PDF with detailed information

Download the PDF with detailed information about the Kenyan education system:

Education system Kenya‌ (265.17 kB)

Overview of Kenyan diplomas

In the overview below you can find the level of Kenyan diplomas. You cannot derive any rights from it.

Working in the Netherlands

Do you want to know if you can work in the Netherlands with a certain Kenyan diploma? Go to Working in the Netherlands with a foreign diploma.

Studying in the Netherlands

Do you want to know if you can study in the Netherlands with your Kenyan diploma? Go to Studying in the Netherlands with a foreign diploma.

Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (less than 6 subjects with A, B or C)

  • Comparable to: a VMBO-T diploma (NLQF 2/EQF 2).
  • Duration of schooling: 4 years.
  • Type of education: general secondary education.

Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (at least 6 subjects with A, B or C)

  • Comparable to: a HAVO diploma (NLQF 4/EQF 4).
  • Duration of schooling: 4 years.
  • Type of education: general secondary education.
  • Purpose of diploma: access to higher education.

Certificates/diplomas (technical training institutes and institutes of technology)

  • Dutch comparison: MBO qualification level 2, 3 or 4 diploma (NLQF 2-4/EQF 2-4).
  • Type of education: vocational secondary education.
  • Purpose of diploma: access to university bachelors.

Bachelor’s degree (4 years)

  • Comparable to: an HBO bachelor’s degree or 2 years WO (NLQF 6/EQF 6).
  • Duration of schooling: 4 years.
  • Type of education: professional or research-oriented.
  • Purpose of diploma: access to university masters.

Bachelor’s degree (5 years)

  • Comparable to: a WO bachelor’s degree (NLQF 6/EQF 6).
  • Duration of schooling: 5 years.
  • Type of education: professional or research-oriented.
  • Purpose of diploma: access to university masters.

Bachelor’s degree (6 years)

  • Comparable to: 4 years WO (NLQF 6/EQF 6).
  • Duration of schooling: 6 years.
  • Type of education: professional or research-oriented.
  • Purpose of diploma: access to university masters.

Master’s degree (1-2 years)

  • Comparable to: an HBO or a WO master’s degree (NLQF 7/EQF 7).
  • Duration of schooling: 1 to 2 years.
  • Type of education: professional or research-oriented.
  • Purpose of diploma: access to doctorate programmes.