Education

Bachelor of Education (Business Studies)

The Bachelor of Education (Business Studies) is a four-year degree programme that prepares graduates to teach business studies and related subjects in secondary schools.

The curriculum covers business studies, accounting, economics, commerce, entrepreneurship, office practice, educational psychology, teaching methodology, curriculum development, assessment and evaluation, educational foundations, research methods, and educational technology.

Students develop skills in business subject instruction, lesson planning, classroom management, practical business demonstrations, student assessment, curriculum design, educational leadership, entrepreneurship education, and research methodology.

Graduates pursue careers as business studies teachers, commerce teachers, accounting teachers, entrepreneurship educators, education officers, and school administrators. They find employment in public and private secondary schools, technical training institutions, county governments, and educational NGOs.

The programme is offered at Alupe University (public, KES 183,600 per year) in Busia County. Alupe University is a CUE-accredited public university. The KUCCPS code for B.Ed (Arts) at Alupe is 1600135, with the business studies specialisation falling under this code.

Accreditation is provided by the Commission for University Education (CUE), the statutory body responsible for quality assurance and regulation of university education in Kenya. Graduates are eligible for registration with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC). Admission requires a KCSE mean grade of C+ (Plus) with strong passes in business-related subjects and English or Kiswahili.

Duration: 4 Years
Public, up to: Ksh 244,800
Private, up to: Ksh 257,800
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

Business Studies
Accounting
Economics
Commerce
Entrepreneurship
Educational Psychology
Teaching Methodology
Curriculum Development
Assessment and Evaluation
Research Methods in Education

Modules

12 in the programme

Foundations of Education
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Historical, philosophical, and sociological foundations of education in Kenya and globally.
Educational Psychology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Theories of learning, adolescent development, motivation, and classroom behaviour management.
Business Studies Fundamentals
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Introduction to business studies, commerce, and business environments in the Kenyan context.
Teaching Methodology for Business Subjects
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Pedagogical methods for teaching business studies, including practical demonstrations and case-based learning.
Accounting and Bookkeeping
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Principles of accounting, bookkeeping, financial statements, and accounting education.
Economics for Business Education
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Microeconomics, macroeconomics, and economic principles for teaching economics in secondary schools.
Curriculum Development and Assessment
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Principles of curriculum design, the Kenyan business studies curriculum, and assessment methods.
Entrepreneurship Education
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Entrepreneurship principles, business start-up, innovation, and teaching entrepreneurship in schools.
Educational Technology and ICT Integration
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Integrating digital tools and technology in teaching business subjects and e-learning platforms.
Research Methods in Education
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Research design, data collection, and analysis methods applied to educational research in business education.
Educational Leadership and Management
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
School administration, leadership theories, education policy, and institutional management.
Teaching Practice and Research Project
Year 4Semester 26 creditsCore
Supervised teaching practice at a secondary school and a final-year business education research project.

Specialisations

Accounting Education
Focus on teaching accounting, bookkeeping, and financial management in secondary schools. 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.
Commerce Education
Focus on teaching commerce, trade, and business operations in secondary schools. 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.
Economics Education
Focus on teaching economics and economic principles in secondary schools. 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.
Entrepreneurship Education
Focus on teaching entrepreneurship, business start-up, and innovation in secondary schools. 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.
Office Practice Education
Focus on teaching office administration, communication, and management skills. 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.
Business Communication Education
Focus on teaching business communication and professional writing skills in schools. 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 business studies lectures, education theory sessions, and teaching methodology workshops. Morning sessions cover accounting, commerce, economics, and entrepreneurship content, while afternoons focus on micro-teaching, lesson planning, and teaching practice preparation. Students participate in teaching practice at partner secondary schools, developing practical classroom skills for business education. The programme emphasises both business subject competence and pedagogical skill development.

