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Bachelor of Information Science (Records and Archives Management)

The Bachelor of Information Science (Records and Archives Management) is a four-year programme that prepares students for records management, archives administration and information governance. Students study records management, archival science, information governance, digital preservation and information systems. The programme combines information science theory with practical records and archives management skills.

Duration
4 years
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 204,400
Ksh 817,600 total
Job market
Moderate
Market demand for graduates

The short answer

What it costs
Up to Ksh 204,400 a year at a public institution, Ksh 817,600 for the whole course.The detail
Who can get in
A KCSE mean grade of C+ or above, plus 4 subject grades. There is another way in without it.The detail
How long, and when
Takes 4 years, full-time, with 3 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 6 institutions.The detail
Where it leads
8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Cloud Security Engineer, at 14 out of 100.The detail

The programme

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

Overview

Students develop competencies in records management, archival administration, digital preservation, information governance, document control and information systems. They learn to manage records, preserve archives, implement records management systems and ensure information governance. The programme covers records management, archives, digital preservation, information governance and document management.

In Kenya, records and archives management is important for government, corporate and institutional governance. Kenya's digital transformation and regulatory requirements create demand. Graduates find roles in government registries, corporate records departments, archives institutions, libraries, museums and information consulting firms.

Teaching is delivered through lectures, laboratory sessions, practical records management exercises, industrial attachment and research projects. Students use records management systems, organise archives, implement digital preservation and undertake industrial attachment. The programme includes a final-year research project.

Graduates pursue careers as records managers, archivists, information governance officers, document controllers and information managers. Some work for government departments. Others join corporate organisations, archives institutions, libraries or consulting firms.

This programme is ideal for individuals with organisational skills, attention to detail and interest in information management and preservation.

What you study

10 subjects
  • Records Management Principles
  • Archival Science and Administration
  • Digital Preservation and Electronic Records
  • Information Governance and Compliance
  • Document Control and Management
  • Information Systems and Technology
  • Knowledge Management
  • Cataloguing and Classification
  • Information Security and Privacy
  • Research Methods

Modules

12 in the programme

  • Introduction to Records and Archives Management

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Introduction to Records and Archives Management: Fundamentals of records management, archival science and information governance Covers planning, organising, leadership, and control in organisation...

  • Information Science Foundations

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Information Science Foundations: Information science theory, information lifecycle and information ecology Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.

  • Records Management Principles

    Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore

    Records creation, classification, retention, disposal and records management systems

  • Archival Science and Administration

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Archival theory, appraisal, arrangement, description and archival administration

  • Digital Preservation and Electronic Records

    Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore

    Digital preservation, electronic records management, metadata and digital repositories

  • Cataloguing and Classification

    Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore

    Cataloguing and Classification: Cataloguing standards, classification schemes, indexing and metadata management Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.

  • Information Governance and Compliance

    Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore

    Information governance, regulatory compliance, access policies and information rights

  • Document Control and Management

    Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore

    Document Control and Management: Document control, version management, workflow and document management systems Covers planning, organising, leadership, and control in organisational contexts.

  • Knowledge Management

    Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore

    Knowledge Management: Knowledge management, organisational learning, knowledge capture and sharing Covers planning, organising, leadership, and control in organisational contexts.

  • Information Security and Privacy

    Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore

    Information Security and Privacy: Information security, data protection, privacy and information risk management Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.

  • Information Systems and Technology

    Year 4Semester 23 creditsCore

    Information systems, databases, content management systems and technology for records

  • Final Year Research Project

    Year 4Semester 36 creditsCore

    Independent research on records and archives management. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests...

Specialisations

  • Records Management

    Specialization in Records Management, preparing graduates for careers such as records-manager. 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.

  • Information Governance

    Specialization in Information Governance, preparing graduates for careers such as records-manager. 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.

  • Digital Preservation

    Specialization in Digital Preservation, preparing graduates for careers such as records-manager. 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.

