Founded as Strathmore College in 1961, the Nairobi-based institution was originally a sixth-form college. It was the first college in pre-independence Kenya to offer education to students of all races, religions and classes. Its founders were encouraged by St Josemaría Escrivá, who set up the Opus Dei movement.
In 2002, the college was awarded university status, and the first undergraduate students completed their degrees in December 2004, graduating the following year.
The university takes full-time and part-time students, with approximately 15 per cent of the student body enrolled in a part-time degree course. It offers degree courses across seven schools: management and technology; mathematical sciences; tourism and hospitality; humanities and social sciences; law; business; and computing and engineering sciences.
Strathmore does not provide accommodation. However, it does recommend a list of hostels, on and off campus, that students can choose from.
Students also have access to campus theatre, choir, music studios, sports stadium, gymnasium, swimming pool and tennis courts. There are annual club awards, including club of the year, most promising club, most rewarding club and best club poster.