gives you more skills than someone
who just did a Degree.
7. Taking a Diploma gives you a lot more career and job networking opportunities early on in life than
someone who goes to A-Level.

On the other hand, if you prefer administrative, office bound, research, supervisory and/or managerial
positions (or want to pursue a career not within the BSJ approved college & course list) then it’s best that
you choose the A-level path. This is because:

1. Some diploma courses are often a stepping-stone to a Degree not a job e.g. Diploma in law. For
such courses, it is recommended that one do A-level and then a degree as opposed to a diploma
then degree.
2. Some Diploma courses still require having completed A-level i.e. Diploma in horticultural studies at
Tengeru, Diploma in Secondary education as you need more diverse knowledge to do them, etc.
3. Normally managerial positions require Degrees and above or many years of work experience.
4. Doing A-level allows room for maturity and to learn more about yourself and what you want to do in
life as you have more educational options after A-level compared to after O-level.
5. Most international scholarships for studying an undergraduate degree requires students who
finished A-level

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6. It is believed that most employers in Tanzania favor higher qualifications such as bachelor, masters
etc.
7. Some technical courses especially, need a lot of seriousness and self-discipline that can only be
attained in A-level
8. Most people who opt for the Alternate Pathway have a dream of getting a degree later, but many
don’t because they end up working or starting a family after they get a diploma. If your ultimate
educational goal is to get a Bachelor degree or higher then you should do A-level in order to not risk
finishing your educational career at a Diploma level.
9. Advancing from Diploma to degree level will be more costing without a scholarship and for medical
courses you will still be required to study for another 5 years to qualify for your degree.