The trade offs

In its favour

Business studies is a popular KCSE subject with consistent demand for qualified teachers.
Combines business knowledge with teaching skills for versatile career options.
Affordable public university tuition at KES 183,600/year.
Growing emphasis on entrepreneurship education aligns with Kenya's economic development agenda.

Against it

Only offered at one public university, limiting choice of institution.
Teaching practice requires significant time commitment and may involve placement in remote schools.
TSC recruitment may require deployment to remote or underserved areas.
Career advancement may require additional qualifications such as a master's degree.

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 243 education courses

Public184k to 245k

184k at Alupe University245k at University of Nairobi

Private105k to 258k

105k at Mount Kenya University258k 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

Alupe 183,600 to UoN/Moi 244,800/yr (KUCCPS). MKU 105K to Daystar 257,800/yr (KUCCPS).

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

Funding options

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB)
Higher Education Fund (HEF)
County Government Bursaries

Scholarships

4 recorded

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
Government loanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students admitted to recognised universities. Must demonstrate financial need.
Higher Education Fund (HEF)
Government fundingKenyan
Kenyan students in public universities under the new funding model based on financial need assessment.
County Government Bursaries
Government bursaryKenyan
Kenyan students from respective counties demonstrating financial need.
TSC Teacher Training Support
BursaryKenyan
Teachers and trainee teachers in recognised institutions

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+ (Plus)
Alternative entry: KACE with at least two principal passes in relevant subjects; OR a relevant diploma in education or business education from a recognised institution; OR CPA/CPS or HND holders from recognised institutions; OR any other qualification recognised by the university senate.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment Tests and Assignments
Coursework30% of the mark
Written tests, lesson plans, micro-teaching assessments, and business education assignments throughout the semester.
Teaching Practice Assessment
Practical20% of the mark
Supervised teaching practice at partner secondary schools with assessment of classroom performance.
End of Semester Examinations
Examination50% of the mark
Written examinations covering all course content for the semester.
Research Project
Project100% of the mark
A final-year education research project investigating a relevant business education issue.

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. Graduates are eligible for registration with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).

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 Studies Teacher
High demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 150,000
Teaches business studies, commerce, and accounting in secondary schools, preparing students for KCSE.
Commerce Teacher
High demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 150,000
Teaches commerce and trade-related subjects in secondary schools.
Entrepreneurship Educator
Moderate demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 160,000
Teaches entrepreneurship and business start-up skills in secondary schools and training institutions.
Education Officer
Moderate demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 180,000
Works in government education offices supporting policy implementation and school supervision.
School Administrator
Moderate demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 180,000
Manages secondary school operations, supervises staff, and oversees educational programmes.
Curriculum Developer
Moderate demandKsh 55,000 to Ksh 200,000
Designs and evaluates business education curricula at KICD or educational institutions.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as business studies teachers in secondary schools. Demand is high with business studies being a popular KCSE subject and growing emphasis on entrepreneurship education.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Google Classroom
Learning managementPrimary
Learning management platform for organising classes, assignments, and student communication.
Microsoft PowerPoint
PresentationPrimary
Presentation tool for lesson delivery, visual aids, and business content creation.
Microsoft Excel
Data analysis
Spreadsheet tool for accounting demonstrations, financial modelling, and record-keeping.
Microsoft Word
Productivity
Word processing tool for lesson plans, reports, and educational documentation.
Zoom
Communication
Video conferencing tool for online teaching and remote learning.

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

This is a business degree, not a teaching degree.
The programme specifically prepares graduates to teach business studies in secondary schools, combining education theory with business content.
Business studies teaching has limited career opportunities.
Graduates can work as teachers, curriculum developers, education officers, school administrators, and entrepreneurship trainers.
Only offered at one university, so it must be limited.
Alupe University is a CUE-accredited public university, and the programme meets the same standards as business education programmes elsewhere.
Business studies is becoming less relevant in Kenyan schools.
Business studies remains a popular KCSE subject, and entrepreneurship education is growing with Kenya's economic development agenda.