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The Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU) has opened a third and final window for undergraduate admissions, giving applicants seven days to seek places in degree programmes that still have vacancies for the 2026/27 academic year.
The decision comes just a day after the second admission window closed, despite TCU having earlier announced that only two admission rounds would be conducted for the academic year.
The commission said the additional window follows requests from applicants who were unsuccessful in the previous rounds as well as universities that still have available places.
Speaking to journalists at TCU headquarters in Dodoma on Saturday, October 3, 2026, Executive Secretary Professor Charles Kihampa said the third admission window would run from October 3 to October 9.
“For the 2026/27 academic year, we did not plan to have more than two admission windows. However, after the completion of the two admission rounds, the commission received requests to extend the application period,” Professor Kihampa said.
He said some applicants who had not secured admission in the previous rounds asked for more time to apply, while higher education institutions with unfilled places also requested an extension.
“Therefore, the commission has extended the admission period by opening the third and final admission round, which will run from October 3 to October 9, 2026,” he said.
The move gives applicants who missed admission in the first two rounds another opportunity to apply, but they will have to move quickly because the window will remain open for only seven days.
TCU has directed universities and other higher education institutions to continue publicising degree programmes that still have vacancies to help prospective students identify available options before submitting their applications.
Professor Kihampa urged applicants to follow the procedures set for the third admission round and to check programmes with available places before making their applications.
The commission's decision also seeks to address vacancies that remain at some institutions after the first two admission rounds, allowing universities to fill available places before the academic year progresses.
Under the timetable announced by TCU, universities will submit the names of applicants admitted through the third round to the commission between October 13 and 14.
The institutions will then publish the names of successful applicants on October 17.
TCU has separately reminded undergraduate applicants that all matters relating to admission and confirmation should be handled directly with the respective universities.
Applicants who secured admission to more than one university during the second round have also been reminded to confirm their preferred admission.
The confirmation exercise is already open and will close on October 19, 2026.
Applicants are required to use the special confirmation codes sent through text messages to the mobile phone numbers they provided during the application process.
TCU said applicants should complete the confirmation process within the stipulated period to avoid losing their admission opportunity.
The third round is therefore the final admission window announced by TCU for the 2026/27 academic year, with applicants having until October 9 to submit applications for programmes where vacancies remain.