Agriculture

Bachelor of Science in Animal Science

The Bachelor of Science in Animal Science is a undergraduate programme offered by Kenyan universities, designed to provide advanced training and research opportunities in the chosen field of study. The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) and delivered through coursework, seminars, and independent research.

Students engage with advanced concepts and methodologies through a structured curriculum that combines theoretical foundations with practical applications. The programme emphasises critical thinking, analytical skills, and research competence and prepares scholars to contribute original research to the discipline.

Kenya's growing demand for skilled professionals creates opportunities for graduates. The programme addresses national development priorities and aligns with Kenya's Vision 2030, which emphasises the need for highly trained professionals in the relevant sector. Graduates are equipped to tackle complex challenges facing the country and the East African region.

Teaching methods include lectures, seminars, laboratory sessions where applicable, fieldwork, and supervised research. Students work closely with faculty supervisors to develop their research proposals, conduct original research, and produce a thesis or dissertation that contributes new knowledge to the field.

Graduates pursue careers as researchers, educators, and consultants in universities, research institutions, government agencies, non-governmental organisations, and private sector firms. The programme provides a strong foundation for academic careers and leadership roles in the relevant sector.

This programme is ideal for individuals with a strong academic background in a related discipline who are passionate about research and advancing knowledge in the chosen field of study. It suits those who wish to contribute to policy development, innovation, and evidence-based decision-making in Kenya and beyond.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 324,000
Private, up to: Ksh 178,800
Job market: Moderate

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 15 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Introduction to Animal Science
Animal Anatomy and Physiology
Principles of Animal Nutrition
Animal Genetics and Breeding
Livestock Production Systems
Pastures and Fodder Crops
Animal Health and Parasitology
Dairy and Beef Cattle Production
Poultry and Pig Production
Research Methods and Project

Modules

12 in the programme

Advanced Theory
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced study of advanced theory, covering theoretical foundations, current research trends, and practical applications relevant to the Kenyan and East African context.
Research Methods
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Advanced study of research methods, covering theoretical foundations, current research trends, and practical applications relevant to the Kenyan and East African context.
Quantitative Analysis
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Advanced study of quantitative analysis, covering theoretical foundations, current research trends, and practical applications relevant to the Kenyan and East African context.
Qualitative Research
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced study of qualitative research, covering theoretical foundations, current research trends, and practical applications relevant to the Kenyan and East African context.
Literature Review
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Advanced study of literature review, covering theoretical foundations, current research trends, and practical applications relevant to the Kenyan and East African context.
Animal Health and Disease Control
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Animal Health and Disease Control: Animal diseases, prevention, biosecurity and health management Covers clinical principles, patient care protocols, and evidence-based practice.
Biostatistics
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Advanced study of biostatistics, covering theoretical foundations, current research trends, and practical applications relevant to the Kenyan and East African context.
Pasture and Range Management
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Pasture and Range Management: Fodder production, grazing management and pasture improvement Covers planning, organising, leadership, and control in organisational contexts.
Policy Analysis
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced study of policy analysis, covering theoretical foundations, current research trends, and practical applications relevant to the Kenyan and East African context.
Ethics in Research
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Advanced study of ethics in research, covering theoretical foundations, current research trends, and practical applications relevant to the Kenyan and East African context.
Field Research
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Advanced study of field research, covering theoretical foundations, current research trends, and practical applications relevant to the Kenyan and East African context.
Thesis Research
Year 4Semester 16 creditsCore
Advanced study of thesis research, covering theoretical foundations, current research trends, and practical applications relevant to the Kenyan and East African context.

Specialisations

Qualitative Specialisation
Specialization in Qualitative Specialisation, preparing graduates for careers such as management-consultant.
Literature Review
Specialization in Literature Review, preparing graduates for careers such as education-researcher. 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.
Advanced Theory
Specialization in Advanced Theory, preparing graduates for careers such as university-lecturer. 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.
Quantitative Analysis
Specialization in Quantitative Analysis, preparing graduates for careers such as policy-analyst-social-policy.
Animal Breeding
Specialization in Animal Breeding, preparing graduates for careers such as animal-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.
Animal Products Technology
Specialization in Animal Products Technology, preparing graduates for careers such as food-scientist.
Animal Nutrition
Specialization in Animal Nutrition, preparing graduates for careers such as animal-nutritionist. 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.
Dairy Science
Specialization in Dairy Science, preparing graduates for careers such as dairy-technologist. 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.
Animal Health
Specialization in Animal Health, preparing graduates for careers such as animal-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.
Livestock Production
Specialization in Livestock Production, preparing graduates for careers such as livestock-officer. 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 morning lectures and seminars with afternoon research activities, laboratory sessions, or fieldwork. Students engage with faculty supervisors, attend research seminars, review literature, and work on their thesis research projects.

