Social Sciences

Bachelor of Conflict Resolution and Humanitarian Assistance

The Bachelor of Conflict Resolution and Humanitarian Assistance is a four-year degree programme offered at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) and Turkana University College.

The curriculum covers conflict theory, peace studies, negotiation and mediation, humanitarian assistance, disaster management, international relations, human rights, governance, religion and conflict, gender and conflict, security studies, research methodology, and project management.

Students develop skills in conflict analysis, negotiation, mediation, peacebuilding, humanitarian response, crisis management, research, policy analysis, and community engagement.

Graduates pursue careers as conflict resolution officers, peacebuilding specialists, humanitarian aid workers, disaster management officers, project coordinators, policy analysts, and community development officers. They find employment in NGOs, government departments, international organisations, peacebuilding agencies, humanitarian organisations, and community-based organisations.

The programme is offered at MMUST (public, KES 152,000 per year, Kakamega County) and Turkana University College (public, fee data not published by KUCCPS, Lodwar, Turkana County). MMUST is a public university known for its pioneering School of Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance.

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+ (Plus) with at least C (Plain) in English or Kiswahili.

Duration: 4 Years
Public, up to: Ksh 138,100
Job market: Moderate

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

Conflict Theory
Peace Studies
Negotiation and Mediation
Humanitarian Assistance
Disaster Management
International Relations
Human Rights
Research Methodology
Security Studies
Project Management

Modules

12 in the programme

Introduction to Conflict Theory
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Foundational concepts of conflict theory, types of conflict, and conflict dynamics.
Introduction to Peace Studies
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Introduction to Peace Studies: Theories of peace, peace processes, and peacebuilding frameworks. Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Human Rights and Governance
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
International human rights frameworks, governance principles, and their role in conflict prevention.
Negotiation and Mediation
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Negotiation strategies, mediation techniques, and alternative dispute resolution methods.
International Relations and Conflict
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
International conflict dynamics, diplomatic relations, and global governance structures.
Religion, Conflict and Peacebuilding
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Religion, Conflict and Peacebuilding: Role of religion in conflict generation and peacebuilding, interfaith dialogue. Covers construction technology, materials science, and project execution.
Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Management
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Humanitarian response principles, disaster management cycles, and emergency relief operations.
Gender and Conflict
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Gender dynamics in conflict, women in peacebuilding, and gender-sensitive conflict resolution approaches.
Security Studies
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Security analysis, threat assessment, security sector governance, and conflict prevention.
Research Methods in Conflict Studies
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Quantitative and qualitative research methods applied to conflict and humanitarian studies.
Peacebuilding and Post-Conflict Reconstruction
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Post-conflict reconstruction strategies, transitional justice, and community reconciliation.
Industrial Attachment and Research Project
Year 4Semester 26 creditsCore
Supervised industrial attachment at a peacebuilding or humanitarian organisation and a final-year research project.

Specialisations

Peacebuilding
Focus on peace processes, post-conflict reconstruction, and community reconciliation. 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.
Mediation and Negotiation
Focus on mediation techniques, negotiation strategies, and alternative dispute resolution. 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.
Humanitarian Assistance
Focus on humanitarian response, emergency relief operations, and humanitarian principles. 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.
Disaster Management
Focus on disaster preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery strategies. 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.
International Relations and Diplomacy
Focus on international conflict, diplomatic relations, and global governance. 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.
Security Studies
Focus on security analysis, threat assessment, and security sector governance. 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 lectures, seminars, and case study discussions. Morning sessions cover conflict theory, peace studies, and humanitarian principles, while afternoons focus on negotiation simulations, mediation exercises, and humanitarian response planning. Students engage in fieldwork in conflict-affected communities, research projects on local conflict dynamics, and industrial attachment with peacebuilding or humanitarian organisations.

The trade offs

In its favour

Offered at two public institutions (MMUST and Turkana University College) providing geographic choice.
Interdisciplinary curriculum combining conflict resolution with humanitarian assistance and disaster management.
Affordable public university tuition at KES 152,000/year at MMUST with HELB funding available.
Turkana University College offers unique focus on arid and semi-arid region conflict challenges.

