Diploma in Ethics and Corruption Studies
The Diploma in Ethics and Corruption Studies is a programme that equips students with knowledge and practical skills in ethics, governance, anti-corruption strategies, integrity management and accountability. Offered at Kaimosi Friends University, the programme prepares students for careers supporting ethical governance and anti-corruption efforts in Kenya's public and private sectors.
The short answer
- What it costs
- Up to Ksh 60,000 a year at a public institution, Ksh 180,000 for the whole course.The detail
- Who can get in
- A KCSE mean grade of C- or above. There is another way in without it.The detail
- How long, and when
- Takes 3 years, full-time, part-time, with 3 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 3 institutions.The detail
- Where it leads
- 8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Adolescent Mentorship Officer, at 14 out of 100.The detail
The programme
What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.
Overview
The curriculum covers introduction to ethics, moral philosophy, corruption studies, governance and public policy, anti-corruption frameworks, integrity and accountability, public service ethics, leadership ethics, corporate governance, research methods, criminal justice, sociology, communication skills and industrial attachment. Students develop both analytical and practical governance skills.
Kenya's governance landscape faces significant corruption challenges, with increasing demand for professionals trained in ethics, integrity and anti-corruption. The programme responds to the need for qualified personnel who can promote ethical conduct, support accountability systems and implement anti-corruption strategies in public institutions, private organisations and civil society.
The programme is delivered through lectures, seminars, case studies, field visits, research projects, group discussions and industrial attachment. Students gain hands-on experience in ethics auditing, integrity assessment and governance support through attachment at government agencies, anti-corruption bodies or corporate governance departments.
Graduates pursue careers as ethics officers, integrity officers, governance assistants, compliance assistants, anti-corruption programme officers and administrative officers in government ministries, county governments, ethics commissions, NGOs and private sector organisations. They can also progress to a Bachelor of Arts in Ethics or related degree programmes.
Prospective students should have an interest in governance, ethics and public service. The programme is suitable for students seeking careers in governance, compliance and anti-corruption work.
What you study
8 subjects- Ethics, Moral Philosophy and Public Service Ethics
- Corruption Studies and Anti-Corruption Frameworks
- Governance, Public Policy and Corporate Governance
- Integrity, Accountability and Leadership Ethics
- Criminal Justice and Sociology
- Research Methods and Communication Skills
- Compliance and Ethics Auditing
- Industrial Attachment and Governance Project
Modules
8 in the programmeIntroduction to Ethics and Moral Philosophy
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers ethical theories, moral philosophy, moral reasoning, professional ethics, public service ethics and ethical decision-making frameworks.
Corruption Studies and Anti-Corruption Frameworks
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers corruption definitions, types of corruption, causes and effects, anti-corruption legislation, international conventions and anti-corruption agencies in Kenya.
Governance and Public Policy
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers governance principles, public policy processes, democratic governance, decentralisation, county governance and public participation.
Criminal Justice and Sociology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers criminal justice systems, corruption as a crime, sociology of deviance, social control and the role of law enforcement in anti-corruption.
Integrity, Accountability and Leadership Ethics
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers integrity systems, accountability mechanisms, leadership ethics, ethical leadership, transparency and whistle-blower protection.
Corporate Governance and Compliance
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers corporate governance principles, board ethics, compliance management, risk management, ethics auditing and corporate social responsibility.
Research Methods and Communication Skills
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers research methods, data collection, report writing, communication skills, advocacy and public education on ethics and corruption.
Industrial Attachment and Governance Project
Year 3Semester 16 creditsCore
A three-month industrial attachment at a government agency, anti-corruption body or corporate governance department, plus a governance research project assessed through a report.
Specialisations
Public Service Ethics
Focuses on ethics in government and public institutions for careers as ethics officers in the public sector.
Anti-Corruption Practice
Specialises in anti-corruption strategies and enforcement for careers in anti-corruption agencies.
Corporate Compliance
Focuses on corporate governance and compliance for careers as compliance assistants in private sector organisations.
Governance and Policy
Specialises in governance and public policy for careers as governance assistants in county governments and NGOs.
A day as a student
A typical day begins with a morning lecture on moral philosophy or corruption studies, followed by a seminar on governance frameworks. Afternoon sessions may include a case study on anti-corruption strategies, a group discussion on ethics auditing, or a research methods workshop. Students also work on governance projects and prepare for industrial attachment.
