Business

Bachelor of Commerce and Management

The Bachelor of Commerce and Management is a four-year online degree programme offered at The Open University of Kenya. The programme is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of business and management, equipping students with the skills to innovate, lead, and contribute to sustainable economic growth.

The curriculum covers human resource management, strategic management, accounting, finance, marketing, supply chain management, project planning and management, banking and co-operatives management, and risk and insurance.

Students develop skills in business management, financial analysis, accounting, marketing strategy, human resource management, supply chain management, project planning, strategic decision-making, and entrepreneurial thinking.

Graduates pursue careers as business managers, accountants, marketing executives, human resource officers, project managers, supply chain coordinators, banking officers, and entrepreneurs. They find employment in corporations, government departments, NGOs, SMEs, and co-operative organisations.

The programme is offered at The Open University of Kenya (public, KES 79,000 per year) as a fully online programme. The Open University of Kenya is Kenya's first open and distance learning university, established to expand access to higher education through flexible, technology-mediated delivery.

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+ or equivalent, with alternative entry pathways through diplomas, professional qualifications, foundation courses, or recognition of prior learning.

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: Online
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 100 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Human Resource Management
Strategic Management
Accounting
Finance
Marketing
Supply Chain Management
Project Planning and Management
Banking and Co-operatives Management
Risk and Insurance
Business Law

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.
Business Communication
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Business Communication: Written and oral communication skills for business contexts. Develops practical skills for academic and professional contexts.
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.
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 13 creditsCore
Human Resource Management: Recruitment, training, compensation, and management of human resources. Covers planning, organising, leadership, and control in organisational contexts.
Corporate Finance
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Corporate Finance: Financial management, capital budgeting, and corporate financial decisions. Covers financial reporting, budgeting, investment analysis, and regulatory frameworks.
Supply Chain Management
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Procurement, logistics, and supply chain operations. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, co...
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.
Project Planning and Management
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Project design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment te...
Banking and Co-operatives Management
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Banking and Co-operatives Management: Banking operations, co-operative business models, and financial institutions. Covers planning, organising, leadership, and control in organisational contexts.
Research Project
Year 4Semester 26 creditsCore
Final-year research project on a business or management topic, submitted online.

Specialisations

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.
Strategic Management
Focus on strategy formulation, implementation, and competitive advantage. 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.
Accounting
Focus on financial reporting, auditing, and taxation. 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.
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.
Supply Chain Management
Focus on procurement, logistics, and supply chain operations. 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.
Project Planning and Management
Focus on project design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. 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 and Co-operatives Management
Focus on banking operations and co-operative business 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

As a fully online programme, a typical day involves logging into the OUK learning platform to access course materials, watch video lectures, participate in discussion forums, and submit assignments. Students engage with interactive digital content, complete online quizzes, and collaborate with peers through virtual group projects. The flexible format allows working professionals to study at their own pace, with scheduled virtual tutorials and online office hours with lecturers.

The trade offs

In its favour

Fully online delivery provides maximum flexibility for working professionals and remote students.
Affordable tuition at KES 79,000/year, significantly lower than most campus-based programmes.
Comprehensive curriculum covering nine specialisation areas in business and management.
Accessible from anywhere in Kenya, removing geographical barriers to higher education.

Against it

Online format lacks face-to-face interaction with lecturers and peers.
Requires strong self-discipline and time management skills for online learning.
No industrial attachment component, limiting practical workplace exposure.
Relatively new institution with limited alumni network and employer recognition compared to established universities.

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 OUK internal scholarships may also be available. The affordable fee structure (KES 79,000/year) makes the programme accessible to a wide range of 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.
OUK Scholarships
University scholarshipKenyan
Students with demonstrated financial need at the Open University of Kenya.
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+ or equivalent; OR a diploma or professional qualification from a recognised institution; OR a certificate of foundation or bridging course; OR recognition of prior learning portfolio; OR KACE with at least one principal pass; OR a bachelor's degree from a recognised institution.

How you are assessed

4 components

Online Quizzes and Tests
Coursework30% of the mark
Regular online quizzes and tests administered through the learning management system.
Discussion Forum Participation
Coursework20% of the mark
Participation in online discussion forums and collaborative activities.
Online Assignments and Projects
Practical20% of the mark
Individual and group assignments submitted online, including case studies and research papers.
End of Semester Online Examinations
Examination30% of the mark
Proctored online examinations covering all course content for the semester.

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

Business Manager
High demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 200,000
Manages business operations, strategy, and team coordination in organisations.
Accountant
High demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 150,000
Prepares financial statements, manages accounts, and ensures tax compliance.
Project Manager
High demandKsh 55,000 to Ksh 180,000
Plans, implements, and monitors development and business projects.
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.
Supply Chain Coordinator
High demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 130,000
Coordinates procurement, logistics, and supply chain operations.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as business managers, accountants, project managers, and HR officers across all sectors. The online format particularly suits working professionals seeking career advancement.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Microsoft Excel
SpreadsheetPrimary
Spreadsheet tool for financial analysis, accounting, and data management.
Microsoft Teams
CollaborationPrimary
Collaboration platform for virtual classes, group work, and communication.
Zoom
Video conferencingPrimary
Video conferencing tool for virtual tutorials and online meetings.
Google Workspace
Collaboration
Collaboration tools for document sharing, project coordination, and communication.
Moodle
Learning management
Learning management system for accessing course materials and submitting assignments.

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

An online degree is not as good as a campus-based degree.
The OUK programme is CUE-accredited and meets the same academic standards as campus-based programmes, with the added benefit of flexibility.
Online learning lacks interaction with lecturers.
The programme includes scheduled virtual tutorials, online office hours, and discussion forums providing regular interaction with lecturers and peers.
This is a separate degree from the Bachelor of Commerce.
It is a BCom programme with a management focus, offered through online delivery at the Open University of Kenya.
Online degrees are only for working professionals.
The programme is open to all qualifying students, including recent KCSE graduates who prefer flexible, self-paced learning.