The University guide 2017/18

Mar 16, 2017

Your first-rate guide to university education

 

EDITORIAL

Since April 2005, the New Vision has consistently published the University Guide every year. The main objective has been to give parents, guardians and prospective students an opportunity to make informed decisions on which course or institution to go to for higher learning.

The University Guide has over the years become the one-stop-centre for well-researched information about university education. It has also become the single credible platform where universities show what they have to offer to students.

This year, we have gone a step further to offer tips on how to tell if the institution or course you have applied for is accredited by the National Council of Higher Education. And in case you are looking for a scholarship or study opportunity abroad, the University Guide neatly summarise that information for you.

Whether you are looking for a course that will get you hired upon graduation, or ways to finance your education, we have packaged it all for you. You need not look further than the New Vision's University Guide for your university roadmap.

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 The new admission policy at university

By Conan Businge

A couple of years ago, the education ministry issued a policy guideline requiring all students to reduce the principal subjects from four to three.

This is on top of one subsidiary, and General Paper (GP). This forms a basis for admission in universities; at a maximum of 20 points, instead of 25 points.

The new policy originated from the A'level change subject combinations, a few of years prior. Unlike in the past where subjects taken at A'level were grouped into four categories, universities now group them in three categories during the admissions time.

In the past, the admissions board considered essential, relevant, desirable and other categories when weighting students for admission into public universities.

The ‘others' category has been dropped in the new public universities admission guidelines. University students will be admitted on the basis of a maximum score of 20 points.

That includes a maximum six points for each of the three subjects, one point for GP and one point for sub-maths or computer studies, as a subsidiary. In the past, students were admitted on the basis of the maximum 25 points.

This included a maximum of six points for each of the four subjects, and one for General Paper. For one to be admitted at the university, they must have done a combination of three subjects and GP, in addition to sub-maths or computer studies as a subsidiary.

Sub-maths and computer studies replaced what used to be the fourth subject in the combination. 

WEIGHTING CRITERIA

All subjects taken at A'level are grouped into three categories and weighted as follows for purposes of admission to any programme of undergraduate study at university. The essential subject weighs three points; the relevant, two points and desirable one point. CLICK HERE FOR MORE

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African Bible University

 

Are you sure your child is studying?

Ten reasons a student's name could be missing from the graduation list

By Benjamin Sabila

Parents and relatives of Cliff Atugonza (not real name) knew that he had been studying. He was given all the money he needed, from tuition, hostel fee and money for upkeep (regularly).

He went to the university at the beginning of every semester and returned home after four months. After three years of studying, his family knew it was time to prepare for graduation.

Atugonza was asked whether he had excelled in his academics and he responded in the affirmative. Three weeks to graduation day, his parents informed close relatives to prepare for the 350km-journey to Kampala for the ‘big occasion'.

They even bought two goats to celebrate ‘the arrival of our son' from his academic journey. Sitting in Freedom Square, to their utter shock, they discovered that their son's name was not on the graduation list.

They could not believe that they had been fooled by their son for all these years. His faculty later told the parents that he had studied only for one year.

They had no records for the other two years. Some parents have gone through the same experience while others will soon be hit with the same news in the coming months or years.

So, why was your child's name not on the graduation list? What can you do to avoid the same dilemma? At Makerere University, a total of 14,895 students received their awards in different academic disciplines, while 53 of them were removed from the graduation list following allegations that their marks were altered. Why would a student's name be missing from the graduation list?

BLIND TRUST

In Uganda, many join university between 18 and 20 years. At this age, most parents believe their children are old enough to take care of themselves with minimum of no supervision. In many cases, most parents especially those who are busy or live in rural areas, find it inconveniencing and costly to follow up the progress of their children.

