Environmental Science

Bachelor of Global Environmental Change and Sustainability

The Bachelor of Global Environmental Change and Sustainability is a four-year programme that prepares students for addressing global environmental challenges and promoting sustainability. Students study climate change, biodiversity loss, sustainability science, environmental policy and global environmental governance. The programme focuses on understanding and responding to global environmental change.

Students develop competencies in environmental change analysis, sustainability assessment, climate action, environmental policy, conservation planning and sustainable development. They learn to assess environmental changes, develop sustainability strategies, analyse climate data and implement conservation programmes. The programme covers environmental science, climate change, sustainability, policy and global governance.

In Kenya, global environmental change including climate change, biodiversity loss and land degradation is a critical challenge. Kenya's climate commitments including the Nationally Determined Contributions and green economy strategy create demand. Graduates find roles in NEMA, Ministry of Environment, NGOs, international organisations, research institutions and consulting firms.

Teaching is delivered through lectures, fieldwork, case studies, industrial attachment and research projects. Students analyse environmental data, assess climate impacts, develop sustainability plans and undertake industrial attachment. The programme includes a final-year research project.

Graduates pursue careers as sustainability officers, climate change officers, environmental policy analysts, conservation officers and environmental consultants. Some work for government agencies or NGOs. Others join international organisations, research institutions or consulting firms.

This programme is ideal for individuals with environmental awareness, global perspective and passion for sustainability.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 324,000
Private, up to: Ksh 242,800
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: 30 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Global Environmental Change
Climate Science and Climate Change
Sustainability Science and Practice
Biodiversity and Conservation
Environmental Policy and Governance
Sustainable Development Goals
Environmental Economics
Climate Adaptation and Mitigation
Environmental Impact Assessment
Research Methods and Statistics

Modules

12 in the programme

Introduction to Global Environmental Change
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Introduction to Global Environmental Change: Fundamentals of global environmental change and earth systems Covers ecosystem dynamics, conservation principles, and environmental management practices.
Environmental Science Basics
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Environmental science principles and ecological concepts. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment test...
Climate Science and Climate Change
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Climate Science and Climate Change: Climate systems, greenhouse gases, climate change science and impacts Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Biodiversity and Conservation
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Biodiversity and Conservation: Biodiversity loss, conservation strategies and protected areas Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Sustainability Science and Practice
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Sustainability Science and Practice: Sustainability principles, frameworks and sustainable development Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Environmental Policy and Governance
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Environmental Policy and Governance: International environmental governance, policy and agreements Covers ecosystem dynamics, conservation principles, and environmental management practices.
Sustainable Development Goals
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
SDGs, implementation strategies and progress monitoring. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests...
Climate Adaptation and Mitigation
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Climate Adaptation and Mitigation: Climate adaptation strategies, mitigation measures and resilience Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Environmental Economics
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Environmental Economics: Economic valuation of environment, green economy and carbon economics Covers ecosystem dynamics, conservation principles, and environmental management practices.
Environmental Impact Assessment
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
EIA principles, methodologies and environmental legislation. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment t...
Global Environmental Governance
Year 4Semester 23 creditsCore
Global Environmental Governance: International environmental agreements, institutions and governance Covers ecosystem dynamics, conservation principles, and environmental management practices.
Final Year Research Project
Year 4Semester 36 creditsCore
Final Year Research Project: Independent research on environmental change and sustainability Involves independent research, data analysis, and scholarly writing under supervision.

Specialisations

Sustainable Development
Specialization in Sustainable Development, preparing graduates for careers such as environmental-scientist.
Biodiversity Conservation
Specialization in Biodiversity Conservation, preparing graduates for careers such as environmental-scientist.
Climate Change
Specialization in Climate Change, preparing graduates for careers such as environmental-scientist. 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.
Sustainability
Specialization in Sustainability, preparing graduates for careers such as environmental-scientist. 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.
Green Economy
Specialization in Green Economy, preparing graduates for careers such as environmental-scientist. 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.
Environmental Policy
Specialization in Environmental Policy, preparing graduates for careers such as environmental-scientist.

A day as a student

A typical day combines morning lectures on climate change or sustainability with afternoon fieldwork, case studies or project work. Students may analyse climate data, assess environmental changes, develop sustainability plans or work on conservation projects.

The trade offs

In its favour

Addresses critical global and national environmental challenges
Relevant to Kenya's climate commitments and green economy
Diverse career paths in government, NGOs and international organisations
Opportunity to contribute to global sustainability

Against it

Fieldwork can be physically demanding
Funding for environmental programmes can fluctuate
Some positions depend on donor funding
May require postgraduate study for advanced roles

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 181 environmental science courses

Public245k to 324k

245k at Kenyatta University324k at University of Nairobi

Private109k to 243k

109k 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 244.8K (ku.ac.ke), UoN 324K (uonbi.ac.ke). Daystar 242.8K (KUCCPS), MKU 109.1K (spas.mku.ac.ke).

Students may access HELB loans and county bursaries. Some environmental NGOs and international organisations offer internship stipends.

Funding options

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB)
LoanKsh 60,000
National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF)
Bursary
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

Mathematics A/B or any Group II
C+
Biology or Chemistry or Physics
C+
English or Kiswahili
C+
Geography or any Group III
C+

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs)
Coursework20% of the mark
Industrial Attachment Report
Coursework20% of the mark
Final Examination
Coursework40% of the mark
Fieldwork and Project Work
Coursework20% 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

Environmental Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 250,000
Provides consulting on sustainability and environmental management
Sustainability Officer
Moderate demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 200,000
Implements sustainability programmes in organisations
Climate Change Officer
Moderate demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 200,000
Manages climate change adaptation and mitigation programmes
Conservation Officer
Moderate demandKsh 55,000 to Ksh 180,000
Manages conservation programmes and biodiversity
Environmental Policy Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 220,000
Analyses and develops environmental policy

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as sustainability officers, climate change officers, environmental policy analysts, conservation officers and environmental consultants in NEMA, Ministry of Environment, NGOs, international organisations, research institutions and consulting firms.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

R
Analytics
Python
Code
Google Earth Engine
Cloud
AutoCAD
Design
ArcGIS
Gis

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Sustainability is just about recycling
Sustainability covers climate, biodiversity, policy, economics and social development.
There are no jobs in environmental change
Government, NGOs, international organisations and companies require sustainability professionals.
Environmental change is not relevant to Kenya
Kenya is highly vulnerable to climate change and environmental degradation.
Sustainability is just activism
Sustainability involves science, policy, economics and management.