Diploma in Secretarial Studies and Office Management
The Diploma in Secretarial Studies and Office Management is a KUCCPS-listed programme (Business & Related cluster) that trains graduates in the administrative and secretarial skills needed to run an efficient office.
Students study shorthand and typewriting/keyboarding, office procedures, business communication, records management, and office computer applications, building a comprehensive administrative skill set.
Every business, government office, and organisation in Kenya needs administrative support staff, making this a consistently applicable business diploma across sectors.
Training combines classroom office procedures theory with practical typing, shorthand, and computer application exercises, plus a supervised industrial attachment.
Graduates work as office administrators, executive secretaries, and personal assistants across companies, government offices, and NGOs, with progression into a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration. The programme suits students who want a broadly applicable, practically focused administrative qualification combining traditional secretarial skills with modern office computing.
Skills RequiredShorthand and KeyboardingOffice ProceduresBusiness CommunicationRecords ManagementOffice Computer ApplicationsKey SubjectsShorthand and TypewritingOffice ProceduresBusiness CommunicationRecords ManagementOffice Computer ApplicationsCertificationsKenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) RecognitionSpecializationsExecutive Secretarial SupportFocus on supporting senior executives with correspondence and scheduling. Office Systems AdministrationFocus on managing office records, procedures, and computer systems. The programme also covers emerging digital office tools, electronic records management, and virtual assistance skills increasingly demanded in modern workplaces. The programme also covers emerging digital office tools, electronic records management, and virtual assistance skills increasingly demanded in modern workplaces.
- Duration
- 2-3 years
- Public, up to
- Ksh 67,189
- Private, up to
- Ksh 43,500
- 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- Shorthand and Typewriting
- Office Procedures
- Business Communication
- Records Management
- Office Computer Applications
- Research Methods
Modules
10 in the programmeOffice Procedures
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Standard procedures for running an efficient office for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Office Administration
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Office management procedures including planning, organising, staffing, and controlling operational activities and resources.
Information Communication Technology
Year 1Semester 12 creditsCore
Computer applications and digital literacy for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Entrepreneurship Education
Year 1Semester 12 creditsCore
Business planning and enterprise skills for enterprise development, business planning, and venture creation skills.
Shorthand and Typewriting
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Foundational shorthand and keyboarding skills for efficient office for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Typing and Keyboarding
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Keyboard skills and document production as applied to secretarial studies and office management principles, practices, and professional competency requirements.
Business Communication
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Written and verbal business communication skills, including correspondence for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Records Management
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Managing physical and digital office records, including filing systems and for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Office Computer Applications
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Using standard office software for administrative tasks for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Industrial Attachment
Year 3Semester 26 creditsCore
Supervised placement in an office administration setting for professional practice and competency development in the field.
Specialisations
Executive Secretarial Support
Focus on supporting senior executives with correspondence and scheduling, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Office Systems Administration
Focus on managing office records, procedures, and computer systems, with emphasis on practical application in Kenyan industry contexts and compliance with relevant national standards and regulatory requirements.
Office Communication
Focus on business correspondence, report writing, meeting documentation, and professional communication within Kenyan office and administrative environments.
Office Technology and Automation
Focus on modern office technology, digital productivity tools, office automation systems, and ICT applications within Kenyan business environments.
A day as a student
Days combine office procedures theory with practical typing, shorthand, and computer application exercises, building toward a supervised office attachment.
The trade offs
In its favour
- Broadly applicable administrative skill set relevant across nearly every sector.
- Wide institutional availability makes it accessible nationwide.
Against it
- Entry-level administrative roles are competitive given the broad applicant pool.
- Career progression to senior office/executive roles typically benefits from further study or experience.
What it costs
Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.
What it costs, and where
Against 331 business 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
TUM 36K, TVET 67K/yr pub. AITEC 24K, Vitech 43.5K/yr priv (institution websites).
Students can access HELB loans and county bursaries.
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 recordedCounty Government Bursaries
BursaryKsh 20,000Kenyan
Bursaries for needy students from their respective counties.
HELB TVET/Diploma Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Needy Kenyan students enrolled in accredited diploma programmes.
Getting in
The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.
What you need
- KCSE mean grade
- C-
- Alternative entry
- A relevant certificate in secretarial studies or business from a recognised institution.
How you are assessed
3 componentsContinuous Assessment Tests
Coursework30% of the mark
Tests across office procedures and communication units.
Typing/Shorthand Practicals
Coursework20% of the mark
Assessed typing speed and shorthand transcription exercises.
Final Examinations
Examination50% of the mark
End-of-semester written examinations.
Accreditation
KUCCPS-listed diploma (Business & Related cluster); examined by KNEC at most public TVET colleges.
Accredited by
Kenya National Qualifications Authority
Qualification recognitionRequired
Recognised under Kenya's TVET qualifications framework.
Where it leads
The roles it opens, and what you leave with.
Where graduates go
4 rolesOffice Administrator
Moderate demandKsh 25,000 to Ksh 40,000
Manages day-to-day office operations and correspondence.
Executive Secretary
Moderate demandKsh 28,000 to Ksh 45,000
Supports a senior executive with scheduling and correspondence.
Personal Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 28,000 to Ksh 46,000
Provides direct administrative support to an individual executive or manager.
Office Manager
Moderate demandKsh 38,000 to Ksh 70,000
Manages office operations, supervises administrative staff, and coordinates office systems for organisations and businesses in Kenya.
Graduate outcomes
Graduates work as office administrators, executive secretaries, and personal assistants.
Where these fields lead
8 careers- Career Guidance & Labour Market Information CounselorEducation11Low exposure
- School Guidance CounselorEducation17Low exposure
- Motor Vehicle MechanicEducation21Low exposure
- EntrepreneurBusiness23Low exposure
- School Counsellor / Guidance TeacherEducation23Low exposure
- Reinsurance AnalystBusiness25Low exposure
- Entrepreneur / Startup FounderBusiness27Low exposure
- Entrepreneur in Tech/ScienceBusiness32Low exposure
Tools you will learn
QuickBooks
Accounting softwarePrimary
Accounting and bookkeeping software for business financial management.
Microsoft Excel
ProductivityPrimary
Financial modelling, data analysis, and reporting.
SAP
Erp software
Enterprise resource planning for business operations management.
Certifications
Industry links
Common misconceptions
Shorthand is an outdated, irrelevant skill.
While less central than in past decades, it remains part of the curriculum alongside modern office computing and communication skills.
Secretarial work is limited to typing letters.
The role includes records management, business communication, and increasingly digital office systems administration.
Related courses
Further reading
Fees and entry marks for Diploma in Secretarial Studies and Office Management are restated every intake. Save it and the app keeps this version, so you can see what changed when it does.