Social Sciences

Bachelor in Peace, Security and Conflict Management

The Bachelor in Peace, Security and Conflict Management is an interdisciplinary programme equipping students with knowledge and skills to understand, analyse, and address conflict, insecurity, and peacebuilding challenges. The curriculum integrates political science, sociology, international relations, security studies, and conflict resolution.

Students study theories of conflict, peace and security, negotiation and mediation, conflict transformation, human rights, international relations, terrorism and counter-terrorism, refugee studies, and post-conflict reconstruction. The programme covers both theoretical foundations and practical skills for managing conflict at community, national, and international levels.

Kenya occupies a strategic position in East Africa with significant security and peacebuilding challenges. The country hosts refugee populations, faces border conflicts, and experiences periodic electoral violence. The National Cohesion and Integration Commission, Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, and numerous NGOs work on peace and security.

The programme is delivered through lectures, seminars, case studies, field research, and attachment with peacebuilding organisations. Students engage with real-world conflict scenarios through simulations and community engagement. Most universities offer the programme full-time over four academic years, with a research project in the final year.

Graduates find employment as peacebuilding officers, conflict analysts, security analysts, project officers, and community development officers with NGOs, government agencies, international organisations, and research institutions. Common employers include World Vision, Kenya Red Cross, National Cohesion and Integration Commission, county governments, and various peacebuilding NGOs.

This programme suits students with strong interpersonal skills, cultural sensitivity, analytical thinking, and a commitment to social justice. Prospective students should enjoy working with diverse communities and engaging with complex social and political issues. The peacebuilding field requires patience, resilience, and the ability to work in challenging environments. Students who thrive combine empathy with analytical rigour.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 189,004
Private, up to: Ksh 242,800
Job market: Moderate

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 40 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Theories of Conflict and Peace
Negotiation and Mediation
Conflict Transformation
International Relations
Human Rights
Security Studies
Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism
Refugee Studies
Post-Conflict Reconstruction
Research Methods in Peace Studies

Modules

10 in the programme

Theories of Conflict and Peace
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Foundational theories of conflict, peace, violence, and peacebuilding from multiple disciplinary perspectives.
Introduction to Security Studies
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Concepts of security, threat analysis, and the security landscape in Kenya and the Horn of Africa.
Principles of Negotiation and Mediation
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Negotiation theory, mediation techniques, and practical skills for resolving disputes.
International Relations and Diplomacy
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Theories of international relations, diplomatic practice, and global governance structures.
Human Rights and Justice
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
International human rights frameworks, transitional justice, and human rights advocacy in conflict contexts.
Conflict Transformation and Peacebuilding
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Approaches to transforming conflict, building sustainable peace, and post-conflict reconciliation.
Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Causes of terrorism, violent extremism in East Africa, and counter-terrorism strategies.
Refugee and Migration Studies
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Forced migration, refugee protection frameworks, and conflict-induced displacement in the region.
Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Strategies for rebuilding societies after conflict including governance, justice, and economic recovery.
Research Project in Peace and Security
Year 4Semester 16 creditsCore
Final-year research project on a peace, security, or conflict management topic, assessed through a written dissertation.

Specialisations

Conflict Resolution and Mediation
Negotiation, mediation, dialogue facilitation, and conflict transformation techniques for community and inter-group disputes.
Security Studies
Security risk management, threat analysis, counter-terrorism, and national security policy. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Peacebuilding and Post-Conflict Reconstruction
Post-conflict recovery, reconciliation, transitional justice, and sustainable peacebuilding strategies.
Refugee and Migration Studies
Forced migration, refugee protection, humanitarian assistance, and displacement-related conflict management.

A day as a student

A typical day involves attending lectures on conflict theories, security studies, and international relations, followed by seminar discussions on case studies from Kenya and the region. Students participate in negotiation and mediation simulations, analyse conflict scenarios, and work on research assignments. Field visits to communities affected by conflict or peacebuilding organisations provide practical exposure. Students also engage in group projects on peacebuilding interventions.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya and the region face ongoing security and conflict challenges creating demand for trained professionals
Interdisciplinary skills applicable in NGOs, government, international organisations, and private sector
Meaningful work contributing to peace, justice, and community development

Against it

Field work may involve working in conflict-affected or insecure regions
Many roles require experience, making entry-level positions competitive
Funding for peacebuilding programmes is often donor-dependent and subject to cuts
Emotional demands of working with trauma-affected communities require resilience

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 241 social sciences courses

Public153k to 189k

153k at Kenyatta University189k at University of Nairobi

Private105k to 243k

105k at Mount Kenya University243k 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

KU 153K, UoN 189K/yr (educationnewshub KUCCPS). Daystar 243K, MKU 105K/yr (KUCCPS).

