Media & Communication

Diploma in Public Relations and Creative Advertising

The Diploma in Public Relations and Creative Advertising is a KUCCPS-listed programme (no special subject-cluster requirements beyond C plain) that trains graduates to manage organisational reputation and design persuasive advertising campaigns.

Students study public relations principles, media relations, creative advertising design, campaign planning, and corporate communication, blending strategic communication with creative execution.

Kenya's growing corporate, NGO, and political communications sectors create steady demand for PR and advertising professionals who can manage brand image and design effective campaigns.

Training combines classroom PR and advertising theory with practical campaign design projects and media relations simulations.

Graduates work as PR officers, advertising creatives, and corporate communications assistants for companies, agencies, and NGOs, with progression into a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations or Communication. The programme suits creative, communication-oriented students who want a career blending strategic messaging with creative campaign design.

Skills RequiredPublic Relations PrinciplesMedia RelationsCreative Advertising DesignCampaign PlanningCorporate CommunicationKey SubjectsPrinciples of Public RelationsMedia RelationsCreative Advertising DesignCampaign Planning and ManagementCorporate CommunicationCertificationsPublic Relations Society of Kenya (PRSK) MembershipSpecializationsPublic RelationsFocus on reputation management, media relations, and stakeholder communication. Creative AdvertisingFocus on designing persuasive advertising campaigns and creative content. The programme also emphasises digital PR strategies, social media management, and content creation, reflecting the evolving media landscape in Kenya and beyond. The programme also emphasises digital PR strategies, social media management, and content creation, reflecting the evolving media landscape in Kenya and beyond.

Duration: 2-3 years
Public, up to: Ksh 78,100
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: 30 students
Award: Diploma

What you study

6 subjects

Principles of Public Relations
Media Relations
Creative Advertising Design
Campaign Planning and Management
Corporate Communication
Research Methods

Modules

10 in the programme

Media Relations
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Building and managing relationships with media outlets for professional practice and competency development in the field.
PR Strategy and Planning
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Public relations strategy development as applied to public relations and creative advertising principles, practices, and professional competency requirements.
Entrepreneurship Education
Year 1Semester 12 creditsCore
Business planning and enterprise skills for enterprise development, business planning, and venture creation skills.
Information Communication Technology
Year 1Semester 12 creditsCore
Computer applications and digital literacy for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Principles of Public Relations
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Foundational theories and practice of public relations for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Creative Advertising
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Advertising copy and creative design as applied to public relations and creative advertising principles, practices, and professional competency requirements.
Creative Advertising Design
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Designing persuasive and creative advertising content for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Campaign Planning and Management
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Planning and executing integrated PR and advertising campaigns for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Corporate Communication
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Managing internal and external organisational communication for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Industrial Attachment / Project
Year 3Semester 26 creditsCore
Supervised placement with a PR or advertising agency, or a corporate for professional practice and competency development in the field.

Specialisations

Public Relations
Focus on reputation management, media relations, and stakeholder communication, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Creative Advertising
Focus on designing persuasive advertising campaigns and creative content, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Digital Marketing and Social Media
Focus on digital marketing strategies, social media management, online brand building, and digital advertising within Kenyan digital marketing and PR industry.
Corporate Communication
Focus on corporate communication strategy, media relations, crisis communication, and stakeholder engagement within Kenyan corporate and institutional environments.

A day as a student

Days combine PR and advertising theory with practical campaign design projects, media relations role-play, and group work on creative briefs.

The trade offs

In its favour

Combines creative and strategic communication skills valued across corporate, NGO, and agency sectors.
Accessible entry requirement (C plain, no special cluster subjects) widens eligibility.

Against it

The communications job market is competitive and often values a portfolio of work alongside the qualification.
Agency-side work can involve tight deadlines and unpredictable hours around campaigns and events.

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 106 media & communication courses

Public78k to 78k

78k at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology78k at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology

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

MMUST 78K/yr (mmust.ac.ke). Private: unverified.

Students can access HELB loans and county bursaries; PR and advertising agencies occasionally sponsor students for guaranteed employment.

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 recorded

HELB 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: A relevant certificate in communications or a related field from a recognised institution.

How you are assessed

3 components

Continuous Assessment Tests
Coursework25% of the mark
Tests across PR and advertising theory units.
Campaign Design Projects
Coursework35% of the mark
Assessed creative campaign design and media relations exercises.
Final Examinations
Examination40% of the mark
End-of-semester written examinations.

Accreditation

KUCCPS-listed diploma; KCSE mean grade C plain with no special subject-cluster requirements.

Accredited by

Kenya National Qualifications Authority
Qualification recognitionRequired
Recognised under Kenya's diploma qualifications framework.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

PR Officer (Junior)
Moderate demandKsh 28,000 to Ksh 45,000
Supports media relations and reputation management for an organisation.
Advertising Creative (Junior)
Moderate demandKsh 26,000 to Ksh 42,000
Supports campaign concept and creative content development at an agency.
Corporate Communications Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 28,000 to Ksh 44,000
Supports internal and external communications for a company.
Digital Marketing Specialist
High demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 85,000
Develops digital marketing campaigns, manages social media presence, and creates online advertising content for brands and organisations in Kenya.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as PR officers, advertising creatives, and corporate communications assistants.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Adobe Premiere Pro
Video editingPrimary
Video editing software for film and media production.
Adobe Photoshop
Design software
Image editing and graphic design for media content.
Audacity
Audio editing
Audio recording and editing for radio and podcast production.

Certifications

Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) Certification

Industry links

Common misconceptions

PR is just about writing press releases.
It includes reputation management, crisis communication, event management, and stakeholder relations, a much broader function.
Creative advertising doesn't require formal training.
Effective campaign design requires structured knowledge of consumer psychology, messaging strategy, and creative execution taught in this diploma.