Art and Design

Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts

The Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts is a four-year practical-based degree programme that develops knowledge and skills leading to a variety of careers in the fine art and design industry.

The curriculum covers introduction to painting, introduction to sculpture, drawing, fabric design and print, art history, art criticism, digital media, visual research, contextual research in contemporary artistic practice, interdisciplinary practice, and studio-based specialisation in painting, sculpture, or fabric design and print.

Students develop competencies in painting, sculpture, drawing, fabric design, printmaking, digital media, art criticism, and visual research. The programme includes extensive studio work, field trips, seminars, tutorials, and practical projects.

Graduates pursue careers as fine artists, painters, sculptors, fabric designers, printmakers, art teachers, gallery curators, illustrators, and creative entrepreneurs. They find employment in art galleries, museums, design studios, educational institutions, cultural organisations, and as independent artists.

The programme is offered at Kenyatta University, which has the oldest and only department offering degree courses in both fine art and design in Kenya. Maseno University also offers a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art with IT.

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 a minimum of C in Art and Design, or a portfolio of artworks presented before a department selection panel for applicants without art subjects.

Duration: 4 Years
Public, up to: Ksh 204,000
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: 20 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Introduction to Painting
Introduction to Sculpture
Drawing
Fabric Design and Print
Art History
Art Criticism
Digital Media
Visual Research
Contextual Research in Contemporary Art
Interdisciplinary Practice

Modules

12 in the programme

Introduction to Painting
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Fundamentals of painting, including colour theory, composition, techniques in oil, acrylic, and watercolour media.
Introduction to Sculpture
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Fundamentals of three-dimensional art, including modelling, carving, construction, and casting techniques.
Drawing
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Fundamentals of drawing, including observational drawing, perspective, figure drawing, and experimental drawing techniques.
Art History
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Survey of art history from ancient to contemporary, including African art, Western art traditions, and global art movements.
Fabric Design and Print
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Techniques of fabric design and print, including batik, screen printing, weaving, and surface decoration.
Art Criticism
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Development of analytical and interpretive thinking about visual art, including critical theory and art writing.
Digital Media in Fine Art
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Exploration of digital media in fine art, including still motion images, digital illustration, and new media art.
Visual Research
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Research methods for visual art, promoting exploration, speculation, and the development of personal artistic practice.
Industrial Attachment
Year 3Semester 26 creditsCore
Practical attachment in an art gallery, design studio, museum, or cultural organisation, applying fine art skills in a professional environment.
Interdisciplinary Practice
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Practice that cuts across boundaries of traditional media, combining multiple art forms and contemporary approaches.
Contextual Research in Contemporary Art
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Research in contemporary artistic practice, situating personal work within broader art discourse and critical contexts.
Final Year Exhibition
Year 4Semester 26 creditsCore
Final-year project culminating in a public exhibition of a portfolio of work, assessed by faculty and industry professionals.

Specialisations

Painting
Specialisation in painting techniques and media, including oil, acrylic, watercolour, and mixed media, developing a personal artistic style.
Sculpture
Specialisation in three-dimensional art, including modelling, carving, casting, and construction across various materials.
Fabric Design and Print
Specialisation in textile and fabric design, including batik, screen printing, weaving, and surface decoration techniques.
Digital Media
Exploration of digital media in fine art, including still motion images, digital illustration, and new media art.
Art History and Criticism
Study of art history, criticism, and theory, developing analytical and interpretive thinking about visual art.
Interdisciplinary Practice
Practice that cuts across boundaries of traditional media, combining multiple art forms and approaches.

A day as a student

A typical day centres on studio practice, with morning sessions covering art history, theory, or criticism, and afternoons dedicated to hands-on studio work. Students work on painting, sculpture, drawing, or fabric design projects depending on their specialisation. Field trips to galleries, museums, and cultural sites provide exposure to professional art practice. Critique sessions allow students to present and discuss their work with peers and faculty. The programme emphasises developing a personal artistic voice through experimentation and exploration across media.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenyatta University has the oldest and only department offering degree courses in both fine art and design in Kenya.
Programme aligns with Kenya's Vision 2030, which emphasises talent development for self-employment and job creation.
Faculty are practising artists and educators with national and international exhibition profiles.
Programme offers three specialisation tracks: painting, sculpture, and fabric design and print.

