Media & Communication

Masters in Corporate Communication

The Masters in Corporate Communication is a postgraduate programme that trains graduates in corporate communication, public relations, strategic communication, and organisational communication. The programme prepares graduates for advanced careers in corporate communication, PR management, reputation management, and strategic communication.

Core areas include corporate communication, public relations, strategic communication, crisis communication, internal communication, media relations, reputation management, digital communication, stakeholder engagement, and research methods. Students engage with theoretical foundations and practical corporate communication applications.

The programme is offered by Daystar University, Scott Christian University, and KAG East University, with Multimedia University of Kenya as a college. Daystar offers MA Corporate Communication with full-time and part-time modes. MMU offers Masters in Corporate Communication as part of its established communication and media programmes.

Students develop competencies in communication strategy, PR management, crisis communication, media relations, digital communication, and research. The programme includes coursework, practical projects, internships, examinations, supervised research, and thesis.

The programme is delivered over two years. Daystar masters tuition is approximately KES 110,400/semester (~KES 220,800/year) plus additional fees. MMU postgraduate fees are estimated at KES 120,000/year. Entry requires Bachelor's degree in communication or related field with Upper Second or equivalent.

Graduates pursue careers as corporate communications managers, PR managers, communication strategists, media relations officers, and reputation managers in corporations, government, NGOs, PR agencies, and consulting firms.

Skills Required

Corporate Communication Strategy and Planning
Public Relations Management and Media Relations
Crisis Communication and Issues Management
Internal Communication and Employee Engagement
Reputation Management and Brand Communication
Digital Communication and Social Media Management
Stakeholder Engagement and Relationship Management
Strategic Communication Campaign Planning
Corporate Communication Measurement and Analytics
Corporate Communication Research Methods

Key Subjects

Corporate Communication
Public Relations
Strategic Communication
Crisis Communication
Internal Communication
Media Relations
Reputation Management
Digital Communication
Stakeholder Engagement
Corporate Communication Research Methods

Certifications

PRSK Professional Certification
IABC Communication Certification

Specializations

Public Relations

Focuses on public relations, PR strategy, media relations, press releases, PR campaigns, PR ethics, and managing public relations for organisations.

Crisis Communication

Examines crisis communication, crisis management, issues management, risk communication, reputation repair, and managing communication during crises.

Digital Communication

Covers digital communication, social media, content marketing, digital strategy, online reputation, and managing digital corporate communication.

Internal Communication

Focuses on internal communication, employee engagement, change communication, internal channels, and managing communication within organisations.

Reputation Management

Examines reputation management, corporate reputation, brand reputation, reputation measurement, reputation repair, and managing organisational reputation.

Strategic Communication

Covers strategic communication, communication strategy, campaign planning, message development, audience analysis, and developing and implementing communication strategy.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 138,000
Private, up to: Ksh 220,800
Job market: High

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 20 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Corporate Communication
Public Relations
Strategic Communication
Crisis Communication
Internal Communication
Media Relations
Reputation Management
Digital Communication
Stakeholder Engagement
Corporate Communication Research Methods

