Comprehensive Guide to Submitting an Online Admission Application
Detailed procedural instructions for secondary school graduates, transfer students, and prospective candidates applying to degree programs at the Ethiopian Catholic Higher Learning Institute.
1. Pre-Application Checklist & Eligibility Requirements
Before initiating an application in the ECUSTA Portal, candidates must ensure they have compiled all requisite personal details, academic scores, and digitized supporting documentation.
System Requirement Notice & Official Invitations
The online application portal operates under system availability controls. If the master configuration flag ADMISSIONS_OPEN or ALLOW_APPLICANT_REGISTRATION is set to false by the Registrar, general admissions are closed.
Applying with an Invitation: If you have received an official application invitation from the Admissions Directorate, you are exempt from public closure. You can register your applicant account and proceed with your application by clicking the secure link in your email, or by pasting your Invitation Code into the dedicated code field during account registration.
| Applicant Category | Minimum Academic Eligibility | Mandatory Supporting Documents |
|---|---|---|
| Regular Secondary Graduate | Official ESSLCE Grade 12 national examination cut-off score set by the Ministry of Education (MoE). | ESSLCE result sheet, Grade 9-12 transcripts, National ID or Passport, Passport photo. |
| Transfer Candidate | Minimum Cumulative GPA (CGPA) of 2.00+ from an accredited higher education institution. | Official university transcript, course syllabi/descriptions, clearance certificate, ESSLCE results. |
| International Candidate | Equivalent secondary school certificate evaluated and verified by the Educational Assessment and Examinations Service (EAES). | EAES equivalence evaluation certificate, valid passport, English proficiency proof. |
2. Step-by-Step Application Submission Process
Step 1: Accessing the Application Portal
Navigate to /admissions/apply or click the Admissions tab on the university homepage. Select your applicant category under Section I: choose Domestic Applicant if you are an Ethiopian national taking the Grade 12 EHEEE exam, or International Applicant if you hold a foreign passport or are applying with international secondary credentials.
Step 2: Personal & Contact Information
Enter your full legal name as it appears on your Grade 12 ESSLCE examination certificate or Passport. Provide your primary mobile phone number, personal email address, permanent residential address, emergency contact details, and Fayda National ID number (or Passport Number / Foreign National ID for international applicants).
Step 3: Academic History & Evaluation Mode
Domestic applicants must enter their MoE Examination Registration Number and all 6 Grade 12 EHEEE subject scores (out of 100). International applicants are exempt from EHEEE scores; instead, they will see the International Admissions Track block where they can optionally provide international standardized test scores (SAT, ACT, IB, or A-Levels) and High School Cumulative GPA.
Step 4: Academic Program Preference Selection
Choose your target College (e.g., Faculty of Health Sciences, Faculty of Engineering & Technology, Faculty of Business & Social Sciences) and select your primary and secondary degree program choices (e.g., Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Bachelor of Science in Nursing).
Step 5: Document Attachment & Final Verification
Upload clear digital scans of your ESSLCE certificate (or International High School Diploma), high school transcripts, and National ID / Passport in accordance with format standards outlined in the Document Upload Guide. Review your summary details, accept the legal declaration, and click Submit Application.
Interactive Operational Simulator
Test the ECUSTA 6-stage applicant transition model. Select candidate options to see how the status state machine responds:
- Confirmation email broadcast dispatched to applicant address.
3. Post-Submission Confirmation & Application Reference Code
Upon successful submission, the system automatically generates an Application Reference Code (formatted as APP-2026-XXXX). A confirmation receipt is dispatched to your registered email address. Store this code securely; it is required to track your review progress and complete payment of the non-refundable application fee.
4. Application Fee Payment Instructions
A non-refundable application processing fee of ETB 300 is required before your application can be formally reviewed. Payment must be made via direct bank deposit to the official university account at the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE).
Application Fee
ETB 300.00
Bank
Commercial Bank of Ethiopia
Account Name
Ethiopian Catholic University of St Thomas Aquinas
Account Number
1000267653918
Deposit exactly ETB 300 at any CBE branch or via CBE Birr. Retain your receipt — you must upload it and enter the transaction reference number in Step 5 of the online application.
- Do not deposit to any agent or personal account — use only the official university CBE account listed above.
- CBE Birr mobile transfers are accepted. Use a screenshot of the confirmation as your receipt upload.
- The transaction reference number on your receipt must exactly match what you enter in the form.
- The fee is strictly non-refundable regardless of application outcome.
5. Frequently Asked Questions & Troubleshooting
Q: What should I do if the application page states "Admissions Currently Closed"?
When admissions for the current intake are closed, the portal displays official reopening timelines and key dates for the upcoming academic cycle. If enabled, prospective applicants can submit their details via the “Notify Me When Admissions Open” registration form to receive email alerts when the next cycle commences. Candidates with active dossiers may continue to track their application status at /admissions/status.
Q: Can I modify my program choice after submitting the application?
Submitted applications enter a locked state (SUBMITTED). If you need to revise your choices prior to Registrar evaluation, submit a request via the Helpdesk referencing your Application Reference Code.
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