The trade offs

In its favour

Advanced research skills open doors to academic and research careers in Kenya and internationally
Addresses real-world challenges relevant to Kenya's development priorities
Strong professional network through university and research collaborations

Against it

Farm work can be physically demanding and requires outdoor activities
Some roles may be in remote or rural areas
Limited number of supervisors in specialised fields may restrict research topics
Disease outbreaks can affect livestock industries
May require postgraduate training for research leadership

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 303 agriculture courses

Public275k to 324k

275k at Kenyatta University324k at University of Nairobi

Private109k to 179k

109k at Mount Kenya University179k at University of Eastern Africa, Baraton

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

UoN Sch II:324K/yr. KU:275.4K/yr. MKU:109.1K/yr. UEAB:178.8K/yr.

Students may access HELB postgraduate loans, DAAD scholarships for African scholars, and university-specific research grants. Some programmes offer teaching assistantships that provide fee waivers and stipends.

Funding options

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 80,000
German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Scholarships
Scholarship
African Union Research Grants
Grant

Scholarships

5 recorded

DAAD Scholarship
ScholarshipKenyan
African graduates meeting academic criteria for postgraduate study in relevant fields
Higher Education Fund (HEF)
BursaryKenyan
Kenyan undergraduate students placed by KUCCPS in public universities
TAGDev 2.0 Scholarship at Egerton University
ScholarshipKenyan
Students admitted to agriculture, natural resources and food science programmes at Egerton University
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKenyan
Residents of respective counties
Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students admitted to recognised 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

KCSE mean grade
C+ (Plus)
Relevant subject passes
C+ (Plus) in relevant subjects
Diploma option
Relevant diploma from recognised institution

How you are assessed

5 components

Continuous Assessment Tests
Coursework30% of the mark
Final Examination
Coursework50% of the mark
Thesis
Coursework100% of the mark
Assignments and Presentations
Coursework20% of the mark
Laboratory and Farm Practicals
Coursework40% of the mark

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Professional body registration may be required depending on the field of specialisation.

Accredited by

Relevant Professional Body
Professional certification
Professional registration may be required depending on the field of specialisation
Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Mandatory accreditation for all university programmes in Kenya

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

8 roles

University Lecturer
High demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 120,000
Teaches and conducts research in a university department, contributing to knowledge generation and student mentorship.
Research Scientist
High demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 90,000
Conducts independent and collaborative research in research institutions, contributing to publications and innovation.
Program Manager
Moderate demandKsh 25,000 to Ksh 60,000
Manages research and development programmes in NGOs, government agencies, or private sector organisations.
Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 110,000
Offers specialised expertise to organisations, drawing on advanced training and research experience.
Policy Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 70,000
Provides research-based policy advice to government, NGOs, and international organisations.
Livestock Officer
High demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 180,000
Advises on livestock management and productivity
Animal Nutritionist
High demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 250,000
Formulates feeds and advises on animal nutrition
Animal Scientist
High demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 220,000
Researches and improves animal production

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as university lecturers, research scientists, policy analysts, and consultants in universities, research institutions, government agencies, and private sector organisations across Kenya and the East African region.

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
QuickBooks
Accounting
Agribusiness accounting.
SAP Agricultural Contract Management
Erp
Agricultural contract and supply management.
R
AnalyticsPrimary
QGIS
Analytics

Certifications

Commission for University Education (CUE) Accreditation

Industry links

Common misconceptions

This undergraduate programme is only for those who want to become university lecturers
Graduates pursue diverse careers including research, policy analysis, consulting, and leadership roles in government, NGOs, and private sector organisations across Kenya and internationally.
The programme is purely theoretical with no practical application
The curriculum combines theoretical foundations with practical research, fieldwork, and industry engagement, ensuring graduates can apply their knowledge to real-world challenges.
Research in this field has limited relevance to Kenya's development
The programme directly addresses national development priorities under Vision 2030, with research topics often focused on local challenges and solutions relevant to the Kenyan context.
There are no funding opportunities for postgraduate students in this field
Multiple funding sources exist including HELB postgraduate loans, DAAD scholarships, bilateral cooperation programmes, and university-specific research grants for qualifying students.