Media & Communication

Shahada ya Uzamili katika Kiswahili na Mawasiliano (Master of Arts in Kiswahili and Communication)

The Master of Arts in Kiswahili and Communication is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in Kiswahili language, communication studies, media, and cultural expression. The programme provides specialised training in Kiswahili linguistics, communication theory, media studies, and translation.

Core areas include Kiswahili linguistics, communication theory, media studies, Kiswahili literature, translation studies, public relations in Kiswahili, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both theoretical and practical work through coursework, seminars, media projects, and research.

The programme is offered by Egerton University as a public institution through the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Kenyatta University offers MA in Kiswahili through the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. Both programmes are available over two years.

Students develop competencies in Kiswahili communication, media analysis, translation, and research. The programme includes coursework, examinations, media projects, and a supervised research thesis, preparing graduates for Kiswahili communication and media roles.

Egerton charges approximately KES 120,700 per year while KU charges approximately KES 142,700 per year. No private university confirmed offering this exact programme. Entry requires at least an Upper Second Class Honours degree in Kiswahili, Communication, Education (Kiswahili), or a related field from a recognised institution.

Graduates pursue careers as Kiswahili communication specialists, media consultants, translators, language editors, curriculum developers, and lecturers across media houses, universities, government agencies, publishing firms, and cultural institutions.

Skills Required

Kiswahili Linguistics and Communication Theory
Media Studies and Journalism in Kiswahili
Kiswahili Literary Analysis and Criticism
Translation and Interpretation
Public Relations in Kiswahili
Kiswahili Content Development for Digital Media
Intercultural Communication
Kiswahili Broadcasting and Scriptwriting
Research Methods in Kiswahili and Communication
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Kiswahili Linguistics and Communication Theory
Media Studies and Journalism in Kiswahili
Kiswahili Literary Analysis and Criticism
Translation and Interpretation
Public Relations in Kiswahili
Kiswahili Content Development for Digital Media
Intercultural Communication
Kiswahili Broadcasting and Scriptwriting
Research Methods in Kiswahili and Communication
Thesis Research

Certifications

CHAKITA Professional Membership
MCK Media Accreditation

Specializations

Kiswahili Media and Journalism

Focuses on Kiswahili media, covering Kiswahili, media, journalism, broadcasting, and managing Kiswahili media and journalism.

Translation and Interpretation

Examines translation, covering translation, interpretation, Kiswahili, language, and managing translation and interpretation.

Kiswahili Literature and Communication

Covers Kiswahili literature, covering Kiswahili, literature, communication, criticism, and managing Kiswahili literary analysis and communication.

Public Relations in Kiswahili

Focuses on public relations, covering public, relations, Kiswahili, communication, and managing public relations in Kiswahili.

Digital Media and Content Development

Examines digital media, covering digital, media, content, Kiswahili, and managing Kiswahili digital media and content development.

Intercultural Communication

Covers intercultural communication, covering intercultural, communication, Kiswahili, culture, and managing intercultural communication.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 220,500
Job market: Moderate

The programme

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

Practicalities

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

What you study

10 subjects

Kiswahili Linguistics and Communication Theory
Media Studies and Journalism in Kiswahili
Kiswahili Literary Analysis and Criticism
Translation and Interpretation
Public Relations in Kiswahili
Kiswahili Content Development for Digital Media
Intercultural Communication
Kiswahili Broadcasting and Scriptwriting
Research Methods in Kiswahili and Communication
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Kiswahili Linguistics and Communication Theory
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines Kiswahili linguistics, covering Kiswahili, linguistics, communication, theory, and managing Kiswahili linguistics and communication theory.
Media Studies and Journalism in Kiswahili
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers Kiswahili media, covering Kiswahili, media, journalism, broadcasting, and managing Kiswahili media and journalism.
Kiswahili Literary Analysis and Criticism
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines Kiswahili literature, covering Kiswahili, literature, communication, criticism, and managing Kiswahili literary analysis and communication.
Translation and Interpretation
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers translation, covering translation, interpretation, Kiswahili, language, and managing translation and interpretation.
Public Relations in Kiswahili
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines public relations, covering public, relations, Kiswahili, communication, and managing public relations in Kiswahili.
Kiswahili Broadcasting and Scriptwriting
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers Kiswahili broadcasting, covering Kiswahili, broadcasting, scriptwriting, radio, and managing Kiswahili broadcasting and scriptwriting.
Intercultural Communication
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines intercultural communication, covering intercultural, communication, Kiswahili, culture, and managing intercultural communication.
Research Methods in Kiswahili and Communication
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers research, methods, Kiswahili, communication, and conducting research in Kiswahili and communication, preparing students for their thesis.
Digital Media and Content Development
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines digital media, covering digital, media, content, Kiswahili, and managing Kiswahili digital media and content development.
Kiswahili Publishing and Editing
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers Kiswahili publishing, covering Kiswahili, publishing, editing, books, and managing Kiswahili publishing and editing.
Kiswahili and East African Media Landscape
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines East African media, covering East, African, media, Kiswahili, and managing Kiswahili and East African media landscape.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 212 creditsCore
Original supervised research thesis on a Kiswahili and communication topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and Kiswahili communication knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Kiswahili Media and Journalism
Focuses on Kiswahili media, covering Kiswahili, media, journalism, broadcasting, and managing Kiswahili media and journalism.
Translation and Interpretation
Examines translation, covering translation, interpretation, Kiswahili, language, and managing translation and interpretation.
Kiswahili Literature and Communication
Covers Kiswahili literature, covering Kiswahili, literature, communication, criticism, and managing Kiswahili literary analysis and communication.
Public Relations in Kiswahili
Focuses on public relations, covering public, relations, Kiswahili, communication, and managing public relations in Kiswahili.
Digital Media and Content Development
Examines digital media, covering digital, media, content, Kiswahili, and managing Kiswahili digital media and content development.
Intercultural Communication
Covers intercultural communication, covering intercultural, communication, Kiswahili, culture, and managing intercultural communication.