  • Knowledge Management

    Specialization in Knowledge Management, preparing graduates for careers such as records-manager. 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.

  • Document Control

    Specialization in Document Control, preparing graduates for careers such as records-manager. 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.

  • Archival Administration

    Specialization in Archival Administration, preparing graduates for careers such as records-manager. 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 records management or archival science with afternoon laboratory sessions or practical exercises. Students may use records management systems, organise archives, implement digital preservation or work on information governance projects.

The trade-offs

In its favourAgainst it
Every organisation needs records managementSome roles may be administrative in nature
Relevant to Kenya's digital transformationMay require additional IT certifications
Combines information science with practical skillsSome positions may have limited career growth
Growing demand for digital records managementField may be perceived as less prestigious

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 243 education courses
Public204k to 204k
204k at Moi University204k at Kenyatta 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 204K/yr, Moi 204K/yr (mawese, eafinder). Private: unverified — CUEA/KCA don't offer Records & Archives mgmt.

Students may access HELB loans and county bursaries. Some archives and information institutions offer internship opportunities.

Funding options

  • Higher Education Loans Board (HELB)

    LoanKsh 60,000

  • National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF)

    Bursary

  • County Government Bursaries

    Bursary

Scholarships

3 recorded

  • Higher Education Fund (HEF)

    BursaryKenyan

    Kenyan undergraduate students placed by KUCCPS in public universities

  • County Government Bursaries

    BursaryKenyan

    Residents of respective counties

  • Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan

    LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan

    Kenyan students admitted to recognised universities

Scholarships you could apply for

12 usable where it is taught
Save one and be reminded before it closes

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade
C+minimum entry
Alternative entry

Relevant diploma or equivalent qualification

Subject requirements
English or KiswahiliC+
Mathematics A/B or any Group IIC
Any Group III, IV or V subjectC+
Any Group III, IV or V subjectC+

When it next starts

Taught at 6 institutions
January 20276 institutions

Including Moi University, Kenyatta University, Garissa University.

May 20276 institutions

Including Moi University, Kenyatta University, Garissa University.

September 20276 institutions

Including Moi University, Kenyatta University, Garissa University.

How you are assessed

4 components

  • Final Examination

    Coursework40% of the mark

  • Industrial Attachment Report

    Coursework10% of the mark

  • Practical Sessions and Project Work

    Coursework30% of the mark

  • Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs)

    Coursework20% of the mark

Accreditation

  • Commission for University Education (CUE)

    InstitutionalRequired

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE).

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

  • Records Manager

    Moderate demandKsh 55,000 to Ksh 200,000

    Manages records and information in organisations

  • Information Governance Officer

    Moderate demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 220,000

    Ensures information governance and compliance

  • Document Controller

    Moderate demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 150,000

    Manages document control and workflow

  • Archivist

    Moderate demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 180,000

    Manages archives and historical records

  • Information Manager

    Moderate demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 220,000

    Manages information systems and resources

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as records managers, archivists, information governance officers, document controllers and information managers in government registries, corporate records departments, archives institutions, libraries, museums and information consulting firms.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

  • Microsoft Excel

    SpreadsheetPrimary

    Records data management and cataloguing

  • DSpace

    RepositoryPrimary

    Open-source institutional repository for digital archives

  • Microsoft Access

    Database

    Database management for records and archives

  • Adobe Acrobat

    Document management

    PDF creation and document management for archives

  • Google Workspace

    Collaboration

    Collaborative document management

  • Microsoft Word

    Document drafting

    Records documentation and report writing

Certifications

Common misconceptions

  • Records management is just about filing

    Records management covers information governance, digital preservation, compliance and systems.

  • Archives is only about old documents

    Archival science covers digital records, electronic preservation and modern information management.

  • There are limited jobs in records management

    Every organisation needs records management, creating diverse opportunities.

  • Records management is becoming obsolete with digitalisation

    Digital transformation increases the need for professional records and information management.

Further reading

Read next