Arts & Humanities

Diploma in Missions

The Diploma in Missions is a programme that equips students with knowledge and practical skills in Christian missions, cross-cultural ministry, evangelism, church planting and missional leadership. Offered at Africa International University and International Leadership University, the programme prepares students for missionary service in missional agencies, churches and gospel outreach contexts.

The curriculum covers biblical foundations of missions, mission history, cross-cultural communication, church planting, evangelism and discipleship, world religions, Islam studies, community development in mission contexts, missional leadership, pastoral care, spiritual formation, research methods and field placement. Students develop both theological knowledge and practical ministry skills.

The Christian church in Africa is experiencing significant growth, with increasing demand for trained missionaries and ministry leaders who can engage in cross-cultural mission work. The programme responds to the need for personnel equipped to participate in God's mission within missional organisations, churches and communities across Africa and beyond.

The programme is delivered through lectures, case studies, field visits to mission organisations, ministry simulations, research projects, group discussions and field placement. Students gain hands-on experience in mission work through supervised field placement in churches, mission agencies or community outreach contexts.

Graduates pursue careers as missionaries, church planters, evangelists, mission coordinators and ministry workers in churches, mission agencies and Christian NGOs. They can also progress to a Bachelor of Theology or related degree programmes.

Prospective students should have a calling to Christian ministry and interest in cross-cultural mission work. The programme is suitable for students seeking to serve in missional organisations, churches or gospel outreach contexts.

Duration: 2 years
Private, up to: Ksh 93,050
Job market: Low

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time, Online
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 20 students
Award: Diploma

What you study

8 subjects

Biblical Foundations of Missions and Mission History
Cross-Cultural Communication and World Religions
Church Planting, Evangelism and Discipleship
Islam Studies and Mission to Muslims
Community Development in Mission Contexts
Missional Leadership and Pastoral Care
Spiritual Formation and Research Methods
Field Placement and Missions Project

Modules

8 in the programme

Biblical Foundations of Missions and Mission History
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers biblical theology of missions, Old and New Testament mission foundations, history of Christian missions, mission movements in Africa and contemporary mission trends.
Cross-Cultural Communication and World Religions
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers cross-cultural communication, cultural anthropology for missions, world religions, African traditional religions, contextualisation and intercultural ministry.
Church Planting, Evangelism and Discipleship
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers church planting principles, evangelism strategies, discipleship methods, small group ministry, church growth and sustainable church development.
Islam Studies and Mission to Muslims
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers Islamic beliefs and practices, Quran and Hadith studies, Christian-Muslim relations, approaches to mission among Muslims and contextualised ministry in Muslim contexts.
Community Development in Mission Contexts
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers holistic mission, community development, poverty alleviation, health ministry, education in mission contexts and social justice in Christian mission.
Missional Leadership and Pastoral Care
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers missional leadership, team building, pastoral care, spiritual formation, personal spiritual disciplines and sustaining long-term ministry.
Spiritual Formation and Research Methods
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers spiritual formation, Christian spirituality, prayer and retreat, research methods for ministry and missional project evaluation.
Field Placement and Missions Project
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
A supervised field placement at a mission agency, church or community outreach context, plus a missions project assessed through a report and presentation.

Specialisations

Cross-Cultural Mission
Focuses on cross-cultural communication and ministry for careers as missionaries in diverse cultural contexts.
Church Planting
Specialises in church planting and development for careers as church planters.
Mission to Muslims
Focuses on Islamic studies and Christian-Muslim relations for mission work in Muslim contexts.
Community Development Mission
Specialises in holistic mission and community development for careers in Christian NGOs.

A day as a student

A typical day begins with a morning lecture on mission history or cross-cultural communication, followed by a case study on church planting or evangelism strategies. Afternoon sessions may include a group discussion on world religions, a workshop on community development in mission contexts, or a field visit to a mission organisation. Students also work on missions projects and prepare for field placement.

The trade offs

In its favour

The programme combines theological foundations with practical ministry skills, preparing students for real-world mission work.
Graduates can progress to a Bachelor of Theology or related degree programmes.
Both universities offer scholarships and bursaries for theology students.

Against it

Mission and ministry careers typically offer modest financial compensation.
Mission work may involve working in challenging or remote environments.

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 courses

Private86k to 93k

86k at International Leadership University93k at Africa International 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

AIU 93,050, ILU 86,100/yr confirmed. No public university offers Diploma in Missions. Public: null.

Both AIU and ILU offer internal scholarships and bursaries for theology students. Students can also access HELB loans. Mission agencies may offer sponsorships for students preparing for mission work.

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 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 mission theology, cross-cultural communication and church planting.
Coursework Assignments
Assignment30% of the mark
Assessment of case studies, ministry reflections, project plans and group presentations on missions topics.
Missions Project
Project40% of the mark
A project on a missions topic, assessed through a written report and oral presentation.
Field Placement Report
Practicum100% of the mark
Assessment of performance during supervised field placement at a mission agency, church or community outreach context.

Accreditation

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

Accredited by

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

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

Missionary
Low demandKsh 25,000 to Ksh 150,000
Serves in cross-cultural mission work, engages in evangelism, discipleship and community development through mission agencies or churches.
Church Planter
Low demandKsh 24,000 to Ksh 140,000
Establishes new churches, leads evangelism and discipleship, develops church leadership and builds faith communities in new areas.
Mission Coordinator
Low demandKsh 28,000 to Ksh 160,000
Coordinates mission programmes, manages mission teams, plans outreach activities and liaises with partner organisations in mission agencies.
Ministry Worker
Moderate demandKsh 23,000 to Ksh 130,000
Supports church ministry, leads small groups, assists with pastoral care and participates in outreach activities in churches and Christian organisations.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as missionaries, church planters, evangelists and mission coordinators in churches, mission agencies and Christian NGOs.

Certifications

Commission for University Education (CUE) Accreditation

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Missions is just about preaching to unbelievers.
Christian missions involves cross-cultural communication, community development, church planting, leadership development and holistic ministry alongside evangelism.
You need to go abroad to be a missionary.
Mission work includes local and cross-cultural ministry within Kenya and Africa, not only overseas assignments.
Missions training is only for pastors.
Missions training equips lay workers, church planters, mission coordinators and Christian NGO workers, not only ordained pastors.
A diploma in missions has no practical value.
The diploma provides foundational mission and ministry skills, with opportunities to progress to a Bachelor of Theology for advanced ministry roles.