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Master of Science (Records Management and Archives Administration)

<p>The Master of Science in Records Management and Archives Administration is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in records management, archives administration, and information governance. The programme combines records management theory with digital archival practice and information governance application.

Duration
2 years
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 267,000
Ksh 534,000 total
Private tuition
Ksh 191,050
Ksh 382,100 total
Job market
Moderate
Market demand for graduates

The short answer

What it costs
Up to Ksh 267,000 a year at a public institution, Ksh 534,000 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 191,050 a year at a private one.The detail
Who can get in
A KCSE mean grade of N/A (Postgraduate) or above. There is another way in without it.The detail
How long, and when
Takes 2 years, full-time, online, with 0 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 4 institutions.The detail
Where it leads
8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Early Childhood Strategist, at 10 out of 100.The detail

The programme

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

Overview

Core areas include records management, archives administration, digital repositories, metadata standards, information governance, record keeping, project management, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both records management theory and practical archival application through coursework and research.

The programme is offered by Kenyatta University, Moi University, and Technical University of Kenya. All are public universities offering the programme over two academic years through full-time and distance learning modes of study.

Students develop competencies in records management, archives administration, digital repositories, metadata standards, information governance, record keeping, and research methods. The programme includes coursework, practical projects, examinations, and a research thesis.

KU charges KES 267,000/year (East Africans). TUK charges approximately KES 191,650/year (total KES 383,300). Entry requires a Bachelor's degree with Second Class Honours in information sciences, records management, or related fields from a recognised university.

Graduates pursue careers as records managers, archivists, information governance officers, digital preservation specialists, records consultants, and lecturers in records and archives management across government, corporate institutions, archives, and universities.

Skills Required

  • Records Management and Information Governance
  • Archives Administration and Preservation
  • Digital Archival Repositories and Curation
  • Metadata Standards and Taxonomies
  • Record Keeping and Governance Compliance
  • Digital Preservation and Electronic Records
  • Information Policy and Legal Frameworks
  • Project Management for Information Professionals
  • Research Methods in Information Sciences
  • Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

  • Advanced Records and Archives Management
  • Digital Archival Repositories
  • Record Keeping and Governance
  • Record Keeping Metadata, Standards and Taxonomies
  • Information and Communication Theory
  • Managing Human Resource Records
  • Project Management for Information Professionals
  • Research Methods in Information Sciences
  • Web Design and Information Architecture
  • Thesis Research

Certifications

  • KNADS Professional Registration
  • ICA Professional Membership

Specializations

Digital Archives

Focuses on digital archival repositories, covering digital preservation, digital curation, electronic records, and managing digital archives.

Records Management

Examines records management, covering records lifecycle, records systems, records policy, and managing records management programmes.

Information Governance

Covers information governance, covering governance frameworks, compliance, access policies, and managing information governance.

Health Records Management

Focuses on health records management, covering health information systems, patient records, health data governance, and managing health records.

Legal Records Management

Examines legal records management, covering legal records, court records, legal compliance, and managing legal records.

Digital Preservation

Covers digital preservation, covering preservation strategies, digital longevity, format migration, and managing digital preservation.

What you study

10 subjects
  • Advanced Records and Archives Management
  • Digital Archival Repositories
  • Record Keeping and Governance
  • Record Keeping Metadata, Standards and Taxonomies
  • Information and Communication Theory
  • Managing Human Resource Records
  • Project Management for Information Professionals
  • Research Methods in Information Sciences
  • Web Design and Information Architecture
  • Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

  • Advanced Records and Archives Management

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Examines records lifecycle, archival theory, records systems, records policy, classification, and managing records and archives management.

  • Digital Archival Repositories

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Covers digital preservation, digital curation, electronic records, repository systems, and managing digital archives.

  • Research Methods in Information Sciences

    Year 1Semester 14 creditsCore

    Covers research design, data collection, analysis, ethical issues, and conducting information sciences research, preparing students for their thesis.

  • Information and Communication Theory

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Examines information theory, communication models, information transfer, information behaviour, and managing information and communication.

  • Managing Human Resource Records

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Covers HR records, personnel files, HR information systems, privacy, and managing human resource records.

