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Environmental Science

Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Management

The Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Management is a programme that provides comprehensive training in wildlife conservation, habitat management and wildlife enterprise. Offered at Kenyatta University, Egerton University, University of Nairobi, Karatina University, Maasai Mara University and other institutions, the programme prepares graduates for careers in wildlife management, conservation and research.

Duration
4 years
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 372,000
Ksh 1,488,000 total
Private tuition
Ksh 191,700
Ksh 766,800 total
Job market
Moderate
Market demand for graduates

The short answer

What it costs
Up to Ksh 372,000 a year at a public institution, Ksh 1,488,000 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 191,700 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 4 institutions.The detail
Where it leads
8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Climate Change Analyst, at 10 out of 100.The detail

The programme

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

Overview

The curriculum covers wildlife management, wildlife ecology, conservation biology, habitat management, wildlife population dynamics, wildlife health, national park management, community wildlife management, wildlife policy and law, GIS for wildlife, wildlife economics, ecotourism, biodiversity, human-wildlife conflict, wildlife research techniques, research methods and a research project. Students develop field and analytical skills for wildlife conservation.

Kenya's wildlife heritage, national parks and reserves, community conservancies and conservation challenges create demand for wildlife management graduates. The programme is offered through lectures, fieldwork in parks and reserves, laboratory sessions, industrial attachment and research projects.

Graduates are prepared for careers as wildlife managers, conservation officers, park rangers, wildlife researchers, community wildlife officers, wildlife consultants, ecotourism managers, wildlife educators and biodiversity officers. They work in Kenya Wildlife Service, county governments, conservation NGOs, research institutions, national parks, community conservancies and consulting firms.

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Admission requires KCSE mean grade C+ with C+ in Biology, Chemistry or Geography, and English or Kiswahili. KUCCPS Cluster 4.

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
  • Wildlife Management
  • Wildlife Ecology
  • Conservation Biology
  • Habitat Management
  • Wildlife Population Dynamics
  • Wildlife Health
  • National Park Management
  • Community Wildlife Management
  • Wildlife Policy and Law
  • GIS for Wildlife

Modules

10 in the programme

  • Wildlife Management

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Wildlife management principles. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-s...

  • Wildlife Ecology

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

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

  • Conservation Biology

    Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore

    Conservation science. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semester ex...

  • Habitat Management

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

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

  • Wildlife Population Dynamics

    Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore

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

  • National Park Management

    Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore

    Park management. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semester examina...

  • Community Wildlife Management

    Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore

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

  • Wildlife Policy and Law

    Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore

    Wildlife legislation. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semester ex...

  • GIS for Wildlife

    Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore

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

  • Research Project

    Year 4Semester 16 creditsCore

    Final year research project. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-seme...

Specialisations

  • Wildlife Ecology

    Wildlife ecosystems. 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.

  • Wildlife Health

    Wildlife veterinary support. 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.

  • Community Conservation

    Community wildlife. 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.

  • Park Management

    National park 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.

A day as a student

A typical day involves attending wildlife management lectures, conducting field surveys in parks, studying wildlife ecology, using GIS for habitat mapping, researching conservation, studying wildlife policy, learning community conservation, and working on wildlife research projects.

The trade-offs

In its favourAgainst it
Kenya's wildlife heritage creates unique opportunitiesFieldwork in remote and sometimes dangerous areas
Field-based learning in national parks and reservesPublic sector salaries may be modest
Socially impactful conservation workLimited 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 181 environmental science courses
Public131k to 372k
131k at Kenyatta University372k at University of Nairobi
Private109k to 192k
109k at Mount Kenya University192k 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

KU 131K/yr (victormatara), UoN 372K/yr (uonbi.ac.ke). MKU 109K, Kabarak 192K (kabarak.ac.ke).

HELB loans and government scholarships under the new funding model are available. Conservation NGOs may offer fieldwork support.

Funding options

  • HELB Loan

  • County Bursaries

  • Government Scholarship (New Funding Model)

Scholarships

3 recorded

  • Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan

    LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan

    Kenyan undergraduate students

  • County Government Bursaries

    BursaryKsh 30,000Kenyan

    Kenyan students from participating counties

  • Higher Education Fund (HEF)

    ScholarshipKsh 200,000Kenyan

    KUCCPS-placed students

Scholarships you could apply for

11 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 C+ in Biology, Chemistry or Geography, and English or Kiswahili. Diploma in wildlife, forestry, environmental science or related field from a recognised institution. KUCCPS Cluster 4.

Subject requirements
BiologyC+
Chemistry or GeographyC+
English or KiswahiliC+

When it next starts

Taught at 4 institutions
January 20274 institutions

Including Maasai Mara University, Moi University, Chuka University.

May 20274 institutions

Including Maasai Mara University, Moi University, Chuka University.

September 20274 institutions

Including Maasai Mara University, Moi University, Chuka University.

How you are assessed

4 components

  • Continuous Assessment Tests

    Cat30% of the mark

    Regular tests and assignments

  • End of Semester Examinations

    Written examination50% of the mark

    End of semester written exams

  • Field and Laboratory Practicals

    Practicum10% of the mark

    Field surveys and lab sessions

  • Research Project

    Project10% of the mark

    Final year research 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 KU, Egerton, UoN, Karatina, Maasai Mara and other institutions. Admission requires KCSE mean grade C+ with C+ in Biology, Chemistry or Geography, and English or Kiswahili. KUCCPS Cluster 4.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

  • Community Wildlife Officer

    Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 230,000

    Community conservation

  • Conservation Officer

    Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 250,000

    Conservation management

  • Wildlife Manager

    Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 280,000

    Wildlife management

  • Wildlife Consultant

    Low demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 320,000

    Wildlife consulting

  • Wildlife Researcher

    Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 300,000

    Wildlife research

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as wildlife managers, conservation officers and wildlife researchers in Kenya Wildlife Service, conservation NGOs and research institutions.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

  • ArcGIS

    GisPrimary

    Wildlife habitat mapping and spatial analysis

  • SPSS

    Statistical analysisPrimary

    Wildlife population data analysis

  • R

    Statistical computing

    Ecological statistics and population modeling

  • DISTANCE

    Wildlife research

    Distance sampling for wildlife population estimation

  • Microsoft Excel

    Spreadsheet

    Wildlife data management and reporting

  • QGIS

    Gis

    Open-source GIS for conservation mapping

Certifications

Common misconceptions

  • Wildlife management is just about working with animals.

    The programme covers ecology, policy, economics, community conservation, GIS and habitat management.

  • There are no wildlife management jobs in Kenya.

    Kenya's wildlife heritage and conservation sector create demand for professionals.

  • Wildlife management is only for KWS.

    Graduates work in NGOs, conservancies, research, consulting and ecotourism.

  • Wildlife management is not a science.

    The programme integrates biology, ecology, statistics, GIS and policy.

Further reading

Read next