Hospitality & Tourism

Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management

The Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management is a programme that combines business management with culinary arts and hospitality operations. Offered at USIU-Africa through the Chandaria School of Business, the programme equips graduates with skills in hotel operations, food and beverage management, hospitality marketing and financial management.

The curriculum covers food preparation and service, front office operations, housekeeping management, hospitality accounting, financial management, hospitality marketing, human resource management, food and beverage control, menu planning, nutrition, sanitation and safety, event management, hospitality law, strategic management, international hospitality trends, customer service excellence and hospitality information systems. Students develop both operational skills and management capabilities.

Kenya's hospitality industry is a major contributor to the national economy, driven by tourism, business travel and a growing domestic leisure market. The programme responds to the need for professionally trained hospitality managers who can deliver exceptional service, manage operations efficiently and drive business growth in hotels, restaurants and related establishments.

The programme is delivered through lectures, culinary laboratory sessions, industry simulations, case studies, internships and a research project. Students gain hands-on experience in food preparation, service operations, front office management and hospitality software through laboratory work and industrial attachment at hotels, restaurants and event venues.

Graduates pursue careers as hotel managers, restaurant managers, food and beverage directors, front office managers, event coordinators, catering managers, hospitality consultants, guest services managers and entrepreneurs in the hospitality industry. They work in hotels, restaurants, resorts, conference centres, cruise ships, airlines and catering companies. They can also pursue postgraduate study in hospitality management or business administration.

Prospective students should have strong interpersonal skills, an interest in customer service and a passion for the hospitality industry. The programme is suitable for students who want to lead and manage hospitality operations in a dynamic and global industry.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 204,400
Private, up to: Ksh 316,900
Job market: High

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 35 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Food Preparation and Culinary Arts
Front Office Operations
Food and Beverage Service
Hospitality Accounting and Finance
Hospitality Marketing
Housekeeping Management
Human Resource Management
Event Management
Hospitality Law and Regulations
Strategic Management

Modules

11 in the programme

Introduction to Hospitality Industry
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Introduces the hospitality industry structure, sectors, career paths, industry trends, customer service principles and the role of hospitality in the economy.
Food Preparation and Culinary Arts
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers cooking principles, food preparation techniques, kitchen safety, hygiene, menu development and culinary skills for restaurant operations.
Front Office Operations
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers reservation systems, check-in and check-out procedures, guest services, room rate management, front office accounting and hospitality software applications.
Food and Beverage Service
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers restaurant service styles, table service, beverage service, wine knowledge, service standards, guest relations and food and beverage operations management.
Hospitality Accounting and Finance
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers financial accounting for hotels and restaurants, cost control, budgeting, revenue management, financial statement analysis and hospitality financial management.
Hospitality Marketing
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers marketing principles for hospitality, market segmentation, digital marketing, brand management, customer relationship management and sales strategies.
Housekeeping Management
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers housekeeping operations, room maintenance, laundry management, cleanliness standards, inventory control and housekeeping staff supervision.
Event Management
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers event planning, conference management, banquet operations, catering coordination, event marketing and event logistics management.
Human Resource Management in Hospitality
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers recruitment, training, performance management, labour laws, staff scheduling, motivation and leadership in hospitality organisations.
Strategic Management in Hospitality
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers strategic planning, competitive analysis, business development, sustainability in hospitality and strategic decision-making for hospitality enterprises.
Research Project in Hotel and Restaurant Management
Year 4Semester 26 creditsCore
An independent research project on a hospitality management topic, demonstrating the student's ability to investigate industry issues and present findings.

Specialisations

Food and Beverage Management
Focuses on restaurant operations, culinary management, beverage service and cost control for careers in restaurant and food service management.
Hotel Operations Management
Specialises in front office, housekeeping and guest services management for careers in hotel operations and general management.
Event and Conference Management
Focuses on event planning, conference coordination and banquet management for careers in event management companies and conference centres.
Hospitality Entrepreneurship
Specialises in business development, venture creation and small business management for graduates who want to start their own hospitality businesses.

