Business

Bachelor of Procurement and Supplies Management

The Bachelor of Procurement and Supplies Management is a programme that provides comprehensive training in procurement, supply chain management and logistics. Offered at the University of Nairobi, JKUAT, Technical University of Kenya, Kenyatta University, Mount Kenya University and other institutions, the programme prepares graduates for careers in procurement and supply chain management.

The curriculum covers procurement principles, supply chain management, logistics management, contract management, procurement law, public procurement, inventory management, supplier management, procurement strategy, project procurement, international procurement, quality management, negotiation, research methods and a research project. Students develop analytical and practical skills for procurement and supply chain roles.

Kenya's public procurement reforms, the growth of supply chain complexity and the demand for professional procurement officers create strong demand for graduates. The programme is offered through lectures, case studies, industrial attachment and research projects.

Graduates are prepared for careers as procurement officers, supply chain managers, logistics managers, contract managers, purchasing managers, inventory managers, procurement consultants and supply chain analysts. They work in government, corporate organisations, NGOs, international organisations, manufacturing and consulting firms.

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Admission requires KCSE mean grade C+ with C+ in Mathematics and English. KUCCPS Cluster 2.

Prospective students should have strong analytical skills, a commitment to continuous learning, and an interest in contributing to Kenya's socio-economic development. The programme provides a solid foundation for further postgraduate study and professional advancement in related fields.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 216,000
Private, up to: Ksh 248,900
Job market: High

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 50 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Procurement Principles
Supply Chain Management
Logistics Management
Contract Management
Procurement Law
Public Procurement
Inventory Management
Supplier Management
Procurement Strategy
International Procurement

Modules

10 in the programme

Procurement Principles
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Foundations of procurement. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semes...
Supply Chain Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Supply chain strategy and operations. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and en...
Logistics Management
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Logistics and distribution. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semes...
Contract Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Contract law and management. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-seme...
Procurement Law
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Legal framework for procurement. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-...
Public Procurement
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Government procurement regulations. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-...
Inventory Management
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Stock management. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semester examin...
Supplier Management
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Managing supplier relationships. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-...
International Procurement
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Global sourcing and procurement. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-...
Research Project
Year 4Semester 16 creditsCore
Final year research project. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-seme...

Specialisations

Contract Management
Contract administration. 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.
Strategic Sourcing
Supplier strategy. 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.
Logistics and Distribution
Logistics management. 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.
Public Procurement
Government procurement. 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 involves attending procurement lectures, analysing supply chain case studies, studying procurement law, working on contract management exercises, learning logistics planning, using procurement software, and preparing for industrial attachment.

The trade offs

In its favour

High demand across all sectors
Pathway to CIPS professional certification
Critical role in organisational efficiency

Against it

Procurement roles carry significant responsibility
Public procurement involves strict compliance requirements
Can involve pressure to meet deadlines and budgets

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 249k

105k at Mount Kenya University249k at KCA 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 183.6K, UoN 216K/yr pub. MKU 105K, KCA ~249K/yr priv. Src: uonbi.ac.ke, mku.ac.ke, kcau.ac.ke

HELB loans are available for eligible students. County bursaries and NGAAF provide additional support.

Funding options

HELB Loan
County Bursaries
NGAAF Bursary

Scholarships

3 recorded

Higher Education Fund (HEF)
BursaryKenyan
Kenyan undergraduate students placed by KUCCPS in public universities
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKsh 30,000Kenyan
Kenyan students from participating counties
Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan undergraduate students

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+
Alternative entry: KCSE mean grade C+ with C+ in Mathematics and English. Diploma in procurement, supplies management, business or related field from a recognised institution. KUCCPS Cluster 2.

Mathematics
C+
English
C+

How you are assessed

4 components

End of Semester Examinations
Written examination50% of the mark
End of semester written exams
Research Project
Project10% of the mark
Final year research project
Continuous Assessment Tests
Cat30% of the mark
Regular tests, assignments and case studies
Industrial Attachment
Practicum10% of the mark
3-month attachment at procurement department

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Offered at multiple public and private universities. Admission requires KCSE mean grade C+ with C+ in Mathematics and English. KUCCPS Cluster 2. CIPS certification available for professional advancement.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
Statutory body responsible for accreditation of university programmes in Kenya

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Supply Chain Manager
High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 380,000
Supply chain management
Purchasing Manager
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 350,000
Purchasing operations
Contract Manager
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 320,000
Contract management
Logistics Manager
High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 350,000
Logistics and distribution
Procurement Officer
High demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 280,000
Procurement operations

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as procurement officers, supply chain managers and logistics managers in government, corporate organisations and NGOs.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

SAP FICO
ErpPrimary
SAP financial and controlling module.
QuickBooks Enterprise
Accounting
Advanced accounting for SMEs.
Microsoft Excel
SpreadsheetPrimary
Financial modelling and analysis.
SAP ERP
ErpPrimary
Oracle ERP
Erp

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Procurement is just about buying things.
The programme covers supply chain strategy, contract law, logistics, negotiation and quality management.
Procurement is only for government.
Graduates work in corporate organisations, NGOs, manufacturing, international organisations and consulting.
There are no jobs in procurement.
Every organisation needs procurement professionals, creating consistent demand.
Procurement is prone to corruption.
Professional procurement training emphasises ethics, transparency and compliance.