They disburse all the monies necessary without asking for accountability. Peter Emalu, a parent with three children at Makerere University, says: "When I give my children tuition fees, I demand bank slips and result slips of the previous semester before paying for the next." He adds that without checks and balances, children will do whatever they want. CICK HERE FOR MORE

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Makerere University planning department

Kabale University

Makerere University Business School

 

My experience studying abroad

My time studying in South Korea

By Carl Wavamunno

I saw an advertisement about an MBA opportunity in South Korea in New Vision which was strange as I had never heard of education opportunities in South Korea.

The advertisement was posted by Concern Foundation. I immediately contacted the offi ce to prove the authenticity of the advertisement, visited the offi ce and did research over the Internet.

I did research on SolBridge International School of Business and the cost of living in South Korea. I had to make a proper decision basing on the fact that I had options.

The university representative also informed me of other opportunities at the university. But, little did I know that I was going to the world's top 5% universities, accredited by Harvard, which to this day I am proud of.

 avamunno at olridge nternational chool of usiness in outh orea Wavamunno at SolBridge International School of Business in South Korea

 

The education standards are high, here since they follow the Harvard syllabus; and for one to graduate here, you must have a grade point average of three and above.

The university hosts over 60 international students from France, Germany, the Netherlands, Ghana, India, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, China, Indonesia, Turkey, Morocco, Brazil, Mexico and many more others.

From time to time, while at campus, I meet students from countries I had never known existed. Case in point is Kazakhstan. The university has benefi ted programmes such as exchange courses and transfer to accredited universities in Canada, Poland, France, the UK and the US.

I also benefited from on-campus jobs which are relatively competitive to apply for, but the wage is handsome. In summer of 2016, I got an off campus job with one of the biggest multinational companies in the world and that was with Hyundai.

(Minimum wage is usually $6.30 per hour) excluding overtime which is $8 per hour. A brief insight into the social life, due to the infl ux of foreigners, Korea is an open culture with lots of social amenities.The night life is vibrant although pricey. CLICK HERE FOR MORE

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Ndejje University

Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU)

 

 

 



You can now transfer to other universities in East Africa

By Conan Businge

With regional integration finally taking root in East Africa, there is a mad rush to cross borders for higher education. As students cross to Uganda, there are also universities opening in other East African countries like Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda.

With the credit transfer of students' scores, there is more reason to think broadly about studying in any of the East African countries. You can cross to the neighbouring countries in case you are not interested in Uganda's education system.

Students will soon start switching from one university to another in the region, without losing their accumulated credits or marks. This would give students an opportunity to use their diplomas to be admitted in either second or third year at the university, instead of joining in first year.

niversity of airobi has various campuses across enya and is home to many students in the regionUniversity of Nairobi has various campuses across Kenya and is home to many students in the region

 

A case in point, Yusuf Sharanda, joined the International University in East Africa (IUEA) with a higher national diploma, but was allowed by the university to start from third year.

Sharanda excelled in his examinations, graduated and was later retained by the university as a faculty administrator." He is just one of the 1,000 students who have been allowed to have their credits transferred from other universities in the region to IUEA's grading system.

"In the first year, the IUEA admitted about 700 students under the credit accumulation and transfer system," the acting vice-chancellor Prof. Daowud Shenouda, said. CLICK HERE FOR MORE

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Uganda Pentecostal University (UPU)

APTECH

St. Lawerence University (SLAU)

 

Credit facilities to finance your university education

By Billy Rwothungeyo

Peter Okello, almost missed semester examinations at one of Uganda's universities because he had not cleared tuition. His father, a teacher, had not been paid for several months due to an anomaly arising from a validation exercise.

"The little farm produce we had, only covered half of my fees. So, we decided to get a loan from a bank to pay up the rest of the fees, otherwise I was not going to sit my final examinations," he recalls.

However, Okello could as well have gone for a Students Loan Scheme, which is available to all students who have excelled in their Senior six examinations.

One must be studying a science-related course and admitted to one of the chartered universities in the country. University education can be costly if you are a privately-sponsored student, like the majority of the students in Uganda are.

This is the case in other parts of the world. In the recent past, students in South Africa took to the streets venting their anger against proposed plans to increase tuition fees in universities.

