Any prospective student must meet ALU's general entry requirements and the program specific requirements.
General Requirements
- Completion of a final national secondary school exam and graduated from secondary school with a certificate of secondary education on an A-level or equivalent
- Sat and passed 3 or more A-level subjects or equivalent (see course-specific requirements for further details)
- B2 or IELTS 6.0 or better English language proficiency
Programme specific requirements
- You must pass 3 or more A-level subjects or equivalent, in which one or more of the considered subjects is from this list of core subjects, or combinations that include these subjects.
- You must attain a C average or better on the 3 courses selected. The average is derived from at least one ‘core’ course and the best two other grades from A-level (Principal) subjects.
4. Revised ALU Admissions Criteria Per Programme
Below is a comparison of ALU’s previous and updated entry requirements for its three undergraduate programmes, aligned with the new grading scheme and its interpretation.
Programme | Previous Requirement (Pre-2024 Grading) | Updated Requirement (Post-2023/24 Grading) |
Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurial Leadership (BEL) | Minimum C average (60–64%) in three Principal Courses (aligned with HEC’s 2PPs requirement) | Candidates must hold an Advanced Certificate of Secondary Education from Rwanda with a minimum overall pass of 50% or an equivalent NESA certificate with a minimum overall pass of 50%. |
Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering (BSE) – Direct Route | Minimum C (60–64%) in Mathematics or Computer-related subjects | Candidates must hold an Advanced Certificate of Secondary Education from Rwanda with a minimum overall pass of 50% or an equivalent NESA certificate with a minimum overall pass of 50%. In addition, candidates must have a minimum pass of 60% in Mathematics or Computer-related subjects. |
BSE – Indirect Route | B (65–69%) in Biology, Physics, or Chemistry with a pass in ALU’s internal Mathematics test | Candidates must hold an Advanced Certificate of Secondary Education from Rwanda with a minimum overall pass of 50% or an equivalent NESA certificate with a minimum overall pass of 50%. In addition, candidates must have a minimum of 65% in Biology, Physics, or Chemistry, and a 60% PASS in ALU’s internal Mathematics test. |
Bachelor of Science in International Business and Trade (IBT) | Two principal passes at the advanced level- Minimum C (60–64%) in Mathematics at Advanced or O-Level | Candidates must hold an Advanced Certificate of Secondary Education from Rwanda with a minimum overall pass of 50% or an equivalent NESA certificate with a minimum overall pass of 50%. In addition, candidates must have a minimum of 60% in Mathematics at Advanced or O Level (grade 10 level). |
IBT– Indirect Route | There is no indirect route in the current policy | Candidates must hold an Advanced Certificate of Secondary Education from Rwanda with a minimum overall pass of 50% or an equivalent NESA certificate with a minimum overall pass of 50%. In addition, candidates must have a minimum of 65% at A-level in program-related subjects such as Economics, Accounting, Business Studies, Commerce, etc., and a 60% PASS in ALU’s internal Mathematics test. [difficulty level = O-level Math]. |
For the Bachelor of Software Engineering (BSE) program, please find the program specific requirements here.
The Equivalence certificate is a requirement for incoming students that presents the Rwandan equivalent of grades obtained in an international exam. It also proves that the equated qualification meets the standards of the Rwanda education system. You should apply for an Equivalence Certificate if you:
- Have studied in a country outside of Rwanda;
- If you studied in Rwanda but did not complete your national exam in the REB system (e.g. Cambridge examinations, American Montessori system).
A C average on your Equivalence certificate is a requirement to receive a full offer of admission at ALU Rwanda.