Business

Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting

The Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting is a four-year programme that combines business management foundations with specialised accounting knowledge. Students study financial accounting, management accounting, auditing, taxation, corporate reporting and business law, developing the technical competencies needed for professional accounting practice. The programme prepares graduates for careers in accounting, auditing, taxation and financial management across all sectors.

Students develop competencies in financial statement preparation, cost analysis, auditing procedures, tax computation, budgeting and financial management. They learn to maintain accounting records, prepare financial reports, conduct audits, compute taxes and provide financial advisory services. The programme covers Kenyan accounting standards, International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and the regulatory framework governing accounting practice in Kenya.

In Kenya, accounting professionals are in demand across all sectors. Every organisation requires accounting services, from SMEs to multinational corporations. The Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK) oversees the profession, and graduates can pursue CPA qualifications with exemptions. The growing emphasis on corporate governance, transparency and IFRS adoption increases demand for qualified accountants. Graduates find roles in accounting firms, corporate finance departments, government agencies and NGOs.

Teaching is delivered through lectures, accounting software workshops, case studies, research projects and industrial attachment. Students use accounting software, analyse financial statements, prepare audit working papers and undertake internships in accounting firms or corporate finance departments. The programme includes a final-year research project.

Graduates pursue careers as accountants, auditors, tax consultants, financial controllers and accounting managers. Some work in public accounting firms, corporate finance departments or government agencies. Others pursue CPA qualifications and establish independent accounting practices.

This programme is ideal for individuals with numerical aptitude, attention to detail and interest in business finance. Students who enjoy working with numbers, solving problems and maintaining accurate records will find this programme particularly suitable.

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

Financial Accounting and Reporting
Management Accounting
Auditing and Assurance
Taxation (Kenya)
Corporate Reporting and IFRS
Business Law and Company Law
Cost Accounting and Budgeting
Accounting Information Systems
Financial Management
Corporate Governance and Ethics

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 I
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Principles of double-entry bookkeeping, preparation of financial statements and accounting for assets
Business Mathematics and Statistics
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Mathematical and statistical techniques for business, including financial mathematics and data analysis
Management Accounting I
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Cost accounting principles, costing methods and cost-volume-profit analysis for decision-making
Business Law and Company Law
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Legal framework for business in Kenya, including contract law, company law and commercial law
Auditing and Assurance
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Principles and procedures of auditing, including internal controls, evidence and audit reports
Taxation (Kenya)
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Kenyan tax system, including income tax, VAT, customs duty and tax planning strategies
Corporate Reporting and IFRS
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Preparation of corporate financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards
Accounting Information Systems
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Computerised accounting systems, including ERP systems, controls and data security
Corporate Governance and Ethics
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Principles of corporate governance, professional ethics and regulatory frameworks for accountants
Research Project
Year 4Semester 23 creditsCore
Independent research on a selected accounting topic producing a scholarly dissertation
Industrial Attachment
Year 4Semester 36 creditsCore
Supervised placement at an accounting firm, corporate finance department or government agency

Specialisations

Financial Accounting
Specialization in Financial Accounting, preparing graduates for careers such as accounting. 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.
Forensic Accounting
Specialization in Forensic Accounting, preparing graduates for careers such as internal-auditor. 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.
Management Accounting
Specialization in Management Accounting, preparing graduates for careers such as management-accountant.
Auditing
Specialization in Auditing, preparing graduates for careers such as internal-auditor. 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.
Taxation
Specialization in Taxation, preparing graduates for careers such as accounting. 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.
Cost Accounting
Specialization in Cost Accounting, preparing graduates for careers such as cost-accountant. 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 financial accounting or auditing with afternoon workshops using accounting software. Students may prepare financial statements, analyse annual reports, work on audit case studies or practise tax computations using KRA guidelines.

The trade offs

In its favour

Every organisation needs accountants, ensuring consistent demand
Clear career progression with professional certifications
ICPAK exemptions reduce CPA qualification time and cost
Versatile qualification applicable to all industries

Against it

Professional CPA qualification requires additional study beyond the degree
Accounting work can be detail-oriented and repetitive in entry-level roles
Tax and regulatory changes require continuous learning
Busy seasons (year-end, tax deadlines) involve long working hours

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 accounting firms 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

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

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Graduates can pursue CPA Kenya qualification through ICPAK with exemptions for relevant coursework.

Accredited by

Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK)
InstitutionalRequired
Commission for University Education (CUE)
InstitutionalRequired

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Tax Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 160,000
Provides tax advisory services, prepares tax returns and advises on tax planning
Auditor
High demandKsh 55,000 to Ksh 180,000
Examines financial records and systems to ensure accuracy, compliance and reliability
Management Accountant
Moderate demandKsh 55,000 to Ksh 160,000
Provides cost analysis, budgeting and financial decision support to management
Financial Controller
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 250,000
Oversees accounting operations, financial reporting and internal controls in organisations
Accountant
High demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 150,000
Prepares and maintains financial records, reports and statements for organisations

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as accountants, auditors, tax consultants and financial controllers in accounting firms, corporate finance departments, government agencies and NGOs.

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

Accounting is just about bookkeeping
Modern accounting involves financial analysis, strategic planning, auditing, taxation and advisory services.
Accountants are being replaced by software
While software automates routine tasks, accountants are needed for analysis, interpretation, strategy and compliance.
You need to be a maths genius to study accounting
Accounting requires basic arithmetic and attention to detail, not advanced mathematics.
Accounting is boring
Accounting involves problem-solving, investigation, business strategy and advisory roles that are dynamic and challenging.