Media & Communication

Bachelor of Arts in Communication

The Bachelor of Arts in Communication is a four-year degree programme that equips students with the knowledge and skills for effective communication in media, corporate, organisational, and development contexts. Students study communication theory, media studies, journalism, public relations, broadcasting, digital media, organisational communication, media ethics, research methods, media law, and development communication.

The programme is offered at multiple CUE-accredited universities including the University of Nairobi, Daystar University, St. Paul's University, Pan Africa Christian University, and Chuka University.

Graduates pursue careers as journalists, public relations officers, communication officers, media producers, corporate communication managers, content creators, and development communication officers. The programme is delivered over eight semesters through lectures, practical workshops, media production sessions, and industry attachments.

Students engage in news writing, media production, campaign design, and research projects. Entry-level salaries for communication graduates in Kenya range from KES 35,000–70,000/month depending on the role and organisation, with higher earnings in corporate communication and media production.

The programme suits students passionate about media, storytelling, and strategic communication. Skills RequiredNews Writing and JournalismPublic Relations and Corporate CommunicationBroadcasting and Media ProductionDigital Media and Content CreationOrganisational CommunicationMedia Ethics and LawResearch Methods in CommunicationEditing and CopywritingCampaign Design and ManagementMedia Analysis and CriticismKey SubjectsCommunication TheoryMedia StudiesJournalismPublic RelationsBroadcastingDigital MediaOrganisational CommunicationMedia Ethics and LawResearch MethodsDevelopment CommunicationCertificationsMedia Council of Kenya (MCK) AccreditationPublic Relations Society of Kenya (PRSK) MembershipKenya Correspondents Association (KCA) MembershipSpecializationsJournalism and News MediaFocus on news gathering, reporting, and editorial work — covering news writing, investigative journalism, multimedia journalism, editorial management, and the ethical and legal frameworks of news media.

Public Relations and Corporate CommunicationFocus on strategic communication for organisations — covering PR strategy, media relations, corporate reputation management, crisis communication, internal communication, and stakeholder engagement. Broadcasting and Media ProductionFocus on radio and television production — covering broadcast journalism, studio production, video editing, audio production, programme planning, and the technical and creative aspects of broadcasting.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 189,004
Private, up to: Ksh 242,800
Job market: High

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 40 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Communication Theory
Media Studies
Journalism
Public Relations
Broadcasting
Digital Media
Organisational Communication
Media Ethics and Law
Research Methods
Development Communication

Modules

12 in the programme

Introduction to Communication Theory
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Foundational communication theory — covering models of communication, theories of mass media, interpersonal communication, intercultural communication, and the historical development of communicati...
Media Studies and Society
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Role of media in society — covering media effects, media and democracy, media and culture, media ownership and control, and the social, political, and economic impact of mass media in Kenya and glo...
News Writing and Journalism
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Journalism fundamentals — covering news values, news writing, reporting techniques, interviewing skills, feature writing, editorial writing, and the practical skills of print and online journalism.
Public Relations Principles
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Public relations theory and practice — covering PR principles, media relations, PR strategy, campaign planning, press releases, corporate communication, and the role of PR in organisational reputat...
Broadcasting and Media Production
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Radio and television production — covering studio operations, video production, audio production, scripting, directing, editing, and the technical and creative aspects of broadcast media.
Media Ethics and Law
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Ethical and legal frameworks for media practice — covering media ethics, codes of conduct, defamation law, copyright, privacy, freedom of expression, and the regulatory framework for media in Kenya.
Digital Media and Online Communication
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Digital media theory and practice — covering social media management, digital content strategy, online journalism, multimedia storytelling, digital marketing, and the use of digital platforms for c...
Research Methods in Communication
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Research methodology for communication — covering quantitative and qualitative research, content analysis, survey design, audience research, and the application of research methods to media and com...
Organisational Communication
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Communication within organisations — covering internal communication, change communication, leadership communication, corporate culture, intercultural communication, and communication audit and ass...
Development Communication
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Communication for social change — covering development communication theory, participatory communication, health communication, advocacy campaigns, and the use of media for community development an...
Media Management and Entrepreneurship
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Management of media organisations — covering media business models, media entrepreneurship, content management, audience engagement, digital media monetisation, and the business aspects of media an...
Media Project or Research Thesis
Year 4Semester 26 creditsCore
Final-year media project or research thesis — demonstrating mastery of communication theory and practice through a media production project, communication campaign, or original research study.