  • Record Keeping and Governance

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Examines record keeping systems, governance frameworks, compliance, accountability, transparency, and managing record keeping and governance.

  • Record Keeping Metadata, Standards and Taxonomies

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Covers metadata schemas, taxonomies, classification systems, interoperability, standards, and managing metadata and taxonomies.

  • Project Management for Information Professionals

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Examines project planning, project implementation, project monitoring, project evaluation, and managing information projects.

  • Web Design and Information Architecture

    Year 2Semester 12 creditsCore

    Covers web design, information architecture, user experience, content management, and managing web-based information systems.

  • Managing Health Records

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Examines health information systems, patient records, health data governance, medical records, and managing health records.

  • Managing Legal Records

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Covers legal records, court records, legal compliance, legal information systems, and managing legal records.

  • Research Thesis

    Year 2Semester 29 creditsCore

    Original research thesis on a records and archives management topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and records management knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

  • Digital Archives

    Focuses on digital archival repositories, covering digital preservation, digital curation, electronic records, and managing digital archives.

  • Records Management

    Examines records management, covering records lifecycle, records systems, records policy, and managing records management programmes.

  • Information Governance

    Covers information governance, covering governance frameworks, compliance, access policies, and managing information governance.

  • Health Records Management

    Focuses on health records management, covering health information systems, patient records, health data governance, and managing health records.

  • Legal Records Management

    Examines legal records management, covering legal records, court records, legal compliance, and managing legal records.

  • Digital Preservation

    Covers digital preservation, covering preservation strategies, digital longevity, format migration, and managing digital preservation.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Records Management and Archives Administration programme combines lectures, practical projects, seminars, and independent study. Sessions cover records management, archives administration, digital repositories, metadata standards, and information governance. Records management sessions examine records lifecycle, records systems, records policy, classification, and managing records management programmes. Archives administration sessions cover archival theory, archival appraisal, archival description, access management, and managing archives. Digital repositories sessions cover digital preservation, digital curation, electronic records, repository systems, and managing digital archives. Metadata standards sessions cover metadata schemas, taxonomies, classification systems, interoperability, and managing metadata. Information governance sessions cover governance frameworks, compliance, access policies, privacy, and managing information governance. Record keeping sessions cover record keeping systems, record keeping standards, governance compliance, and managing record keeping. Project management sessions cover project planning, project implementation, project monitoring, and managing information projects. Research methods sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. Practical projects provide hands-on experience with records systems, archival processing, digital repositories, and records management tools. Seminars and discussion groups provide opportunities for debating current issues in records and archives management. Guest lectures from experienced archivists, records managers, and information governance professionals provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a research thesis on a records and archives management topic.

The trade-offs

In its favourAgainst it
Growing demand for records management professionals with digital transformation, data governance, and compliance requirements in Kenya.KU fees are relatively high at KES 267,000/year.
Programme is offered by multiple universities (KU, Moi, TUK), providing institutional choice.Moi University fees not independently verified, limiting fee comparison.
TUK offers affordable fees at approximately KES 191,650/year (total KES 383,300).No private university confirmed offering this exact programme, limiting options.
Programme combines records management with digital archives, providing versatile skills for both traditional and digital information environments.Career prospects may be concentrated in government and corporate sectors, limiting options in other sectors.

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 243 education courses
Public221k to 267k
221k at Technical University of Kenya267k at Kenyatta University
Private165k to 191k
165k at Kabarak University191k 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

KU MSc Records Mgmt 267K/yr (joweri.com). TUK 221K/yr (eafinder.com). Kabarak 165K, AIU 191K (official sites).

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. KU may offer postgraduate bursaries for eligible students. ICA may provide training support for archives professionals. Some government departments and corporate institutions may sponsor staff for postgraduate study.

Funding options

  • HELB Postgraduate Loan

  • KU Postgraduate Bursary

  • ICA Training Support

Scholarships

3 recorded

  • HELB Postgraduate Loan

    LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan

    Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.

  • KU Postgraduate Bursary

    ScholarshipKsh 100,000Kenyan

    Kenyatta University offers postgraduate bursaries for eligible students.

