Social Sciences

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Public Administration

The Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Public Administration is a four-year degree programme that combines the study of political systems with public management. The programme equips graduates with knowledge of political theory, governance, and administrative practice, preparing them for careers in government, public service, and civil society.

The curriculum covers political theory, comparative politics, public administration, public policy, governance, international relations, political economy, research methods, and Kenyan politics. Students study both political science foundations and public management practices.

Students develop competencies in political analysis, public administration, policy analysis, research, governance, and communication. The programme combines lectures, seminars, research projects, and community engagement. Students analyse political systems, study administrative processes, and conduct research on governance topics.

Graduates pursue careers as public administrators, policy analysts, county governance officers, NGO programme officers, and political researchers. They find employment in national and county governments, NGOs, international organisations, and research institutions. Kenya's devolved governance system creates demand for professionals skilled in both politics and administration.

The programme is offered at multiple public universities: Garissa University (KSH 109,650/year), Karatina University (KSH 122,400/year), Maasai Mara University (KSH 153,000/year), and Rongo University (KSH 153,000/year). All are public institutions.

Accreditation is provided by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Admission requires a KCSE mean grade of C+ with appropriate cluster subject grades.

Duration: 4 Years
Public, up to: Ksh 189,004
Private, up to: Ksh 150,000
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: 50 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Political Theory
Comparative Politics
Public Administration
Public Policy
Governance
International Relations
Political Economy
Research Methods
Kenyan Politics
Public Management

Modules

12 in the programme

Introduction to Political Science
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Foundational concepts of political science, including power, authority, state, and governance.
Introduction to Public Administration
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Principles of public administration, including bureaucracy, public management, and service delivery.
Politics and Government in Kenya
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Structure and functioning of Kenya's political system, including government institutions and devolution.
Basic Concepts in Political Science
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Key concepts and terminology in political science, including democracy, ideology, and political systems.
Introduction to Political Theory
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Classical and contemporary political theory, including thinkers from Plato to modern theorists.
Public Policy Process
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Policy formulation, implementation, and evaluation processes in the public sector.
Comparative Politics
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Comparison of political systems across countries, including democratic and authoritarian regimes.
Political Economy
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Relationship between politics and economics, including development theory and political economy of Kenya.
County Governance and Devolution
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Kenya's devolved governance system, including county administration, intergovernmental relations, and fiscal devolution.
International Relations
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Theories and practices of international relations, including diplomacy, conflict, and cooperation.
Research Methods in Political Science
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Research methodology, including qualitative and quantitative methods for political science research.
Research Project
Year 4Semester 26 creditsCore
Final-year research project on a political science and public administration topic, including field research and dissertation.

Specialisations

Public Administration
Focus on government administration, public management, bureaucracy, and service delivery. 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.
Political Theory
Focus on classical and contemporary political thought, including democracy, justice, and political ideology.
County Governance
Focus on devolved governance, county administration, and intergovernmental relations in Kenya. 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.
Public Policy
Focus on policy formulation, implementation, and evaluation in the public sector. 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.
International Relations
Focus on diplomacy, international organisations, and global governance. 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.

A day as a student

A typical day combines lectures, seminars, and research activities. Morning sessions cover political theory, public administration, or governance, while afternoons focus on policy analysis, research methods, and group discussions. Students analyse case studies of governance systems, debate public policy issues, and conduct research on administrative topics. Group projects involve policy brief preparation, governance analysis, and public administration case studies.

The trade offs

In its favour

Combined programme offers both political analysis and practical public management skills.
Devolution has created governance and administration positions in all 47 counties.
Programme offered at four universities, providing institutional choice.
Graduates develop transferable analytical, research, and management skills valued across sectors.

Against it

Entry-level salaries in public service may be modest.
Career advancement may require postgraduate qualifications or professional certifications.
Some public administration positions are politically influenced.
Programme may be perceived as less specialised compared to standalone Political Science or Public Administration degrees.

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 150k

105k at Mount Kenya University150k at Catholic University of Eastern Africa

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; CUEA 150K, MKU 105K/yr (educationnewshub 2026/27)

Government-sponsored students receive fee subsidies through KUCCPS. HELB loans are available. All universities offer internal bursaries for needy students.

Funding options

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB)
KUCCPS Government Sponsorship
University Bursaries

Scholarships

4 recorded

County Government Bursaries
BursaryKenyan
Residents of respective counties pursuing undergraduate studies
Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
Government loanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students admitted to recognised universities. Must demonstrate financial need.
Higher Education Fund (HEF)
Government subsidyKenyan
Kenyan students who meet KUCCPS cluster cut-off points.
University Internal Bursaries
University bursaryKenyan
Registered students demonstrating financial need.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+ (Plus)
Alternative entry: KCSE mean grade C+ with appropriate cluster subjects; OR two principal passes and one subsidiary pass at A-Level; OR a relevant diploma from a recognised institution; OR equivalent qualifications recognised by the university senate.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment Tests
Coursework30% of the mark
Regular written tests, essays, seminar presentations, and class participation during the semester.
End of Semester Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Comprehensive written examinations covering political theory, public administration, and governance.
Research Project
Project100% of the mark
Final-year research project on a political science and public administration topic, including field research and dissertation.
Policy Brief Assessment
Coursework100% of the mark
Assessment of policy analysis skills through preparation of policy briefs and recommendations.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE), the statutory body responsible for quality assurance and regulation of university education in Kenya.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
CUE is the statutory body responsible for the accreditation and quality assurance of university programmes in Kenya.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Public Administration Officer
High demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 130,000
Manages public sector programmes and services in county and national government offices.
County Governance Officer
High demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 140,000
Supports county government administration, policy implementation, and service delivery.
Policy Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 150,000
Analyses and develops public policies for government, NGOs, and research institutions.
NGO Programme Officer
Moderate demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 140,000
Manages governance, democracy, and civic education programmes in NGOs.
Research Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 90,000
Supports research on governance, public administration, and policy in research institutions.
Political Affairs Assistant
Low demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 120,000
Supports political analysis and governance work in government and international organisations.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work in county and national government, NGOs, and policy research. Demand is moderate, driven by devolution and governance reforms.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

SPSS
Data analysisPrimary
Statistical analysis software for political science research and survey data analysis.
JSTOR
Research databasePrimary
Digital library for academic journals in political science and public administration.
Microsoft Office
Productivity
Productivity suite for research papers, policy briefs, and presentations.
Google Workspace
Collaboration
Collaboration tools for group projects and document sharing.
Zotero
Reference management
Reference management software for organising research sources and citations.

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

This programme is only for those who want to work in government.
Graduates work in NGOs, international organisations, research institutions, and private sector governance roles.
Political Science and Public Administration is the same as Political Science alone.
This combined programme includes both political analysis and practical public management skills, broadening career options.
There are no jobs for graduates in this field.
Devolution has created governance positions in all 47 counties, and civil society organisations actively recruit governance professionals.
The programme is purely theoretical with no practical application.
The programme includes research projects, community engagement, and policy analysis exercises with real-world applications.