DIPLOMA IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

1.1 INTRODUCTION

Diploma in Information Technology (IT) is intended to provide students with

computing technological skills to meet the needs of workforce in government or private
sector employment. Computers being integral part of ICT are playing a very important
role in transforming the world into a digital village. This course will adequately
contribute to the realization of vision 2030 by equipping human resources with
computer knowledge and skills.

1.2 SCHOOL OF PURE AND APPLIED SCIENCES.

1.2.1 VISION

To produce first class professionals in technology and innovation

1.2.2 MISSION

To train graduates equipped with innovative technology and abilities to meet the
demands of a dynamic world.

1.3 PROGRAMME GOAL.

To produce information technology technicians who can contribute to the technological
advancement of this country.

1.4 OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME.

The Diploma in Information Technology is designed to meet the following objectives:

By the end of the course, the trainee should be able to:

1. Design and implement suitable computer hardware and software.

2. Solve computer problems related to both hardware and software.
 3. Use entrepreneurial skills acquired as a basis for self employment

1.5 TARGET GROUP

The program will provide the broad knowledge, skills and attitudes to:
i) Certificate holders in IT from KYUC
ii) High School graduates and would want to pursue a career in information
communication technology.
iii) Professionals in other areas and wish to diversify their range of skills and knowledge
in ICT.

1.6 REGULATIONS

1.6.1 GENERAL REGULATIONS

1. The University academic regulations shall apply.
2. No individual shall be registered for any School of Pure and Applied Sciences
Diploma without satisfying the minimum University admission requirements.

1.6.2 ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

An applicant must satisfy any of the following minimum requirements:
Either:
1. Be a holder of KCSE with a minimum aggregate of C- (C Minus)
OR
2. Be a holder of KCE DIV III
OR
3. KCSE mean grade D+ (D Plus) and a certificate in any relevant area with at least
credit pass from an institution recognized by the University Senate.
OR
3. Be a holder of any other qualification accepted by the University Senate as
equivalent to any of the above.
4. Candidates, who hold qualification 4 above, May at the discretion of the
University Senate, be exempted from some course units. In addition, a candidate
 registered in another University recognized by the University Senate may at the
discretion of the Senate be allowed to transfer a maximum of one-third relevant
units to the programme.
5. Possession of the MINIMUM entry requirements does not guarantee automatic
admission to the Diploma programme.

1.7 PROGRAMME DURATION AND STRUCTURE

1. The Diploma course shall be offered in three (3) academic years with six (6)
semesters.
2. The first academic year will comprise of a maximum of twelve (12) course units,
and
3. The second academic year will have a maximum of twelve (12) course units, and
the third academic year will have four (4) course units plus Project Work and
Attachment. A candidate will be deemed to have passed an academic year after
successful completion of all the units offered in that year plus the project work
and attachment.
4. Courses shall be offered in terms of units. One unit being defined as a series of
42 one-hour lectures. For this purpose, a one-hour lecture is equivalent to a
two-hour tutorial or a three-hour practical period, or an equivalent amount of
other assigned study or practical experience or any combination of these that
may be approved by the School of Pure and Applied Sciences.
5. The programme will run for six (6) semesters, with each semester running for
sixteen (16) weeks. The period of the project work will be part of the
programme duration and will be considered as having two (2) course units.
Each semester should have a minimum of five (5) and a maximum of six (6)
units.
6. A candidate wishing to temporarily suspend his/her studies must apply for
academic leave. The academic leave becomes official only after endorsement by
the University Senate. The academic leave cannot extend beyond two (2)
continuous semesters and the leave duration will not be part of the programme
 duration. A candidate on leave must renew his/her registration at the
beginning of every semester.
7. Unless exempted, a student shall be required to pass all the course units offered.
8. Each registered candidate shall undertake an Attachment at the end of the
second academic year. The Attachment will take duration of eight (8) weeks.
The attachment is equivalent to ONE unit and is subject to the general
regulations for practical training and attachment at the School of Pure and
Applied Sciences.

1.8 REGISTRATION
1. Candidates shall be required to register within the first three weeks of every
semester.
2. No registration of candidates shall be allowed after the third week of a semester
unless approved by the university.

