Art and Design

Bachelor of Arts (Drama & Theatre Studies) (with IT)

The Bachelor of Arts (Drama & Theatre Studies) (with IT) is a four-year degree that combines theatre and drama studies with information technology, preparing graduates for careers in performing arts, media production, arts administration, and digital content creation.

Students study acting, directing, playwriting, theatre history, dramatic theory, stagecraft, set design, lighting and sound design, and performance studies, alongside IT modules covering computer applications, digital media production, multimedia design, and web-based content.

Graduates find opportunities in theatre companies, film and television production, media houses, arts organisations, educational institutions, corporate communications, and digital media companies across Kenya.

The programme is delivered over eight semesters at Maseno University, a CUE-accredited public university. The School of Arts and Social Sciences offers the programme with performance spaces, design studios, and IT labs.

Graduates work as actors, theatre directors, playwrights, set designers, media producers, drama teachers, arts administrators, and digital content creators.

This programme suits students with passion for performing arts, creative talent, interest in digital media, and aptitude for both artistic expression and technology. The combination of theatre arts and IT skills prepares graduates for the evolving creative industries where digital technology increasingly intersects with traditional performance arts.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 204,000
Private, up to: Ksh 225,800
Job market: Moderate

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 25 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Acting and Performance Studies
Directing for Theatre
Playwriting and Dramaturgy
Theatre History and Dramatic Theory
Stagecraft and Production Design
Lighting and Sound Design
Digital Media Production
Computer Applications in Arts
Multimedia Design
Performance Studies

Modules

12 in the programme

Introduction to Theatre Studies
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Foundational concepts of theatre studies including theatre history, dramatic forms, the role of theatre in society, and basic theatre terminology and conventions.
Acting and Performance Fundamentals
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Basic acting techniques including voice, movement, improvisation, character development, and performance skills for stage and screen.
Computer Applications in Creative Arts
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
IT skills for creative professionals including digital media software, presentation tools, and the use of technology in theatre production and content creation.
Theatre History and Dramatic Theory
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Historical development of theatre from ancient Greece to contemporary practice, major dramatic movements, and theoretical frameworks for analysing dramatic works.
Playwriting and Scriptwriting
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Craft of dramatic writing including story structure, character development, dialogue, scene construction, and script formatting for stage and screen.
Stagecraft and Production Design
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Technical theatre skills including set design, construction, props, costumes, stage management, and the practical aspects of theatre production.
Directing for Theatre
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Principles and practice of theatre directing including script analysis, blocking, working with actors, staging, and the director's role in production development.
Lighting and Sound Design
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Principles and techniques of theatrical lighting and sound design including equipment operation, design concepts, cueing, and the integration of sound and lighting in production.
Digital Media Production
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Digital video production, editing, and multimedia content creation using industry-standard software for creative arts and digital media applications.
Performance Studies
Year 3Semester 23 creditsElective
Advanced performance theory, contemporary performance practices, physical theatre, devised performance, and the study of performance as a cultural phenomenon.
Arts Administration and Event Management
Year 4Semester 13 creditsElective
Management of arts organisations, event production, arts funding, marketing for the arts, and the business aspects of professional theatre and creative industries.
Final Creative Project
Year 4Semester 16 creditsCore
Final-year creative project involving the production of an original theatrical work, including writing, directing, design, and performance, with documentation and analysis.

Specialisations

Acting and Performance
Focus on acting techniques, performance theory, character development, physical theatre, and audition skills for professional acting careers in theatre, film, and television.
Directing for Stage and Screen
Focus on directing principles, staging techniques, working with actors, script analysis, and directing for theatre, film, and digital media productions.
Playwriting and Dramaturgy
Focus on dramatic writing, script development, dramaturgical analysis, storytelling structures, and the craft of creating original works for stage and screen.
Technical Theatre and Design
Focus on set design, lighting design, sound design, costume design, and stage management for professional theatre and event production.
Digital Media and Content Creation
Focus on digital video production, multimedia storytelling, web-based content creation, and using digital platforms to distribute and promote creative work.
Arts Administration and Education
Focus on arts management, event production, arts funding, drama education, and using theatre for community development and educational outreach.

A day as a student

A typical day combines morning lectures in theatre history, dramatic theory, or performance studies with afternoon practical sessions in acting, directing, or technical production. Students rehearse productions, design sets and lighting, and work in IT labs on digital media projects. Evenings involve rehearsing for upcoming performances, writing scripts, and developing digital content for creative portfolios.

The trade offs

In its favour

IT integration equips graduates with digital media production skills that expand career opportunities beyond traditional theatre into film, television, and digital content creation.
Kenya's growing creative economy, including film, television, and digital media, creates emerging opportunities for theatre and drama graduates.
Programme includes practical productions, industrial attachment, and a final creative project, providing hands-on experience in all aspects of theatre production.
Theatre arts develop transferable skills in communication, presentation, teamwork, creativity, and critical thinking valued across diverse professions.

