Social Sciences

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

The Bachelor of Arts in Psychology is a four-year degree programme that studies human behaviour and mental processes. The programme equips graduates with knowledge of psychological theory, research methods, and applied psychology, preparing them for careers in counselling, human resources, social work, research, and mental health support.

The curriculum covers general psychology, developmental psychology, social psychology, cognitive psychology, abnormal psychology, research methods, statistics, psychological testing, counselling psychology, and industrial psychology. Students study both theoretical foundations and practical applications of psychology.

Students develop competencies in psychological assessment, research, counselling, data analysis, critical thinking, and communication. The programme combines lectures, seminars, laboratory sessions, research projects, and industrial attachment. Students undertake psychological assessments, research studies, and a supervised attachment with a psychology-related organisation.

Graduates pursue careers as counselling psychologists, human resource officers, research assistants, social workers, and mental health support workers. They find employment in schools, hospitals, NGOs, corporate organisations, and government agencies. Growing awareness of mental health in Kenya creates increasing demand for psychology graduates.

The programme is offered at Kenyatta University (public, KSH 153,000/year, KUCCPS code 1111237), Moi University (public, KSH 153,000/year, KUCCPS code 1253237), Pwani University (public, KSH 153,000/year, KUCCPS code 1117237), and Daystar University (private, KSH 242,800/year, KUCCPS code 1162337).

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 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: 60 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

General Psychology
Developmental Psychology
Social Psychology
Cognitive Psychology
Abnormal Psychology
Research Methods
Statistics
Psychological Testing
Counselling Psychology
Industrial Psychology

Modules

12 in the programme

Introduction to General Psychology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Foundational concepts of psychology, including history, schools of thought, and research methods.
Developmental Psychology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Human development across the lifespan, including cognitive, social, and emotional development.
Social Psychology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Social Psychology: Social behaviour, group dynamics, attitudes, persuasion, and social influence. Covers theoretical frameworks, research methods, and practical applications in psychology.
Cognitive Psychology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Cognitive Psychology: Mental processes including perception, memory, thinking, and problem-solving. Covers theoretical frameworks, research methods, and practical applications in psychology.
Research Methods in Psychology
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Research methodology, including experimental design, surveys, and qualitative methods.
Statistics for Psychology
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Statistical methods for psychological research, including descriptive and inferential statistics.
Abnormal Psychology
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Abnormal Psychology: Psychological disorders, classification systems, and treatment approaches. Covers theoretical frameworks, research methods, and practical applications in psychology.
Counselling Psychology
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Counselling theories, techniques, and ethical practice. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests,...
Psychological Testing and Assessment
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Principles of psychological assessment, including test construction, administration, and interpretation.
Industrial and Organisational Psychology
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Application of psychology in workplace settings, including motivation, job satisfaction, and organisational behaviour.
Research Project
Year 4Semester 16 creditsCore
Final-year research project on a psychology topic, including research design, data collection, analysis, and dissertation.
Industrial Attachment
Year 4Semester 23 creditsCore
Supervised attachment with a psychology-related organisation, providing practical experience.

Specialisations

Counselling Psychology
Focus on therapeutic approaches, counselling techniques, and mental health support for individuals and groups.
Industrial and Organisational Psychology
Focus on applying psychology in workplace settings, including employee wellbeing, performance, and organisational behaviour.
Developmental Psychology
Focus on human development across the lifespan, including child, adolescent, and adult development. 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.
Social Psychology
Focus on social behaviour, group dynamics, attitudes, and social influence. 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.
Clinical Psychology Foundations
Focus on abnormal psychology, psychological disorders, and assessment techniques, providing a foundation for postgraduate clinical training.

A day as a student

A typical day combines lectures, seminars, and laboratory sessions. Morning sessions cover psychological theory, developmental psychology, or cognitive psychology, while afternoons focus on research methods, statistics, and counselling practicals. Students conduct psychological assessments, analyse case studies, and design research studies. Laboratory sessions involve psychological experiments and testing. Group projects include research design, data collection, and presentation of findings.

The trade offs

In its favour

Growing mental health awareness in Kenya creates increasing demand for psychology graduates.
Programme develops transferable skills in research, analysis, and communication applicable across sectors.
Programme offered at multiple universities including both public and private, providing institutional choice.
Graduates can pursue postgraduate specialisation in clinical, counselling, or organisational psychology.

Against it

Independent practice as a psychologist requires postgraduate qualifications and professional registration.
Entry-level salaries may be modest, particularly in NGO and social work roles.
Emotional demands of counselling and mental health work can lead to burnout.
Limited regulation of psychology practice in Kenya compared to other professions.

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; Daystar 242.8K, MKU 105K/yr (educationnewshub)

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

5 recorded

Higher Education Fund (HEF)
Government subsidyKenyan
Kenyan students who meet KUCCPS cluster cut-off points.
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKenyan
Residents of respective counties pursuing undergraduate studies
Kenya Counselling and Psychological Association (KCPA) Student Support
BursaryKenyan
Students pursuing counselling and psychology programmes
Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
Government loanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students admitted to recognised universities. Must demonstrate financial need.
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 KACE with two principal passes; OR a relevant diploma from a recognised institution with mean grade C at KCSE; OR a degree from a recognised university; OR CPA/CPS Part II with minimum C mean grade at KCSE.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment Tests
Coursework30% of the mark
Regular written tests, essays, laboratory reports, and seminar presentations during the semester.
End of Semester Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Comprehensive written examinations covering psychological theory, research methods, and applied topics.
Research Project
Project100% of the mark
Final-year research project including research design, data collection, statistical analysis, and dissertation.
Industrial Attachment Assessment
Practical100% of the mark
Assessment of supervised attachment performance, including supervisor evaluation and attachment report.

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

Counselling Psychologist
Moderate demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 130,000
Provides counselling and psychosocial support in schools, NGOs, and private practice.
Human Resource Officer
High demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 140,000
Applies psychology in HR roles including recruitment, training, and employee wellness.
Research Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 90,000
Supports research on behaviour, mental health, and social issues in research institutions.
Social Worker
High demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 100,000
Provides psychosocial support and case management in government and NGO settings.
Mental Health Support Worker
Moderate demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 90,000
Supports mental health programmes in hospitals, clinics, and community settings.
Training and Development Officer
Moderate demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 130,000
Designs and delivers training programmes using psychological principles of learning.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work in counselling, human resources, research, and social work. Demand is moderate and growing with increased mental health awareness in Kenya.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

SPSS
Data analysisPrimary
Statistical analysis software for psychological research and data analysis.
JSTOR
Research databasePrimary
Digital library for academic journals in psychology and behavioural sciences.
Microsoft Office
Productivity
Productivity suite for research papers, case reports, 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

Psychology graduates can diagnose and treat mental illness.
A bachelor's degree provides foundational knowledge; clinical practice requires postgraduate training and professional registration.
Psychology is just about reading minds.
Psychology is the scientific study of behaviour and mental processes, using research methods and evidence-based approaches.
There are no jobs for psychology graduates in Kenya.
Growing mental health awareness, devolution, and corporate wellness programmes create demand for psychology graduates.
Psychology is only for those who want to be counsellors.
Graduates work in HR, research, social work, education, marketing, and organisational development.