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St. Paul's University (SPU)

One of East Africa's oldest universities, founded in 1903, offering theology, law, and business in Limuru, Kenya.

County
Kiambu
Established
1903
Students
7,000
Employment rate
80%

The institution

Who they are, how big, and how they rank.

About

Founded in 1903 when the Church Missionary Society (CMS) laid the foundation stone for St. Paul's Divinity School at Frere Town near Mombasa, St. Paul's University is one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in East Africa. Chartered in 2007, the university is located in Limuru, Kiambu County, and serves over 7,000 students across campuses in Limuru, Nairobi, and Machakos.

The university operates five schools including Theology, Business and Leadership, Human and Social Sciences, Communication and Technology, and Education. Its Anglican heritage is reflected in its strong theology programmes, which have trained church leaders across East Africa for over a century.

Accredited by CUE and the Council of Legal Education (CLE), St. The university ranks 47th nationally. Its 120-year history and Anglican foundation make it a historic institution for theological education and Christian leadership formation in East Africa.

The numbers

Annual fees
Ksh 120,000 to Ksh 300,000
Student to staff
1:20
Mode of study
Full-time, Part-time, Distance Learning
Charter status
Chartered
Chartered
2007
Scholarships
Offered

Research

St. paul's university conducts research in theology, business, and education, with a focus on community development and social transformation rooted in its century long heritage of theological scholarship. the school of theology advances research on african theology, church history, biblical studies, and interreligious dialogue, building on the institution's origins as east africa's first divinity school. the school of human and social sciences investigates gender equality, hiv and aids responses, and peaceful interreligious relations — areas where spu faculty have been at the forefront of faith based scholarship. the school of business and leadership researches ethical leadership and faith based enterprise models. partnerships with the anglican communion office, the council of anglican provinces of africa (capa), the university of cambridge, and the oxford centre for mission studies (uk) support collaborative research in theology and mission studies. the university graduated its first phd cohort in 2020, marking a new phase in its research maturity. research output increasingly informs church policy, theological education, and ecumenical relations across kenya and east africa.

Accredited by

  • Commission for University Education (CUE)
  • Council of Legal Education (CLE)

What they teach

Faculties, departments and the programmes on offer.

Admission requirements

A C+ mean grade is the minimum for a Bachelor's degree; competitive programmes (medicine, engineering, law, nursing, architecture) require higher grades and specific KCSE subject clusters. Master's programmes require a relevant Bachelor's degree; PhD programmes a relevant Master's degree.

Intakes

  • January
  • May
  • September

Schools and faculties

5 in total
  • School of Theology

    Main Campus, Limuru

  • School of Business and Leadership

    Main Campus, Limuru

  • School of Human and Social Sciences

    Main Campus, Limuru

  • School of Communication and Technology

    Main Campus, Limuru

  • School of Education

    Main Campus, Limuru

Campus and beyond

Where you would be, and who they are connected to.

Campuses

Main campus
Nairobi Campus
  • Main Campus (Limuru)

    Kiambu

    Limuru, Kiambu County

  • Nairobi Campus

    Nairobi

    Nairobi CBD

  • Machakos Campus

    Machakos

    Machakos Town

  • Nakuru Campus

    Nakuru

    Nakuru Town

On campus

  • Library
  • Chapel
  • Computer Labs
  • Student Hostels
  • Sports Ground

Notable alumni

  • Anglican church leaders and bishops from Kenya
  • Theology graduates and Christian educators from East Africa

International partnerships

4 institutions
  • Anglican Communion Office
  • Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa (CAPA)
  • University of Cambridge (UK)
  • Oxford Centre for Mission Studies (UK)

Further reading

Keep this

Entry marks, intakes and fees at St. Paul's University are restated each year. Save it and the app keeps this version, so you can see what changed when it does.