Government scholarships under the New Higher Education Funding Model cover 53–82% of programme cost for needy students in public universities. HELB provides undergraduate loans up to KES 60,000 per year. County bursaries and NGO scholarships provide additional support, particularly for students from conflict-affected regions.

Funding options

HELB Undergraduate Loan
Government Scholarship (New Funding Model)
County Bursary

Scholarships

5 recorded

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan citizens enrolled in CUE-accredited undergraduate programmes at recognised institutions.
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKenyan
Residents of respective counties pursuing undergraduate studies
Huawei Seeds for the Future Kenya
Scholarship
Talented ICT/STEM university students with a GPA of 3.0+
Generation Google Scholarship
Scholarship
Women in computer science and related technical fields
Higher Education Fund (HEF)
ScholarshipKsh 90,000Kenyan
Needy students placed by KUCCPS in public universities, assessed through Means Testing Instrument.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+
Alternative entry: Diploma in Peace Studies, Conflict Management, Security Studies, or related field from a recognised institution. KUCCPS Cluster 3.

How you are assessed

4 components

End of Semester Examinations
Exam50% of the mark
Written examinations covering theoretical and analytical aspects of each module.
Continuous Assessment Tests and Assignments
Cat30% of the mark
Regular tests, essays, case study analyses, and class participation throughout the semester.
Field Attachment Report
Practicum10% of the mark
Three-month attachment with a peacebuilding or security organisation, assessed through supervisor evaluation and written report.
Research Project
Project10% of the mark
Final-year dissertation on a peace, security, or conflict management topic.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Offered at Garissa University (Institute for Peace and Security Studies), Technical University of Mombasa, Kisii University, Mount Kenya University, and other CUE-accredited institutions. Admission requires KCSE mean grade C+ with C+ in English or Kiswahili. KUCCPS Cluster 3.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Programme accreditationRequired
CUE accredits all university programmes in Kenya. Garissa University and all listed institutions offering this programme are CUE-accredited.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Peacebuilding Project Officer
Moderate demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 60,000
Implements peacebuilding and conflict resolution projects with NGOs and community organisations.
Conflict Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 70,000
Analyses conflict dynamics and produces reports for NGOs, government, and international organisations.
Security Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 55,000
Monitors and analyses security risks for organisations operating in volatile environments.
Community Development Officer
Moderate demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 50,000
Works with communities on development initiatives that address root causes of conflict.
Human Rights Officer
Low demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 55,000
Monitors and advocates for human rights in conflict and post-conflict settings.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as peacebuilding officers, conflict analysts, security analysts, project assistants, and community development officers with NGOs, government agencies, and international organisations. Starting salaries range from KES 35,000–60,000 per month.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

SPSS
Statistical analysisPrimary
Conflict data analysis and research
KoboToolbox
Data collectionPrimary
Field data collection in conflict-affected areas
Microsoft Excel
Spreadsheet
Conflict data management and analysis
ArcGIS
Gis
Conflict mapping and spatial analysis
Google Scholar
Research
Academic research for peace and conflict studies
Microsoft Word
Document drafting
Research report writing and policy briefs

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Peace studies graduates can only work in NGOs.
Graduates work in government agencies, county governments, international organisations, security firms, research institutions, and corporate social responsibility departments.
Peace and conflict studies is not a serious academic discipline.
The programme draws on political science, sociology, international relations, law, and psychology to provide rigorous analytical frameworks for understanding and addressing conflict.
There are no jobs in peacebuilding in Kenya.
Kenya's security challenges, devolved governance, and active NGO sector create consistent demand for peacebuilding and conflict management professionals.
Conflict management is just about talking to people.
The field involves data-driven conflict analysis, policy development, project management, security assessment, and evidence-based peacebuilding strategies.