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Bachelor of Economics and Statistics

The Bachelor of Economics and Statistics is a four-year degree programme offered at multiple Kenyan universities.

Duration
4 Years
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 263,000
Ksh 1,052,000 total
Private tuition
Ksh 181,150
Ksh 724,600 total
Job market
High
Market demand for graduates

The short answer

What it costs
Up to Ksh 263,000 a year at a public institution, Ksh 1,052,000 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 181,150 a year at a private one.The detail
Who can get in
A KCSE mean grade of C+ (Plus) or above. There is another way in without it.The detail
How long, and when
Takes 4 years, full-time, with 3 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 16 institutions.The detail
Where it leads
8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Adolescent Mentorship Officer, at 14 out of 100.The detail

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Overview

The curriculum covers microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics, probability theory, statistical inference, sampling methods, time series analysis, regression analysis, economic modelling, research methods, data analysis, and economic policy analysis.

Students develop skills in statistical analysis, economic modelling, data interpretation, econometric analysis, research methodology, forecasting, report writing, data visualisation, survey design, and quantitative decision-making.

Graduates pursue careers as statisticians, economic analysts, research analysts, data analysts, policy analysts, and market researchers. They find employment in government ministries, statistical bureaux, research institutes, banks, insurance companies, international organisations, and corporate firms.

The programme is offered at numerous public universities including University of Nairobi (KES 263,000/year), Kisii University (KES 259,335/year), Kirinyaga University (KES 244,800/year), Kenyatta University (KES 183,600/year), Machakos University (KES 183,600/year), University of Embu (KES 183,600/year), Maseno University (KES 183,600/year), Mama Ngina University College (KES 180,000/year), and Open University of Kenya (KES 79,000/year).

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 strong passes in Mathematics and English or Kiswahili.

What you study

10 subjects
  • Microeconomics
  • Macroeconomics
  • Econometrics
  • Probability Theory
  • Statistical Inference
  • Sampling Methods
  • Time Series Analysis
  • Regression Analysis
  • Economic Modelling
  • Research Methods

Modules

12 in the programme

  • Principles of Microeconomics

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Introduction to microeconomic theory, consumer behaviour, production theory, and market structures.

  • Principles of Macroeconomics

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Introduction to macroeconomic theory, national income, inflation, unemployment, and fiscal policy.

  • Probability Theory

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Foundations of probability, random variables, probability distributions, and applications to economics.

  • Descriptive Statistics

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Data summarisation, graphical methods, measures of central tendency and dispersion, and data presentation.

  • Statistical Inference

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Estimation, hypothesis testing, confidence intervals, and significance testing in economic contexts.

  • Econometrics

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Regression analysis, specification, diagnostics, and applied econometric modelling.

  • Sampling Methods and Survey Design

    Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore

    Sampling techniques, survey design, questionnaire development, and data collection methods.

  • Time Series Analysis

    Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore

    Time series models, forecasting methods, seasonal adjustment, and economic trend analysis.

  • Economic Modelling and Forecasting

    Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore

    Building and estimating economic models for forecasting, policy simulation, and scenario analysis.

  • Regression Analysis

    Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore

    Multiple regression, nonlinear models, logistic regression, and model selection techniques.

  • Economic Policy Analysis

    Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore

    Statistical approaches to policy evaluation, impact assessment, and evidence-based policy.

  • Research Project and Industrial Attachment

    Year 4Semester 26 creditsCore

    Supervised industrial attachment at a statistics or economics organisation and a final-year research project.

Specialisations

  • Econometrics

    Focus on statistical methods for economic data analysis, regression modelling, and hypothesis testing.

  • Applied Statistics

    Focus on statistical methods and techniques applied to economic and social data. 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.

  • Economic Modelling

    Focus on building and estimating economic models for forecasting and policy analysis. 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.

  • Time Series Analysis

    Focus on analysing time-ordered economic data for forecasting and trend analysis. 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.

  • Survey Methods

    Focus on survey design, sampling techniques, and data collection for economic research. 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.

  • Data Analytics

    Focus on using statistical tools and software for economic data analysis and visualisation. 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.

  • Development Statistics

    Specialization in Development Statistics, preparing graduates for careers such as development-economist.

  • Demography

    Specialization in Demography, preparing graduates for careers such as economist-kenya. 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.

  • Statistical Computing

    Specialization in Statistical Computing, preparing graduates for careers such as economic-data-scientist.

A day as a student

A typical day combines economics lectures, statistics tutorials, and computer laboratory sessions. Morning sessions cover microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometrics theory, while afternoons focus on statistical computing in R and SPSS, data analysis practicals, and regression modelling workshops. Students work on real-world economic datasets, design surveys, and build statistical models. The programme emphasises quantitative skills and data-driven economic analysis.