Against it

Theatre and performing arts careers in Kenya often involve irregular income, freelance work, and the need to build reputation and networks over time.
Offered at only one university, limiting access and programme choice for prospective students.
Entry-level salaries in theatre and arts are modest (KES 25,000–45,000/month), with higher earnings requiring experience, reputation, and diversification into media and education.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 73 art and design courses

Public189k to 204k

189k at University of Nairobi204k at Kenyatta University

Private160k to 226k

160k at Catholic University of Eastern Africa226k at Daystar University

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

UoN BA Performing Arts ~189,004/yr; KU Theatre Arts 204,000/yr; Daystar ~225,800/yr. Src: aa-arts.uonbi.ac.ke, newsblaze

Students can access HELB loans, county government bursaries, and university-specific scholarships and bursaries.

Funding options

HELB Undergraduate Loan
County Government Bursaries
University Scholarships and Bursaries

Scholarships

5 recorded

Higher Education Fund (HEF)
BursaryKenyan
Kenyan undergraduate students placed by KUCCPS in public universities
Goethe-Institut Scholarship Programmes
Scholarship
Students and artists in cultural and performing arts
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKsh 30,000Kenyan
Students from the respective county, applied through county education offices.
University Internal Bursaries
BursaryKsh 20,000Kenyan
Needy students enrolled at the respective university, applied through the financial aid office.
Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Needy Kenyan students placed through KUCCPS in public universities.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+
Alternative entry: KCSE mean grade C plain with a Diploma in Theatre Arts, Drama, Film, or a related field from a recognised institution. KACE with two principal passes and one subsidiary. A degree from a recognised university. Audition may be required.

How you are assessed

4 components

Practical Performance and Production Assessments
Coursework40% of the mark
Acting performances, directing projects, design portfolios, and production work assessed through practical demonstrations and public performances.
Continuous Assessment Tests
Coursework20% of the mark
Written tests covering theatre history, dramatic theory, and performance studies assessed throughout each semester.
Creative Writing and Digital Media Assignments
Coursework15% of the mark
Scriptwriting assignments, digital media projects, and creative portfolios assessed through written and digital submissions.
Final Examinations and Creative Project
Examination25% of the mark
End-of-semester written examinations and a comprehensive final-year creative project involving a full theatrical production.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). The programme is offered at Maseno University, a CUE-accredited public university. The Kenya Cultural Centre provides additional professional networking for theatre practitioners.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Statutory accreditation for all Kenyan universities offering degree programmes.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Actor / Performer
Low demandKsh 25,000 to Ksh 50,000
Performs in theatre productions, film, television, and digital media, requiring acting skills, versatility, and the ability to audition and secure roles in a competitive industry.
Theatre Director
Low demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 55,000
Directs theatre productions including script analysis, casting, rehearsal management, staging, and overseeing all creative aspects of theatrical productions.
Drama Teacher
Moderate demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 60,000
Teaches drama and theatre arts in secondary schools, colleges, and community programmes, requiring teaching qualification and drama expertise.
Media Producer
Moderate demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 65,000
Produces digital media content, video productions, and multimedia creative projects for media houses, production companies, and digital platforms.
Arts Administrator
Moderate demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 55,000
Manages arts organisations, coordinates cultural events, manages arts funding, and administers theatre companies and cultural institutions.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as actors, theatre directors, media producers, drama teachers, arts administrators, and digital content creators in theatre, film, education, and media industries.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Adobe Premiere Pro
SoftwarePrimary
Video editing software for digital media production, editing theatrical recordings, and creating multimedia content for digital platforms.
Adobe Photoshop
SoftwarePrimary
Image editing and graphic design software for creating promotional materials, posters, set design visualisation, and digital content for arts productions.
QLab
Software
Professional cue-based media playback software for theatre sound and video cueing, used in live theatre productions for sound and multimedia control.
AutoCAD
Software
Computer-aided design software for set design, technical drawings, and stage layout planning for theatre productions.
Audacity
Software
Open-source audio editing software for sound design, voice recording, and audio post-production for theatre and digital media projects.

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Drama and Theatre Studies is just about acting.
The programme covers acting, directing, playwriting, design, technical production, theatre history, dramatic theory, and arts administration — a comprehensive discipline covering all aspects of theatre arts.
Theatre graduates cannot find employment in Kenya.
Graduates work in theatre, film, television, radio, education, corporate communications, event management, and digital media. Kenya's growing creative economy offers diverse opportunities.
The IT component is irrelevant for theatre arts.
Digital media production, multimedia design, streaming platforms, and digital marketing are essential in modern creative industries. IT skills enable graduates to create and distribute digital content.
A drama degree is not a serious academic qualification.
The programme involves rigorous study of dramatic theory, theatre history, performance studies, and research methods alongside practical training. It is an established academic discipline taught at leading universities worldwide.
You need natural talent to succeed in theatre studies.
While talent helps, the programme teaches acting techniques, directing skills, design principles, and production methods that develop professional competence through systematic training and practice.