You are not arriving alone.
Kampala Film School trains filmmakers from across East
Africa and beyond. Students come from Kenya,
Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan and further.
Beryl Magoko came from Kenya. She began her diploma film at KFS in 2010.
The Cut went on to win at FESPACO and the London Feminist Film Festival. In Search... took Best Student Documentary at IDFA.
That is one example. There are others. What matters is that when you arrive, you are supported — academically, practically and personally.
Will my qualification be recognised?
One of the first questions international students ask is whether their qualifications will be recognised.
In Uganda, higher education operates within a national regulatory and quality assurance framework. Kampala Film School operates within Kampala University, a Chartered University listed by the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE).
This means that KFS academic programmes operate within the university and the applicable Ugandan higher education framework.
Recognition is not something Kampala Film School determines on its own. Accreditation, quality assurance and recognition of higher education programmes operate within the national regulatory system.
For students, this provides an established academic framework for their studies and qualifications.
The national bodies that matter
The National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) regulates and oversees higher education in Uganda. It maintains the national register of higher education institutions and provides the regulatory framework for accreditation and quality assurance.
Kampala University is listed by NCHE as a Chartered University.
KFS operates within Kampala University, and therefore within this higher education framework. For questions concerning the accreditation status of a specific programme, students should confirm the current programme status with Kampala University and NCHE before making decisions about enrolment or transfer.
The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) is responsible for Uganda’s national primary and secondary examination and certification system.
For international students entering Uganda with foreign secondary school qualifications, UNEB provides equating of foreign qualifications to Ugandan standards at the PLE, UCE and UACE levels. This is particularly relevant when an applicant has completed secondary education outside Uganda and needs their qualification assessed for entry purposes.
Important: UNEB states that foreign post-secondary diplomas and degrees are not equated by UNEB. Applicants seeking recognition of foreign diplomas or degrees should contact NCHE.
What this means for international students
If you studied outside Uganda, your previous qualifications may need to be assessed against the applicable Ugandan requirements before admission.
For secondary-school qualifications, this may involve UNEB’s foreign-qualification equating process. For foreign diplomas and degrees, the relevant recognition process falls under the higher education framework and NCHE rather than UNEB.
If you are transferring from another institution, the receiving institution determines the applicable requirements for admission, credit transfer and recognition of previous study. Kampala Film School and Kampala University can guide applicants on the documentation required for their application and the appropriate process to follow.
If you are applying with foreign qualifications
Depending on your educational background and the programme you are applying for, you may be asked to provide:
Applicants should provide clear and authentic copies of their academic documents. Where formal equating or recognition is required, applicants will be guided to the appropriate national authority.
What about credit transfer?
If you have already studied film, media, art or another related discipline at another institution, you may wish to transfer or receive recognition for previous study.
Credit transfer is not automatic. It depends on the programme, the courses previously completed, the documentation provided and the requirements of the institution receiving the application. Kampala Film School can guide applicants on the documentation required and the appropriate process for consideration of previous study.
A qualification within a national university system
Kampala Film School is a specialist film school within Kampala University. We focus on what we do best: filmmaking, creative practice and professional film education.
The academic and regulatory framework within which our programmes operate is provided through Kampala University and Uganda’s national higher education system.
For international students, this means you are not enrolling in an isolated private training programme. You are studying within a chartered Ugandan university and within the country’s established higher education framework.
You will not be left to work it out alone.
Every international student is assigned an official point of contact at KFS. That person helps with:
- Admission and registration
- Documentation and transcripts
- Immigration and permit guidance
- Accommodation arrangements
- Any issue that arises during your time here
Kampala is a working city, and KFS is a supervised campus. Students are supported on campus, on location and in their accommodation.
The campus sits on Kampala University's Ggaba campus, overlooking Lake Victoria. It is a defined, secured environment with university security on site.
For students living off campus, KFS works only with trusted accommodation providers. We do not send students to unvetted housing.
If you or your family have specific safety questions before you arrive, contact admissions. We will answer them directly.
KFS has hostels.
Students can stay on or near campus.
Students may also arrange their own housing through the University Estates Manager, who connects students with vetted housing providers.
Meals can be arranged through the university kitchen at $150 per semester.
Students who prefer to cook or eat independently can do so. Kampala has markets, restaurants and grocery options within reach of campus.
| Room type | Fee per semester |
|---|---|
| General Room — 8 students | $150 |
| General Room — 6 students | $200 |
| Special Room — 4 students | $250 |
| Special Room — 2 students | $300 |
| VIP Room — 2 students | $450 |
KFS collaborates with institutions across the region and internationally.
Northumbria University, United Kingdom — connecting KFS students and staff to an international film education network.
AIB, Germany — international academic and creative collaboration.
KFS also works with other universities, institutions and creative partners where opportunities arise. Cross-border exchanges allow students to study, collaborate and produce work beyond Uganda.
If you are an international applicant and are unsure whether your previous qualification meets the entry requirements, contact the Kampala Film School Admissions Office before applying.
We can help you understand: What qualification do I need? Does my qualification meet the entry requirement? Do I need my secondary qualification equated? Do I need additional documentation? How can I transfer my previous study?
Phone: 039 2177156
Email: info@kampalafilmsch.org
Kampala Film School
Within Kampala University
Kampala, Uganda
