Diploma in Mortuary Science
The Diploma in Mortuary Science is a KMTC diploma, introduced to provide Kenya with professionally trained morticians, addressing a longstanding gap in formal training for mortuary and forensic support services.
Students study human anatomy, mortuary practice and body preservation, forensic pathology support, embalming techniques, and mortuary management, building specialised competence in a field previously learned mostly informally. Skills RequiredMortuary PracticeBody Preservation and EmbalmingForensic Pathology SupportHuman AnatomyMortuary ManagementKey SubjectsHuman AnatomyMortuary PracticeEmbalming TechniquesForensic Pathology SupportMortuary ManagementCertificationsKenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council recognition pathwaysSpecializationsEmbalming and Body PreservationFocus on techniques for preserving and preparing bodies. Forensic Mortuary SupportFocus on supporting forensic pathology and post-mortem examination processes.
Kenya's hospitals, forensic services, and funeral homes have historically relied on informally trained mortuary attendants, and this diploma responds to demand for standardised, professional training in the field.
Training combines classroom anatomy and forensic theory with hands-on mortuary practicals, plus a supervised attachment at a hospital mortuary or forensic facility.
Graduates work as mortuary technicians/morticians in hospital mortuaries, forensic pathology departments, and funeral homes, with the credential formalising a field that previously offered few structured career pathways.
The programme suits students who are comfortable working with the deceased and interested in a specialised, essential healthcare-adjacent service role.
- Duration
- 3 years
- Public, up to
- Ksh 122,200
- Private, up to
- Ksh 102,000
- Job market
- Moderate
The programme
What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.
Practicalities
- Study mode
- Full-time
- Attachment
- 3 months
- Average class
- 20 students
- Award
- Diploma
What you study
6 subjects- Human Anatomy
- Mortuary Practice
- Embalming Techniques
- Forensic Pathology Support
- Mortuary Management
- Research Methods
Modules
10 in the programmeHuman Anatomy
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Structure of the human body relevant to mortuary practice for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Human Anatomy
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Human body structure covering body systems, organs, and tissues relevant to clinical and health science practice.
Embalming Techniques
Year 1Semester 14 creditsCore
Embalming and body preservation as applied to mortuary science principles, practices, and professional competency requirements.
Mortuary Practice
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Standard procedures for mortuary operations and body handling for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Embalming Techniques
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Methods for preserving and preparing bodies, including arterial and cavity for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Restorative Art
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Restorative and cosmetic techniques as applied to mortuary science principles, practices, and professional competency requirements.
Forensic Pathology Support
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Supporting post-mortem examination and forensic processes for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Mortuary Management
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Administrative and operational management of mortuary facilities for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Mortuary Management
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Mortuary operations management including planning, organising, staffing, and controlling operational activities and resources.
Attachment
Year 3Semester 26 creditsCore
Supervised placement at a hospital mortuary or forensic facility for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Specialisations
Embalming and Body Preservation
Focus on techniques for preserving and preparing bodies, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Forensic Mortuary Support
Focus on supporting forensic pathology and post-mortem examination processes, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Funeral Service Management
Focus on funeral service operations, bereavement support, funeral directing, and mortuary facility management within Kenyan funeral service industry.
Anatomical Pathology Support
Focus on autopsy assistance, tissue specimen handling, anatomical specimen preparation, and pathology laboratory support within Kenyan hospital mortuary departments.
A day as a student
Days combine anatomy and forensic theory with hands-on mortuary practicals covering body preservation, embalming, and preparation procedures, under close professional supervision.
The trade offs
In its favour
- Addresses a genuine national gap in formal mortuary training, offering a clearer career structure than informal routes.
- Steady, essential-service demand from hospitals and funeral homes.
Against it
- Emotionally demanding work requiring strong personal composure and resilience.
- As a newer diploma, public awareness and institutional offerings are still limited compared with established KMTC programmes.
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 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
KMTC self-spons 122.2K Y1/118K Y2+ (tvet.co.ke). Imperial 102K/yr (victormatara)
Students can access HELB loans and county bursaries; some county hospitals sponsor students given local mortuary staffing shortages.
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 recordedHELB TVET/Diploma Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Needy Kenyan students enrolled in accredited diploma programmes.
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKsh 20,000Kenyan
Bursaries for needy students from their respective counties.
Getting in
The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.
What you need
- KCSE mean grade
- C plain
- Alternative entry
- Equivalent qualifications recognised by KMTC.
How you are assessed
3 componentsContinuous Assessment Tests
Coursework30% of the mark
Tests across anatomy and mortuary science theory units.
Practical Mortuary Assessments
Coursework30% of the mark
Supervised hands-on mortuary practice assessments.
Final Examinations
Examination40% of the mark
End-of-semester written examinations.
Accreditation
Offered at KMTC; a relatively new diploma introduced to professionalise mortuary services in Kenya.
Accredited by
Kenya National Qualifications Authority
Qualification recognitionRequired
Offered at KMTC under Kenya's health training framework.
Where it leads
The roles it opens, and what you leave with.
Where graduates go
4 rolesMortuary Technician (Public Hospital)
Moderate demandKsh 28,000 to Ksh 45,000
Manages body preservation and preparation at a public hospital mortuary.
Mortician (Funeral Home)
Moderate demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 50,000
Provides embalming and body preparation services for a funeral home.
Forensic Mortuary Assistant
Low demandKsh 28,000 to Ksh 42,000
Supports forensic pathology and post-mortem examination processes.
Funeral Service Director
Low demandKsh 38,000 to Ksh 70,000
Manages funeral service operations, coordinates bereavement services, and oversees mortuary facilities for funeral homes and hospitals in Kenya.
Graduate outcomes
Graduates work as mortuary technicians/morticians in hospital mortuaries, forensic pathology departments, and funeral homes.
Where these fields lead
8 careers- Dental CeramistHealth Sciences3Low exposure
- Occupational Therapist Assistant (Junior)Health Sciences3Low exposure
- PsychologyHealth Sciences3Low exposure
- Dental ProsthetistHealth Sciences4Low exposure
- Dental Laboratory TechnicianHealth Sciences5Low exposure
- General DentistHealth Sciences5Low exposure
- Veterinary PathologistHealth Sciences5Low exposure
- Community Health NurseHealth Sciences6Low exposure
Tools you will learn
Microsoft Office
ProductivityPrimary
Documentation, reports, and patient record management.
SPSS
Statistical software
Statistical analysis for health research and data interpretation.
Laboratory Information Management System
Lab software
Sample tracking and laboratory data management.
Certifications
Industry links
Common misconceptions
Mortuary work has always required formal training in Kenya.
This diploma was specifically introduced to professionalise a field that had previously relied largely on informal, on-the-job training.
Morticians only handle body storage.
The role includes embalming, preparation for forensic examination, and family liaison, requiring both technical and interpersonal skill.
Related courses
Further reading
Fees and entry marks for Diploma in Mortuary Science are restated every intake. Save it and the app keeps this version, so you can see what changed when it does.