Against it

Fine art materials and equipment can be expensive, requiring significant personal investment beyond tuition.
The art market in Kenya is still developing, with limited formal employment opportunities compared to other fields.
Building a sustainable career as an artist requires significant time, persistence, and networking beyond graduation.
Portfolio admission requirement may exclude students who have not had prior art training.

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

Public184k to 204k

184k at Kenyatta University204k at Maseno 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 BA Fine Art 183,600/yr; Maseno 204,000/yr (KUCCPS). UoN has no Fine Arts programme. Private unverified.

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

4 recorded

County Government Bursaries
BursaryKenyan
Residents of respective counties pursuing undergraduate studies
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 through the central placement system.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+ (Plus)
Alternative entry: KCSE mean grade of C+ without Art and Design, with a portfolio of artworks presented before a department selection panel for interview and assessment; OR KCSE mean grade of C (Plain) with a Diploma in Art and Design from a recognised institution; OR KCSE mean grade of C (Plain) with a P1 certificate and proven experience in Fine Art.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment
Coursework40% of the mark
Regular studio projects, portfolio reviews, critique sessions, written assignments, and practical exercises during the semester.
End of Semester Examinations
Examination60% of the mark
Comprehensive written and practical examinations covering art history, theory, and studio practice.
Industrial Attachment Assessment
Practical100% of the mark
Assessment of industrial attachment performance in an art gallery, studio, or cultural organisation, including supervisor evaluation and report.
Final Year Exhibition
Project100% of the mark
Final-year project culminating in a public exhibition of a portfolio of work, assessed by 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

Fine Artist
Low demandKsh 25,000 to Ksh 150,000
Creates original artworks for exhibition, sale, or commission, working independently or through galleries.
Art Teacher
Moderate demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 80,000
Teaches art and design at secondary or tertiary level, requiring additional teaching qualification.
Graphic Designer
High demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 90,000
Applies fine art skills to graphic design for advertising, publishing, and digital media.
Gallery Curator
Low demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 100,000
Curates exhibitions and manages art galleries, requiring knowledge of art history and contemporary practice.
Illustrator
Moderate demandKsh 28,000 to Ksh 85,000
Creates illustrations for books, magazines, advertising, and digital media publications.
Fabric Designer
Moderate demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 80,000
Designs fabrics and textiles for fashion, interior design, and cultural products.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as fine artists, painters, sculptors, fabric designers, art teachers, and gallery curators. Demand is moderate with growing opportunities in Kenya's creative economy.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Adobe Photoshop
Digital artPrimary
Digital image editing software for digital art, illustration, and photo manipulation.
Adobe Illustrator
Digital artPrimary
Vector graphics software for digital illustration, design, and graphic art.
CorelDRAW
Digital art
Vector illustration and page layout software for design and digital art.
Procreate
Digital art
Digital painting app for iPad, popular among illustrators and digital artists.
Wacom Intuos
Hardware
Graphics tablet for digital drawing, painting, and illustration work.

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Fine arts is only for people with natural talent.
While artistic inclination helps, the programme teaches fundamental skills in drawing, painting, sculpture, and design through structured studio practice and instruction.
A fine arts degree has no career prospects.
Graduates pursue careers as artists, designers, teachers, curators, illustrators, and creative entrepreneurs, with Kenya's creative economy growing under Vision 2030.
Fine arts is just about painting pictures.
The programme covers painting, sculpture, fabric design, printmaking, digital media, art criticism, and interdisciplinary practice, offering diverse creative paths.
You cannot make a living as an artist in Kenya.
Kenya's art market is growing with galleries, international exhibitions, corporate commissions, and online sales creating income opportunities for professional artists.