Specialisations

Journalism and News Media
Focus on news gathering, reporting, and editorial work — covering news writing, investigative journalism, multimedia journalism, editorial management, and the ethical and legal frameworks of news media.
Public Relations and Corporate Communication
Focus on strategic communication for organisations — covering PR strategy, media relations, corporate reputation management, crisis communication, internal communication, and stakeholder engagement.
Broadcasting and Media Production
Focus on radio and television production — covering broadcast journalism, studio production, video editing, audio production, programme planning, and the technical and creative aspects of broadcasting.
Digital Media and Content Creation
Focus on digital communication — covering social media management, digital content strategy, online journalism, multimedia storytelling, digital marketing, and the use of digital platforms for communication.
Development Communication
Focus on communication for social change — covering development communication theory, participatory communication, health communication, advocacy campaigns, and the use of media for community development and social transformation.
Organisational Communication
Focus on communication within and between organisations — covering internal communication, change communication, leadership communication, intercultural communication, and communication audit and assessment.

A day as a student

A typical day combines morning lectures on communication theory, media law, or journalism with afternoon practical workshops in news writing, media production, or PR campaign design. Students engage in newsroom simulations, video production, social media management, and editing exercises. Industry attachments in media houses and corporate communication departments provide hands-on experience, with students writing articles, producing content, and managing communication campaigns. Research projects and media portfolios are regular assignments.

The trade offs

In its favour

Versatile career paths — graduates work in journalism, PR, broadcasting, digital media, corporate communication, and development communication across media, corporate, NGO, and government sectors.
Growing demand — every organisation needs communication professionals, with increasing demand for digital media, content creation, and corporate communication skills in Kenya.
Practical skills — the programme includes media production, news writing, PR campaigns, and digital media, giving graduates hands-on skills that are immediately applicable in the workplace.
Multiple offering universities — the programme is offered at several public and private universities, giving students choice in terms of cost, location, and specialisation.

Against it

Competitive job market — while demand is growing, the media and communication sector is competitive, with many graduates competing for entry-level positions in media houses and PR firms.
Rapidly changing industry — the media landscape is evolving quickly with digital disruption, requiring graduates to continuously update their skills in digital media and emerging technologies.
Variable quality across institutions — the programme quality varies significantly between universities, with some institutions having better facilities, industry links, and practical training than others.

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 106 media & communication courses

Public153k to 189k

153k at Kenyatta University189k at University of Nairobi

Private105k to 243k

105k at Mount Kenya University243k 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

KU 153K, UoN 189K/yr; MKU 105K, Daystar 242.8K/yr (educationnewshub KUCCPS; mku.ac.ke).

Students can access HELB loans, university internal scholarships, and media organisation sponsorships. Some media houses offer internship-to-sponsorship pathways for promising communication students.

Funding options

HELB Undergraduate Loan
University Scholarships and Bursaries
Media Organisation Sponsorships

