Business

Bachelor of Business Administration (Finance)

The Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance is a four-year programme that combines business management fundamentals with specialised financial management knowledge. Students study corporate finance, investment analysis, financial markets, risk management and banking, alongside core business subjects including accounting, economics, management and marketing. The programme prepares graduates for diverse careers in Kenya's financial sector.

Students develop competencies in financial analysis, investment management, financial modelling, risk assessment, banking operations and corporate financial management. They learn to analyse financial statements, value investments, manage financial risks and make strategic financial decisions. The programme covers both domestic and international financial markets, with emphasis on the Kenyan banking and financial services sector.

In Kenya, the financial sector is a significant contributor to GDP, with Nairobi serving as a regional financial hub. The Nairobi Securities Exchange, commercial banks, insurance companies, microfinance institutions and fintech companies create diverse career opportunities. The growing fintech ecosystem and financial inclusion initiatives expand demand for finance professionals. Graduates find roles in banks, insurance companies, investment firms, corporate finance departments and regulatory bodies.

Teaching is delivered through lectures, case studies, financial modelling workshops, trading simulations and industrial attachment. Students analyse financial data, build investment portfolios, use financial software and undertake internships in financial institutions. The programme includes a final-year research project.

Graduates pursue careers as financial analysts, investment analysts, credit officers, banking officers, finance managers and risk managers. Some work in commercial banks, insurance companies or investment firms. Others join corporate finance departments or pursue professional certifications like CPA and CFA.

This programme is ideal for individuals with analytical minds, numerical aptitude and interest in financial markets. Students who enjoy working with numbers, analysing data and making investment decisions will find this programme particularly engaging.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 220,150
Private, up to: Ksh 225,500
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

Corporate Finance
Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management
Financial Markets and Institutions
Financial Accounting and Reporting
Risk Management and Insurance
Banking Operations and Management
Financial Modelling and Analysis
International Finance
Business Statistics and Econometrics
Strategic Financial Management

Modules

12 in the programme

Principles of Business Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Fundamental concepts of business organisation, management theory and organisational behaviour
Financial Accounting
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Principles of accounting, including bookkeeping, financial statements and accounting standards
Microeconomics and Macroeconomics
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Economic principles applied to business, including market structures, inflation and fiscal policy
Corporate Finance
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Financial decision-making in corporations, including capital budgeting, capital structure and dividend policy
Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Techniques for valuing investments, constructing portfolios and managing investment risk
Financial Markets and Institutions
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Structure and operations of financial markets, including the NSE, banking system and insurance sector
Banking Operations and Management
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Commercial banking operations, credit management and banking regulation in Kenya
Risk Management and Insurance
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Identification, measurement and management of financial risks, including insurance principles
Financial Modelling and Analysis
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Building financial models using Excel and other tools for valuation, forecasting and decision analysis
International Finance
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
International financial markets, foreign exchange management and cross-border investment
Research Project
Year 4Semester 23 creditsCore
Independent research on a selected finance topic producing a scholarly dissertation
Industrial Attachment
Year 4Semester 36 creditsCore
Supervised placement at a bank, insurance company, investment firm or corporate finance department

Specialisations

Corporate Finance
Specialization in Corporate Finance, preparing graduates for careers such as financial-controller. 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.
Risk Management
Specialization in Risk Management, preparing graduates for careers such as credit-risk-manager. 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.
Investment Management
Specialization in Investment Management, preparing graduates for careers such as investment-analyst.
Banking
Specialization in Banking, preparing graduates for careers such as credit-analyst. 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.
Insurance
Specialization in Insurance, preparing graduates for careers such as insurance-broker. 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.
Financial Technology
Specialization in Financial Technology, preparing graduates for careers such as business-analyst. 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 morning lectures on corporate finance or investment analysis with afternoon workshops on financial modelling or case studies. Students may analyse financial statements, build Excel models, simulate investment portfolios or research market trends.

The trade offs

In its favour

Nairobi is a regional financial hub with diverse career opportunities
Strong earning potential with professional certifications
Versatile qualification applicable to multiple industries
Growing fintech sector creates new opportunities

Against it

Financial sector can be competitive and demanding
Professional certifications like CPA or CFA require additional study and cost
Economic downturns can affect employment stability in financial services
Regulatory changes require continuous learning and adaptation

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 331 business courses

Public184k to 220k

184k at Kenyatta University220k at University of Nairobi

Private105k to 226k

105k at Mount Kenya University226k at Riara 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 183,600, UoN 220,150/yr (KUCCPS). Riara 225,500, MKU 105K (KUCCPS/MKU).

Students may access HELB loans and county bursaries. Some financial institutions offer internship stipends during attachment periods.

Funding options

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB)
LoanKsh 60,000
National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF)
Bursary
County Government Bursaries
Bursary

Scholarships

4 recorded

County Government Bursaries
BursaryKenyan
Residents of respective counties
Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students admitted to recognised universities
Higher Education Fund (HEF)
BursaryKenyan
Kenyan undergraduate students placed by KUCCPS in public universities
ICPAK Scholarship for Accounting and Finance Students
ScholarshipKenyan
Bright and needy students admitted to accounting or finance programmes

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+
Alternative entry: Relevant diploma or equivalent qualification

Mathematics A/B
C+
English/Kiswahili
C+
Any Group II subject
C+
Any Group III, IV or V subject
C+

How you are assessed

4 components

Assignments and Case Studies
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs)
Coursework30% of the mark
Research Project
Coursework100% of the mark
Final Examination
Coursework40% of the mark

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Professional certifications such as CPA (ICPAK) or CFA enhance career prospects.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
InstitutionalRequired

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Banking Officer
High demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 130,000
Manages banking operations, customer relationships and financial products in commercial banks
Credit Officer
High demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 120,000
Assesses loan applications, manages credit risk and monitors loan portfolios in banking institutions
Finance Manager
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 250,000
Manages financial operations, budgeting and strategic financial planning in organisations
Financial Analyst
High demandKsh 55,000 to Ksh 180,000
Analyses financial data, prepares reports and supports investment and financial decisions
Investment Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 200,000
Researches and evaluates investment opportunities for asset management firms and banks

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as financial analysts, investment analysts, credit officers, banking officers and finance managers in banks, insurance companies, investment firms and corporate finance departments.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

SAP FICO
ErpPrimary
SAP financial and controlling module.
QuickBooks Enterprise
Accounting
Advanced accounting for SMEs.
Microsoft Excel
SpreadsheetPrimary
Financial modelling and analysis.
SAP ERP
ErpPrimary
Oracle ERP
Erp

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Finance is just about banking
Finance covers corporate finance, investment, insurance, risk management, financial markets and fintech.
You need to be good at maths to study finance
While numerical aptitude helps, the programme teaches financial mathematics and modelling from foundational levels.
Finance graduates only work in banks
Graduates work in insurance, investment firms, corporate finance, regulatory bodies, consulting and fintech companies.
A finance degree guarantees wealth
While finance careers can be lucrative, success depends on performance, experience and professional certifications.