Diploma in Event Management
The Diploma in Event Management is a programme that equips students with knowledge and practical skills in event planning, event design, venue management, budgeting, logistics, marketing and guest experience management. Offered at The East African University, the programme prepares students for careers in the events, hospitality and entertainment industry.
The short answer
- What it costs
- Up to Ksh 70,150 a year at a public institution, Ksh 140,300 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 2 years, full-time, blended learning, with 3 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 4 institutions.The detail
The programme
What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.
Overview
The curriculum covers event planning and design, event logistics and operations, budgeting and financial management for events, marketing and branding for events, guest experience and service management, event protocol and safety management, business communication, human resource management for events, legal aspects and ethics in hospitality, technology and innovation in events, entrepreneurship, research methods and industrial attachment. Students develop both planning and practical event execution skills.
Kenya's events industry has grown significantly, with increasing demand for professional event managers for conferences, weddings, corporate events, festivals, exhibitions and fundraisers. The programme responds to the need for trained professionals who can plan, coordinate and execute events to international standards.
The programme is delivered through lectures, workshops, practical event projects, industry placements, case studies, field visits and industrial attachment. Students gain hands-on experience in event planning, coordination and execution through practical projects and attachment at event management companies, hotels or conference venues.
Graduates pursue careers as event managers, event coordinators, wedding planners, conference coordinators, exhibition organisers and venue managers in event management companies, hotels, conference centres, corporate organisations and NGOs. They can also progress to a Bachelor degree in Hospitality or Events Management.
Prospective students should have an interest in events, hospitality and entertainment, with strong organisational and interpersonal skills. The programme is suitable for students seeking careers in the events and hospitality industry.
What you study
8 subjects- Event Planning, Design and Logistics
- Budgeting and Financial Management for Events
- Marketing, Branding and Guest Experience
- Event Protocol, Safety and Risk Management
- Business Communication and Human Resource Management
- Legal Aspects and Ethics in Hospitality
- Technology and Innovation in Events
- Entrepreneurship, Research Methods and Industrial Attachment
Modules
8 in the programmeEvent Planning, Design and Logistics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers event planning principles, event design concepts, event logistics, venue selection, staging, audiovisual requirements and event timelines.
Budgeting and Financial Management for Events
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers event budgeting, cost estimation, financial planning, sponsorship management, revenue generation and financial reporting for events.
Marketing, Branding and Guest Experience
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers event marketing, branding strategies, social media promotion, guest experience design, customer service and attendee engagement.
Event Protocol, Safety and Risk Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers event protocol, safety management, risk assessment, crowd management, emergency planning, first aid and fire safety for events.
Business Communication and Human Resource Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers business communication, professional etiquette, team management, staffing for events, volunteer coordination and leadership in event settings.
Legal Aspects, Ethics and Technology in Events
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers legal aspects of events, contracts, licensing, insurance, ethics in hospitality, event technology, digital tools and innovation in events.
Entrepreneurship and Research Methods
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers entrepreneurship, business planning for event companies, research methods, data collection and event evaluation techniques.
Industrial Attachment and Event Project
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
A three-month industrial attachment at an event management company, hotel or conference venue, plus a capstone event project assessed through planning and execution.
Specialisations
Wedding Planning
Focuses on wedding planning and coordination for careers as wedding planners.
Conference and Exhibition Management
Specialises in MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions) for careers as conference coordinators.
Corporate Events
Focuses on corporate event management for careers in corporate event departments.
Festival and Entertainment Events
Specialises in festivals, concerts and entertainment events for careers in the entertainment industry.
A day as a student
A typical day begins with a morning lecture on event planning or logistics management, followed by a workshop on event design or budgeting. Afternoon sessions may include a practical event project, a marketing exercise, or a guest experience role-play. Students also work on event proposals and prepare for industrial attachment at event companies or hotels.
The trade-offs
| In its favour | Against it |
|---|---|
| Kenya's events industry is growing, with increasing demand for professional event managers for MICE, weddings and corporate events. | The programme is offered at only one university, limiting study location options. |
| The programme offers entrepreneurial opportunities, with graduates able to start their own event management companies. | Event management work often involves irregular hours, weekends and high-pressure deadlines. |
| The programme is affordable at KES 30,000 per semester. | — |
What it costs
Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.
What it costs, and where
Against 91 hospitality & tourism 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
KUC 140,300 total/2yr≈70K/yr, TVET 67,189/yr (victormatara). Private: unverified.
Students can access HELB loans. TEAU may offer sponsorships and scholarships from time to time.
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
10 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
- KCB Foundation Scholarship
Closes 31 March 2027FullKCB Bank
Full tuition + stipend
- 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
- Kenyatta University Scholarship
Before semesterPartialKenyatta University
30 to 50% tuition waiver
- Komaza Scholarship Program
RollingPartialKomaza
KES 50,000 to 150,000 per year
Getting in
The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.
What you need
Certificate in a relevant field from a recognised institution, or equivalent qualification as determined by KNQA.
When it next starts
Taught at 4 institutionsIncluding The East African University, Technical University of Kenya, Kenyatta University.
Including The East African University, Technical University of Kenya, Kenyatta University.
Including The East African University, Technical University of Kenya, Kenyatta University.
How you are assessed
4 componentsContinuous Assessment Tests
Written examination30% of the mark
Mid-semester and end-of-semester written tests covering event planning, logistics, budgeting and marketing.
Practical Event Projects
Practicum40% of the mark
Assessment of practical event planning projects, event proposals and coordination exercises.
Capstone Event Project
Project40% of the mark
A comprehensive event planning and execution project assessed through a proposal, execution and reflective report.
Industrial Attachment Report
Practicum100% of the mark
Assessment of performance during industrial attachment at an event management company, hotel or conference venue.
Accreditation
Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). The programme is offered at The East African University.
Where it leads
The roles it opens, and what you leave with.
Where graduates go
4 rolesEvent Manager
Moderate demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 200,000
Plans, coordinates and executes events including conferences, weddings, corporate events and exhibitions, managing budgets, logistics and teams.
Event Coordinator
Moderate demandKsh 28,000 to Ksh 120,000
Supports event planning and execution, coordinates vendors, manages logistics and ensures smooth event delivery.
Wedding Planner
Moderate demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 180,000
Specialises in planning and coordinating weddings, managing venues, catering, decor, timelines and vendor relationships.
Conference Coordinator
Moderate demandKsh 32,000 to Ksh 140,000
Coordinates conferences and meetings at hotels, conference centres and corporate venues, managing registrations, logistics and attendee experience.
Graduate outcomes
Graduates work as event managers, event coordinators, wedding planners and conference coordinators in event companies, hotels and corporate organisations.
Certifications
Industry links
Common misconceptions
Event management is just about party planning.
Event management covers strategic planning, budgeting, logistics, marketing, risk management, legal compliance and guest experience for conferences, corporate events, exhibitions and festivals.
You don't need qualifications to work in events.
Professional event management requires training in planning, coordination, budgeting, safety and logistics to deliver events to industry standards.
Event management is only for social events.
The events industry includes corporate conferences, exhibitions, trade shows, fundraisers, festivals and government functions, offering diverse career paths.
Event management has no career growth.
Graduates can progress from event coordinator to event manager, senior event manager and eventually start their own event management companies.