The Psychosocial Wellness Centre at KU was established to address the wellbeing of both students and staff at KHEN. Its primary goal is to provide advisory and counselling services, as well as crisis intervention, to support individuals grappling with psychological trauma, psychosocial crisis, and stress. Additionally, the Centre seeks to foster mentorship relationships between students and staff.

The Social Work Department coordinates the Centre in partnership with the Office of the Dean of Students, the Departments of Behavioural Science and Ethics, Psychiatry, and Mental Health Nursing.

Student advisors play an important role in promoting students’ success by assisting students in a way that encourage them to engage in the right kind of activities, inside and outside the classroom.

At KU each student will be assigned to an advisor. This advisor is assigned to the student on their first year at the University and will remain so for the whole period a student is enrolled in a programme. It will be the responsibility of both the advisor and the students to maintain frequent communication and a friendly environment where students will be able to share their concerns.

To facilitate this, the Psychosocial Wellness Centre will evaluate advisor/student fulfilment of roles and responsibility assigned to both at the end of each academic year. Thereafter, submitting the report to the DVCAC.

Roles & Responsibilities of Student Advisors

• Know your student.
• Maintain frequent communication with the student by establishing a platform such as WhatsApp groups or Telegram
• Introduction into academic life
• Prevention of exclusion and social isolation
• Good role model to students
• Provision of informal setting for social and cultural orientation
• Nurturing good academic habit including career goals/path
• Serve as resources for solving minor and major conundrums
• Be a trusted guide for navigating unchartered waters of social life
• Encourage development of problem solving and decision-making skills
• Trusted confidant in crisis situation
• Advocate of the student in resolving conflicts
• Foster self-esteem and confidence in the student
• Foster student’s growth personally and academically

Roles & Responsibilities of the Student

• Know your advisor
• Introduce yourself to the advisor
• Maintain frequent communication
• Foster relationships with other studentsin the same group
• Serve as a role model,resource for peerswithin the group
• Be a needs-advocate for others in the group

The University has a hostel for male and female students. The hostel is located opposite the existing main University building in Mikocheni. Student Affairs Committee under the Dean of Students coordinates accommodation services in liaison with the Hostel Manager.

The hostel which accommodates both undergraduate and postgraduate students has a carrying capacity of 456 students. The University has limited accommodation facilities to accommodate all enrolled students, hence not primarily responsible for providing accommodation services to all students. Students may be offered accommodation in the University residence upon payment of tuition and hostel fees in order of the priority as follows:

Students with Special Needs: These are students who have been identified to have serious medical condition and so need special attention, and those with physical disabilities/health challenges, which may qualify them for accommodation, will be given individual consideration before others, only after receiving student medical reports.

International Students: International students will be offered University accommodation for the duration of their programme provided that they remain fully registered as university students.

First Year Students: First year students both Undergraduates and Postgraduates students enrolled by KU/KSN are eligible for accommodation, upon payment of tuition and hostel fees, so as to enable them to adapt easily the City and the university life, because in most cases many new students come from the up country.

Finalist students: Finalist students both Undergraduate and Postgraduate enrolled by KU/KSN will be eligible for accommodation, depending on the availability of hostel rooms.

KUSA Leaders: KUSA ex-com members, upon payment of tuition and hostel fees. Hostel residents shall be required to sign a tenant contract at the beginning of the academic year.

In the room, a student is provided with a bed, mattress, ceiling fan, cupboard, bookshelf, reading chair and table, and a dust bin. Residents are expected to comply with the students’ by-laws regarding in-campus accommodation.

Students who fail to secure in-campus accommodation are advised to seek alternative accommodation in nearby private hostels and private rental homes. However, the lease agreement shall remain between the student and the owner of accommodation facility. Dean of Students’ office and the Students Association (KUSA) will assist in providing a list of available off campus accommodation facilities for students who find it difficult to locate the same. Currently, the available off campus hostels are: MRC hostel, Rejoice 1 and 2 hostels, Bibi Esther hostel, Smart hostel, SATF hostel, Heritage hostel and Kalinga hostel. Sometimes, KUSA organizes housing for new students. Students who are interested in the off-campus accommodation should contact the Dean of Students or KUSA office for the arrangement of such accommodation.

