Business

Bachelor of Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Management

The Bachelor of Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Management is a four-year programme that prepares students for starting and managing business enterprises. Students study entrepreneurship, business management, innovation, finance, marketing and enterprise development. The programme is offered by Kenyatta University, University of Nairobi and other Kenyan universities.

Students develop competencies in business planning, venture creation, financial management, marketing strategy, innovation management and enterprise development. They learn to identify opportunities, develop business plans, secure funding, manage operations and grow enterprises. The programme covers entrepreneurship theory, business management, accounting, marketing and innovation.

In Kenya, entrepreneurship is critical for job creation and economic growth. The government's support for SMEs and youth entrepreneurship creates opportunities. Kenya's vibrant startup ecosystem and innovation hubs foster entrepreneurial activity. Graduates find roles as entrepreneurs, business managers, enterprise development officers, innovation managers and business consultants.

Teaching is delivered through lectures, case studies, business plan development, entrepreneurship projects, industrial attachment and research projects. Students develop business plans, pitch ideas, manage projects and undertake industrial attachment. The programme includes a final-year research or business plan project.

Graduates pursue careers as entrepreneurs, business owners, enterprise managers, innovation officers, business consultants and development officers. Some start their own businesses. Others join existing companies, NGOs or government agencies supporting enterprise development.

This programme is ideal for individuals with entrepreneurial mindset, creativity, risk-taking ability and passion for business. Students who enjoy innovation, business strategy and enterprise development will find this programme particularly fulfilling.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 216,000
Private, up to: Ksh 105,000
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: 50 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice
Business Planning and Venture Creation
Financial Management for Enterprises
Marketing Strategy and Management
Innovation and Creativity Management
Enterprise Development and Growth
Business Law and Ethics
Operations Management
Strategic Management
Research Methods in Business

Modules

12 in the programme

Introduction to Entrepreneurship
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Foundations of entrepreneurship including theory, characteristics and venture creation
Principles of Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Principles of Management: Management theory, organisational behaviour and business fundamentals Covers planning, organising, leadership, and control in organisational contexts.
Financial Accounting
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Financial Accounting: Accounting principles, financial statements and bookkeeping for enterprises Covers financial reporting, budgeting, investment analysis, and regulatory frameworks.
Business Planning and Venture Creation
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Business Planning and Venture Creation: Business plan development, opportunity identification and venture startup Covers planning theory, regulatory frameworks, and sustainable development practices.
Marketing Management
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Marketing Management: Marketing principles, strategy, market research and customer acquisition Covers market analysis, consumer behaviour, branding, and promotional strategies.
Innovation and Creativity Management
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Innovation processes, creative thinking, product development and innovation strategy
Financial Management for Enterprises
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Financial Management for Enterprises: Financial planning, working capital management, funding and financial analysis Covers planning, organising, leadership, and control in organisational contexts.
Operations Management
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Operations Management: Production management, supply chain, quality control and operational efficiency Covers planning, organising, leadership, and control in organisational contexts.
Enterprise Development and Growth
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Enterprise Development and Growth: Enterprise growth strategies, scaling, partnerships and expansion Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Strategic Management
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Strategic Management: Strategic planning, competitive analysis, business strategy and implementation Covers planning, organising, leadership, and control in organisational contexts.
Business Law and Ethics
Year 4Semester 23 creditsCore
Business Law and Ethics: Business law, contracts, intellectual property and ethical business practices Encourages critical thinking about moral dilemmas and professional responsibility.
Final Year Business Plan/Research Project
Year 4Semester 36 creditsCore
Final Year Business Plan/Research Project: Independent business plan development or research on entrepreneurship Involves independent research, data analysis, and scholarly writing under supervision.

Specialisations

Innovation Management
Specialization in Innovation Management, preparing graduates for careers such as business-consultant.
Social Entrepreneurship
Specialization in Social Entrepreneurship, preparing graduates for careers such as entrepreneur. 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
Specialization in Family Business Management, preparing graduates for careers such as entrepreneur. 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.
Venture Creation
Specialization in Venture Creation, preparing graduates for careers such as entrepreneur. 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 Consulting
Specialization in Business Consulting, preparing graduates for careers such as business-consultant. 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 Development
Specialization in Enterprise Development, preparing graduates for careers such as business-consultant.

A day as a student

A typical day combines morning lectures on entrepreneurship or business management with afternoon case studies, business plan development or project work. Students may develop business plans, pitch ideas, analyse case studies or work on enterprise projects.

The trade offs

In its favour

Develops practical skills for starting and managing businesses
Relevant to Kenya's SME-driven economy
Diverse career paths including self-employment
Opportunity to create jobs and drive economic growth

Against it

Entrepreneurship income can be unpredictable initially
Some employers may prefer traditional business degrees
Requires risk-taking mindset and resilience
Business failure risk requires strong contingency planning

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 216k

184k at Kenyatta University216k at University of Nairobi

Private105k to 105k

105k at Mount Kenya University105k at Mount Kenya 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 B.Com 183.6K/yr (ku.ac.ke). UoN B.Com 216K/yr (Schedule II). MKU BBM 105K/yr.

Students may access HELB loans, Youth Enterprise Development Fund and county bursaries. Some business organisations offer internship stipends.

Funding options

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB)
LoanKsh 60,000
Youth Enterprise Development Fund
Loan
County Government Bursaries
Bursary

Scholarships

3 recorded

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students admitted to recognised universities
Higher Education Fund (HEF)
BursaryKenyan
Kenyan undergraduate students placed by KUCCPS in public universities
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKenyan
Residents of respective counties

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+
Alternative entry: Relevant diploma or equivalent qualification

English or Kiswahili
C+
Mathematics A/B or any Group II
C
Any Group III, IV or V subject
C+
Any Group III, IV or V subject
C+

How you are assessed

4 components

Industrial Attachment Report
Coursework10% of the mark
Final Examination
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs)
Coursework30% of the mark
Business Plan and Project Work
Coursework30% of the mark

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE).

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
InstitutionalRequired

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Innovation Manager
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 250,000
Manages innovation processes and new product development
Business Manager
High demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 250,000
Manages business operations in existing enterprises
Entrepreneur
Moderate demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 500,000
Starts and manages their own business venture
Enterprise Development Officer
Moderate demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 150,000
Supports enterprise development in NGOs or government agencies
Business Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 300,000
Provides consulting services to businesses on strategy and growth

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as entrepreneurs, business owners, enterprise managers, innovation officers, business consultants and development officers in their own businesses, existing companies, NGOs and government agencies.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Microsoft Excel
SoftwarePrimary
Spreadsheet software for financial modelling, data analysis, accounting worksheets, and business reporting — essential for business graduates.
QuickBooks
SoftwarePrimary
Accounting software widely used by SMEs in Kenya for bookkeeping, invoicing, expense tracking, and financial reporting.
SAP ERP
Software
Enterprise resource planning software used by large organisations for integrated business management including finance, procurement, and HR modules.
Power BI
Software
Business analytics tool for data visualisation, dashboard creation, and business intelligence reporting.
Microsoft Office Suite
Software
Word processing, presentations, and communication tools essential for business documentation and reporting.

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Entrepreneurship cannot be taught
Entrepreneurship skills including business planning, financial management and innovation can be developed through structured education.
You need capital to study entrepreneurship
The programme teaches how to secure funding, start with limited resources and scale enterprises.
Entrepreneurship graduates only start businesses
Graduates also work as innovation managers, consultants, enterprise development officers and business managers.
Entrepreneurship is risky and has no fallback
The programme provides skills applicable to both entrepreneurship and employment in existing organisations.