Modules

12 in the programme

Corporate Communication Theory and Strategy
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines corporate communication theory, corporate identity, corporate image, communication strategy, corporate branding, and understanding corporate communication.
Public Relations Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers PR theory, PR strategy, media relations, press releases, PR campaigns, PR ethics, PR measurement, and managing public relations for organisations.
Strategic Communication Campaign Planning
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines communication strategy, campaign planning, message development, audience analysis, positioning, creative strategy, and developing and implementing communication campaigns.
Crisis Communication and Issues Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers crisis communication, crisis management, issues management, risk communication, reputation repair, crisis plans, crisis simulation, and managing communication during crises.
Internal Communication and Employee Engagement
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines employee engagement, change communication, internal channels, newsletters, intranet, internal branding, and managing communication within organisations.
Digital Communication and Social Media Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers social media, content marketing, digital strategy, online reputation, digital campaigns, analytics, SEO, and managing digital corporate communication.
Reputation Management and Brand Communication
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines corporate reputation, brand reputation, reputation measurement, reputation repair, CSR communication, employer branding, and managing organisational reputation.
Media Relations and Media Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers media relations, press releases, media events, press conferences, media training, spokesperson, media monitoring, and managing media relationships.
Stakeholder Engagement and Relationship Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines stakeholder mapping, stakeholder engagement, community relations, investor relations, government relations, partnerships, and managing stakeholder relationships.
Corporate Communication Research Methods
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research methods for corporate communication, survey design, content analysis, focus groups, communication audits, and conducting communication research, preparing students for their thesis.
Corporate Communication Measurement and Analytics
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines communication measurement, KPIs, ROI, analytics, sentiment analysis, media monitoring, AMEC framework, and measuring and evaluating corporate communication.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research thesis on a corporate communication topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Public Relations
Focuses on public relations, PR strategy, media relations, press releases, PR campaigns, PR ethics, and managing public relations for organisations.
Crisis Communication
Examines crisis communication, crisis management, issues management, risk communication, reputation repair, and managing communication during crises.
Digital Communication
Covers digital communication, social media, content marketing, digital strategy, online reputation, and managing digital corporate communication.
Internal Communication
Focuses on internal communication, employee engagement, change communication, internal channels, and managing communication within organisations.
Reputation Management
Examines reputation management, corporate reputation, brand reputation, reputation measurement, reputation repair, and managing organisational reputation.
Strategic Communication
Covers strategic communication, communication strategy, campaign planning, message development, audience analysis, and developing and implementing communication strategy.

A day as a student

A typical day during the Masters in Corporate Communication programme begins with morning lectures on corporate communication, public relations, or strategic communication. Students engage with theoretical foundations and practical corporate communication applications. Corporate communication sessions cover corporate communication theory, corporate identity, corporate image, communication strategy, and understanding corporate communication. Public relations sessions examine PR theory, PR strategy, media relations, press releases, PR campaigns, PR ethics, and managing public relations. Strategic communication sessions cover communication strategy, campaign planning, message development, audience analysis, positioning, and developing and implementing communication strategy. Crisis communication sessions examine crisis communication, crisis management, issues management, risk communication, reputation repair, crisis plans, and managing communication during crises. Internal communication sessions cover employee engagement, change communication, internal channels, newsletters, intranet, and managing communication within organisations. Media relations sessions examine media relations, press releases, media events, press conferences, media training, spokesperson, and managing media relationships. Reputation management sessions cover corporate reputation, brand reputation, reputation measurement, reputation repair, CSR communication, and managing organisational reputation. Digital communication sessions examine social media, content marketing, digital strategy, online reputation, digital campaigns, analytics, and managing digital corporate communication. Stakeholder engagement sessions cover stakeholder mapping, stakeholder engagement, community relations, investor relations, government relations, and managing stakeholder relationships. Practical projects provide hands-on experience with communication campaigns, PR plans, crisis simulations, and digital communication projects. Internships provide hands-on experience with corporate communication departments, PR agencies, and media organisations. Research methodology sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering communication research methods, survey design, content analysis, and data analysis. Guest lectures from Daystar faculty, PR practitioners, corporate communication directors, media experts, and international communication professionals provide real-world insights. The two-year programme culminates in a research thesis.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's corporate sector, digital transformation, crisis management needs, brand management, and stakeholder engagement create high demand for qualified corporate communication professionals.
Daystar University offers MA Corporate Communication with established communication programmes and experienced faculty.
Career opportunities with corporations, government, NGOs, PR agencies, consulting firms, and international organisations like IABC, IPRA, and PRSK.
Programme combines strategic communication, PR, digital, and management skills, addressing Kenya's corporate communication and reputation management needs.

Against it

Daystar tuition of KES 110,400/semester (~KES 220,800/year) is relatively expensive for a private university.
Programme requires communication, journalism, PR, or related background, which may exclude some graduates.
Rapidly evolving digital communication landscape requires continuous learning beyond the programme.
Some employers may prefer MBA or broader management qualifications over a specialised corporate communication master's.

