Business

Bachelor of Commerce in Entrepreneurship (Option)

The Bachelor of Commerce in Entrepreneurship (Option) is a four-year degree programme offered at KCA University. The programme combines core commerce education with specialised training in entrepreneurship, preparing graduates to start and manage business ventures, support MSME development, and drive innovation in organisations.

The curriculum covers financial accounting, cost accounting, business finance, marketing, human resource management, commercial law, company law, strategic management, project management, entrepreneurship and small business management, ideation, creativity and innovation, international entrepreneurship, business modelling, entrepreneurial ecosystem, social enterprise, sustainable business practices, MSMEs and economic development, intellectual.

Students develop skills in business model design, venture creation, innovation management, entrepreneurial finance, market opportunity analysis, intellectual property management, sustainable business practices, family business management, and enterprise consultancy.

Graduates pursue careers as entrepreneurs, business development officers, enterprise consultants, MSME development specialists, innovation managers, and family business managers. They find employment in startups, SMEs, incubation hubs, government enterprise development agencies, NGOs supporting entrepreneurship, and corporate innovation departments.

The programme is offered at KCA University (private, KSH 174,270 per year) at the main campus in Ruaraka, Nairobi, and the Western Campus in Kisumu. KCA University is renowned for its business and accounting programmes and has a strong entrepreneurship focus.

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 or Swahili.

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: 40 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management
Ideation
Creativity and Innovation
Business Modelling
Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
Social Enterprise
Sustainable Business Practices
MSMEs and Economic Development
Intellectual Property
Family Business Management

Modules

12 in the programme

Principles of Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Foundational concepts of management, planning, organising, leading, and controlling.
Financial Accounting I
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Financial Accounting I: Introduction to accounting principles, financial statements, and bookkeeping. Covers financial reporting, budgeting, investment analysis, and regulatory frameworks.
Commercial Law
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Commercial Law: Legal framework for business operations including contracts and commercial law. Examines statutory frameworks, case law, and regulatory compliance in the Kenyan context.
Business Finance
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Business Finance: Financial management, capital budgeting, and corporate financial decisions. Covers financial reporting, budgeting, investment analysis, and regulatory frameworks.
Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Introduction to entrepreneurship, small business management, and venture creation.
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.
Ideation
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Ideation: Techniques for generating, evaluating, and refining business ideas. Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Creativity and Innovation
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Creativity and Innovation: Creativity processes, innovation management, and corporate entrepreneurship. Equips students with practical skills for venture creation and business management.
Business Modelling
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Business Modelling: Business model design, canvas methodology, and venture planning. Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Social Enterprise
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Social Enterprise: Social entrepreneurship, sustainable business models, and impact measurement. Covers social structures, institutions, and contemporary social issues.
Family Business Management
Year 4Semester 23 creditsCore
Family Business Management: Governance, succession planning, and growth strategies for family businesses. Covers planning, organising, leadership, and control in organisational contexts.
Industrial Attachment and Research Project
Year 4Semester 36 creditsCore
Supervised 12-week industrial attachment and research project on an entrepreneurship topic.

Specialisations

Venture Creation
Focus on ideation, business modelling, and new venture startup. 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.
Social Enterprise
Focus on social entrepreneurship and sustainable business models. 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.
Family Business Management
Focus on governance, succession, and growth of family-owned businesses. 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.
MSME Development
Focus on micro, small, and medium enterprise support and economic development. 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.
Innovation Management
Focus on creativity, innovation processes, and corporate entrepreneurship. 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.
Enterprise Consultancy
Focus on advisory services for startups and growing businesses. 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 KCA University's Ruaraka campus combines lectures, project work, and entrepreneurship case studies. Morning sessions cover core commerce subjects like accounting, finance, and management, while afternoons focus on entrepreneurship-specific modules such as ideation, business modelling, and innovation. Students work on developing business plans, pitching ventures, and participating in incubation activities. The programme emphasises practical project work and real-world business challenges.

The trade offs

In its favour

Practical focus on venture creation with business modelling and incubation activities.
Access to KCA University's entrepreneurship centre and incubation support.
Strong industry linkages with enterprise development agencies and incubation hubs.
Available in full-time, part-time, and weekend modes at main and Kisumu campuses.

Against it

Private university fees may be higher than public university alternatives.
Entrepreneurship career path carries financial risk with uncertain income.
Only offered at KCA University under this specific CUE-registered title.
Trimester system can be intensive with shorter breaks between terms.

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. The Kenya Youth Enterprise Development Fund and Women Enterprise Fund provide startup capital for qualifying graduates. KCA University internal scholarships are also available.

Funding options

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB)
Kenya Youth Enterprise Development Fund
KCA University Scholarships

Scholarships

5 recorded

KCA University Scholarships
University scholarshipKenyan
Students with outstanding academic performance at KCA University.
Kenya Youth Enterprise Development Fund
Government fundKenyan
Youth entrepreneurs aged 18-35 years with viable business plans.
Higher Education Fund (HEF)
BursaryKenyan
Kenyan undergraduate students placed by KUCCPS in public universities
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKenyan
Residents of respective counties pursuing undergraduate studies
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 Swahili; OR a relevant diploma from a recognised institution; OR any other qualification approved by the university senate.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment Tests
Coursework30% of the mark
Written tests, assignments, and case study analyses throughout the trimester.
Business Plan and Venture Project
Practical20% of the mark
Development of a comprehensive business plan and venture pitch presentation.
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 12-week industrial attachment including supervisor evaluation, report, and research project.

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

Entrepreneur
Moderate demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 300,000
Starts and manages a business venture, applying entrepreneurial and management skills.
Business Development Officer
High demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 150,000
Supports business growth through market analysis, partnerships, and strategy development.
Enterprise Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 180,000
Advises startups and SMEs on business strategy, operations, and growth.
MSME Development Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 140,000
Supports micro, small, and medium enterprise development in government or NGO programmes.
Innovation Manager
Moderate demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 200,000
Manages innovation processes and corporate entrepreneurship in organisations.
Family Business Manager
Moderate demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 200,000
Manages and grows family-owned businesses with focus on governance and succession.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as entrepreneurs, business development officers, and enterprise consultants. Many start their own ventures. Demand is high with Kenya's growing emphasis on entrepreneurship and MSME development.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Business Model Canvas
PlanningPrimary
Strategic management tool for developing new business models and documenting existing ones.
Microsoft Excel
SpreadsheetPrimary
Spreadsheet tool for financial projections, business planning, and data analysis.
QuickBooks
Accounting
Accounting software for small business and startup financial management.
Microsoft PowerPoint
Presentation
Presentation tool for investor pitches and business plan presentations.
Canva
Design
Design tool for creating marketing materials and business branding.

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

An entrepreneurship degree is only for people who want to start their own business.
The programme also prepares graduates for roles in corporate innovation, enterprise development, MSME support, and business consultancy.
You cannot teach entrepreneurship; you are born with it.
Entrepreneurship skills such as business modelling, financial planning, market analysis, and innovation management can be learned and developed through structured education.
This is a separate degree from the BCom.
It is a BCom with a specialisation option in Entrepreneurship, chosen from the third year after completing common core courses.
Entrepreneurship graduates struggle to find employment.
Graduates find roles in incubation hubs, government enterprise agencies, NGOs, and corporate innovation departments, in addition to starting their own ventures.