Media & Communication

Bachelor of Arts in Film and Theatre Arts

The Bachelor of Arts in Film and Theatre Arts is a four-year interdisciplinary degree programme that immerses students in the world of storytelling, performance, and visual arts.

The curriculum covers film theory and history, screenwriting, directing, acting, cinematography, editing, stage design, theatre history, dramatic literature, performance studies, oral literature, and research methods.

Students develop competencies in acting, directing, screenwriting, cinematography, editing, stage design, performance, critical analysis, and production management. The programme includes extensive practical work in studio facilities, editing suites, and performance spaces. An industrial attachment provides hands-on experience in a film production company, theatre company, or media house.

Graduates pursue careers as film directors, theatre directors, actors, screenwriters, cinematographers, video editors, stage designers, drama teachers, and arts administrators. They find employment in film production companies, theatre companies, television stations, educational institutions, advertising agencies, and cultural organisations.

The programme is offered at Kenyatta University, which has a well-established School of Creative and Performing Arts, Film and Media Studies. The university boasts modern facilities including theatres, film studios, and editing suites.

Accreditation is provided by the Commission for University Education (CUE), ensuring the programme meets national quality standards. Admission requires a KCSE mean grade of C+ with strong passes in English or Kiswahili, reflecting the storytelling and performance focus of the programme.

Duration: 4 Years
Public, up to: Ksh 204,400
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: 25 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

History of Film
Theatre History
Acting for Stage and Screen
Screenwriting and Playwriting
Cinematography
Film and Theatre Directing
Video Editing
Stage Design
Dramatic Literature
Research Methods in Performing Arts

Modules

12 in the programme

History of Film
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Historical development of cinema from early film to contemporary, including key movements, technologies, and filmmakers.
Theatre History
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Historical development of theatre from ancient Greek to contemporary, including key playwrights, movements, and traditions.
Introduction to Acting
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Fundamentals of acting for stage and screen, including voice, movement, character development, and improvisation.
Introduction to Film Production
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Fundamentals of film production, including camera operation, lighting, sound recording, and basic editing.
Cinematography
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Art and technique of cinematography, including camera work, lighting design, composition, and visual storytelling.
Screenwriting and Playwriting
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Craft of writing scripts for film, television, and theatre, including story structure, character development, and dramatic dialogue.
Film and Theatre Directing
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Art of directing for film and theatre, including working with actors, blocking, visual composition, and creative decision-making.
Video Editing and Post-Production
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Techniques of video editing, including narrative editing, continuity, pacing, and post-production workflows.
Industrial Attachment
Year 3Semester 26 creditsCore
Practical attachment in a film production company, theatre company, or media house, applying production and performance skills.
Stage Design and Production
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Stage Design and Production: Design of sets, lighting, costumes, and sound for theatre and film productions. Covers design principles, creative processes, and practical project development.
Dramatic Literature
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Study of dramatic literature from classical to contemporary, including African drama, playwrights, and critical approaches.
Creative Project
Year 4Semester 26 creditsCore
Final-year creative project producing a film, stage performance, or interdisciplinary work, assessed by a panel of faculty and industry professionals.

Specialisations

Film Production
All aspects of film production including directing, cinematography, editing, and production management for narrative and documentary films.
Theatre Performance
Acting, directing, and performance techniques for the stage, including classical and contemporary theatre traditions.
Screenwriting and Playwriting
Craft of writing scripts for film, television, and theatre, including story structure, character development, and dramatic dialogue.
Stage and Production Design
Design of sets, lighting, costumes, and sound for theatre and film productions. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Film and Theatre Theory
Critical and theoretical study of film and theatre as art forms, including dramatic theory, film theory, and performance studies.
Arts Administration
Management and administration of creative arts organisations, including theatre companies, film production houses, and cultural institutions.

A day as a student

A typical day combines theoretical study with practical performance and production work. Morning sessions may cover film theory, theatre history, or dramatic literature, while afternoons focus on hands-on work in studios, editing suites, and performance spaces. Acting workshops develop performance skills, while film production sessions provide training in cinematography, editing, and directing. Theatre productions and film projects allow students to apply their skills in real creative contexts. The industrial attachment in a production company or theatre company provides professional experience in the creative industry.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenyatta University has modern facilities including theatres, film studios, and editing suites for hands-on learning.
Interdisciplinary approach combining film and theatre provides versatile skills for both screen and stage careers.
Kenya's creative industry is expanding with increasing demand for content across film, television, theatre, and digital platforms.
KU's location in Nairobi provides access to a vibrant arts scene and connections to local and international artists.