A day as a student

A typical day begins with a morning lecture on hospitality marketing or financial management, followed by a culinary laboratory session on food preparation and presentation. Afternoon sessions may include a front office operations workshop using hospitality management software, a menu planning practical, or group projects designing event management plans. Students also participate in industry site visits to hotels and restaurants.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's hospitality industry is growing with tourism and domestic leisure, creating strong demand for qualified hospitality managers.
The programme combines practical culinary skills with business management, providing a well-rounded hospitality education.
Hospitality skills are globally transferable, with opportunities for international careers in hotels, cruise ships and resorts worldwide.

Against it

The programme is expensive at USIU-Africa, with tuition significantly higher than public universities offering similar programmes.
Hospitality work often involves irregular hours, including evenings, weekends and holidays, which can affect work-life balance.

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 91 hospitality & tourism courses

Public204k to 204k

204k at Kenyatta University204k at Kenyatta University

Private115k to 317k

115k at Mount Kenya University317k at USIU-Africa

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 204,400/yr (Hospitality Mgmt); USIU 316,900/yr; MKU 115,000/yr (57,500/sem×2)

Students can access HELB loans and USIU-Africa's internal financial aid for qualifying students.

Funding options

HELB Loan
USIU-Africa Financial Aid

Scholarships

1 recorded

HELB Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan undergraduate students enrolled in accredited programmes at recognised universities

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+
Alternative entry: KACE with two Principal passes, or equivalent qualifications recognised by USIU-Africa.

English or Kiswahili
C+
Mathematics
C

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment Tests
Written examination30% of the mark
Mid-semester and end-of-semester written tests covering hospitality industry fundamentals, food preparation and front office operations.
Culinary and Service Practical Reports
Practicum40% of the mark
Assessment of culinary laboratory sessions, food and beverage service practicals and front office operations workshops.
Industrial Attachment Report
Practicum100% of the mark
Assessment of performance during industrial attachment at a hotel, restaurant, resort or event management company.
Research Project
Project100% of the mark
A final-year research project on a hospitality management topic, assessed through a written dissertation and oral presentation.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). The programme is offered at USIU-Africa's Chandaria School of Business.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). The programme is offered at USIU-Africa's Chandaria School of Business.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

Hotel Manager
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 400,000
Oversees all hotel operations including guest services, housekeeping, food and beverage, front office and maintenance, ensuring profitability and guest satisfaction.
Restaurant Manager
High demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 250,000
Manages restaurant operations including staff supervision, food quality, customer service, financial performance and compliance with health regulations.
Food and Beverage Director
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 350,000
Directs food and beverage operations in hotels or resorts, overseeing restaurants, bars, catering and banquet services, menu development and cost control.
Event Coordinator
High demandKsh 55,000 to Ksh 200,000
Plans and coordinates events including conferences, weddings and corporate functions, managing logistics, catering and client relationships.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as hotel managers, restaurant managers and food and beverage directors in hotels, restaurants, resorts and event venues across Kenya's thriving hospitality industry.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Hotel and restaurant management is just about cooking and serving food.
The programme covers business management, finance, marketing, human resources, strategic planning and operations management, preparing graduates for leadership roles in the hospitality industry.
Hospitality graduates can only work in hotels.
Graduates work in diverse settings including restaurants, resorts, cruise ships, airlines, event management companies, conference centres, catering firms and can also start their own hospitality businesses.
A hospitality degree is not necessary to succeed in the industry.
While entry-level positions may not require a degree, management and leadership roles increasingly require formal hospitality education, with graduates having better advancement prospects and higher earning potential.
The hospitality industry in Kenya is struggling.
Kenya's hospitality industry is growing with increasing tourism, business travel and domestic leisure, creating strong demand for qualified hospitality management professionals.