Diploma in Freight Management
The Diploma in Freight Management is a KUCCPS-listed programme (Business & Related cluster) that trains graduates in the movement of goods across land, sea, and air, covering documentation, customs, and logistics coordination.
The short answer
- What it costs
- Up to Ksh 101,550 a year at a public institution, Ksh 203,100 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 120,000 a year at a private one.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, with 3 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 7 institutions.The detail
- Where it leads
- 8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Forensic Audit Investigator, at 17 out of 100.The detail
The programme
What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.
Overview
Students study freight documentation, customs procedures, warehousing and distribution, shipping and logistics coordination, and international trade basics, building competence in moving goods efficiently and compliantly. Skills RequiredFreight DocumentationCustoms ProceduresWarehousing and DistributionShipping and Logistics CoordinationInternational Trade BasicsKey SubjectsFreight DocumentationCustoms ProceduresWarehousing and DistributionShipping and LogisticsInternational TradeCertificationsInternational Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) CertificationSpecializationsCustoms DocumentationFocus on customs clearance and compliance documentation. Shipping and Logistics CoordinationFocus on coordinating the physical movement of freight across transport modes. Skills RequiredCustoms ProceduresFreight DocumentationInternational Trade BasicsShipping and Logistics CoordinationWarehousing and DistributionKey SubjectsFreight DocumentationCustoms ProceduresWarehousing and DistributionShipping and LogisticsInternational TradeResearch MethodsCertificationsKenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) CertificationSpecializationsCustoms DocumentationFocus on customs clearance and compliance documentation. Shipping and Logistics CoordinationFocus on coordinating the physical movement of freight across transport modes.
Kenya's position as a regional trade and logistics hub, anchored by the Port of Mombasa and Nairobi's cargo infrastructure, sustains demand for trained freight professionals across importers, exporters, and freight forwarding companies.
Training combines classroom logistics and trade theory with documentation practicals, plus a supervised industrial attachment with a freight forwarder, shipping line, or logistics company.
Graduates work as freight forwarding officers, customs documentation clerks, and logistics coordinators for freight companies, shipping lines, and import/export businesses.
The programme suits students interested in international trade and logistics who want a focused entry point into Kenya's freight and shipping sector.
What you study
6 subjects- Freight Documentation
- Customs Procedures
- Warehousing and Distribution
- Shipping and Logistics
- International Trade
- Research Methods
Modules
10 in the programmeShipping Documentation
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Bill of lading and shipping documents as applied to freight management principles, practices, and professional competency requirements.
Communication Skills
Year 1Semester 12 creditsCore
Written and oral communication skills for professional workplace communication and effective correspondence.
Freight Forwarding
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Freight forwarding operations as applied to freight management principles, practices, and professional competency requirements.
Information Communication Technology
Year 1Semester 12 creditsCore
Computer applications and digital literacy for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Freight Documentation
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Preparing and processing freight and shipping documentation for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Customs Procedures
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Customs clearance processes and compliance requirements for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Warehousing and Distribution
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Warehouse operations, inventory control, and distribution logistics for for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Shipping and Logistics Coordination
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Coordinating multimodal freight transport and logistics for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Industrial Attachment
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Supervised placement with a freight forwarder or logistics company for professional practice and competency development in the field.
International Trade Law
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Legal aspects of international trade including regulatory compliance, legal frameworks, and professional obligations in practice.
Specialisations
Customs Documentation
Focus on customs clearance and compliance documentation, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Shipping and Logistics Coordination
Focus on coordinating the physical movement of freight across transport modes, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Freight Forwarding Operations
Focus on freight forwarding processes, multi-modal transport, carrier coordination, and freight documentation within Kenyan logistics and trade frameworks.
Warehouse and Distribution
Focus on warehouse management, inventory control, distribution planning, and supply chain coordination for freight operations within Kenyan logistics networks.
A day as a student
Classes cover customs regulations, documentation practice, and logistics coordination case studies, often supplemented with site visits to the port, freight forwarders, or inland container depots.