Against it

The creative industry is highly competitive, with many graduates competing for limited formal employment positions.
Balancing both film and theatre in four years means less depth in each area compared to specialised single-discipline programmes.
Production and performance work requires long and irregular hours, including evenings and weekends for rehearsals and shoots.
Entry-level salaries in the creative arts can be modest, particularly for freelance and independent practitioners.

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

Public189k to 204k

189k at University of Nairobi204k at Kenyatta University

Private162k to 243k

162k at University of Eastern Africa, Baraton243k 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 204,400/yr; UoN 189,004/yr; UEAB 161,600/yr; Daystar 242,800/yr. Src: educationnewshub.co.ke

Government-sponsored students receive fee subsidies through KUCCPS placement. HELB loans are available for eligible students. Universities also offer internal bursaries for financially needy students.

Funding options

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB)
KUCCPS Government Sponsorship
University Internal Bursaries

Scholarships

5 recorded

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
Government loanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students admitted to recognised universities through KUCCPS or self-sponsored. Must demonstrate financial need.
University Internal Bursaries
University bursaryKenyan
Registered students demonstrating financial need. Application through the respective university financial aid office.
Higher Education Fund (HEF)
Government subsidyKenyan
Kenyan students who meet KUCCPS cluster cut-off points and are placed in the programme through the central placement system.
Netflix Creative Equity Scholarship Fund
Scholarship
East African students admitted to film and TV disciplines at partner Kenyan institutions
Goethe-Institut Scholarship Programmes
Scholarship
Students and artists in cultural and performing arts

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+ (Plus)
Alternative entry: KACE with two principal passes and one subsidiary with a minimum of a credit pass in English or Kiswahili; OR a Diploma in Film Studies, Theatre Arts, Journalism, Mass Communication, or a related field from a recognised institution; OR equivalent qualifications recognised by the University Senate.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment Tests
Coursework30% of the mark
Regular practical projects, performance assessments, film critiques, written tests, and portfolio reviews conducted during the semester.
End of Semester Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Comprehensive written and practical examinations covering film theory, theatre history, and production techniques.
Industrial Attachment Assessment
Practical100% of the mark
Assessment of industrial attachment performance in a film production company or theatre company, including supervisor evaluation and report.
Creative Project
Project100% of the mark
Final-year creative project producing a film, stage performance, or interdisciplinary work, assessed by a panel of faculty and industry professionals.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE), the statutory body responsible for quality assurance and regulation of university education in Kenya.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
CUE is the statutory body responsible for the accreditation and quality assurance of university programmes in Kenya.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Actor
Moderate demandKsh 25,000 to Ksh 120,000
Performs roles in film, television, theatre, and digital media productions.
Film Director
Moderate demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 150,000
Directs film productions, overseeing creative vision, working with actors and crew, and managing the production process.
Theatre Director
Low demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 90,000
Directs theatre productions, overseeing artistic vision, working with actors, and managing stage productions.
Screenwriter
Moderate demandKsh 28,000 to Ksh 85,000
Writes scripts for film, television, and digital media productions.
Cinematographer
Moderate demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 100,000
Operates cameras and designs lighting for film, television, and video productions.
Drama Teacher
Moderate demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 80,000
Teaches drama and theatre arts at secondary or tertiary level, requiring additional teaching qualification for school employment.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as film directors, theatre directors, actors, screenwriters, and drama teachers. Demand is high with Kenya's growing creative industry spanning film, television, theatre, and digital media.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Adobe Premiere Pro
Video editingPrimary
Professional video editing software for film, television, and digital media post-production.
Adobe After Effects
Visual effectsPrimary
Motion graphics and visual effects software for compositing, animation, and post-production.
Final Cut Pro
Video editing
Professional video editing software for film and television post-production on macOS.
Celtx
Screenwriting
Screenwriting and pre-production software for scriptwriting, storyboarding, and production planning.
QLab
Theatre production
Software for controlling audio, video, and lighting cues in live theatre performances.

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Film and theatre arts is only for aspiring actors.
The programme covers many roles beyond acting, including directing, screenwriting, cinematography, editing, stage design, and arts administration.
Theatre is outdated and irrelevant in the digital age.
Theatre remains a vibrant art form in Kenya, with growing audiences and opportunities in cultural tourism, education, and international festivals.
A film and theatre degree has no practical career applications.
Graduates work in film production, television, theatre, education, advertising, cultural administration, and digital content creation, with Kenya's creative industry expanding rapidly.
Studying both film and theatre means you master neither.
The interdisciplinary approach provides complementary skills that make graduates more versatile, with theatre training enhancing film performance and film techniques enriching stage production.