Business

Bachelor of Commerce and Business Administration

The Bachelor of Commerce and Business Administration is a four-year degree programme offered at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. The programme combines commerce education with business administration, providing graduates with a versatile skill set for careers in accounting, finance, banking, marketing, human resource management, and administration.

The curriculum covers financial accounting, management accounting, corporate finance, marketing management, human resource management, business administration, business law, economics, banking, strategic management, information systems, entrepreneurship, and management science.

Students develop skills in financial analysis, accounting practice, marketing strategy, human resource management, business administration, banking operations, strategic management, and information systems.

Graduates pursue careers as accountants, financial managers, banking officers, marketing executives, human resource officers, and business administrators. They find employment in accounting firms, banks, corporations, government departments, NGOs, and SMEs.

The programme is offered at JKUAT (public, KSH 183,600 per year for KUCCPS-placed students) at the main campus in Juja. JKUAT is one of Kenya's leading public universities with strong industry linkages in technology and business. The trimester system allows students to complete the degree in three calendar years.

Accreditation is provided by the Commission for University Education (CUE), the statutory body responsible for quality assurance and regulation of university education in Kenya. Admission requires a KCSE mean grade of C+ with at least C Plain in Mathematics and English.

Duration: 4 Years
Public, up to: Ksh 260,000
Private, up to: Ksh 242,800
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: 60 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Financial Accounting
Corporate Finance
Marketing Management
Human Resource Management
Business Administration
Business Law
Economics
Banking
Strategic Management
Information Systems

Modules

12 in the programme

Principles of Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Foundational concepts of management, planning, organising, leading, and controlling.
Financial Accounting
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Financial Accounting: Introduction to accounting principles, financial statements, and bookkeeping. Covers financial reporting, budgeting, investment analysis, and regulatory frameworks.
Microeconomics
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Microeconomics: Economic principles at the individual and firm level, supply and demand. Covers economic theory, market analysis, and policy evaluation.
Business Law
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Business Law: Legal framework for business operations including contracts and company law. Examines statutory frameworks, case law, and regulatory compliance in the Kenyan context.
Corporate Finance
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Corporate Finance: Financial management, capital budgeting, and corporate financial decisions. Covers financial reporting, budgeting, investment analysis, and regulatory frameworks.
Marketing Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Marketing Management: Marketing principles, consumer behaviour, and marketing strategy. Covers market analysis, consumer behaviour, branding, and promotional strategies.
Human Resource Management
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Human Resource Management: Recruitment, training, compensation, and management of human resources. Covers planning, organising, leadership, and control in organisational contexts.
Banking Operations
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Banking Operations: Banking principles, financial institutions, and monetary systems. Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Strategic Management
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Strategic Management: Strategy formulation, implementation, and evaluation for competitive advantage. Covers planning, organising, leadership, and control in organisational contexts.
Business Administration
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Business Administration: Office administration, management practice, and organisational management. Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Information Systems for Business
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Information Systems for Business: Business information systems, IT applications, and digital business tools. Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Industrial Attachment and Research Project
Year 4Semester 26 creditsCore
Supervised industrial attachment and final-year research project on a business topic.

Specialisations

Accounting
Focus on financial reporting, auditing, taxation, and accounting standards. 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.
Finance
Focus on corporate finance, investment analysis, and financial management. 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.
Banking
Focus on banking operations, monetary systems, and financial institutions. 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.
Marketing
Focus on marketing strategy, consumer behaviour, and brand management. 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.
Human Resource Management
Focus on recruitment, training, compensation, and organisational behaviour. 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.
Administration
Focus on office administration, management practice, and organisational management. 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 at JKUAT's Juja campus combines lectures, case studies, and group projects under the trimester system. Morning sessions cover accounting, finance, and economics, while afternoons focus on marketing, HR, and business administration through practical exercises. The fast-tracked trimester schedule means students complete more courses per year, with shorter breaks. Students participate in business simulations and industrial visits.

The trade offs

In its favour

Trimester system allows students to complete the degree in three calendar years instead of four.
Six major options provide flexibility and diverse career paths.
JKUAT's strong technology focus integrates IT into business education.
Accounting major graduates can apply for associate membership of professional accounting bodies.

Against it

Trimester system is intensive with shorter breaks and heavier course load per term.
Large class sizes at JKUAT may reduce individual attention.
Only offered at JKUAT under this specific CUE-registered title.
Employers may require professional qualifications (CPA, ACCA) in addition to the degree.

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 260k

184k at Kenyatta University260k 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 BCom 183.6K, UoN ~260K/yr (mawese/uonbi). MKU 105K, Daystar 242.8K (KUCCPS).

HELB loans are available for qualifying Kenyan students. County government bursaries and JKUAT internal scholarships are also available. The Higher Education Financing (HEF) platform provides government funding for KUCCPS-placed students.

Funding options

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB)
County Government Bursaries
University Scholarships

Scholarships

5 recorded

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
Government loanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students admitted to recognised universities. Must demonstrate financial need.
County Government Bursaries
Government bursaryKenyan
Kenyan students from respective counties demonstrating financial need.
JKUAT Scholarships
University scholarshipKenyan
Students with outstanding academic performance at JKUAT.
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+ (Plus)
Alternative entry: KCSE mean grade C+ with at least C in Mathematics and English; OR KACE with two principal passes and a credit pass in Mathematics at KCE; OR a relevant diploma from a recognised institution; OR a professional certificate holder (CPA/CPS) with KCSE C.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment Tests
Coursework30% of the mark
Written tests, assignments, and case study analyses throughout the trimester.
Group Projects and Presentations
Practical20% of the mark
Team-based business projects, simulations, and class presentations.
End of Trimester Examinations
Examination50% of the mark
Written examinations covering all course content for the trimester.
Industrial Attachment Report
Project100% of the mark
Final-year industrial attachment including supervisor evaluation, report, and oral presentation.

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

Accountant
High demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 150,000
Prepares financial statements, manages accounts, and ensures tax compliance.
Business Administrator
Moderate demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 130,000
Manages office operations, administrative processes, and organisational coordination.
Financial Manager
High demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 250,000
Manages financial operations, budgeting, and investment decisions.
Banking Officer
Moderate demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 120,000
Manages banking operations, customer service, and credit assessment.
Marketing Executive
High demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 130,000
Develops and implements marketing campaigns and strategies.
Human Resource Officer
Moderate demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 120,000
Manages recruitment, training, and employee relations in organisations.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as accountants, financial managers, banking officers, and business administrators across all sectors. Demand is high with the trimester system providing a faster pathway to graduation.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Microsoft Excel
SpreadsheetPrimary
Spreadsheet tool for financial analysis, accounting, and data management.
QuickBooks
AccountingPrimary
Accounting software for small business financial management.
SAP
Erp
Enterprise resource planning system used in large organisations.
Power BI
Analytics
Business analytics tool for data visualisation and reporting.
Microsoft PowerPoint
Presentation
Presentation tool for business pitches and reports.

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

This is a different degree from the standard Bachelor of Commerce.
It is the BCom programme at JKUAT registered with CUE under the 'Commerce and Business Administration' title, with the same specialisation options.
The trimester system means lower quality education.
The trimester system covers the same content as a four-year programme but compresses it into three calendar years through shorter, more intensive terms.
JKUAT only offers engineering and technology courses.
JKUAT has a comprehensive School of Business offering commerce, business administration, and management programmes.
A commerce degree from JKUAT is less recognised than from UoN or KU.
JKUAT's BCom is CUE-accredited and widely recognised, with strong industry linkages and placement in accounting firms and corporations.