The trade-offs
| In its favour | Against it |
|---|---|
| Positions graduates well within Kenya's role as a key regional trade and logistics hub. | Job opportunities concentrate around Mombasa and Nairobi's freight hubs. |
| Skills are internationally transferable given global freight documentation standards. | The field requires meticulous attention to detail given the compliance stakes of freight documentation errors. |
What it costs
Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.
What it costs, and where
Against 331 business 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
KCNP 67,189/yr, RTI 101,550/yr (krc.co.ke). KCE 54K, kenyaplex 120K/yr.
Students can access HELB loans and county bursaries; freight and logistics companies occasionally sponsor students for guaranteed employment.
Funding options
HELB TVET/Diploma Loan
Loan
Needy Kenyan students enrolled in accredited diploma programmes.
County Government Bursaries
Bursary
Bursaries for needy students from their respective counties.
Scholarships
2 recordedCounty Government Bursaries
BursaryKsh 20,000Kenyan
Bursaries for needy students from their respective counties.
HELB TVET/Diploma Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Needy Kenyan students enrolled in accredited diploma programmes.
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
A relevant certificate in logistics, business, or a related field from a recognised institution.
When it next starts
Taught at 7 institutionsIncluding Makueni University College, Kabete National Polytechnic, Kisii National Polytechnic.
Including Makueni University College, Kabete National Polytechnic, Kisii National Polytechnic.
Including Makueni University College, Kabete National Polytechnic, Kisii National Polytechnic.
How you are assessed
3 componentsContinuous Assessment Tests
Coursework30% of the mark
Tests across freight documentation and logistics units.
Industrial Attachment Report
Coursework20% of the mark
Report on supervised placement with a freight or logistics company.
Final Examinations
Examination50% of the mark
End-of-semester written examinations.
Accreditation
Kenya National Qualifications Authority
Qualification recognitionRequired
Recognised under Kenya's TVET qualifications framework.
KUCCPS-listed diploma (Business & Related cluster); some providers additionally align with FIATA international standards.
Where it leads
The roles it opens, and what you leave with.
Where graduates go
4 rolesFreight Forwarder
Moderate demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 80,000
Coordinates freight movement, manages shipping documentation, and handles customs procedures for importers and exporters in Kenya.
Freight Forwarding Officer
Moderate demandKsh 28,000 to Ksh 45,000
Coordinates freight shipments and documentation for a forwarding company.
Customs Documentation Clerk
Moderate demandKsh 26,000 to Ksh 42,000
Prepares and processes customs clearance documents.
Logistics Coordinator
Moderate demandKsh 28,000 to Ksh 46,000
Coordinates the movement of goods for an importer, exporter, or logistics company.
Graduate outcomes
Graduates work as freight forwarding officers, customs documentation clerks, and logistics coordinators.
Where these fields lead
8 careers- Forensic Audit InvestigatorBusiness17Low exposure
- Franchise Operations ManagerBusiness18Low exposure
- Infrastructure Finance SpecialistBusiness18Low exposure
- Intermodal Reefer TechnicianBusiness18Low exposure
- Climate Risk UnderwriterBusiness19Low exposure
- Coldchain Logistics ManagerBusiness19Low exposure
- Municipal Finance SpecialistBusiness19Low exposure
- Islamic Banking SpecialistBusiness20Low exposure
Tools you will learn
CargoWise
Freight management softwarePrimary
Freight forwarding and logistics management software for shipment tracking, customs documentation, and cargo management.
Microsoft Excel
Data analysisPrimary
Freight cost calculations, shipment scheduling, cargo inventory, and logistics data management.
KenTrade Portal
Customs platform
Kenya TradeNet electronic single window system for customs clearance and import-export documentation.
QuickBooks
Accounting software
Financial management for freight forwarding operations, invoicing, and shipment cost tracking.
Google Maps
Route planning
Route planning and delivery tracking tool for freight movement and logistics coordination.
Industry links
Common misconceptions
Freight management is the same as general logistics or supply chain management.
It has a specific focus on the movement of goods across borders and modes of transport, including customs and shipping documentation, distinct from broader supply chain planning.
Freight jobs are only based at the coast.
Nairobi's inland container depots and cargo hubs also employ significant numbers of freight professionals.