Media & Communication

Bachelor of Arts (Theater Arts and Film Technology)

The Bachelor of Arts in Theater Arts and Film Technology is a four-year programme that immerses students in the creative and technical worlds of theatre and film. Students study acting, directing, screenwriting, cinematography, editing, stage design and film production, developing both artistic expression and technical proficiency. The programme combines theoretical analysis with hands-on production experience, preparing graduates for dynamic careers in Kenya's growing creative industry.

Students develop competencies in performance, directing, scriptwriting, camera operation, video editing, stagecraft, lighting design and sound production. They learn to analyse dramatic texts, understand film theory, operate professional production equipment and manage creative projects from concept to completion. The programme emphasises both individual artistic development and collaborative production skills.

In Kenya, the creative economy is recognised as a significant contributor to GDP and employment. The film industry has grown with platforms like Netflix and Showmax investing in Kenyan content, while theatre remains vibrant in Nairobi and other cities. Graduates find opportunities in film production, television, theatre, advertising, digital content creation and corporate communications. Kenya's status as a regional media hub further expands career prospects.

Teaching is delivered through lectures, studio sessions, practical workshops, film screenings, rehearsals and production projects. Students produce short films in each year of study, participate in theatre productions and use professional editing suites and performance spaces. The programme includes industrial attachment in film production companies, television stations or theatre companies.

Graduates pursue careers as actors, film directors, screenwriters, video editors, producers, cinematographers and theatre practitioners. Some work in television stations, film production companies or advertising agencies. Others establish independent production companies or work as freelance content creators.

This programme is ideal for creative individuals with passion for storytelling, performance and visual arts. Students who enjoy collaboration, creative expression and hands-on production will find this programme particularly stimulating.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 204,400
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
Screenwriting and Scriptwriting
Film Directing
Cinematography and Camera Operations
Video Editing and Post-Production
Theatre Production and Stagecraft
Film Theory and Criticism
Lighting and Sound Design
Documentary Production
Entertainment Law and Ethics

Modules

12 in the programme

Introduction to Theatre Arts
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Foundational concepts of theatre including history, forms, elements and the creative process
Acting and Performance I
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Fundamental acting techniques, voice training, movement and character development
Introduction to Film Technology
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Introduction to Film Technology: Overview of film production technology, equipment and the filmmaking pipeline Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Screenwriting and Scriptwriting
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Craft of writing scripts for film, television and theatre, including structure, character and dialogue
Cinematography and Camera Operations
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Technical and artistic aspects of camera work, lighting, composition and visual storytelling
Video Editing and Post-Production
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Digital editing techniques, colour grading, sound design and post-production workflows
Film Directing
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Art and craft of directing films, including working with actors, visual design and narrative control
Theatre Production and Stagecraft
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Stage design, set construction, lighting, sound and production management for theatre
Documentary Production
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Documentary Production: Techniques for researching, planning, shooting and editing documentary films Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Film Theory and Criticism
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Critical analysis of film as art form, including film movements, genres and theoretical frameworks
Entertainment Law and Ethics
Year 4Semester 23 creditsCore
Legal and ethical issues in film and theatre, including copyright, contracts and content regulation
Industrial Attachment
Year 4Semester 36 creditsCore
Supervised placement at a film production company, TV station or theatre company

Specialisations

Directing
Specialization in Directing, preparing graduates for careers such as documentary-filmmaker. 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.
Video Editing
Specialization in Video Editing, preparing graduates for careers such as film-and-video-editor. 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 Production
Specialization in Film Production, preparing graduates for careers such as documentary-filmmaker. 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.
Cinematography
Specialization in Cinematography, preparing graduates for careers such as film-and-video-editor. 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.
Screenwriting
Specialization in Screenwriting, preparing graduates for careers such as content-creator-social-media-manager.
Theatre Arts
Specialization in Theatre Arts, preparing graduates for careers such as animation-film. 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.

A day as a student

A typical day combines morning lectures on film theory or theatre history with afternoon studio sessions for acting, camera work or editing. Students may rehearse for theatre productions, shoot film scenes on location or edit footage in the post-production suite.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's creative economy is growing with streaming platform investments
Hands-on programme with real production experience
Diverse career paths from acting to editing to directing
Skills are transferable to advertising, corporate video and digital content

Against it

Creative careers can have irregular income, especially for freelancers
Production equipment is expensive and access may be limited
Competition is high for directing and acting roles
Building industry networks takes time and persistence

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

Private226k to 226k

226k at Daystar University226k 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 Film/Theatre 204,400/yr, UoN ~189K/yr (UoN fee struct). Daystar ~225,800/yr.

Students may access HELB loans and county bursaries. The Kenya Film Commission occasionally offers grants for student film projects.

Funding options

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB)
LoanKsh 60,000
National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF)
Bursary
County Government Bursaries
Bursary

Scholarships

5 recorded

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students admitted to recognised universities
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKenyan
Residents of respective counties
Higher Education Fund (HEF)
BursaryKenyan
Kenyan undergraduate students placed by KUCCPS in public universities
Kenya Film Commission Creative Grant
GrantKsh 500,000Kenyan
Kenyan filmmakers and creatives pursuing film, TV or animation projects
Netflix Creative Equity Scholarship Fund
Scholarship
East African students admitted to film and TV disciplines at partner Kenyan institutions

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+
Alternative entry: Relevant diploma or equivalent qualification

English/Kiswahili
C+
Mathematics or any Group II subject
C+
Any Group III subject
C+
Any Group IV or V subject
C+

How you are assessed

4 components

Industrial Attachment Report
Coursework100% of the mark
Final Examination
Coursework30% of the mark
Production Projects and Portfolios
Coursework50% of the mark
Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs)
Coursework20% of the mark

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Film classification and content regulation is overseen by the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB).

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
InstitutionalRequired

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Video Editor
High demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 150,000
Edits video content for film, television, advertising and digital platforms
Actor
Moderate demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 200,000
Performs in films, television, theatre and digital content productions
Screenwriter
Moderate demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 150,000
Writes scripts for films, television series, web content and theatre productions
Film Director
Moderate demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 300,000
Directs film and video productions, overseeing creative vision from script to final edit
Theatre Production Assistant
Low demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 80,000
Assists with stage management, set design and technical production for theatre companies

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as actors, film directors, screenwriters, video editors and producers in film production companies, television stations, theatre companies and digital content platforms.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Microsoft Word
CreativePrimary
Google Drive
Cloud
Zoom
CloudPrimary
Google Docs
Cloud
Adobe Photoshop
Design

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Film and theatre is not a real career
Kenya's creative economy is growing with streaming platforms investing in local content, creating real career opportunities.
You need to be an extrovert to study theatre arts
The programme develops performance skills systematically and also covers behind-the-camera roles like directing and editing.
There is no money in Kenya's film industry
Streaming platforms, advertising and corporate video production offer significant income for skilled professionals.
Film technology is just about operating cameras
The programme covers storytelling, directing, editing, sound design, production management and entertainment law.