The trade-offs
| In its favour | Against it |
|---|---|
| The programme addresses Kenya's critical governance and anti-corruption challenges, making it socially relevant. | The programme is offered at only one university, limiting study location options. |
| Graduates can progress to a Bachelor of Arts in Ethics or related degree programmes. | Job opportunities specifically titled 'ethics officer' are limited, with many roles combined with compliance or governance functions. |
| The programme is affordable at KES 25,000 per semester. | — |
What it costs
Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.
What it costs, and where
Against 241 social sciences coursesAnnual 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
MMUST 60,000/yr (mmust.ac.ke). Private: unverified.
Students can access HELB loans and government scholarships under Kenya's new funding model.
Funding options
HELB Loan
Scholarships
1 recordedHELB Loan
LoanKsh 40,000Kenyan
Kenyan students enrolled in accredited programmes at recognised institutions
Scholarships you could apply for
6 usable where it is taught- Equity Group Foundation Wings to Fly
Closes 28 February 2027FullEquity Bank
Full secondary + university
- Aga Khan Foundation Scholarship
Closes 31 March 2027FullAga Khan Foundation
Full university study
- Family Bank Foundation Education Support
Closes 30 June 2027PartialFamily Bank
KES 80,000 per year
- HELB Undergraduate Scholarship
Closes 31 July 2027PartialHigher Education Loans Board
KES 40,000 to 60,000 per year
- County Government Scholarships
Varies by countyPartialCounty Governments
KES 50,000 to 200,000 per year
- Moringa School Craftbyte Scholarship
QuarterlyFullMoringa School
Full software development course
Getting in
The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.
What you need
KCE Division II, KACE with at least 1 principal pass, or certificate in a relevant area from a recognised institution.
When it next starts
Taught at 3 institutionsIncluding Kaimosi Friends University, Kisii University, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology.
Including Kaimosi Friends University, Kisii University, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology.
Including Kaimosi Friends University, Kisii University, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology.
How you are assessed
4 componentsContinuous Assessment Tests
Written examination30% of the mark
Mid-semester and end-of-semester written tests covering ethics, corruption studies and governance.
Coursework Assignments
Assignment30% of the mark
Assessment of essays, case studies, presentations and group projects on ethics and governance topics.
Governance Research Project
Project40% of the mark
A research project on an ethics, governance or corruption topic, assessed through a written report and oral presentation.
Industrial Attachment Report
Practicum100% of the mark
Assessment of performance during industrial attachment at a government agency, anti-corruption body or governance department.
Accreditation
Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). The programme is offered at Kaimosi Friends University.
Where it leads
The roles it opens, and what you leave with.
Where graduates go
4 rolesEthics Officer
Low demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 140,000
Promotes ethical conduct in organisations, develops ethics policies, conducts ethics training and supports integrity systems.
Integrity Officer
Low demandKsh 28,000 to Ksh 130,000
Supports integrity programmes in public institutions, monitors compliance with ethics regulations and assists with anti-corruption initiatives.
Governance Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 27,000 to Ksh 120,000
Supports governance programmes in county governments and NGOs, assists with policy implementation and accountability monitoring.
Compliance Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 25,000 to Ksh 110,000
Assists with compliance monitoring in organisations, supports regulatory adherence and helps maintain ethics and integrity standards.
Graduate outcomes
Graduates work as ethics officers, integrity officers and governance assistants in government ministries, county governments and anti-corruption agencies.
Where these fields lead
8 careers- Adolescent Mentorship OfficerSocial Sciences14Low exposure
- Correctional CounselorSocial Sciences15Low exposure
- Child Protection OfficerSocial Sciences16Low exposure
- CriminologistSocial Sciences16Low exposure
- Human Rights InvestigatorSocial Sciences16Low exposure
- Social GerontologistSocial Sciences16Low exposure
- Community Resilience SpecialistSocial Sciences17Low exposure
- Gender Integration SpecialistSocial Sciences17Low exposure
Certifications
Industry links
Common misconceptions
Ethics and corruption studies is just about morality.
The programme covers governance, law, anti-corruption frameworks, compliance, accountability systems and practical integrity management in organisations.
There are no jobs in ethics and corruption studies.
Government agencies, county governments, NGOs and private companies increasingly require ethics and compliance officers, with the EACC and other bodies actively recruiting.
This programme is only for law students.
The programme is open to any student with KCSE C- and covers interdisciplinary topics from philosophy to public policy.
Ethics cannot be taught.
While personal values develop over time, the programme teaches frameworks, regulations, compliance systems and practical tools for promoting ethical conduct in organisations.