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Bachelor of Science in Data Science

The Bachelor of Science in Data Science is a cutting-edge programme that provides comprehensive training in data analysis, machine learning and statistical modelling. Offered at Strathmore University, JKUAT, Dedan Kimathi University of Technology and other select institutions, the programme prepares graduates for careers in data science, analytics and business intelligence.

Duration
4 years
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 306,000
Ksh 1,224,000 total
Private tuition
Ksh 270,030
Ksh 1,080,120 total
Job market
High
Market demand for graduates

The short answer

What it costs
Up to Ksh 306,000 a year at a public institution, Ksh 1,224,000 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 270,030 a year at a private one.The detail
Who can get in
A KCSE mean grade of C+ or above, plus 3 subject grades. There is another way in without it.The detail
How long, and when
Takes 4 years, full-time, with 3 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 10 institutions.The detail
Where it leads
8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Cloud Security Engineer, at 14 out of 100.The detail

The programme

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

Overview

The curriculum covers programming, statistics, probability, data structures, machine learning, data visualisation, big data analytics, database management, data mining, predictive analytics, natural language processing, business intelligence, Python, R, SQL, cloud platforms, research methods and a final year project. Students develop programming, statistical and analytical skills for data-driven decision making.

Kenya's data-driven economy, fintech growth and the demand for data professionals create strong demand for data science graduates. The programme is offered through lectures, programming labs, data analysis projects, hackathons and industrial attachment.

Graduates are prepared for careers as data scientists, data analysts, machine learning engineers, business intelligence analysts, data engineers, analytics consultants, research data analysts and AI specialists. They work in tech companies, banks, insurance, telecommunications, consulting firms, research institutions, government and startups.

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Admission requires KCSE mean grade C+ with B- in Mathematics and C+ in Physics or Chemistry. KUCCPS Cluster 3.

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
  • Programming
  • Statistics
  • Machine Learning
  • Data Visualisation
  • Big Data Analytics
  • Database Management
  • Data Mining
  • Predictive Analytics
  • Business Intelligence
  • Python and R

Modules

10 in the programme

  • Programming for Data Science

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Python and R programming. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semeste...

  • Statistics

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

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

  • Machine Learning

    Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore

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

  • Data Visualisation

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

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

  • Big Data Analytics

    Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore

    Large-scale data processing. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-seme...

  • Database Management

    Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore

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

  • Data Mining

    Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore

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

  • Predictive Analytics

    Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore

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

  • Business Intelligence

    Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore

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

  • Final Year Project

    Year 4Semester 16 creditsCore

    Capstone data science project. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-se...

Specialisations

  • Data Visualisation

    Visual analytics. 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.

  • Machine Learning

    ML and AI. 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.

  • Big Data Engineering

    Data infrastructure. 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.

  • Business Analytics

    Business intelligence. 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 data science lectures, programming in Python and R, building machine learning models, creating data visualisations, working with databases, analysing real datasets, participating in data hackathons, and developing analytics projects.

The trade-offs

In its favourAgainst it
One of the most in-demand skills globallyRequires strong mathematics and programming skills
Excellent earning potentialRapidly evolving field requiring continuous learning
Opportunities across all industriesLimited number of universities offering the programme

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 191 technology courses
Public184k to 306k
184k at Meru University of Science and Technology306k at Co-operative University of Kenya
Private219k to 270k
219k at Kabarak University270k 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

KUCCPS: Meru 184K, Co-op 306K. Kabarak 219K, KCA 270K. educationnewshub.co.ke, kcau.ac.ke

HELB loans and government scholarships under the new funding model are available. Tech companies may offer sponsorships.

Funding options

  • HELB Loan

  • County Bursaries

  • Government Scholarship (New Funding Model)

Scholarships

5 recorded

  • Huawei Seeds for the Future Kenya

    Scholarship

    Talented ICT/STEM university students with a GPA of 3.0+

  • Generation Google Scholarship

    Scholarship

    Women in computer science and related technical fields

  • Higher Education Fund (HEF)

    ScholarshipKsh 200,000Kenyan

    KUCCPS-placed students

  • Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan

    LoanKsh 80,000Kenyan

    Kenyan undergraduate students

  • County Government Bursaries

    BursaryKsh 50,000Kenyan

    Kenyan students from participating counties

Scholarships you could apply for

8 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 B- in Mathematics and C+ in Physics or Chemistry. Diploma in computer science, IT, statistics or related field from a recognised institution. KUCCPS Cluster 3.

Subject requirements
MathematicsB-
Physics or ChemistryC+
English or KiswahiliC+

When it next starts

Taught at 10 institutions
January 202710 institutions

Including Meru University of Science and Technology, Kenyatta University, Kenya Highlands Evangelical University.

May 202710 institutions

Including Meru University of Science and Technology, Kenyatta University, Kenya Highlands Evangelical University.

September 202710 institutions

Including Meru University of Science and Technology, Kenyatta University, Kenya Highlands Evangelical University.

How you are assessed

4 components

  • Continuous Assessment Tests

    Cat20% of the mark

    Regular tests and assignments

  • Data Analysis Projects

    Practicum30% of the mark

    Hands-on data projects

  • End of Semester Examinations

    Written examination40% of the mark

    End of semester written exams

  • Final Year Project

    Project10% of the mark

    Capstone data science 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 Strathmore, JKUAT, DeKUT and other select institutions. Admission requires KCSE mean grade C+ with B- in Mathematics and C+ in Physics or Chemistry. KUCCPS Cluster 3.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

  • Data Engineer

    Moderate demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 500,000

    Data infrastructure

  • Machine Learning Engineer

    High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 550,000

    ML engineering

  • Business Intelligence Analyst

    High demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 380,000

    BI and analytics

  • Data Scientist

    High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 600,000

    Data science and ML

  • Data Analyst

    High demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 400,000

    Data analysis

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as data scientists, data analysts and machine learning engineers in tech companies, banks, telecommunications and consulting firms.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

  • Python

    ProgrammingPrimary

    Primary programming language for data science

  • R

    Statistical computingPrimary

    Statistical analysis and data visualization

  • SQL

    Database

    Database querying for data extraction

  • Tableau

    Data visualization

    Data visualization and business intelligence

  • Jupyter Notebook

    Development

    Interactive notebooks for data analysis

  • Git/GitHub

    Version control

    Version control for data science projects

Certifications

Common misconceptions

  • Data science is just about statistics.

    The programme covers programming, machine learning, big data, visualisation and business intelligence.

  • Data science is only for tech companies.

    Every sector needs data professionals, from healthcare to finance to government.

  • You need a PhD to be a data scientist.

    A bachelor's degree with strong skills is sufficient for most data science roles.

  • Data science is just a buzzword.

    Data science drives decision making in virtually every industry.

Further reading

Read next