1.9 ORDINARY EXAMINATIONS

1 All units shall be examined during the semester in which they are taken. Such
examinations shall be named Ordinary University Examinations.
2 Examinations shall consist of Continuous Assessments and Ordinary University
Examinations.
3 Continuous Assessments shall normally comprise written tests and assignments.
Continuous assessments shall contribute 40% of the total marks and written
Ordinary University Examinations shall contribute 60% of the total marks. Where a
unit consists solely of practical work, Continuous Assessment shall assess it out of
100%.
4 A candidate who has not completed two thirds of the course work for any unit
shall have his/her Ordinary University Examination results nullified and shall be
deemed to have failed in the unit with a total mark of zero.
5 The Ordinary University Examinations shall consist of written tests covering each
unit completed. The time allowed shall be 2 hours per unit.
6 Each unit shall be graded out of 100 marks and the pass mark shall be 40%. The
marks shall be translated into grades as follows:
70 % to A
60 % to 69% B

50 % to 59% C
40% to 49% D
Below 40% E (FAIL)

7 A candidate who absents himself/herself from an Ordinary University

Examination for any unit shall be deemed to have failed in the unit with a total
mark of zero.
8 Attachment shall be assessed and graded on a PASS and FAIL basis. A candidate,
who fails to satisfy the requirements of the Board of School of Pure and Applied
Sciences Examiners, shall be required to repeat the attachment. A candidate is
allowed to repeat attachment only once.

1.10 PROGRESSION
Unless exempted, a candidate must pass all the course units offered in the first
academic year in order to register for course units offered in the second academic year.

1.11 EXIT
A candidate, who has passed all the units in the first semester first year, first, may opt to
exit from the programme. Such a candidate may request to be awarded a certificate in
Information Technology, but at the sole discretion of the University.
1.12 SUPPLEMENTARY EXAMINATIONS
1. A candidate who fails up to a maximum of four units in any academic year
shall be allowed to sit supplementary exams.
2. Supplementary examinations shall be offered at the end of the academic year
after Ordinary University Examinations have been processed by the Senate.
3. The maximum marks in supplementary examinations shall be 40% and shall
not include continuous assessment marks.

1.13 SPECIAL EXAMINATION

1. If for some good cause a candidate is unable to sit for one or more course unit(s)
examination(s), he/she may, on the recommendation of the School of Pure and
Applied Sciences, and with the approval of the University Senate, be permitted
to take special examinations.
2. Special examinations shall be marked out of 100% including continuous
assessment.

1.14 REPEAT
1 A candidate who fails in five (5) course units in an academic year shall repeat
the failed units internally.
2 A candidate who fails in any supplementary examination shall repeat the failed
course units internally.
3 A candidate who fails supplementary examination in a repeated unit shall
repeat the academic semester internally.

1.15. DISCONTINUATION
1. candidate who fails supplementary examination in a repeated unit shall be
discontinued
 2. Candidate who fails in more than five (5) units in any academic year shall be
discontinued from the programme.
3. No candidate shall be allowed to repeat any year more than once.

1.16 APPEAL FOR RE-MARKING

1. A candidate who is not satisfied with the grade, which he/she has been
awarded in any unit, may appeal to the Registrar (Academic) for a re-marking of
the written examination paper in that unit on payment of the appropriate fee,
which the University Senate shall determine from time to time.
2. The grade and mark recommended by the examiner(s) after remarking shall be
the final grade and mark awarded to the candidate for the unit.
3. No appeal for re-marking of any unit shall be entertained in cases where the
appeal has been submitted later than one month after the candidate has been
notified of the result.

1.17 DEREGISTRATION
1. A candidate who qualifies to register for any semester but fails to register by the
end of the third week of the semester shall be assumed to have deserted the
diploma course and shall be deregistered.
2. A candidate who without valid cause fails to avail himself/herself for one or
more examinations shall be deregistered.

1.18 EXAMINATION IRREGULARITIES

A candidate who is found guilty of any irregularities during any continuous assessment
or University examination shall be subjected to the appropriate penalties as detailed in
the University Examination Regulations.
1.19 AWARD OF DIPLOMA
To be considered for the award of a DIPLOMA a candidate must have taken and passed
all the units including the Project Work and Attachment.

1.20 SUPERVISION OF PROJECT

1. A candidate who fails to submit a research project within the stipulated time shall
be deemed to have failed.
2. A candidate who is allowed to submit the research project after the stipulated
time will submit it within three (3) months as a supplementary examination and it
will be marked out of 100 but the maximum marks awarded shall be 40%.

1.21 CLASSIFICATION
1. A candidate who qualifies for the award of the diploma shall be placed in one of
the three classes, namely Distinction, Credit and Pass.
2. The final classification shall be based on the minimum number of required units
taken during the period of study.
3. The diploma classification shall be graded as follows:
Distinction 70% and above

Upper Credit 60% to 69%

Lower credit 50% to 59%

Pass 40% to 49%

Fail Below 40%

1.22 RELEASE OF RESULTS
Notwithstanding any of the regulations above, registration of a candidate in the School
of Pure and Applied Sciences and the release of examination results and the awarding
of the diploma shall be subject to the candidate fulfilling all the University Regulations.