THE second round of undergraduate admissions for the 2025/2026 academic year, with 205,652 slots available to prospective students, was yesterday declared open by the Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU).

Prof. Charles Kihampa, the TCU executive secretary, said at a press conference in Dar es Salaam yesterday that the second window spans September 3 to September 21, giving applicants another chance to secure a place in higher learning institutions.

The number represents an increase of 6,666 slots or 3.3 percent addition to 198,986 slots offered in the first round of applications, he said, noting that the second window is designed to accommodate qualified students who missed out earlier. It helps to ensure universities admit students to full capacity, he stated.

In the first round, 146,879 candidates applied to 88 accredited universities across the country, where 116,000 applicants or 79.4 percent of them were selected into institutions and programmes of their choice.

“This shows encouraging demand for higher education, and the need for applicants to be strategic and timely in their choices,” he said, noting that the number of approved degree programmes has grown to 894 this year from 856 last year, with 38 new pursuits.

 The expansion reflects universities’ efforts to bring study programmes in line with the country’s evolving labor market needs, especially in science, technology and health-related fields, he said.

Those who did not apply in the first round or were not admitted need to use the second-round window wisely, he said, noting that applicants who could not submit their applications or failed to secure admission earlier need to seize this opportunity and submit their forms to universities of their choice.

Applicants admitted to more than one university must confirm their admission in one institution within this period, he said, cautioning on the gravity of incidents of non-compliance, It may lead to cancellation of offer, he said, urging higher learning institutions to publicize the degree programmes that still have vacancies, to enable applicants to make informed decisions.

Prospective students need to carefully review universities’ admission requirements, programme details and deadlines before applying, he emphasized.

The launch of the second round underscores the government’s commitment to expanding access to higher education at a time when enrolment demand grows across the country, he added.