Education

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.

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.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 204,400
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: 35 students
Award: Bachelor

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 favour

Every organisation needs records management
Relevant to Kenya's digital transformation
Combines information science with practical skills
Growing demand for digital records management

Against it

Some roles may be administrative in nature
May require additional IT certifications
Some positions may have limited career growth
Field 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

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 or Kiswahili
C+
Mathematics A/B or any Group II
C
Any Group III, IV or V subject
C+
Any Group III, IV or V subject
C+

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

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE).

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

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

Industry links

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.