Art and Design

Diploma in Film

The Diploma in Film is a programme that equips students with knowledge and practical skills in film production, cinematography, screenwriting, directing, editing, sound design and film marketing. Offered at KCA University and St Paul's University, the programme prepares students for technical and creative careers in Kenya's growing film and media industry.

The curriculum covers film genres, basic cinematography, acting for film, screenwriting, audio-visual editing, film directing, photography, global media ethics and law, documentary production, production design, sound design, lighting techniques, film marketing and distribution, costume and make-up, graphic design and special effects, animation, film production, entrepreneurship and industrial attachment. Students develop both creative and technical production skills.

Kenya's film industry has grown significantly, with increasing demand for trained film professionals in television, streaming platforms, advertising and independent film production. The programme responds to the need for skilled practitioners who can produce quality film content for local and international audiences.

The programme is delivered through lectures, studio sessions, practical film projects, screenings, workshops, case studies and industrial attachment. Students gain hands-on experience in camera operation, editing, sound recording, lighting and film production through practical projects and attachment at film production companies, television stations or media houses.

Graduates pursue careers as film directors, cinematographers, video editors, screenwriters, documentary producers, film marketers and content creators in film production companies, television stations, advertising agencies and digital media platforms. They can also progress to a Bachelor of Arts in Film or related degree programmes.

Prospective students should have a passion for storytelling, visual creativity and interest in film production. The programme is suitable for students seeking creative and technical careers in the film and media industry.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 101,000
Private, up to: Ksh 200,000
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: 25 students
Award: Diploma

What you study

8 subjects

Cinematography and Camera Operation
Screenwriting and Film Directing
Audio-Visual Editing and Sound Design
Documentary Production and Photography
Film Genres, Lighting and Production Design
Film Marketing, Distribution and Media Ethics
Animation, Graphic Design and Special Effects
Entrepreneurship and Industrial Attachment

Modules

8 in the programme

Film Genres, Screenwriting and Acting
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers film genres, screenwriting fundamentals, story structure, character development, acting for film and communication skills.
Cinematography and Photography
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers basic cinematography, camera operation, framing, composition, photography fundamentals, exposure and visual storytelling.
Editing, Sound and Lighting
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers audio-visual editing, sound design, music in film, lighting techniques, post-production workflows and editing software.
Film Directing and Media Ethics
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers film directing, working with actors, blocking scenes, global media ethics, media law and copyright in film.
Documentary Production and Production Design
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers documentary production, research, interviewing, production design, set design, costume and make-up for film.
Animation, Special Effects and Film Marketing
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers basic animation, graphic design, special effects, film marketing, distribution strategies and digital platforms.
Film Production and Entrepreneurship
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers film production management, budgeting, scheduling, entrepreneurship in the creative industries and project planning.
Film Projects and Industrial Attachment
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Includes a documentary project, a film production project, and a three-month industrial attachment at a film production company, TV station or media house.

Specialisations

Cinematography
Focuses on camera operation and visual composition for careers as cinematographers.
Editing and Post-Production
Specialises in editing, sound design and post-production for careers as video editors.
Screenwriting
Focuses on scriptwriting and story development for careers as screenwriters.
Documentary Production
Specialises in documentary filmmaking for careers as documentary producers.

A day as a student

A typical day begins with a morning lecture on film genres or screenwriting, followed by a studio session on cinematography or editing. Afternoon sessions may include a practical film shoot, a lighting workshop, or a screening and critique session. Students also work on film projects, preparing scripts, storyboards and production plans.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's film and digital media industry is growing, with increasing demand for content on streaming platforms and social media.
The programme provides practical, hands-on training in all aspects of film production.
Graduates can work freelance or start their own production companies.

Against it

The programme is offered at private institutions only, which may be more expensive than public universities.
The film industry can be competitive, with irregular income for freelancers.

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 73 art and design courses

Public67k to 101k

67k at Public TVET colleges101k at Kenya Institute of Mass Communication

Private137k to 200k

137k at KCA University200k at ADMI

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

KIMC 101K, TVET 67,189/yr. KCA ~137K, ADMI 200K/yr (kenyaeducationguide, kcau.ac.ke).

Students can access HELB loans. The Kenya Film Commission may offer initiatives supporting film training.

Funding options

HELB Loan

Scholarships

1 recorded

HELB Loan
LoanKsh 40,000Kenyan
Kenyan students enrolled in accredited programmes at recognised institutions

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C-
Alternative entry: Certificate in a relevant field from a recognised institution, or equivalent qualification.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment Tests
Written examination30% of the mark
Mid-semester and end-of-semester written tests covering film theory, genres, ethics and production concepts.
Practical Film Projects
Practicum40% of the mark
Assessment of practical film exercises including camera work, editing, sound and lighting.
Final Film Project
Project40% of the mark
A complete film production project assessed through a finished film, production documentation and screening.
Industrial Attachment Report
Practicum100% of the mark
Assessment of performance during industrial attachment at a film production company, TV station or media house.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). The programme is offered at KCA University and St Paul's University.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). The programme is offered at KCA University and St Paul's University.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

Cinematographer
Moderate demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 300,000
Operates cameras and manages visual composition for film, television and digital media productions.
Video Editor
Moderate demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 250,000
Edits film and video content, manages post-production workflows and creates final cuts for distribution.
Screenwriter
Low demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 200,000
Writes scripts for films, television shows, web series and other media productions.
Content Creator
High demandKsh 25,000 to Ksh 200,000
Creates video content for digital platforms, social media, corporate clients and streaming services.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as film directors, cinematographers, video editors, screenwriters and content creators in film production companies, TV stations and digital media platforms.

Certifications

Commission for University Education (CUE) Accreditation

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Film is just about making movies.
Film encompasses cinematography, editing, sound design, screenwriting, directing, production design, marketing, distribution and media law, requiring diverse technical and creative skills.
You need expensive equipment to study film.
Universities provide studio equipment, cameras and editing facilities for practical training, and students can start with basic equipment for projects.
There are no jobs in the Kenyan film industry.
Kenya's film industry is growing with opportunities in television, streaming platforms, advertising, corporate videos, documentaries and independent film production.
Film technology is only for directors.
The programme trains professionals for multiple roles including cinematographers, editors, sound designers, screenwriters and production designers.