Health Sciences

Diploma in Health Systems Management

The Diploma in Health Systems Management is a programme that equips students with knowledge and practical skills in healthcare administration, health systems planning, health policy, healthcare finance management and health information systems. Offered at Africa International University, the programme prepares students for administrative and management roles in healthcare organisations.

The curriculum covers healthcare management, health systems and policy, healthcare finance, human resource management in healthcare, health information systems, healthcare quality and safety, health planning and evaluation, healthcare law and ethics, public health, epidemiology, project management, research methods, communication skills and industrial attachment. Students develop both managerial and practical health administration skills.

Kenya's healthcare sector is expanding, with growing demand for trained health systems managers who can support healthcare delivery in hospitals, clinics, county health departments and health NGOs. The programme responds to the need for qualified personnel who can manage health systems resources, support healthcare planning and ensure quality service delivery.

The programme is delivered through lectures, case studies, field visits, research projects, e-learning via Microsoft Teams, group discussions and industrial attachment. Students gain hands-on experience in healthcare administration, health information management and quality assurance through attachment at hospitals, health departments or health NGOs.

Graduates pursue careers as health systems assistants, healthcare administrators, health programme coordinators, health information officers and administrative officers in hospitals, clinics, county health departments, NGOs and international health organisations. They can also progress to a Bachelor of Science in Health Systems Management or related degree programmes.

Prospective students should have an interest in healthcare management, public health and health systems. The programme is suitable for students seeking administrative and management careers in the healthcare sector.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 132,200
Private, up to: Ksh 100,000
Job market: Moderate

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, E-learning
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 25 students
Award: Diploma

What you study

8 subjects

Healthcare Management and Health Systems Policy
Healthcare Finance and Resource Management
Human Resource Management in Healthcare
Health Information Systems and Quality Management
Health Planning, Evaluation and Project Management
Public Health, Epidemiology and Healthcare Law
Healthcare Ethics and Patient Safety
Research Methods, Communication Skills and Industrial Attachment

Modules

8 in the programme

Healthcare Management and Health Systems Policy
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers healthcare management principles, health systems frameworks, health policy, Kenya's health system structure, devolved health governance and healthcare organisations.
Healthcare Finance and Resource Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers healthcare financing, budgeting, financial management in healthcare, health insurance, NHIF, resource allocation and healthcare cost management.
Human Resource Management in Healthcare
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers human resource management principles in healthcare, staffing, performance management, healthcare workforce planning, training and development.
Health Information Systems and Quality Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers health information systems, electronic health records, data management, healthcare quality assurance, patient safety and quality improvement frameworks.
Health Planning, Evaluation and Project Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers health planning, programme evaluation, project management in healthcare, monitoring and evaluation, health surveys and needs assessment.
Public Health, Epidemiology and Healthcare Law
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers public health principles, epidemiology, disease surveillance, healthcare law, medical ethics, patient rights and regulatory frameworks.
Research Methods and Communication Skills
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers research methods, data collection, health research, report writing, communication skills, presentation skills and healthcare documentation.
Industrial Attachment and Health Management Project
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
A three-month industrial attachment at a hospital, county health department or health NGO, plus a health systems management project assessed through a report.

Specialisations

Healthcare Administration
Focuses on healthcare facility management for careers as healthcare administrators.
Health Information Management
Specialises in health information systems and data management for careers as health information officers.
Health Programme Management
Focuses on programme coordination and project management for careers as health programme coordinators.
Healthcare Finance
Specialises in healthcare financing and budget management for careers in healthcare finance roles.

A day as a student

A typical day begins with a morning lecture on healthcare management or health systems policy, followed by a seminar on healthcare finance or quality management. Afternoon sessions may include a case study on health planning, a group discussion on health information systems, or a workshop on healthcare law. Students also work on health management projects and prepare for industrial attachment.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's expanding healthcare sector and devolved health system create demand for trained health administrators.
The programme combines management skills with health-specific knowledge, providing a unique skill set.
Graduates can progress to a Bachelor of Science in Health Systems Management or related degree programmes.

Against it

The programme is offered at only one university, limiting study location options.
Some employers may prefer candidates with clinical health backgrounds for certain health management roles.

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 349 health sciences courses

Public132k to 132k

132k at Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) Higher Diploma132k at Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) Higher Diploma

Private93k to 100k

93k at Africa International University100k at Kabarak University

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

KMTC Higher Dip 132.2K/yr public. AIU 93K, Kabarak 100K/yr private (victormatara, jitimu).

Students can access HELB loans. AIU may offer internal bursaries for deserving students.

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: KCSE D- with a recognised relevant post-secondary certificate, or KCE/EACE equivalent.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment Tests
Written examination30% of the mark
Mid-semester and end-of-semester written tests covering healthcare management, finance, HR and health information systems.
Coursework Assignments
Assignment30% of the mark
Assessment of case studies, essays, presentations and group projects on health systems management topics.
Health Management Research Project
Project40% of the mark
A research project on a health systems management topic, assessed through a written report and oral presentation.
Industrial Attachment Report
Practicum100% of the mark
Assessment of performance during industrial attachment at a hospital, county health department or health NGO.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). The programme is offered at Africa International University.

Accredited by

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 roles

Health Systems Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 150,000
Supports health systems management functions in hospitals and health departments, assisting with planning, coordination and monitoring of health services.
Healthcare Administrator
Moderate demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 200,000
Manages administrative operations in healthcare facilities, including finance, human resources, supplies and patient services coordination.
Health Programme Coordinator
Moderate demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 180,000
Coordinates health programmes in NGOs and international organisations, supporting implementation, monitoring and reporting of health projects.
Health Information Officer
Moderate demandKsh 32,000 to Ksh 160,000
Manages health information systems, maintains health records data, supports data analysis and ensures data quality in healthcare facilities.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as health systems assistants, healthcare administrators and health programme coordinators in hospitals, county health departments and health NGOs.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Commission for University Education (CUE) Accreditation

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Health systems management is the same as nursing or clinical work.
Health systems management focuses on healthcare administration, policy, finance and information systems, not direct patient care.
You need to be a health professional to study health systems management.
The diploma is open to anyone meeting the entry requirements, not just health professionals. It prepares students for administrative roles in healthcare.
There are no jobs in health systems management.
Kenya's expanding healthcare sector and devolved health system have created demand for trained health administrators in hospitals, county health departments and NGOs.
Health systems management is just office administration.
The programme covers health policy, healthcare finance, quality management, health information systems, epidemiology and healthcare law, providing specialised healthcare management skills.