Skip to content
Pathrel
Start free
All courses
Technology

Diploma in Information Management

The Diploma in Information Management is a TVET Level 6 programme that equips trainees with skills in information science, records management, and ICT for information systems. The curriculum covers collection development, records management, ICT theory and practicals, communication skills, preservation and conservation of information, and professional ethics.

Duration
3 years
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 100,330
Ksh 300,990 total
Private tuition
Ksh 103,650
Ksh 310,950 total
Job market
Moderate
Market demand for graduates

The short answer

What it costs
Up to Ksh 100,330 a year at a public institution, Ksh 300,990 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 103,650 a year at a private one.The detail
Who can get in
A KCSE mean grade of C- or above, plus 2 subject grades. There is another way in without it.The detail
How long, and when
Takes 3 years, full-time, with 3 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 113 institutions.The detail
Where it leads
8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Dental Ceramist, at 3 out of 100.The detail

The programme

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

Overview

Trainees develop competencies in archives management, library management, system analysis and design, quantitative techniques, publishing and book trade, and information retrieval and dissemination. The programme aligns with Kenya's growing demand for information professionals in both public and private sectors.

Kenya's expanding digital infrastructure and the push for e-government services create opportunities for information management professionals. Graduates find employment in libraries, archives, records centres, registries, and information centres across government ministries, universities, and corporate organisations.

Training combines classroom instruction with computer lab sessions, practical attachments in libraries and archives, and research projects. The programme is examined by KNEC and accredited by TVETA.

Graduates work as records management officers, library assistants, archives technicians, information officers, and registry officers. Many progress to degree programmes in Library and Information Science or Archives and Records Management.

The programme suits KCSE graduates with a mean grade of C- who have an interest in organising, managing, and disseminating information in institutional settings.

What you study

6 subjects
  • Research Methods
  • Communication Skills
  • Information Technology
  • Project Management
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Statistics

Modules

10 in the programme

  • Collection Development

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Developing and managing library collections, selection tools for professional practice and competency development in the field.

  • Record Management

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Principles and practices of records management in organisations for professional practice and competency development in the field.

  • ICT Practical

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Hands-on computer applications for information management for professional practice and competency development in the field.

  • Communication Skills

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Effective communication in professional information environments for professional practice and competency development in the field.

  • ICT Theory

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Theoretical foundations of information communication technology for professional practice and competency development in the field.

  • Preservation and Conservation of Information

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Techniques for preserving and conserving information materials for professional practice and competency development in the field.

  • Archives Management

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Management of archival collections and institutional records for professional practice and competency development in the field.

  • Library Management

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Principles and practice of library and information centre management for professional practice and competency development in the field.

  • Information Retrieval and Dissemination

    Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore

    Techniques for retrieving and disseminating information to users for professional practice and competency development in the field.

  • Digital Library

    Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore

    Digital library systems, technologies, and management practices for professional practice and competency development in the field.

Specialisations

  • Records Management

    Focuses on organisational records, registries, and document lifecycle management, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.

  • Library and Information Services

    Focuses on library operations, cataloguing, and user services, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.

  • Archives Management

    Focuses on archival collections, preservation, and institutional records, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.

  • Digital Archives

    Focus on digital preservation, electronic records management, digitisation projects, and digital archive systems within Kenyan information management frameworks.

A day as a student

Students attend morning theory classes and spend afternoons in practical sessions, workshops, or laboratory work applying concepts learned in class.

The trade-offs

In its favourAgainst it
Growing demand for digital information management skills as organisations digitise records.Limited career advancement without further degree-level qualifications.
Versatile qualification applicable across government, education, and corporate sectors.Salaries at entry level are modest compared to IT or engineering fields.

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 191 technology courses
Public67k to 100k
67k at Public TVET colleges (standardised)100k at Kenyatta University
Private104k to 104k
104k at Mount Kenya University104k at Mount Kenya 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

KU Info Science 100K/yr (webhostingvoice.com); MKU Info Systems 104K/yr (mku.ac.ke)

Students can access HELB TVET loans, county government bursaries, and NG-CDF bursaries to support their studies.

Funding options

  • HELB loan

Scholarships

4 recorded

  • HELB TVET/Diploma Loan

    LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan

    Needy Kenyan students in TVET institutions.

  • Government TVET Capitation

    GrantKsh 30,000Kenyan

    All KUCCPS-placed students in public TVET institutions receive government capitation.

  • NG-CDF Bursary

    BursaryKsh 15,000Kenyan

    Constituency-based bursary for needy students in respective constituencies.

  • County Government Bursaries

    BursaryKsh 20,000Kenyan

    Bursaries for needy students from their respective counties.

Scholarships you could apply for

9 usable where it is taught
Save one and be reminded before it closes

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade
C-minimum entry
Alternative entry

Relevant certificate or artisan upgrade in information studies.

Subject requirements
English or Kiswahili
Mathematics

When it next starts

Taught at 113 institutions
January 2027113 institutions

Including Kenya Highlands Evangelical University, Riara University, Maasai Mara University.

May 2027112 institutions

Including Kenya Highlands Evangelical University, Riara University, Maasai Mara University.

September 2027113 institutions

Including Kenya Highlands Evangelical University, Riara University, Maasai Mara University.

How you are assessed

3 components

  • Continuous Assessment Tests

    Coursework30% of the mark

    Mid-semester and end-of-semester CATs.

  • Practical Examinations

    Practical30% of the mark

    ICT practical and records management practical exams.

  • KNEC Final Examination

    Exam40% of the mark

    End-of-module written examination administered by KNEC.

Accreditation

  • Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority

    Academic accreditationRequired

    Statutory accreditation for TVET institutions in Kenya.

Programmes accredited by TVETA and examined by KNEC, NITA, or CDACC in Kenya.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

  • Records Management Officer

    Moderate demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 55,000

    Entry-level role managing organisational records and registries.

  • Library Assistant

    Moderate demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 50,000

    Assisting with library operations, cataloguing, and user services.

  • Archives Technician

    Low demandKsh 32,000 to Ksh 52,000

    Managing archival collections and document preservation.

  • Information Officer

    Moderate demandKsh 38,000 to Ksh 65,000

    Managing information flow and dissemination in organisations.

  • Digital Archivist

    Moderate demandKsh 38,000 to Ksh 70,000

    Manages digital archives, implements digitisation projects, and maintains electronic records systems for government departments and organisations in Kenya.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates of the Information Management programme work in relevant industries across Kenya, with opportunities in both public and private sectors.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

  • Microsoft SharePoint

    Document managementPrimary

    Document management and collaboration platform

  • Microsoft Excel

    Data analysisPrimary

    Spreadsheet for data analysis and information management

  • SQL Server

    Database software

    Database management system for information storage and retrieval

  • Microsoft Access

    Database software

    Desktop database for information management applications

Certifications

Common misconceptions

  • The Information Management diploma is just theory with no practical value.

    The programme emphasises hands-on practical training in workshops, laboratories, and industrial attachment, ensuring graduates are job-ready.

  • Graduates of this programme end up unemployed in Kenya.

    Kenya's expanding sectors create steady demand for diploma holders, with opportunities in county governments, private companies, and self-employment.

Further reading

Read next