Media & Communication

Bachelor of Arts (Theatre Arts and Film Studies)

The Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts and Film Studies is a four-year programme that combines practical performance training with critical and theoretical study of theatre and film. Students explore acting, directing, stagecraft and screen production alongside film theory, dramatic literature and performance analysis. The programme balances creative practice with academic rigour, preparing graduates for careers in performance, production, criticism and education.

Students develop competencies in acting, directing, script analysis, stage and film production, critical writing and performance studies. They learn to analyse dramatic texts and films, understand theatrical and cinematic traditions, create original performance work and apply theoretical frameworks to creative practice. The programme covers both Kenyan and global theatre and film traditions.

In Kenya, the creative sector is expanding with growing investment in film and television content, a vibrant theatre scene in Nairobi and increasing demand for trained performers and practitioners. Streaming platforms like Netflix and Showmax are commissioning Kenyan content, while theatre companies continue to produce innovative work. Graduates find opportunities in film, television, theatre, education, advertising and cultural management.

Teaching is delivered through lectures, seminars, practical workshops, film screenings, theatre rehearsals and production projects. Students perform in theatre productions, create short films, analyse films and plays, and undertake industrial attachment in creative industries. The programme includes a final-year creative or research project.

Graduates pursue careers as actors, directors, film and theatre critics, drama teachers, cultural officers and content creators. Some work in film production companies, television stations or theatre companies. Others pursue postgraduate study in film, theatre or performance studies.

This programme is ideal for individuals with passion for performance and critical inquiry. Students who enjoy both creating and analysing dramatic works will find this programme intellectually and creatively 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 Studies
Dramatic Literature and Text Analysis
Film Theory and Criticism
Theatre History and Dramatic Theory
Directing for Stage and Screen
Screenwriting and Playwriting
Theatre Production and Design
African Theatre and Cinema
Performance Research Methods
Cultural Studies and Creative Industries

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
Introduction to Film Studies
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Overview of cinema as art form and industry, including film language, history and analysis
Acting and Performance Studies I
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Fundamental acting techniques, voice training, movement and character development for stage and screen
Dramatic Literature and Text Analysis
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Analysis of dramatic texts from classical to contemporary, including structure, theme and character
Film Theory and Criticism
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Theoretical frameworks for analysing film, including auteur theory, genre theory and postcolonial cinema
Theatre History and Dramatic Theory
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Historical development of theatre from Greek drama to modern and contemporary theatrical movements
Directing for Stage and Screen
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Principles and techniques of directing for theatre and film, including working with actors and visual composition
African Theatre and Cinema
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Study of African theatrical and cinematic traditions, with focus on Kenyan and East African contexts
Screenwriting and Playwriting
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Craft of writing original works for screen and stage, including narrative structure and character development
Theatre Production and Design
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Practical aspects of theatre production including set, lighting, sound and costume design
Creative/Research Project
Year 4Semester 23 creditsCore
Final-year creative production or scholarly research project demonstrating mastery of programme competencies
Industrial Attachment
Year 4Semester 36 creditsCore
Supervised placement at a theatre company, film production house, TV station or cultural organisation

Specialisations

Theatre Production
Specialization in Theatre Production, 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.
Film Criticism
Specialization in Film Criticism, preparing graduates for careers such as content-creator-social-media-manager.
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.
African Cinema Studies
Specialization in African Cinema Studies, preparing graduates for careers such as documentary-filmmaker.
Playwriting and Screenwriting
Specialization in Playwriting and Screenwriting, preparing graduates for careers such as content-creator-social-media-manager.
Performance Studies
Specialization in Performance Studies, 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 dramatic literature with afternoon workshops for acting, directing or production. Students may rehearse for theatre productions, screen and analyse films or work on creative writing projects.

The trade offs

In its favour

Combines practical performance skills with critical and theoretical knowledge
Kenya's creative sector is growing with streaming platform investments
Versatile qualification applicable to film, theatre, education and media
Develops both creative and analytical thinking skills

Against it

Creative careers can have irregular income, especially early in the career
Competition for directing and acting roles is intense
Some career paths require postgraduate study for advancement
Building professional 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 creative 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
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+
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

Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs)
Coursework25% of the mark
Creative/Research Project
Coursework100% of the mark
Final Examination
Coursework35% of the mark
Production Projects and Essays
Coursework40% of the mark

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). 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

Director
Low demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 300,000
Directs theatre productions or film and video projects
Content Creator
High demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 150,000
Creates original video and performance content for digital platforms and social media
Drama Teacher
Moderate demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 90,000
Teaches drama and theatre arts in schools and educational institutions
Actor
Moderate demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 200,000
Performs in films, television, theatre and digital content productions
Film and Theatre Critic
Low demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 100,000
Writes critical reviews and analysis of films and theatre productions for publications

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as actors, directors, critics, drama teachers and content creators in film, television, theatre, education and cultural management.

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

Theatre and film studies is just about acting
The programme covers theory, criticism, writing, directing, production and cultural studies alongside performance.
There are no career opportunities in Kenya's creative sector
Streaming platforms, advertising and corporate content creation offer growing opportunities for qualified graduates.
Film studies is not academically rigorous
The programme involves critical theory, historical analysis, research methods and scholarly writing.
You must be a performer to benefit from this programme
Many graduates work behind the scenes as writers, directors, critics, educators and cultural managers.