Business

Bachelor of Science in Purchase and Supplies Management

The Bachelor Of Science In Purchase And Supplies Management is a degree programme that equips students with knowledge and skills in in purchase and supplies management. The programme falls under the Business & Economics category and typically spans 4 years of full-time study at accredited Kenyan universities.

The curriculum covers Purchase and Supplies Management, Purchasing Management, Supplies Management, Procurement, Inventory Control, Supply Chain. Students engage with both theoretical foundations and practical applications, developing competencies in technical and analytical competencies. The coursework is designed to build progressive understanding from foundational concepts to advanced topics.

Throughout the programme, students study Procurement, Supplies Management, Purchase and Supplies Management Research Project, Supply Chain, Purchasing Management. The teaching approach combines lectures, laboratory practicals, tutorials, assignments and independent research projects. This blend ensures graduates can apply theoretical knowledge to real-world problems in their field.

The programme offers specialisations in Purchasing Management, Supplies Management, Inventory Control. Students can focus their studies on areas of particular interest, allowing them to tailor their degree to specific career goals. The flexibility enables graduates to pursue diverse professional paths within the sector.

Graduates of the Bachelor Of Science In Purchase And Supplies Management pursue careers as Inventory Manager, Supplies Manager, Purchasing Officer, Purchasing Consultant. They find employment in various sectors including government agencies, private companies, research institutions, non-governmental organisations and academic institutions. The degree opens doors to both local and international opportunities.

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) and offered at recognised universities across Kenya. Students benefit from industry attachments, fieldwork and practical training that complement classroom learning and enhance employability upon graduation.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 183,600
Private, up to: Ksh 188,700
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

Purchase and Supplies Management
Purchasing Management
Supplies Management
Procurement
Inventory Control
Supply Chain

Modules

12 in the programme

Introduction to Purchase and Supplies Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Comprehensive introduction to purchase and supplies management, covering purchasing concepts, supplies principles, and approaches to inventory control.
Purchasing Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Study of purchasing management, covering purchasing planning, purchasing processes, purchasing policy, and purchasing operations.
Supplies Management
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Examination of supplies management, covering supplies planning, supplies operations, materials management, and supplies coordination.
Procurement
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Study of procurement, covering procurement processes, supplier selection, procurement negotiation, and procurement strategy.
Inventory Control
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Analysis of inventory control, covering inventory management, inventory planning, demand forecasting, and inventory optimization.
Supply Chain
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Development of supply chain skills, covering supply chain management, logistics coordination, supply chain planning, and supply chain strategy.
Purchasing Law
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Study of purchasing law, covering purchasing legislation, regulatory frameworks, compliance, and legal frameworks for purchasing.
Purchasing Ethics
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Examination of purchasing ethics, covering ethical principles, anti-corruption, professional ethics, and ethical decision-making in purchasing practice.
Strategic Management
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Study of strategic management, covering strategic analysis, strategy formulation, and strategic implementation in purchasing context.
Supplies Analytics
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Analysis of supplies analytics, covering data analysis, supplies metrics, performance measurement, and data-driven supplies.
Purchase and Supplies Management Practice
Year 4Semester 23 creditsCore
Practical purchasing work where students apply learned skills in purchasing management, supplies management, and inventory control.
Purchase and Supplies Management Research Project
Year 4Semester 36 creditsCore
Independent research project on purchasing or supplies topic, demonstrating mastery of purchase and supplies management theory and practice.

Specialisations

Purchasing Management
Focus on purchasing planning, purchasing processes, and purchasing policy for purchasing careers. 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.
Supplies Management
Specialization in supplies planning, supplies operations, and materials 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.
Inventory Control
Focus on inventory management, inventory planning, and demand forecasting. 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 purchasing management, participate in case studies, and engage in supplies management.

The trade offs

In its favour

Diverse career opportunities in purchase and supplies across corporations, government, and supplies firms.
Strong foundation in both purchasing management and supplies management skills.
Purchasing management and supplies provide hands-on experience with inventory control and supplies analytics.

Against it

Purchase and supplies roles often involve high pressure and responsibility for cost and inventory management.
Supplies management requires continuous learning of new inventory technologies and purchasing regulations.

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 184k

184k at Taita Taveta University184k at Taita Taveta University

Private105k to 189k

105k at Mount Kenya University189k at Kabarak 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

TTU/Embu 183,600/yr; MKU 105K; Kabarak 188,700/yr (educationnewshub, Kabarak PDF).

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 Purchasing, Supplies Management, Business Administration, or related fields with Credit pass from recognized institutions may also apply.

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

How you are assessed

4 components

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

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

Inventory Manager
High demandKsh 52,000 to Ksh 115,000
Manage inventory operations, develop inventory strategies, and coordinate inventory planning and demand forecasting.
Supplies Manager
High demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 110,000
Manage supplies operations, develop supplies strategies, and coordinate materials management and supplies coordination.
Purchasing Officer
High demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 110,000
Manage purchasing operations, develop purchasing strategies, and coordinate supplier selection and purchasing negotiation.
Purchasing Consultant
Medium demandKsh 56,000 to Ksh 125,000
Provide purchasing expertise, consult on supplies strategy, and support organizations in purchasing improvement.
Procurement Officer
High demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 110,000
Support procurement operations, implement procurement processes, and work in supplier selection and procurement strategy.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work in purchase and supplies management across Kenya's purchase and supplies sectors.

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

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.