The trade-offs

In its favourAgainst it
Strong demand for statistical skills across all sectorsRequires aptitude for quantitative methods
Diverse career paths in research, finance and governmentSome roles may require additional certifications
Combines economic theory with practical data skillsCan involve extended periods of computer-based work
Growing demand for data-driven decision-makingTechnology and tools change, requiring continuous learning

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 243 science courses
Public184k to 263k
184k at Kenyatta University263k at University of Nairobi
Private105k to 181k
105k at Mount Kenya University181k at Kabarak 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

UoN 263K, KU 183,600/yr (KUCCPS). MKU 105K, Kabarak 181,150/yr (KUCCPS).

HELB loans and Higher Education Fund (HEF) support are available for qualifying Kenyan students. County government bursaries and institutional scholarships may also be available.

Funding options

  • Higher Education Loans Board (HELB)

  • Higher Education Fund (HEF)

  • County Government Bursaries

Scholarships

3 recorded

  • Higher Education Fund (HEF)

    Government fundingKenyan

    Kenyan students in public universities under the new funding model based on financial need assessment.

  • Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan

    LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan

    Kenyan students admitted to recognised universities

  • County Government Bursaries

    BursaryKenyan

    Residents of respective counties

Scholarships you could apply for

12 usable where it is taught
Save one and be reminded before it closes

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade
C+ (Plus)minimum entry
Alternative entry

KACE with at least two principal passes and one subsidiary pass; OR a relevant diploma from a recognised institution; OR any other qualification accepted by the university Senate.

When it next starts

Taught at 16 institutions
January 202716 institutions

Including Makueni University College, Kirinyaga University, Kabarak University.

May 202716 institutions

Including Makueni University College, Kirinyaga University, Kabarak University.

September 202716 institutions

Including Makueni University College, Kirinyaga University, Kabarak University.

How you are assessed

5 components

  • Data Analysis Projects and Assignments

    Coursework30% of the mark

  • Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs)

    Coursework30% of the mark

  • Research Project

    Coursework100% of the mark

  • Final Examination

    Coursework40% of the mark

  • Continuous Assessment Tests and Assignments

    Coursework30% of the mark

    Written tests, problem sets, data analysis assignments, and statistical reports throughout the semester.

Accreditation

  • Commission for University Education (CUE)

    Academic accreditationRequired

    CUE is the statutory body responsible for the accreditation and quality assurance of university programmes in Kenya.

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.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

7 roles

  • M&E Officer

    Moderate demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 130,000

    Monitors and evaluates programmes using statistical methods and data analysis

  • Statistician

    High demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 250,000

    Collects, analyses, and interprets statistical data for government, research, and business.

  • Economic Analyst

    High demandKsh 55,000 to Ksh 280,000

    Analyses economic data using statistical methods to inform business and policy decisions.

  • Research Analyst

    Moderate demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 200,000

    Conducts economic and statistical research, designs surveys, and prepares analytical reports.

  • Data Analyst

    High demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 250,000

    Analyses large datasets using statistical tools to inform business and economic decisions.

  • Policy Analyst

    Moderate demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 220,000

    Uses statistical methods to evaluate public policies and provide evidence-based recommendations.

  • Market Researcher

    Moderate demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 180,000

    Designs and conducts market research using statistical sampling and survey methods.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as statisticians, economic analysts, and research analysts in government, statistical bureaux, banks, and research institutes. Demand is high with strong opportunities in data-driven economic analysis.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

  • R

    Statistical programmingPrimary

    Open-source programming language for statistical computing and econometric analysis.

  • SPSS

    Statistical softwarePrimary

    Statistical analysis software widely used for survey data and social science research.

  • Stata

    Statistical software

    Statistical software for econometric analysis and data management.

  • Microsoft Excel

    Data analysis

    Spreadsheet tool for data analysis, statistical calculations, and visualisation.

  • Python

    Programming language

    Programming language for data analysis, statistical modelling, and machine learning.

  • SAP FICO

    ErpPrimary

    SAP financial and controlling module.

  • QuickBooks Enterprise

    Accounting

    Advanced accounting for SMEs.

  • SAP ERP

    ErpPrimary

  • Oracle ERP

    Erp

Certifications

Common misconceptions

  • This is just a statistics degree with some economics units.

    The programme provides equal depth in both economics and statistics, creating a unique interdisciplinary skill set highly valued in research and policy.

  • Graduates can only work as statisticians in government.

    Graduates work in diverse sectors including banking, insurance, research, international organisations, and corporate firms.

  • The programme is too mathematical for average students.

    The programme builds statistical and mathematical skills progressively from foundational to advanced levels.

  • Economics and Statistics is the same as Economics and Finance.

    While both combine economics with another discipline, this programme focuses on statistical methods and data analysis rather than financial management.

Further reading

Read next