University of Nairobi was the first university in Kenya to receive the national stature. In 1956, the Royal Technical College was established. Then in 1961, the college was recognized as Royal College Nairobi.
It came to be known as University College Nairobi from 1964. From 1970, this educational institute of Kenya came to be recognized as the University of Nairobi.
According to the Act of Parliament of 1985, six colleges were set up. They came under the affiliation of University of Nairobi. The colleges under University of Nairobi are listed below --
- College of Biological and Physical Sciences
- College of Architecture and Engineering
- College of Humanities and Social Sciences
- College of Education and External Studies
- College of Health Sciences
- College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences
Courses Offered by University of Nairobi
The University of Nairobi offers a number of courses to its students. Students can pursue Certificate, Diploma, Bachelor, Masters, PG Diploma, DSc and Ph.D. courses from the university. Research works on various fields like health, environment and social issues are also carried on here.
Some departments of University of Nairobi are as follows:
- School of Journalism
- School of Engineering
- School of Dental Sciences
- School of Physical Sciences
- School of Business
- School of Economics
- School of Mathematics
- School of Education
- Faculty of Science
- Faculty of Arts
- Faculty of Agriculture
- Center for Open and Distance Learning
The University of Nairobi offers several other facilities to its students. The university provides computer laboratories for students. This facility has been extended to staff of the university as well. Internet can be accessed 24 hours a day at the computer laboratories of the institution. University of Nairobi has planned to set up e-learning projects so that students can have easier accessibility to their course materials.
The library of the University of Nairobi offers texts, reference books and resources for research works. Jomo Kenyatta Memorial Library is the central library of University of Nairobi. Beside the central library, there are 12 more libraries set up by the university. The total number of books in all the libraries of the university estimates to about half a million.
University of Nairobi also offers health services to the students of the institution. A Chief Medical Officer looks after the health services catered by the university. Students from any course of the university are entitled to this service.
University of Nairobi has a placement cell for its students. This unit looks after the recruitment of candidates to different organizations within the country and outside. Needy students of the university are also entitled to financial aids. For recreation of the students, they are encouraged to participate in sports activities.
