Media & Communication

Bachelor of Science in Media and Digital Communication

The Bachelor of Science in Media and Digital Communication is a degree programme that equips students with knowledge and skills in in media and digital communication. The programme falls under the Media & Communication category and typically spans 4 years of full-time study at accredited Kenyan universities.

The curriculum covers Mass Communication, Media Writing, Journalism, Video Production, Media Law, Digital Media. Students engage with both theoretical foundations and practical applications, developing competencies in On-camera presence, Advanced Cinematography, Advertising and Marketing, Advertising in Broadcast Media, Audience Analysis. The coursework is designed to build progressive understanding from foundational concepts to advanced topics.

Throughout the programme, students study Introduction to Mass Communication, News Writing & Reporting, Media Law & Ethics, Radio & TV Production, Digital Journalism & Social Media. The teaching approach combines lectures, laboratory practicals, tutorials, assignments and independent research projects. This blend ensures graduates can apply theoretical knowledge to real-world problems in their field.

The programme offers specialisations in Journalism & Broadcasting, Public Relations & Corporate Communication, Film & Video Production. Students can focus their studies on areas of particular interest, allowing them to tailor their degree to specific career goals. The flexibility enables graduates to pursue diverse professional paths within the sector.

Graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Media and Digital Communication pursue careers as Business/Financial Journalist, Audio Engineer, Broadcast Journalist, Cinematographer. They find employment in various sectors including government agencies, private companies, research institutions, non-governmental organisations and academic institutions. The degree opens doors to both local and international opportunities.

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) and offered at recognised universities across Kenya. Students benefit from industry attachments, fieldwork and practical training that complement classroom learning and enhance employability upon graduation.

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, Part-time
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 35 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

6 subjects

Mass Communication
Media Writing
Journalism
Video Production
Media Law
Digital Media

Modules

12 in the programme

Introduction to Mass Communication
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Introduction to Mass Communication: Communication theories, media history, mass media effects and media literacy. Develops practical skills for academic and professional contexts.
News Writing & Reporting
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
News Writing & Reporting: News values, interviewing, news writing, AP style and journalistic ethics. Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Media Law & Ethics
Year 1Semester 22 creditsCore
Defamation, privacy, copyright, media regulation and journalistic codes of ethics.
Radio & TV Production
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Studio operations, audio/video recording, editing, scriptwriting and production management.
Digital Journalism & Social Media
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Online news, content management, social media journalism, SEO and digital storytelling.
Photography & Photojournalism
Year 2Semester 12 creditsCore
Photography & Photojournalism: Camera operation, composition, lighting, photo editing and visual storytelling. Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Public Relations Principles
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
PR theory, media relations, crisis communication, reputation management and PR campaigns.
Video Editing & Post-Production
Year 2Semester 23 creditsElective
Video Editing & Post-Production: Premiere Pro/DaVinci Resolve, editing techniques, colour grading, sound design. Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Media Attachment / Internship
Year 3Semester 16 creditsCore
Media Attachment / Internship: Supervised placement at a media house, PR agency or production company. Provides hands-on industry experience, mentorship, and professional skills development.
Documentary & Feature Production
Year 3Semester 23 creditsElective
Documentary & Feature Production: Long-form storytelling, documentary research, filming and narrative structure. Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Final Year Media Project
Year 4Semester 18 creditsCore
Capstone media production: concept, pre-production, production, post and screening.
Media Management & Entrepreneurship
Year 4Semester 22 creditsCore
Media business models, content monetisation, audience analytics and media startup management.

Specialisations

Journalism & Broadcasting
News writing, reporting, radio/TV production and digital journalism. Students learn to research, write and produce content for multiple media platforms.
Public Relations & Corporate Communication
Media relations, crisis communication, brand management and corporate messaging. Students learn to manage organisational reputation and stakeholder engagement.
Film & Video Production
Directing, cinematography, editing, sound design and production management. Students learn to create professional video content for film, TV and digital platforms.
Digital Media & Content Creation
Social media strategy, content marketing, podcasting and digital storytelling. Students learn to create engaging content and build online audiences.
Advertising & Media Planning
Campaign strategy, media buying, creative direction and consumer psychology. Students learn to plan and execute effective advertising across channels.

A day as a student

A typical day blends lectures, practicals and group work, with attachment/internship in the field.

The trade offs

In its favour

Transferable skills across sectors.
Diverse career paths.

Against it

Competitive entry-level market.
Some paths need further specialisation.

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

Public204k to 204k

204k at Kenyatta 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 Comm & Media Studies 204K/yr (joweri/eafinder). UoN & private fees unverified.

HELB loans, county scholarships and university bursaries available.

Funding options

HELB Loan
Government Bursary
CDF Scholarship
Self-sponsored

Scholarships

5 recorded

Media Council of Kenya Training Bursary
PartialKsh 150,000Kenyan
Kenyan; Media/journalism student; Academic merit; MCK-accredited institution
Google News Initiative Journalism Scholarship
PartialKsh 300,000
African; Journalism/digital media student; Academic merit
Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students admitted to recognised universities demonstrating financial need
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKenyan
Residents of respective counties pursuing undergraduate studies
Nation Media Group Journalism Graduate Trainee Programme
ScholarshipKenyan
Recent journalism, media and communication graduates with strong digital skills

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+
Alternative entry: Diploma progression or bridging.

How you are assessed

4 components

Practical Production
Practical30% of the mark
Practical Production for this programme.
Project/Portfolio
Project25% of the mark
Project/Portfolio for this programme.
Continuous Assessment
Cat15% of the mark
Continuous Assessment for this programme.
End-of-Semester Exam
Exam30% of the mark
End-of-Semester Exam for this programme.

Accreditation

Accredited by CUE and relevant professional bodies.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education
NationalRequired
Accredits university-level programmes.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Business/Financial Journalist
High demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 350,000
Graduates can work as business/financial journalist in Kenya's media & communication sector.
Audio Engineer
Medium demandKsh 42,000 to Ksh 150,000
Graduates can work as audio engineer in Kenya's media & communication sector.
Broadcast Journalist
Medium demandKsh 42,000 to Ksh 150,000
Graduates can work as broadcast journalist in Kenya's media & communication sector.
Cinematographer
Medium demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 280,000
Graduates can work as cinematographer in Kenya's media & communication sector.
Communications Officer
Medium demandKsh 54,000 to Ksh 250,000
Graduates can work as communications officer in Kenya's media & communication sector.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates find opportunities across media & communication in Kenya's public, private and entrepreneurship sectors.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Adobe Premiere Pro
CreativePrimary
Canva
DesignPrimary
ChatGPT / Claude
Ai
Google Analytics
Analytics
Hootsuite
Analytics
WordPress
Code

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

This course has limited career prospects.
Graduates find opportunities across the public service, private industry, entrepreneurship, and further academic study.
The course is too theoretical with no practical value.
Programmes incorporate practical training, internships, and industry attachment to ensure graduates are job-ready.
You must have a related background to enrol.
Most programmes accept students from diverse academic backgrounds, with bridging support where needed.
Graduates of this course earn very little.
Earnings grow steadily with experience, specialisation, and professional certification.