TVET Diploma Aspirants to Face Interviews and Practical Tests for Admission

Aspiring students applying for National Technician Diploma programs in Uganda will now undergo interviews or practical assessments to gauge their suitability for their chosen technical and vocational fields. This new admission requirement aims to ensure that candidates possess the necessary competencies before enrolling, according to Dr. Kedrace Turyagyenda, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Sports.

The admission process for the 2026/2027 training year has officially begun for accredited TVET institutions. Each institution’s management or admissions committee will conduct these assessments between September 22 and 24, 2026. The final admission lists are expected to be released by September 28, 2026, with all successful candidates, both government-sponsored and private, required to report to their institutions by October 7, 2026.

Eligibility for these diploma programs requires applicants to hold a National Craftsman Certificate or an equivalent qualification. Alternative routes include passing a prior learning assessment or possessing a Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) with specific passes in core subjects and a related project. Applicants must submit their completed forms, copies of required documents, and a Shs40,000 application fee to their chosen institution by September 21, 2026.

This move follows the approval of 17 new competency-based National Technician Diploma curricula by the Uganda Technical and Vocational Education and Training Council. These updated curricula are designed to better align training with current labor market demands across various sectors, including engineering, ICT, and other vocational fields. All new diploma students will be required to follow these new programs, with instructors and principals receiving orientation on the updated guidelines.