In the US, the excessive cost of college was high on the agenda of presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders during last year's campaigns.

Only a few hundreds are supported by the loan scheme from the Higher Education Students' Financing Board in Uganda. So what are the credit facilities to finance your university education? CLICK HERE FOR MORE

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University of the Sacred Heart Gulu

University of Kisubi

 

Light meals you can make at university

By Ritah Imanishimwe

At a hostel, one does not need much to enjoy healthy meals. "Practical and light meals, can help a student live a healthy life," says Alice Ajuna, a medical officer in Kyenjojo.

Sarah Ageno one of the students in a hostel says, after a long day at campus, most of her friends rush to Wandegeya, near Makerere University, to buy snacks "With the busy schedule, I still find time to make delicious meals which never take long to get ready. I make porridge which takes about 10 minutes, spaghetti or Irish potatoes which take only 30 minutes," Ageno explains.

To make easy meals at a hostel, one needs a saucepan, jerrycan of water, clean containers, utensils, a flask and percolator. Scrambled eggs Scrambled eggs are one of the easiest dishes for breakfast and can easily be cooked on a stove.

Within 10 minutes, you would have a ready meal. one needs eggs, cooking oil, onions, green pepper and tomatoes. Stir the eggs, onions, tomatoes, salt and pepper in one bowl. Light the stove then heat butter or cooking oil on a large non-stick frying pan over medium heat until hot.

Pour in the egg mixture. Do not overcook. As eggs set, gently pull the eggs across the pan with an inverted turner, forming large soft curds. Continue cooking - pulling, lifting and folding eggs - until thickened and no visible liquid egg remains. Do not stir constantly. Remove from heat and serve stove top scrambled eggs. CLICK HERE FOR MORE

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Uganda Technology and Management University (UTAMU)

 

Do you know your university vice-chancellor?

Many students spend years at the university without knowing who their vice-chancellor is, yet even in a home, it is always important to know who the head of the family is. Andrew Masinde and Conan Businge bring you some of the vice-chancellors of universities in Uganda

Hannington Sengendo, Nkumba University

Sengendo was born in 1954. He obtained his PhD in urban planning from Nottingham University (UK) in 1993. In 1995, he introduced the undergraduate programme of urban planning at Makerere University.

He says the programme has since then produced professional physical planners now serving in and outside Uganda. Sengendo started teaching geography in 1986 in the geography department at Makerere University.

He headed the geography department from 1994 to 1998. From 1998 to 2003, he was the associate dean of the Faculty of Arts at Makerere University. He then became the Dean of that Faculty in 2003 and served up to 2009.

Sengendo sat on many senate and university committees throughout his stay at Makerere University. He served as the deputy vice-chancellor of academic affairs at Nkumba University since 2010, until his appointment as vice-chancellor. CLICK HERE FOR MORE

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Mountains of the Moon University

Ernest Cook Ultrasound Research and Education Institute

ISBAT University

Mbarara University of Science and Technology

Bishop Stuart University

 

Must-have gadgets for campusers

By Billy Rwothungeyo

Without a smart phone, Alexander Seruzi, an information and communications technology technician and agricultural consultant, says life at university would have been hard for him.

"I used my phone to do my research for assignments on the Internet. Some lecturers would send work online, which I accessed through my phone. I even used it to do coursework," he reminisces.

As one prepares for university, Seruzi says one gadget one must have is a smart phone. "Every university-going student is now on Facebook. Some also have classroom groups on WhatsApp. So you do not want to miss out on vital communication from your classmates," he says.

The beauty about smartphones is that they are affordable, thanks to the competition from manufacturers who keep churning out new ones. You can get an entry level smart phone for as low as sh250,000.

If you have money, you may as well pay above sh1m for a high-end smartphone. The price of a smart phone is determined by its operating system, internal capacity and camera capacity, among other functions. CLICK HERE FOR MORE 

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