  • ICA Training Support

    GrantKsh 200,000

    International Council on Archives provides training support for archives professionals in developing countries.

Scholarships you could apply for

2 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
N/A (Postgraduate)minimum entry
Alternative entry

Most universities require Upper Second Class Honours in information sciences or related field. Lower Second Division holders with relevant experience and Postgraduate Diploma holders are also considered. Contact respective universities for specific admission requirements.

When it next starts

Taught at 4 institutions
January 20274 institutions

Including Kenyatta University, Multimedia University of Kenya, Moi University.

May 20274 institutions

Including Kenyatta University, Multimedia University of Kenya, Moi University.

September 20274 institutions

Including Kenyatta University, Multimedia University of Kenya, Moi University.

How you are assessed

4 components

  • Coursework and Continuous Assessment

    Coursework40% of the mark

    Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, practical projects, seminar presentations, and class participation.

  • Written Examinations

    Examination60% of the mark

    Written examinations covering records management, archives administration, digital repositories, metadata standards, and information governance.

  • Practical Project

    Practical100% of the mark

    Practical project involving records system design, archival processing, digital repository setup, or records management audit, demonstrating practical skills.

  • Research Thesis

    Research100% of the mark

    Original research thesis on a records and archives management topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and records management knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

  • Commission for University Education (CUE)

    Academic accreditationRequired

    Programme accredited by CUE. Kenyatta University, Moi University, and Technical University of Kenya (all public) offer MSc in Records Management and Archives Administration or Records and Archives Management. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in records and archives management. Graduates are eligible for KNADS professional registration and ICA professional membership.

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Kenyatta University, Moi University, and Technical University of Kenya (all public) offer MSc in Records Management and Archives Administration or Records and Archives Management. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in records and archives management. Graduates are eligible for KNADS professional registration and ICA professional membership.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

  • Records Manager

    Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000

    Manages records programmes, overseeing records lifecycle, records systems, records policy, and managing records management operations.

  • Archivist

    Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000

    Manages archives, overseeing archival appraisal, archival description, access management, preservation, and managing archival operations.

  • Information Governance Officer

    Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000

    Manages information governance, overseeing governance frameworks, compliance, access policies, privacy, and managing information governance.

  • Digital Preservation Specialist

    Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000

    Manages digital preservation, overseeing preservation strategies, format migration, integrity checking, and managing digital preservation.

  • Records Consultant

    Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000

    Consults on records management, overseeing records systems design, policy development, compliance auditing, and managing records consulting.

  • Information Sciences Lecturer

    Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000

    Teaches records and archives management at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, practical supervision, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as records managers, archivists, information governance officers, digital preservation specialists, records consultants, and lecturers in records and archives management across government, corporate institutions, archives, and universities.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

  • Archival Management System

    SoftwarePrimary

    Archives management system for archival administration, covering archival description, access management, finding aids, and managing archival collections.

  • Electronic Document Management System (EDMS)

    Software

    EDMS for records management, covering document management, records lifecycle, classification, retention, and managing electronic records.

  • DSpace

    Software

    DSpace for digital repositories, covering digital preservation, digital curation, repository management, and managing digital collections.

  • SPSS

    Software

    SPSS statistical software for information sciences research, covering data analysis, statistical tests, and managing research data.

Common misconceptions

  • Records management is just about filing documents.

    Records management covers comprehensive information governance including digital repositories, metadata standards, compliance, and archival administration.

  • This programme is only for those working in archives.

    Records and archives skills are valuable in government, corporate institutions, healthcare, legal, and any organisation dealing with information governance.

  • Records management has limited career prospects in Kenya.

    With digital transformation, data governance, and compliance requirements, demand for records management professionals is growing in Kenya.

  • Archives are just about old documents.

    Modern archives cover digital preservation, electronic records, digital curation, and managing born-digital materials.

  • Digital preservation is just about backing up files.

    Digital preservation involves format migration, integrity checking, preservation strategies, and ensuring long-term access to digital records.

  • Information governance is just about policies.

    Information governance covers comprehensive frameworks including compliance, access management, privacy, risk management, and accountability.

Further reading

Read next