Social Sciences

Bachelor of Public Administration and Policy

The Bachelor of Public Administration and Policy is a four-year programme that prepares students for public service, policy formulation and administrative management. Students study public administration, policy analysis, governance, public finance, development studies, ethics and leadership. The programme combines public administration skills with policy analysis for effective public sector management.

Students develop competencies in public administration, policy analysis, public finance, governance, programme management, research and leadership. They learn to analyse public policies, manage government programmes, understand administrative processes and contribute to public sector reform. The programme covers public administration, public policy, governance, public finance and development.

In Kenya, public administration and policy is essential for national and county government, public agencies, civil society and development partners. Kenyatta University, Open University of Kenya, JKUAT and other institutions offer related programmes. Graduates find roles in government, county administrations, public agencies, NGOs, international organisations and research institutions.

Teaching is delivered through lectures, case studies, policy simulations, field attachments and research projects. Students analyse public administration issues, develop policy recommendations and undertake a final research project.

Graduates pursue careers as public administrators, policy officers, development officers, governance advisors, programme managers and public sector analysts. Some work in government ministries. Others join civil society, development organisations or local and international agencies.

This programme is ideal for individuals with interest in governance, public service, policy analysis and development management.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 189,004
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: 40 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Principles of Public Administration
Public Policy Analysis and Formulation
Governance and Public Sector Management
Public Finance and Budgeting
Development Studies and Planning
Research Methods in Public Administration
Ethics and Accountability in Public Service
Leadership and Human Resource Management
Local Government and Decentralisation
Public Sector Reforms

Modules

12 in the programme

Principles of Public Administration
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Principles of Public Administration: Foundations of public administration, organisation and management Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Public Policy Analysis and Formulation
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Policy process, analysis, formulation and evaluation. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, c...
Governance and Public Sector Management
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Governance and Public Sector Management: Governance, public sector reform, performance and accountability Covers planning, organising, leadership, and control in organisational contexts.
Public Finance and Budgeting
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Public Finance and Budgeting: Public finance, budgeting, fiscal policy and expenditure management Covers financial reporting, budgeting, investment analysis, and regulatory frameworks.
Development Studies and Planning
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Development Studies and Planning: Development theories, planning, project management and sustainable development Covers planning theory, regulatory frameworks, and sustainable development practices.
Research Methods in Public Administration
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Research Methods in Public Administration: Research design, data collection, analysis and policy research methods Covers quantitative and qualitative approaches, data collection, analysis, and repo...
Ethics and Accountability in Public Service
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Ethics and Accountability in Public Service: Public ethics, integrity, anti-corruption and accountability Encourages critical thinking about moral dilemmas and professional responsibility.
Leadership and Human Resource Management
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Leadership, HRM, motivation and public service management. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tes...
Local Government and Decentralisation
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
County governance, devolution, local government administration and service delivery
Public Sector Reforms
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Public Sector Reforms: Public sector reforms, e-governance, performance contracting and innovation Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Comparative Public Administration
Year 4Semester 23 creditsCore
Comparative Public Administration: Comparative perspectives on public administration and governance Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Final Year Research Project
Year 4Semester 36 creditsCore
Independent research on public administration and policy. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment test...

Specialisations

Public Finance
Specialization in Public Finance, preparing graduates for careers such as nonprofit-manager. 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 Policy
Specialization in Public Policy, preparing graduates for careers such as nonprofit-manager. 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.
Local Governance
Specialization in Local Governance, preparing graduates for careers such as nonprofit-manager. 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 Management
Specialization in Development Management, preparing graduates for careers such as nonprofit-manager.
Public Administration
Specialization in Public Administration, preparing graduates for careers such as nonprofit-manager. 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 Service Leadership
Specialization in Public Service Leadership, preparing graduates for careers such as nonprofit-manager.

A day as a student

A typical day combines lectures on public administration and policy with case studies or group discussions. Students may analyse government programmes, develop policy briefs, prepare reports or work on research projects.

The trade offs

In its favour

Relevant to public service and development sectors
Diverse career opportunities in government and NGOs
Develops policy and management skills
Opportunities for public service leadership

Against it

Public sector jobs can be competitive and bureaucratic
Some entry-level salaries are modest
Policy change can be slow and complex
May require further qualifications for senior roles

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 241 social sciences courses

Public153k to 189k

153k at Kenyatta University189k 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 153K (mawese.com). UoN 189K (educationnewshub KUCCPS). MKU 105K (mku.ac.ke).

Students may access HELB loans and county bursaries. Some public service and development organisations offer internships.

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
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKenyan
Residents of respective counties
Higher Education Fund (HEF)
BursaryKenyan
Kenyan undergraduate students placed by KUCCPS in public universities

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

Policy Analysis and Case Studies
Coursework30% of the mark
Final Examination
Coursework40% of the mark
Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs)
Coursework20% of the mark
Attachment Report
Coursework10% 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

Development Officer
Moderate demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 180,000
Implements and monitors development programmes
Public Administrator
Moderate demandKsh 55,000 to Ksh 200,000
Manages public sector programmes and operations
Governance Advisor
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 250,000
Advises on governance and institutional reforms
Programme Manager
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 250,000
Manages public and development programmes
Policy Officer
Moderate demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 220,000
Develops and analyses public policies

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as public administrators, policy officers, development officers, governance advisors, programme managers and public sector analysts in government, county administrations, public agencies, NGOs, international organisations and research institutions.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Microsoft Excel
SpreadsheetPrimary
SPSS
Data analysis
Google Workspace
Collaboration
KOBO Toolbox
Data collection
SPSS/Stata
Statistical software
Gender research data analysis.

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Public administration is only about government jobs
Skills are transferable to NGOs, international organisations, research and private sector governance.
Policy work is theoretical and not practical
Policy work directly affects service delivery, budgeting, laws and public programmes.
There are no jobs in public administration
Devolution and public sector reforms have increased demand for public administration graduates.
Public administration is not a professional field
Public administration is a recognised professional field with specialised training and career paths.