The current admission requirements to any higher education programme require at least two principal passes at the same sitting for degree programmes and one principal pass and two subsidiaries at the same sitting for a diploma programme. Unfortunately, there is no remedial programme for candidates who qualify for UACE but have not scored sufficiently good grades to enroll for degree or diploma programmes. The only available option is to repeat Senior Six or enroll for Certificate programmes using the Uganda Certificate of Education. This Higher Education Certificate in Physical Sciences programme is intended to bridge this gap.
In general, the Higher Education Certificate in Physical Sciences programme is intended for the following categories:
- UACE Holders: The Higher Education Certificate, physical programme is intended for holders of the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education or equivalent qualifications wishing to pursue higher education programmes in Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science, Engineering or any other related subject but for some reasons they were not able to enroll for such using A -level grades.
- Foreign Qualification: The programme will also serve as a foundation programme for students whose foreign secondary school qualifications are not considered equivalent to the Ugandan A-level but permit admission into Higher Education programme in their respective foreign countries. Such students shall be required to have an equivalent of Uganda Certificate of Education with at least a credit in each of the following subject: English, Mathematics, Biology, Physics and Chemistry.
- Linkage between the Vocational Qualifications and the Higher Education Qualifications: One of the challenges facing holders of vocational qualifications is the inability to cross to Higher Education at the same levels as those with school qualifications. For example, although an Enrolled Nursing Certificate is equivalent to the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education, holders of the former can only join degree programme after two and a half years of an intermediate diploma in addition to years of experience while holders of UACE can enroll for degree programmes right away. The Higher Education programme in Physical sciences is designed to expose holders of such qualifications to rigorous theoretical /science foundations that will enable them have a solid foundation required to pursue desired higher education programmes in Physical sciences.