Against it

Turkana University College has no published KUCCPS fee data for this programme, creating fee uncertainty.
Job market is niche with limited entry-level positions compared to broader social science degrees.
Both institutions are in western and northwestern Kenya, limiting accessibility for students from other regions.
Fieldwork in conflict-affected or disaster areas may pose safety risks for students during attachment.

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 241 social sciences courses

Public138k to 138k

138k at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology138k at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology

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

MMUST ~138K/yr (fixusjobs fee schedule). Private: unverified.

HELB loans are available for qualifying Kenyan students. County government bursaries and university internal scholarships are also available. International organisations may offer specialised funding for humanitarian and peace studies.

Funding options

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB)
County Government Bursaries
MMUST Internal 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.
Higher Education Fund (HEF)
BursaryKenyan
Kenyan undergraduate students placed by KUCCPS in public universities
Huawei Seeds for the Future Kenya
Scholarship
Talented ICT/STEM university students with a GPA of 3.0+
Generation Google Scholarship
Scholarship
Women in computer science and related technical fields

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+ (Plus)
Alternative entry: KACE with two principal passes and one subsidiary pass; OR a relevant diploma from a recognised institution (may be exempted in relevant units); OR any other qualification approved by the university senate.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment Tests and Assignments
Coursework30% of the mark
Written tests, case study analyses, and conflict scenario assignments throughout the semester.
Practical Simulations and Fieldwork
Practical20% of the mark
Negotiation simulations, mediation exercises, and fieldwork in conflict-affected communities.
End of Semester Examinations
Examination50% of the mark
Written examinations covering all course content for the semester.
Industrial Attachment and Research Project
Project100% of the mark
Supervised industrial attachment at a peacebuilding or humanitarian organisation plus a final-year 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

Humanitarian Aid Worker
High demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 180,000
Provides humanitarian assistance in crisis and conflict-affected areas, managing relief operations and support programmes.
Conflict Resolution Officer
Moderate demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 150,000
Facilitates conflict resolution processes, mediates disputes, and supports peacebuilding initiatives.
Peacebuilding Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 200,000
Designs and implements peacebuilding programmes in conflict-affected communities and post-conflict settings.
Disaster Management Officer
High demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 160,000
Coordinates disaster preparedness, response, and recovery programmes for government and humanitarian organisations.
Policy Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 180,000
Analyses conflict, security, and humanitarian policies, providing recommendations to government and international organisations.
Community Development Officer
High demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 120,000
Works with communities on development initiatives incorporating conflict-sensitive approaches and humanitarian principles.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as humanitarian aid workers, conflict resolution officers, and peacebuilding specialists in NGOs, government, and international organisations. Demand is moderate with growing recognition of humanitarian assistance expertise in Kenya and the region.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Microsoft Excel
Data analysisPrimary
Spreadsheet tool for humanitarian data analysis, project planning, and reporting.
SPSS
Statistical analysisPrimary
Statistical analysis software for research projects and conflict data analysis.
KOBO Toolbox
Data collection
Open-source data collection tool widely used in humanitarian and conflict research fieldwork.
ArcGIS
Mapping
GIS software for conflict mapping and spatial analysis of disaster and conflict dynamics.
Google Workspace
Collaboration
Collaboration tools for project management and report writing in field settings.

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Conflict resolution and humanitarian assistance is only about working in war zones.
The programme covers all levels of conflict including community disputes, workplace conflicts, and domestic conflicts, plus disaster response and humanitarian crises beyond armed conflict.
Graduates can only work in conflict-affected areas.
Graduates work in diverse settings including corporate dispute resolution, government policy, community development, human rights advocacy, and international diplomacy.
Humanitarian assistance is just about distributing aid.
Humanitarian assistance involves needs assessment, programme design, logistics, protection, monitoring and evaluation, and coordination with multiple stakeholders.
There are no jobs for conflict resolution graduates in Kenya.
Kenya's devolution system, NCIC, and numerous peacebuilding and humanitarian NGOs create demand for trained professionals at county and national levels.