Business

Bachelor of Science in Science Finance

This Bachelor's programme prepares students for professional careers in finance. It develops expertise in financial management, investment analysis, financial markets, corporate finance, and risk management while building comprehensive skills for managing financial operations effectively.

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

Kenya requires finance to support economic development, enhance financial services, and promote effective financial management, creating demand for professionals who can work in financial management, investment analysis, financial markets, and support the finance and banking sectors.

The programme combines coursework, finance practice, case studies, research projects, and investment training. Students gain hands-on experience through financial management, investment analysis, and financial markets.

Graduates pursue careers as financial analysts, investment bankers, financial managers, risk managers, and finance consultants across corporations, government departments, banks, and financial institutions.

The programme is ideal for students interested in finance, financial management, investment analysis, financial markets, and risk management. The programme emphasises practical skills through case studies, industrial attachments, and research projects that prepare graduates for real-world business challenges.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 259,000
Private, up to: Ksh 295,500
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

Finance
Financial Management
Investment Analysis
Financial Markets
Corporate Finance
Risk Management

Modules

12 in the programme

Introduction to Finance
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Comprehensive introduction to finance, covering financial concepts, financial principles, and approaches to financial management.
Financial Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Study of financial management, covering financial planning, financial analysis, capital budgeting, and working capital management.
Investment Analysis
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Examination of investment analysis, covering portfolio management, securities analysis, investment strategies, and risk-return analysis.
Financial Markets
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Study of financial markets, covering market operations, market instruments, market regulation, and market efficiency.
Corporate Finance
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Analysis of corporate finance, covering capital structure, dividend policy, corporate valuation, and mergers and acquisitions.
Risk Management
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Development of risk management skills, covering financial risk, risk assessment, risk mitigation, and risk control.
Financial Accounting
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Study of financial accounting, covering financial statements, accounting standards, financial analysis, and financial reporting.
Financial Law
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Examination of financial law, covering financial legislation, regulatory frameworks, compliance, and legal frameworks for finance.
Strategic Management
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Study of strategic management, covering strategic analysis, strategy formulation, and strategic implementation in finance context.
Finance Ethics
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Analysis of ethical issues in finance, covering professional ethics, investment ethics, and ethical decision-making in financial practice.
Finance Practice
Year 4Semester 23 creditsCore
Practical finance work where students apply learned skills in financial management, investment analysis, and financial markets.
Finance Research Project
Year 4Semester 36 creditsCore
Independent research project on finance topic, demonstrating mastery of finance theory and practice.

Specialisations

Investment Analysis
Focus on portfolio management, securities analysis, and investment strategies for investment analysis careers.
Risk Management
Focus on financial risk, risk assessment, and risk mitigation. 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.
Corporate Finance
Specialization in capital structure, dividend policy, and corporate valuation. 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 financial management, participate in case studies, and engage in investment analysis.

The trade offs

In its favour

Diverse career opportunities in finance across corporations, government, banks, and financial institutions.
Strong foundation in both financial management and investment analysis skills.
Financial management and investment analysis provide hands-on experience with financial markets and risk management.

Against it

Finance roles often involve high pressure and responsibility for financial performance.
Finance requires continuous learning of new financial technologies and market 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 259k

184k at Kenyatta University259k at University of Nairobi

Private105k to 296k

105k at Mount Kenya University296k 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

UoN BSc Finance 259K/yr Y1 (uonbi.ac.ke); KU Econ&Fin 183.6K/yr (educationnewshub); USIU 295.5K/yr; MKU 105K/yr.

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

Funding options

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB)

Scholarships

4 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
ICPAK Scholarship for Accounting and Finance Students
ScholarshipKenyan
Bright and needy students admitted to accounting or finance programmes

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 Finance, Business Administration, Accounting, or related fields with Credit pass from recognized institutions may also apply.

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

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment Tests
Cat30% of the mark
Regular tests, assignments, and finance 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 financial management, investment analysis, and financial markets.
Research Project
Project100% of the mark
Independent research project on finance topic, demonstrating mastery of finance theory and practice.
Practice Assessments
Practicum100% of the mark
Evaluation of finance skills, financial work, and practical applications through financial 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

Financial Analyst
High demandKsh 54,000 to Ksh 120,000
Analyse financial data, develop financial strategies, and support financial planning and financial analysis.
Risk Manager
High demandKsh 56,000 to Ksh 125,000
Manage financial risk, develop risk strategies, and coordinate risk assessment and risk mitigation.
Investment Banker
High demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 140,000
Support investment banking, develop investment strategies, and work in portfolio management and securities analysis.
Finance Consultant
Medium demandKsh 58,000 to Ksh 130,000
Provide financial expertise, consult on financial strategy, and support organizations in financial improvement.
Financial Manager
High demandKsh 56,000 to Ksh 125,000
Manage financial operations, develop financial strategies, and coordinate capital budgeting and working capital management.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work in finance across Kenya's finance and banking sectors.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

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

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.