Diploma in General Linguistics
The Diploma in General Linguistics is a programme that equips students with knowledge and analytical skills in linguistic theory, language structure, phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics and sociolinguistics. Offered at Africa International University, the programme prepares students for professional work in linguistics, translation, language documentation and related fields.
The short answer
- What it costs
- Up to Ksh 93,050 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, e-learning (hybrid), with 0 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 1 institution.The detail
The programme
What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.
Overview
The curriculum covers introduction to linguistics, phonetics and phonology, morphology and syntax, semantics and pragmatics, sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics, historical linguistics, language and culture, discourse analysis, translation studies, African language structures, research methods, communication skills and a research project. Students develop both analytical and practical linguistic skills.
Linguistics plays a critical role in translation, language documentation, education, communication and cross-cultural work, with growing demand for trained linguists in Kenya and across Africa. The programme responds to the need for professionals who can analyse, document and work with African languages, supporting translation, literacy and language development initiatives.
The programme is delivered through lectures, seminars, presentations, tutorials, case studies, e-learning and a research project. Students gain hands-on experience in language analysis, phonetic transcription, discourse analysis and linguistic research through practical exercises and project work.
Graduates pursue careers as linguistic assistants, translation assistants, language researchers, literacy officers, language documentation assistants and communication officers in translation organisations, research institutions, NGOs and educational institutions. They can also progress to a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics or related degree programmes.
Prospective students should have an interest in languages, analytical thinking and cross-cultural communication. The programme is suitable for students seeking careers in linguistics, translation and language-related fields.
What you study
8 subjects- Phonetics, Phonology and Language Structure
- Morphology, Syntax and Semantics
- Sociolinguistics and Psycholinguistics
- Historical Linguistics and Language Change
- Discourse Analysis and Pragmatics
- African Language Structures and Translation Studies
- Language, Culture and Communication
- Research Methods and Linguistic Research Project
Modules
8 in the programmeIntroduction to Linguistics and Phonetics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers linguistic theory, branches of linguistics, phonetic articulation, IPA transcription, speech sounds and phonetic analysis.
Phonology and Morphology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers phonological theory, sound patterns, phonological rules, morphological analysis, word formation, inflection and derivation.
Syntax and Semantics
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers syntactic theory, phrase structure, grammatical relations, semantic theory, meaning, reference, truth conditions and compositional semantics.
Sociolinguistics and Pragmatics
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers language and society, language variation, dialects, registers, language attitudes, pragmatics, speech acts, implicature and discourse.
Historical Linguistics and African Language Structures
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers language change, comparative method, language families, African language typology, Bantu languages, Nilotic languages and language classification.
Psycholinguistics and Discourse Analysis
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers language processing, language acquisition, neurolinguistics, discourse analysis, conversation analysis, text analysis and discourse markers.
Translation Studies and Language Documentation
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers translation theory, translation techniques, language documentation, orthography development, literacy materials and community-based language work.
Research Methods and Linguistic Research Project
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers research methods in linguistics, data collection, language data analysis, field methods and a linguistic research project on a language topic.
Specialisations
Translation Studies
Focuses on translation theory and practice for careers as translation assistants.
Language Documentation
Specialises in documenting and describing undescribed or endangered African languages.
Sociolinguistics
Focuses on language and society, language variation and language planning for research careers.
Phonetics and Phonology
Specialises in speech sounds and sound systems for careers in speech technology and language analysis.
A day as a student
A typical day begins with a morning lecture on phonology or syntax, followed by a seminar on sociolinguistics or discourse analysis. Afternoon sessions may include a phonetic transcription practical, a language analysis exercise, or a group discussion on African language structures. Students also work on linguistic research projects and presentations.
The trade-offs
| In its favour | Against it |
|---|---|
| The programme provides analytical skills applicable to translation, education, communication and language technology. | Job opportunities specifically in linguistics are limited in Kenya, with most roles in translation organisations and research. |
| AIU has strong expertise in African languages and translation studies, providing specialised resources. | The programme is offered at only one university, limiting study location options. |
| Graduates can progress to a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics or related degree programmes. | — |
What it costs
Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.
What it costs, and where
Against 188 arts & humanities 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
AIU 93,050/yr confirmed (businessradar). No public diploma in linguistics found. Public: null.
Students can access HELB loans. AIU may offer internal bursaries. Translation organisations may sponsor students pursuing linguistics for translation work.
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
3 usable where it is taught- 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
KCSE D- with a recognised relevant post-secondary certificate, or KCE/EACE equivalent.
When it next starts
Taught at 1 institutionIncluding Africa International University.
Including Africa International University.
How you are assessed
4 componentsContinuous Assessment Tests
Written examination30% of the mark
Mid-semester and end-of-semester written tests covering phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax and semantics.
Language Analysis Assignments
Assignment40% of the mark
Assessment of phonetic transcriptions, morphological analyses, syntactic trees and discourse analyses.
Linguistic Research Project
Project40% of the mark
A linguistic research project on a language topic, assessed through a written report and oral presentation.
Final Examinations
Written examination60% of the mark
End-of-programme written examinations covering all core linguistic modules.
Accreditation
Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). The programme is offered at Africa International University.
Where it leads
The roles it opens, and what you leave with.
Where graduates go
4 rolesLinguistic Assistant
Low demandKsh 25,000 to Ksh 120,000
Supports linguistic research projects, analyses language data, transcribes recordings and assists with language documentation.
Translation Assistant
Low demandKsh 23,000 to Ksh 110,000
Supports translation projects, assists with draft translations, checks accuracy and works with translation teams on language materials.
Literacy Officer
Low demandKsh 22,000 to Ksh 100,000
Develops literacy materials, promotes reading in local languages and supports community literacy programmes in NGOs and translation organisations.
Language Research Assistant
Low demandKsh 20,000 to Ksh 90,000
Assists with language surveys, collects linguistic data in the field and supports research on African languages at research institutions.
Graduate outcomes
Graduates work as linguistic assistants, translation assistants, language researchers and literacy officers in translation organisations, research institutions and NGOs.
Certifications
Industry links
Common misconceptions
Linguistics is just about learning languages.
Linguistics is the scientific study of language structure, including phonetics, syntax, semantics and sociolinguistics, not simply learning to speak multiple languages.
There are no jobs in linguistics.
Linguistics graduates work in translation, language documentation, literacy programmes, education, communication and technology, with growing demand for African language expertise.
Linguistics is only for those who want to be translators.
Linguistics prepares graduates for diverse fields including research, education, communication, language technology, lexicography and cross-cultural work.
You need to speak many languages to study linguistics.
Linguistics studies how language works as a system, not how many languages you speak. Analytical thinking is more important than multilingualism.