A day as a student

A typical day combines lectures, seminars, media projects, and independent study. Sessions cover Kiswahili linguistics, communication theory, media studies, Kiswahili literature, and translation. Linguistics sessions examine Kiswahili, linguistics, communication, theory, and managing Kiswahili linguistics and communication theory. Media sessions cover Kiswahili, media, journalism, broadcasting, and managing Kiswahili media and journalism. Literature sessions cover Kiswahili, literature, communication, criticism, and managing Kiswahili literary analysis. Translation sessions cover translation, interpretation, Kiswahili, language, and managing translation and interpretation. Media projects provide practical experience in Kiswahili broadcasting, scriptwriting, and content development. The programme culminates in a supervised research thesis on a Kiswahili and communication topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme addresses demand for Kiswahili communication professionals in media, publishing, and government.
Two public universities confirmed offering related programmes, providing options for students.
Programme integrates linguistics, media, translation, and digital content development.
Graduates are eligible for CHAKITA professional membership and MCK media accreditation.

Against it

Small fee difference between Egerton (KES 120,700/year) and KU (KES 142,700/year).
No private university confirmed offering this programme.
Media roles may require MCK accreditation in Kenya.
Career paths may overlap with general communication studies programmes.

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 221k

118k at Maseno University221k at University of Nairobi

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

UoN 220.5K/yr, Maseno 118.35K/yr (official PG schedules). Private unverified.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. Universities may offer scholarships for eligible students. CHAKITA and MCK may offer research grants for Kiswahili language and media research.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
University Scholarship
CHAKITA Research Grant

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
University Scholarship
ScholarshipKsh 142,700Kenyan
Egerton University and KU may offer scholarships for eligible postgraduate Kiswahili students.
CHAKITA Research Grant
ScholarshipKsh 200,000Kenyan
CHAKITA and MCK may offer research grants for Kiswahili language and media research.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: Egerton University and KU require at least Upper Second Class Honours in a relevant field. Lower Second Class may be considered with relevant experience. Contact respective universities for specific admission requirements.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, media project reports, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Written examinations covering Kiswahili linguistics, communication theory, media studies, and translation.
Media Project
Project40% of the mark
Practical assessment through media projects, demonstrating Kiswahili broadcasting, scriptwriting, and content development skills.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original supervised research thesis on a Kiswahili and communication topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and Kiswahili communication knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Egerton University (public) offers MA in Kiswahili and Communication through the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. KU (public) offers MA in Kiswahili. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in Kiswahili and communication. Graduates may interact with CHAKITA for professional membership and MCK for media accreditation. The programme aligns with CUE, CHAKITA, MCK, and CHAMA Kiswahili and communication frameworks.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. Egerton University (public) offers MA in Kiswahili and Communication through the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. KU (public) offers MA in Kiswahili. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in Kiswahili and communication. Graduates may interact with CHAKITA for professional membership and MCK for media accreditation. The programme aligns with CUE, CHAKITA, MCK, and CHAMA Kiswahili and communication frameworks.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Kiswahili Communication Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 350,000
Manages Kiswahili communication, covering Kiswahili, communication, specialist, media, and managing Kiswahili communication.
Media Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 350,000
Provides Kiswahili media consulting, covering media, consultant, Kiswahili, advisory, and managing Kiswahili media consulting.
Translator
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 280,000
Provides translation services, covering translator, translation, Kiswahili, interpretation, and managing translation and interpretation.
Language Editor
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 300,000
Edits Kiswahili content, covering language, editor, Kiswahili, content, and managing Kiswahili editing and content.
Curriculum Developer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 350,000
Develops Kiswahili curriculum, covering curriculum, developer, Kiswahili, education, and managing Kiswahili curriculum development.
Kiswahili Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 400,000
Teaches Kiswahili and communication at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

NVivo
SoftwarePrimary
NVivo for qualitative data analysis in Kiswahili communication research, covering NVivo, qualitative, data, analysis, and managing qualitative data analysis.
SPSS
Software
SPSS for Kiswahili communication research data analysis, covering statistics, data, analysis, Kiswahili, and managing communication research statistics.
Adobe Creative Suite
Software
Adobe Creative Suite for Kiswahili media content development, covering Adobe, creative, media, content, and managing Kiswahili media content development.
Reference Management Software
Software
Reference management for Kiswahili research and thesis writing, covering references, research, thesis, Kiswahili, and managing research references.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Kiswahili and communication is just about speaking Kiswahili.
The programme covers linguistics, media studies, translation, public relations, and digital content development beyond just speaking.
This programme is only for Kiswahili graduates.
The programme is for professionals from communication, media, education, and related fields, not just Kiswahili graduates.
Kiswahili and communication has limited career prospects in Kenya.
Kiswahili communication professionals are in demand in media, publishing, government, and East African regional organisations.
This programme is the same as general communication studies.
MA in Kiswahili and Communication focuses specifically on Kiswahili language and media, while general communication covers all languages.
Kiswahili media is not relevant in the digital age.
Kiswahili is growing in digital media, content creation, and online platforms, creating new opportunities.
You need media experience to study this programme.
The programme is accessible to graduates from various fields seeking Kiswahili and communication specialisation, not just experienced media professionals.