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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.

Duration
4 Years
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 189,004
Ksh 756,016 total
Private tuition
Ksh 242,800
Ksh 971,200 total
Job market
Moderate
Market demand for graduates

The short answer

What it costs
Up to Ksh 189,004 a year at a public institution, Ksh 756,016 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 242,800 a year at a private one.The detail
Who can get in
A KCSE mean grade of C+ (Plus) or above. There is another way in without it.The detail
How long, and when
Takes 4 years, full-time, with 3 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 22 institutions.The detail
Where it leads
8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Dental Ceramist, at 3 out of 100.The detail

The programme

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

Overview

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.

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 favourAgainst it
Growing mental health awareness in Kenya creates increasing demand for psychology graduates.Independent practice as a psychologist requires postgraduate qualifications and professional registration.
Programme develops transferable skills in research, analysis, and communication applicable across sectors.Entry-level salaries may be modest, particularly in NGO and social work roles.
Programme offered at multiple universities including both public and private, providing institutional choice.Emotional demands of counselling and mental health work can lead to burnout.
Graduates can pursue postgraduate specialisation in clinical, counselling, or organisational psychology.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.

Scholarships you could apply for

15 usable where it is taught
Save one and be reminded before it closes

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade
C+ (Plus)minimum entry
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.

When it next starts

Taught at 22 institutions
January 202722 institutions

Including Kenyatta University, Africa International University, Laikipia University.

May 202720 institutions

Including Kenyatta University, Laikipia University, Pwani University.

September 202722 institutions

Including Kenyatta University, Africa International University, Laikipia University.

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

  • Commission for University Education (CUE)

    Academic accreditationRequired

    CUE is the statutory body responsible for the accreditation and quality assurance of university programmes in Kenya.

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.

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

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.

Further reading

Read next