Environmental Science

Bachelor of Science in Environmental Economics and Policy

This Bachelor's programme prepares students for professional careers in environmental economics and policy. It develops expertise in environmental economics, policy analysis, environmental valuation, natural resource economics, and environmental governance while building comprehensive skills for analyzing environmental and economic issues effectively.

Students analyse environmental and economic needs, design policy strategies, implement economic techniques, evaluate environmental performance, conduct research, apply ethical principles, manage policy projects, and develop sustainable environmental practices. They also strengthen analytical thinking, economic skills, communication, teamwork, and policy abilities.

Kenya requires environmental economics and policy to support environmental protection, enhance economic analysis of environmental issues, and promote evidence-based environmental policy, creating demand for professionals who can work in environmental economics, policy analysis, natural resource management, and support the environmental and policy sectors.

The programme combines coursework, environmental practice, case studies, research projects, and policy training. Students gain hands-on experience through environmental analysis, policy research, and economic evaluation.

Graduates pursue careers as environmental economists, policy analysts, natural resource economists, environmental consultants, and policy advisors across environmental agencies, government departments, research institutions, and consulting firms.

The programme is ideal for students interested in environmental economics, policy analysis, environmental valuation, natural resource economics, and environmental governance.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 324,000
Private, up to: Ksh 221,400
Job market: High

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 6 months
Average class: 30 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

6 subjects

Environmental Economics and Policy
Environmental Economics
Policy Analysis
Environmental Valuation
Natural Resource Economics
Environmental Governance

Modules

12 in the programme

Introduction to Environmental Economics and Policy
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Comprehensive introduction to environmental economics and policy, covering economic concepts, policy principles, and approaches to environmental analysis.
Environmental Economics
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Study of environmental economics, covering environmental externalities, cost-benefit analysis, environmental valuation, and economic instruments.
Policy Analysis
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Examination of policy analysis, covering policy evaluation, policy design, policy implementation, and policy impact assessment.
Environmental Valuation
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Study of environmental valuation, covering contingent valuation, hedonic pricing, travel cost method, and ecosystem valuation.
Natural Resource Economics
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Analysis of natural resource economics, covering resource economics, resource depletion, resource allocation, and sustainable resource use.
Environmental Governance
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Development of environmental governance skills, covering environmental institutions, governance frameworks, environmental regulation, and compliance.
Environmental Law
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Study of environmental law, covering environmental legislation, regulatory frameworks, compliance, and environmental litigation.
Climate Economics
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Examination of climate economics, covering climate change economics, carbon pricing, climate policy, and economic adaptation.
Strategic Management
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Study of strategic management, covering strategic analysis, strategy formulation, and strategic implementation in environmental context.
Environmental Ethics
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Analysis of ethical issues in environmental economics and policy, covering environmental ethics, policy ethics, and ethical decision-making.
Environmental Economics and Policy Practice
Year 4Semester 23 creditsCore
Practical environmental work where students apply learned skills in environmental analysis, policy research, and economic evaluation.
Environmental Economics and Policy Research Project
Year 4Semester 36 creditsCore
Independent research project on environmental or policy topic, demonstrating mastery of environmental economics and policy theory and practice.

Specialisations

Environmental Economics
Focus on environmental externalities, cost-benefit analysis, and environmental valuation for environmental economics careers.
Natural Resource Economics
Focus on resource economics, resource depletion, and sustainable resource use. 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.
Policy Analysis
Specialization in policy evaluation, policy design, and policy impact assessment. 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.
General Practice
Broad foundational knowledge covering core principles and practices in the field. 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

Students attend lectures, conduct environmental analysis, participate in case studies, and engage in policy research.

The trade offs

In its favour

Growing demand for environmental economists and policy analysts due to increasing environmental challenges and policy needs.
Environmental economics and policy offer diverse career opportunities in government, research, and consulting.
Environmental analysis and policy research provide hands-on experience with economic evaluation and policy development.

Against it

Environmental policy work requires strong quantitative skills and comfort with economic analysis.
Environmental economics requires continuous learning of new policy developments and economic methodologies.

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 181 environmental science courses

Public245k to 324k

245k at Kenyatta University324k at University of Nairobi

Private109k to 221k

109k at Mount Kenya University221k at Daystar 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 Env Sci 245K (ku.ac.ke). UoN 324K (Schedule II). MKU 109K, Daystar 221K/yr.

HELB loans available for eligible students. Some universities offer scholarships based on academic performance.

Funding options

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB)

Scholarships

3 recorded

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students admitted to recognised universities demonstrating financial need.
Higher Education Fund (HEF)
Government fundingKenyan
Kenyan students in public universities under the new funding model based on financial need assessment.
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKenyan
Residents of respective counties pursuing undergraduate studies

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+ (plus) mean grade at KCSE
Alternative entry: Diploma holders in Environmental Science, Economics, Natural Resource Management, or related fields with Credit pass from recognized institutions may also apply.

Mathematics
C+
English/Kiswahili
C
Economics/Business Studies
C
Any Group II subject
C

How you are assessed

4 components

End of Semester Examinations
Exam70% of the mark
Comprehensive written examinations at the end of each semester testing understanding of environmental economics, policy analysis, and environmental valuation.
Practice Assessments
Practicum100% of the mark
Evaluation of environmental economics skills, analytical work, and practical applications through environmental analysis and case studies.
Research Project
Project100% of the mark
Independent research project on environmental or policy topic, demonstrating mastery of environmental economics and policy theory and practice.
Continuous Assessment Tests
Cat30% of the mark
Regular tests, assignments, and environmental economics exercises throughout the semester evaluating knowledge and practical skills.

Accreditation

Accredited by Commission for University Education (CUE).

Accredited by

Commission for University Education
NationalRequired
Mandatory accreditation for all university programmes in Kenya.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Environmental Consultant
Medium demandKsh 56,000 to Ksh 125,000
Provide environmental expertise, consult on environmental economics, and support organizations in environmental improvement.
Natural Resource Economist
High demandKsh 54,000 to Ksh 120,000
Analyse natural resource economics, develop resource strategies, and support resource allocation and sustainable use.
Policy Advisor
Medium demandKsh 54,000 to Ksh 120,000
Advise on environmental policy, provide policy guidance, and support policy development and implementation.
Environmental Economist
High demandKsh 56,000 to Ksh 125,000
Analyse environmental economic issues, conduct economic analysis, and support environmental policy and economic decision-making.
Policy Analyst
High demandKsh 52,000 to Ksh 115,000
Analyse environmental policy, develop policy recommendations, and support policy development and implementation.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work in environmental economics and policy across Kenya's environmental and policy sectors.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Google Workspace
Cloud
Power BI
AnalyticsPrimary
QuickBooks
Accounting
SAP
Enterprise
ChatGPT / Claude
Ai
Microsoft Excel
SpreadsheetPrimary

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

This programme has limited career opportunities.
Graduates pursue diverse career paths across multiple sectors in Kenya and internationally.
The programme is only for top-performing students.
While academic excellence is valued, the programme accepts students meeting the minimum KCSE requirements and supports diverse learners.
Graduates cannot find employment in Kenya.
Kenya's growing economy creates demand for qualified graduates across public, private, and NGO sectors.
The degree is not recognised internationally.
The programme is accredited by CUE and is recognised under regional and international qualification frameworks.