ESC
Nursing

Diploma in Nursing

3 years Government & Self-sponsored 41 campuses

What you can become

Job titles
  • Registered Nurse
  • Maternal & Child Health Nurse
  • Community Health Nurse
  • Theatre Nurse (with specialisation)
Where you work
  • County referral and sub-county hospitals
  • Health centres and dispensaries
  • NGOs and community health programmes
  • Private hospitals and clinics

Nursing graduates typically begin in general ward or outpatient rotations before moving into specialised units such as maternity, paediatrics, or theatre. With further certification, experienced nurses progress into critical care, nursing officer-in-charge roles, or specialised practice areas.

Graduates of this programme are recruited by county referral hospitals, national hospitals, NGOs, and private health facilities across Kenya's public and private health sectors.

Do you qualify?

KCSE overall gradeC+ (Plus)
MathematicsC Plain
Biology or Biological SciencesC+ (Plus)
Chemistry or Physical SciencesC Plain
English or KiswahiliC Plain
Applicants must also meet KMTC's medical fitness requirement, confirmed by a registered medical practitioner before admission.
Check your eligibility
You appear to qualify for this programme.

Based on the grades entered, you meet the minimum entry requirements for the Diploma in Nursing. Start your application →

Your grades are close to the requirement.

You may still apply, but admission is not guaranteed. Contact admissions to discuss your options →

You may not meet the minimum requirements for this programme.

You may be eligible for these related programmes:

Programme Fees

Government-sponsored — Annual feeKES 65,000
Government-sponsored — Total programme costKES 195,000
Self-sponsored — Annual feeKES 145,000
Self-sponsored — Total programme costKES 435,000
HELB Loan

Most students qualify. Apply through HELB directly.

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Bursaries

KMTC and county bursaries are available for eligible students.

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Payment Schedule

Fees can be paid in termly installments.

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View full fees and financing details

Study this programme near you

CampusCountyAccommodationIntake Status
KMTC Nairobi Nairobi Available Open
KMTC Kisumu Kisumu Available Open
KMTC Mombasa Mombasa Available Opening Sept 2026
KMTC Nakuru Nakuru Limited Open
KMTC Eldoret Uasin Gishu Available Closed

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What you will study

This is a 3-year programme with 6 theory terms and structured clinical attachment terms integrated throughout.

Core anatomy, physiology, and fundamentals of nursing care. Early clinical exposure in basic ward settings.
  • Anatomy and Physiology
  • Fundamentals of Nursing
  • Introduction to Community Health
Rotational clinical attachments across maternity, paediatrics, surgical, and medical wards.
  • Maternal & Child Health Nursing
  • Medical-Surgical Nursing
  • Pharmacology for Nurses
Extended clinical internship and final qualifying examinations.
  • Community Health Nursing Practicum
  • Nursing Research & Ethics
  • Final Clinical Internship

Graduates are issued a KMTC Diploma in Nursing, certified by the Nursing Council of Kenya, and are eligible for registration as a Registered Nurse.

KMTC Diploma in Nursing graduates

Registered Nurse, Kenyatta National Hospital

"KMTC gave me hands-on clinical experience from day one. I started working in the maternity ward within months of graduating."

Community Health Nurse, Nakuru County

"My clinical attachments were in the same sub-county I now serve. I knew the community before I even started working there."

Meet more graduates

Who employs Diploma in Nursing graduates

Kenyatta National Hospital
National Referral Hospital

"KMTC nurses arrive with strong fundamentals and adapt quickly to our clinical environment. They are consistently among our most reliable new hires."

AMREF Health Africa
Health NGO

"We recruit KMTC-trained community health nurses for outreach programmes across multiple counties. Their community health training is exactly what our work requires."

County Hospitals
NHIF
Kenya Red Cross
Private Hospitals

Common questions about this programme

Intake varies by campus and intake cycle. Most campuses admit between 80 and 200 nursing students per intake, depending on facility capacity.
Internal transfers are considered on a case-by-case basis, subject to meeting entry requirements and available capacity. Contact your campus admissions office.
Yes. Clinical attachment is a mandatory, assessed component of the programme and a regulatory requirement for registration as a Registered Nurse.
The programme's clinical and theory schedule is demanding and generally does not accommodate full-time work. Some students take limited part-time work during non-attachment periods.
Examinations are administered by the Kenya Medical Training College in line with curricula approved by the Nursing Council of Kenya, which also handles registration of graduates.
Nursing remains one of Kenya's highest-demand health cadres. Graduates typically secure employment in public hospitals, private facilities, or NGO-run health programmes, with many entering public service through county and national recruitment processes.

More questions? Visit our admissions FAQ

Ready to study Diploma in Nursing at KMTC?

Apply for Diploma in Nursing