The University has a Cafeteria which is outsourced, located at the second floor of the hostel building, where students pay for their meals. Students are not allowed to cook in the university hostel and therefore are advised to use the catering services available. Cafeteria provides three course meals every day to students at reasonable prices. Special meal arrangements are made during the Holy Month of Ramadhan. Catering services are also provided by several vendors outside the University campus.

The university recognizes the opportunity for personal growth and religious expression through worship, religious education, etc. The university supports freedom of worship and a pluralistic, multicultural, and interdenominational environment. There are dedicated places for individuals and groups to worship and pray. KU community is largely composed of Christians and Muslims. The university also promotes religious tolerances amongst religious and other social groups in the community. The University has a good number of religious groups in which students are free to join including:

Tanzania Universities and Colleges Adventist Students Association (TUCASA)

Kairuki University Catholic Association (KUCA)

Kairuki University Muslim Association (KUMSA)

Tanzania Fellowship of Evangelical Students (TAFES)

Christ Ambassadors Students Fellowship Tanzania (CASFETA)

 

The Higher Education Students' Loans Board (HESLB) provides loans for students Tanzanian students who meet the Board's criteria. The primary aim of HESLB is to support disadvantaged students who have been accepted into accredited higher education institutions but lack the necessary resources to finance their studies. Many students at KU have benefited from HESLB.

To help students with the loan application process and to ensure timely disbursement of funds, the university has a Loan Officer. Additionally, the Students' Government has a dedicated Ministry for student loans. For further details, please visit the HESLB website at www.heslb.go.tz.

 

There are several banking services available near the university, including CRDB, National Microfinance Bank (NMB), Bank of Africa (BOA), NBC, and more. For the convenience of students, some ATMs from NMB and CRDB banks are located within the university campus. We advise students without bank accounts to open one as soon as possible for their financial transactions and to keep their money safe. To open an account, students should obtain a special form from the Dean of Students office along with an introduction letter to the relevant bank.

At KU, we believe that a dress code plays a significant role in creating a positive image for both our students and the university. By setting guidelines for student attire, we promote a sense of discipline, responsibility, and readiness for the professional world. Additionally, the dress code serves to maintain moral standards and encourage a respectful atmosphere on campus. We expect all students to abide by the dress code while on campus to avoid any disruptions such as inability to attend classes or use university facilities.

 

All students, new and continuing, are required to enroll in the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) scheme during the registration period. By registering, students gain access to both inpatient and outpatient services as outlined in NHIF guidelines, and can receive medical care from any accredited facility across the country. Although students are advised to seek medical attention at Kairuki Hospital, they have the freedom to choose any NHIF-accredited hospital.

To register, students must use the Online Student Information Management (OSIM) System. After registration, undergraduate students will receive a control number that enables them to pay the NHIF fee of TZS 50,400 per annum, renewable annually. For postgraduate students, the Dean of Students will offer guidance, as NHIF has prepared a special premium package for them.

Students aged 18 and above who possess an NHIF card from their parents are no longer required to be under their parents' NHIF scheme. Instead, they must enroll in the NHIF scheme, using the students' window available to all university students. Employees can use their NHIF card, provided they register it with the Office of the Dean of Students. Registration is mandatory, and students who do not enroll will not be allowed to attend lectures, rotations, or fieldwork.

If a student loses their NHIF membership card, they must report to Kinondoni NHIF offices in person with a Police loss report. They will be required to refill another NHIF form, and the cost of obtaining a new card is TZS 20,000 for the first time. If the second card is lost, the student will need to pay TZS 50,000. All payments shall be made into a bank or as directed by NHIF. Please note that these fees are subject to change based on NHIF policy and regulations.