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Bachelor of Science in Co-operative Management

The Bachelor of Science in Co-operative Management is a programme that provides comprehensive training in co-operative business management, microfinance and community-based enterprise development. Offered at the Co-operative University of Kenya and other institutions, the programme prepares graduates for careers in co-operative societies, microfinance institutions and community development.

Duration
4 years
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 285,500
Ksh 1,142,000 total
Private tuition
Ksh 140,000
Ksh 560,000 total
Job market
High
Market demand for graduates

The short answer

What it costs
Up to Ksh 285,500 a year at a public institution, Ksh 1,142,000 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 140,000 a year at a private one.The detail
Who can get in
A KCSE mean grade of C+ or above, plus 2 subject grades. There is another way in without it.The detail
How long, and when
Takes 4 years, full-time, part-time, with 3 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 1 institution.The detail
Where it leads
8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Forensic Audit Investigator, at 17 out of 100.The detail

The programme

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

Overview

The curriculum covers co-operative theory, co-operative management, co-operative law, microfinance management, savings and credit management, financial management, accounting, marketing, human resource management, project management, community development, entrepreneurship, business statistics, research methods and a research project. Students develop management and financial skills for co-operative enterprises.

Kenya's co-operative movement, one of the largest in Africa, and the growth of microfinance create strong demand for co-operative management graduates. The programme is offered through lectures, case studies, field visits, industrial attachment and research projects.

Graduates are prepared for careers as co-operative managers, microfinance officers, SACCO managers, credit officers, project managers, community development officers, financial controllers and co-operative consultants. They work in SACCOs, co-operative societies, microfinance institutions, NGOs, government 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.

What you study

10 subjects
  • Co-operative Theory
  • Co-operative Management
  • Co-operative Law
  • Microfinance Management
  • Savings and Credit Management
  • Financial Management
  • Accounting
  • Project Management
  • Community Development
  • Entrepreneurship

Modules

10 in the programme

  • Co-operative Theory

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Principles of co-operation. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semes...

  • Co-operative Management

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Managing co-operative enterprises. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-o...

  • Co-operative Law

    Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore

    Legal framework for co-operatives. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-o...

  • Microfinance Management

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Microfinance operations. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semester...

  • Savings and Credit Management

    Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore

    SACCO operations. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semester examin...

  • Financial Management

    Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore

    Financial management. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semester ex...

  • Accounting

    Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore

    Financial accounting. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semester ex...

  • Project Management

    Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore

    Project planning and management. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-...

  • Community Development

    Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore

    Community development practice. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-s...

  • 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

  • Co-operative Audit

    Co-operative auditing. 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.

  • SACCO Management

    SACCO operations. 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.

  • Community Development

    Community development. 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.

  • Microfinance

    Microfinance 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.

A day as a student

A typical day involves attending co-operative management lectures, studying co-operative law, analysing SACCO financial statements, learning microfinance operations, working on community development projects, researching co-operative trends, and preparing for industrial attachment.

The trade-offs

In its favourAgainst it
Kenya has one of Africa's strongest co-operative movementsLimited to co-operative and microfinance sectors
Specialised skills for SACCOs and microfinance sectorMay require additional certification for banking roles
Growing demand for professional co-operative managersSome SACCO positions may have modest salaries

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 286k
184k at Kenyatta University286k at University of Nairobi
Private105k to 140k
105k at Mount Kenya University140k at Zetech 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. UoN B.Com:285.5K. MKU:105K. Zetech:140K

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

Scholarships you could apply for

6 usable where it is taught
Save one and be reminded before it closes

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade
C+minimum entry
Alternative entry

KCSE mean grade C+ with C+ in Mathematics and English. Diploma in co-operative management, business, banking or related field from a recognised institution. KUCCPS Cluster 2.

Subject requirements
MathematicsC+
EnglishC+

When it next starts

Taught at 1 institution
January 20271 institution

Including The Co-operative University of Kenya.

May 20271 institution

Including The Co-operative University of Kenya.

September 20271 institution

Including The Co-operative University of Kenya.

How you are assessed

4 components

  • Industrial Attachment

    Practicum10% of the mark

    3-month attachment at SACCO or MFI

  • End of Semester Examinations

    Written examination50% of the mark

    End of semester written exams

  • Continuous Assessment Tests

    Cat30% of the mark

    Regular tests, assignments and case studies

  • Research Project

    Project10% of the mark

    Final year research project

Accreditation

  • Commission for University Education

    AcademicRequired

    Statutory body responsible for accreditation of university programmes in Kenya

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Offered at the Co-operative University of Kenya and other institutions. Admission requires KCSE mean grade C+ with C+ in Mathematics and English. KUCCPS Cluster 2.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

  • Project Manager

    Moderate demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 300,000

    Project management

  • SACCO Manager

    High demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 250,000

    SACCO management

  • Credit Officer

    High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 200,000

    Credit management

  • Co-operative Manager

    High demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 280,000

    Co-operative management

  • Microfinance Officer

    High demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 230,000

    Microfinance operations

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as co-operative managers, SACCO managers and microfinance officers in SACCOs, co-operative societies and microfinance institutions.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

  • QuickBooks

    AccountingPrimary

    Accounting for co-operative societies

  • SAP FICO

    Erp/accountingPrimary

    Financial management for co-operative enterprises

  • Microsoft Excel

    Spreadsheet

    Financial analysis and member data management

  • Sage

    Accounting

    Accounting software for co-operative societies

  • Power BI

    Data visualization

    Business intelligence for co-operative performance

  • SPSS

    Statistical analysis

    Statistical analysis for co-operative research

Certifications

Common misconceptions

  • Co-operative management is just about SACCOs.

    The programme covers microfinance, community development, project management and entrepreneurship.

  • Co-operatives are outdated.

    Kenya's co-operative movement is one of the strongest in Africa with growing membership.

  • This degree has limited career options.

    Graduates work in SACCOs, microfinance, NGOs, government and banking.

  • Co-operative management is less rigorous than business administration.

    The programme covers similar business subjects with additional co-operative specialisation.

Further reading

Read next