Social Sciences

Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration

The Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration is a four-year degree programme that studies government administration, public management, and public policy. The programme equips graduates with knowledge of administrative theory, governance, and public sector management, preparing them for careers in government, county administration, and public service.

The curriculum covers public administration theory, public policy, public finance, human resource management, governance, development administration, research methods, project management, and county governance. Students study both theoretical foundations and practical administrative skills.

Students develop competencies in public management, policy analysis, financial management, research, governance, and communication. The programme combines lectures, seminars, case studies, research projects, and industrial attachment. Students analyse administrative systems, study governance processes, and conduct research on public sector topics.

Graduates pursue careers as public administration officers, county governance officers, policy analysts, human resource officers, and project officers. They find employment in national and county governments, NGOs, and international organisations. Kenya's devolved governance system creates strong demand for public administration professionals.

The programme is offered at multiple public universities: Machakos University (KSH 153,000/year, KUCCPS code 1170159), Murang'a University of Technology (KSH 153,000/year, KUCCPS code 1246159), and University of Kabianga (KSH 244,800/year, KUCCPS code 1118159). Mount Kenya University offers it as a private institution at KSH 105,000/year (KUCCPS code 1279670).

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 105,000
Job market: High

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

Public Administration Theory
Public Policy
Public Finance
Human Resource Management
Governance
Development Administration
Research Methods
Project Management
County Governance
Intergovernmental Relations

Modules

12 in the programme

Introduction to Public Administration
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Foundational concepts of public administration, including bureaucracy, public management, and administrative theory.
Principles of Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Principles of Management: Management principles and theories applied to public sector contexts. Covers planning, organising, leadership, and control in organisational contexts.
Kenyan Government and Politics
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Structure and functioning of Kenya's government, including executive, legislature, judiciary, and devolution.
Public Finance Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Government budgeting, revenue mobilisation, public expenditure, and fiscal management.
Public Policy Process
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Policy formulation, implementation, analysis, and evaluation in the public sector.
Human Resource Management in the Public Sector
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
HR management practices in government, including recruitment, training, and performance management.
County Governance and Devolution
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Kenya's devolved governance system, including county administration, intergovernmental relations, and fiscal devolution.
Development Administration
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Managing development programmes and projects in government and development organisations.
Research Methods in Public Administration
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Research methodology for public administration, including qualitative and quantitative methods.
Project Management in the Public Sector
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Project planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation in government settings.
Research Project
Year 4Semester 16 creditsCore
Final-year research project on a public administration topic, including field research and dissertation.
Industrial Attachment
Year 4Semester 23 creditsCore
Supervised attachment with a government or public sector organisation, providing practical experience.

Specialisations

County Governance
Focus on devolved governance, county administration, intergovernmental relations, and local government management.
Public Policy
Focus on policy formulation, implementation, analysis, 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.
Public Finance Management
Focus on government budgeting, financial planning, revenue mobilisation, and public expenditure management.
Human Resource Management
Focus on managing human resources in the public sector, including recruitment, training, and performance management.
Development Administration
Focus on managing development programmes and projects in government and development organisations. 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 case study analysis. Morning sessions cover public administration theory, public finance, or governance, while afternoons focus on policy analysis, research methods, and group discussions. Students analyse case studies of administrative systems, debate governance issues, and conduct research on public sector topics. Group projects involve policy brief preparation, budget analysis, and county governance case studies.

The trade offs

In its favour

Devolution has created administration positions in all 47 counties, driving high demand.
Programme offered at multiple universities including both public and private, providing institutional choice.
Graduates develop transferable management, analytical, and governance skills valued across sectors.
Programme provides direct pathway to public service careers with pension and job security benefits.

Against it

Entry-level salaries in public service may be modest compared to private sector.
Career advancement may require postgraduate qualifications or professional certifications.
Some public administration positions are politically influenced.
University of Kabianga fees are significantly higher than other public universities.

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 105k

105k at Mount Kenya University105k at Mount Kenya 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; MKU 105K/yr (educationnewshub). Kabarak unverified.

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, case study analyses, and seminar presentations during the semester.
End of Semester Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Comprehensive written examinations covering public administration, governance, and management topics.
Research Project
Project100% of the mark
Final-year research project on a public administration topic, including field research 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

Public Administration Officer
High demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 130,000
Manages public sector programmes and services in national and county 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.
Human Resource Officer
High demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 130,000
Manages human resources in public sector organisations, including recruitment and training.
Project Officer
Moderate demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 120,000
Plans and manages projects in government and development organisations.
NGO Programme Officer
Moderate demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 140,000
Manages governance and development programmes in NGOs and civil society organisations.

Graduate outcomes

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

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Microsoft Excel
SpreadsheetPrimary
Spreadsheet software for budget analysis, data management, and financial planning.
SPSS
Data analysisPrimary
Statistical analysis software for public administration research and data analysis.
Microsoft Office
Productivity
Productivity suite for reports, policy briefs, and presentations.
Google Workspace
Collaboration
Collaboration tools for document sharing and team coordination.
Microsoft Project
Project management
Project management software for planning and tracking public sector projects.

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Public Administration is only for those who want to work in government.
Graduates work in NGOs, international organisations, private sector, and can start consulting firms.
There are no jobs for Public Administration graduates.
Devolution has created administration positions in all 47 counties, and governance reforms drive demand.
Public Administration is the same as Business Administration.
Public Administration focuses on government and public sector management, while Business Administration focuses on private sector.
The programme is purely theoretical with no practical application.
The programme includes case studies, industrial attachment, and research projects with real-world applications.