TCU opens final seven-day window for university admissions

Thousands of university applicants who missed out on admission in the first two rounds have been given a final seven-day opportunity to secure undergraduate places for the 2026/27 academic year. The Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU) opened the third and final admission window, running from October 3 to 9, for applicants to apply to institutions with available vacancies. TCU Executive Secretary Prof Charles Kihampa said the extension followed requests from applicants who had not secured places and universities that still had vacancies. “After completing the two admission rounds, the commission received requests from some applicants who were unsuccessful in securing admission in the previous rounds, as well as universities that still have vacancies and requested more time to continue admitting students,” he said. He urged applicants who had not applied or failed to secure admission in the second round to use the final window to apply to programmes with available places. Universities have been directed to publicise their remaining vacancies. Under the new schedule, universities will submit names of applicants admitted in the third round to TCU on October 13 and 14, with successful applicants expected to be announced on October 17. Applicants selected by more than one university in the third round will have from October 17 to 19 to confirm their preferred institution. The same period applies to those who failed to confirm admission in earlier rounds. Applicants who secured admission to more than one university in the second round, as well as those who failed to confirm their first-round admission, have also been given until October 19 to complete the process. Confirmation requires a special identification number sent via text message or email using the contact details provided during application. “Those who do not receive the confirmation number on time should access the admission systems of the respective universities and request that the number be sent to them,” Prof Kihampa said. TCU said applicants must complete confirmation through the same accounts used for their original applications. The commission has also published the list of applicants admitted to more than one university on its website. Prof Kihampa said applicants experiencing confirmation difficulties should contact the respective universities, which have been directed to resolve such cases in accordance with established procedures. “All higher learning institutions have been instructed to receive reports from applicants experiencing difficulties with admission confirmation and work towards resolving them promptly,” he said.