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

Public118k to 138k

118k at Maseno University138k at Multimedia University of Kenya

Private221k to 221k

221k at Daystar University221k at Daystar 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

Maseno 118.35K/yr, MMU 138K/yr (official). Daystar 110.4K/sem (daystar.ac.ke). Scott unverified.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. PRSK supports PR professional development. IABC supports business communication education. IPRA supports PR professional development. The programme's corporate communication focus attracts corporate, PR, and international funding.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
PRSK Professional Development Funding
IABC Education Funding

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate corporate communication studies at recognised universities.
PRSK Professional Development Funding
GrantKsh 150,000Kenyan
PRSK supports PR professional development in Kenya, providing funding for postgraduate study in corporate communication and PR.
IABC Education Funding
ScholarshipKsh 300,000
IABC supports business communication education globally, providing scholarships for postgraduate study in corporate communication.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: The programme accepts graduates from communication, journalism, PR, media studies, business, marketing, English, linguistics, international relations, and related fields. Daystar requires Upper Second or equivalent. Two-year programme with full-time and part-time modes.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, communication plans, campaign proposals, case studies, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination30% of the mark
Written examinations covering corporate communication, PR, crisis communication, digital communication, and reputation management, conducted at end of each semester.
Practical and Project Assessment
Practical40% of the mark
Assessment of practical projects, communication campaigns, PR plans, crisis simulations, digital projects, and internship reports.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on a corporate communication topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Daystar University offers MA Corporate Communication through its School of Communication. MMU offers Masters in Corporate Communication as part of its communication programmes. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate corporate communication training. PRSK represents PR professionals in Kenya, and IABC and IPRA support corporate communication internationally.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. Daystar University offers MA Corporate Communication through its School of Communication. MMU offers Masters in Corporate Communication. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate corporate communication training.
Public Relations Society of Kenya (PRSK)
Professional accreditation
PRSK represents PR professionals in Kenya. Graduates may benefit from PRSK membership and professional certification for PR and corporate communication roles.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Corporate Communications Manager
High demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 600,000
Manages corporate communication, overseeing communication strategy, PR, internal communication, and supporting corporate reputation and brand.
PR Manager
High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Manages public relations, overseeing PR strategy, media relations, PR campaigns, and supporting organisational public relations.
Communication Strategist
High demandKsh 140,000 to Ksh 550,000
Develops communication strategy, overseeing strategic planning, campaigns, messaging, and supporting communication effectiveness.
Media Relations Officer
High demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 450,000
Manages media relations, overseeing press releases, media events, media monitoring, and supporting media relationships and coverage.
Reputation Manager
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Manages organisational reputation, overseeing reputation monitoring, measurement, repair, and supporting corporate reputation and brand.
Digital Communication Manager
High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Manages digital communication, overseeing social media, content, digital campaigns, analytics, and supporting digital corporate communication.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as corporate communications managers, PR managers, and communication strategists in corporations, government, and PR agencies.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Hootsuite
SoftwarePrimary
Social media management platform for managing social media accounts, scheduling, monitoring, analytics, and managing digital corporate communication.
Google Analytics
SoftwarePrimary
Web analytics platform for measuring digital communication, website traffic, campaign performance, and analysing digital communication effectiveness.
Meltwater
Software
Media monitoring and intelligence platform for media monitoring, sentiment analysis, reputation monitoring, and tracking media coverage and mentions.
Mailchimp
Software
Email marketing platform for internal communication, newsletters, campaigns, stakeholder communication, and managing email communication.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Corporate communication is just about writing press releases.
The programme involves strategy, crisis management, reputation, digital communication, internal communication, research, and stakeholder engagement, covering comprehensive corporate communication.
This programme is only for journalism graduates.
The programme accepts graduates from communication, journalism, PR, business, marketing, and related fields.
There is limited demand for corporate communication professionals in Kenya.
Kenya's corporate sector, digital transformation, crisis management needs, brand management, and stakeholder engagement create high demand for qualified corporate communication professionals.
Corporate communication is the same as public relations.
While overlapping, corporate communication is broader, encompassing internal communication, reputation management, strategy, and stakeholder engagement, not just media relations.
Digital communication has made traditional corporate communication obsolete.
Digital communication has transformed corporate communication, but strategic principles, stakeholder engagement, and reputation management remain essential.
A master's in corporate communication is redundant after a communication degree.
The master's provides strategic skills, management perspective, research capability, and career progression to senior corporate communication and PR management positions.