Scholarships

5 recorded

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Needy Kenyan students enrolled in accredited university programmes.
Higher Education Fund (HEF)
BursaryKenyan
Kenyan undergraduate students placed by KUCCPS in public universities
Media Council of Kenya Journalism Training Fund
BursaryKenyan
Journalism and communication students accredited by the Media Council of Kenya
Nation Media Group Journalism Graduate Trainee Programme
ScholarshipKenyan
Recent journalism, media and communication graduates with strong digital skills
Media Organisation Sponsorships
ScholarshipKsh 40,000Kenyan
Sponsorships offered by media organisations for promising communication students, often with internship commitments.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+
Alternative entry: KCSE mean grade C+ or equivalent, or KACE with two principal passes, or Diploma in communication, journalism, or related field with at least a credit pass from a recognised institution.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment Tests
Coursework25% of the mark
Written tests covering communication theory, media law, journalism, and PR — assessed through mid-semester and end-of-semester examinations.
Practical Media Assignments
Coursework30% of the mark
News writing, media production, PR campaign design, digital content creation, and broadcast production — assessed through portfolio review and practical evaluation.
Industry Attachment Reports
Coursework20% of the mark
Reports from industry attachments in media houses, PR firms, or corporate communication departments — documenting practical experience and professional reflection.
Final Examinations and Media Project
Examination25% of the mark
End-of-semester written examinations and a final-year media project or research thesis demonstrating mastery of communication theory and practical skills.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) at all offering universities. The programme is offered through communication and media departments at the University of Nairobi, Daystar University, St. Paul's University, Pan Africa Christian University, and Chuka University.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Statutory accreditation for all Kenyan universities offering degree programmes. The Bachelor of Arts in Communication is CUE-accredited at the University of Nairobi, Daystar University, St. Paul's University, Pan Africa Christian University, and Chuka University.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Journalist / Reporter
Moderate demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 65,000
Gathers, writes, and reports news for print, broadcast, or online media — covering news stories, conducting interviews, writing articles, and producing content for media houses.
Public Relations Officer
High demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 70,000
Manages communication between organisations and their publics — covering media relations, press releases, PR campaigns, corporate reputation management, and stakeholder engagement.
Corporate Communication Officer
High demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 75,000
Manages internal and external communication for organisations — covering corporate messaging, internal communication, crisis communication, and brand management.
Digital Media / Content Creator
High demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 70,000
Creates digital content for organisations and media platforms — covering social media management, content strategy, multimedia production, digital marketing, and online engagement.
Broadcast Producer / Media Producer
Moderate demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 70,000
Produces radio, television, or online media content — covering programme planning, scripting, studio production, video editing, and the creative and technical aspects of media production.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as journalists, PR officers, communication officers, media producers, content creators, and corporate communication managers — in media houses, corporate organisations, NGOs, and government agencies.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Adobe Creative Suite (Premiere Pro, Photoshop, InDesign)
SoftwarePrimary
Media production software for video editing, graphic design, and print layout — essential for media production, content creation, and visual communication projects.
Microsoft Office Suite
SoftwarePrimary
Productivity tools including Word for news writing and press releases, Excel for media research data, and PowerPoint for campaign presentations and pitches.
Social Media Management Tools (Hootsuite, Buffer)
Software
Social media management platforms for scheduling posts, monitoring engagement, analysing performance, and managing multiple social media accounts for organisations.
SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences)
Software
Statistical analysis software for communication research — covering audience research, content analysis, survey data, and media research statistics.
University Media Facilities
Resource
University media facilities including radio studios, television production facilities, editing suites, computer labs, and media library resources.

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Communication is just about talking and writing.
The programme covers communication theory, media law, research methods, digital media, organisational communication, and strategic communication — it is a rigorous academic discipline combining theory with practical skills.
Communication graduates can only become journalists.
Graduates work as PR officers, corporate communication managers, media producers, content creators, development communication officers, and communication consultants — with diverse career paths across media, corporate, and development sectors.
Communication is an easy degree.
The programme involves research methods, media law, communication theory, statistical analysis, media production, and rigorous practical assignments — it requires both analytical and creative skills.
There are no jobs in communication in Kenya.
Demand for communication professionals is growing — every organisation needs communication officers, PR practitioners, content creators, and media specialists, with opportunities in media, corporate, NGO, and government sectors.
Communication and Journalism are the same.
Communication is broader — covering PR, organisational communication, development communication, and digital media, while Journalism focuses specifically on news gathering, reporting, and editorial work.