Environmental Science

Master of Arts (Biodiversity and Natural Resources Management)

The Master of Arts in Biodiversity and Natural Resources Management at the University of Nairobi is a postgraduate research programme that examines biodiversity conservation, natural resource management, and environmental sustainability. The programme prepares graduates for careers in conservation, environmental management, research, and policy development.

The curriculum covers biodiversity assessment, ecosystem management, natural resource economics, conservation biology, environmental policy, protected area management, community-based conservation, GIS for environmental management, and research methods. Students develop analytical skills for understanding biodiversity patterns, resource use dynamics, and conservation strategies.

Admission requires a bachelor's degree with at least a Lower Second Class Honours in geography, environmental science, biology, natural resource management, or a related discipline from the University of Nairobi or a recognised institution. A Pass degree with a relevant postgraduate diploma is also acceptable. The programme is offered by research and thesis.

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) and delivered through the Department of Geography, Population and Environmental Studies at the University of Nairobi. The programme adopts a multidisciplinary approach to understanding and managing natural and human environments.

Career prospects include roles in biodiversity conservation, natural resource management, environmental planning, protected area management, research, and academia. Graduates work in national environmental agencies, wildlife services, forest services, international environmental organisations, NGOs, and universities.

The programme addresses Kenya's critical need for biodiversity and natural resource management expertise, given the country's rich biodiversity, extensive protected area network, and growing environmental challenges from climate change, habitat loss, and resource degradation. With Kenya's commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals and conservation agenda, demand for qualified environmental management professionals continues to grow.

Skills Required

Biodiversity assessment and monitoring
Natural resource management
Conservation planning
Environmental impact assessment
GIS for environmental management
Ecosystem analysis
Environmental policy analysis
Protected area management
Community-based conservation
Research methodology in environmental science

Key Subjects

Biodiversity Assessment
Ecosystem Management
Natural Resource Economics
Conservation Biology
Environmental Policy
Protected Area Management
Community-Based Conservation
GIS for Environmental Management
Research Methods in Environmental Science
Environmental Impact Assessment

Certifications

IUCN Conservation Certification
NEMA Environmental Impact Assessment Lead Expert
ESRI GIS Certification
KWS Conservation Affiliation

Specializations

Biodiversity Conservation

Focuses on biodiversity assessment, species conservation, habitat management, and conservation planning.

Forest Resource Management

Covers forest ecology, sustainable forest management, forest conservation, and community forestry.

Wildlife Management

Examines wildlife conservation, protected area management, human-wildlife conflict, and wildlife policy.

Wetland and Water Resource Management

Focuses on wetland conservation, watershed management, freshwater biodiversity, and water resource governance.

Community-Based Natural Resource Management

Covers community participation in conservation, benefit-sharing mechanisms, and sustainable livelihoods linked to natural resources.

Environmental Policy and Governance

Examines environmental policy frameworks, natural resource governance, and environmental legislation in Kenya and East Africa.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 295,800
Job market: High

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 10 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Biodiversity Assessment
Ecosystem Management
Natural Resource Economics
Conservation Biology
Environmental Policy
Protected Area Management
Community-Based Conservation
GIS for Environmental Management
Research Methods in Environmental Science
Environmental Impact Assessment

Modules

11 in the programme

Biodiversity Assessment and Monitoring
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Methods for assessing and monitoring biodiversity, including species surveys, biodiversity indices, and long-term monitoring protocols.
Research Methods in Environmental Science
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Research methodology for environmental science, including field methods, statistical analysis, experimental design, and academic writing.
Ecosystem Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Principles of ecosystem management, including ecosystem processes, services, restoration, and sustainable ecosystem use.
Conservation Biology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Principles of conservation biology, including population viability, habitat fragmentation, extinction risk, and conservation strategies.
Natural Resource Economics
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Economic aspects of natural resource management, including resource valuation, cost-benefit analysis, and economic instruments for conservation.
GIS for Environmental Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Application of GIS and remote sensing for environmental management, biodiversity mapping, and spatial conservation planning.
Environmental Policy and Governance
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Environmental policy frameworks, natural resource governance, environmental legislation, and international environmental conventions.
Protected Area Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsElective
Management of protected areas, including national parks, reserves, and community conservancies, with focus on Kenya's protected area network.
Community-Based Conservation
Year 2Semester 33 creditsElective
Community participation in conservation, benefit-sharing, community conservancies, and integrating livelihoods with conservation goals.
Environmental Impact Assessment
Year 2Semester 33 creditsElective
Methods for assessing environmental impacts of development projects, including EIA frameworks, biodiversity impact assessment, and mitigation planning.
Thesis / Research Project
Year 2Semester 412 creditsCore
Independent research thesis on a biodiversity or natural resource management topic, conducted under faculty supervision and assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Biodiversity Conservation
Focuses on biodiversity assessment, species conservation, habitat management, and conservation planning.
Forest Resource Management
Covers forest ecology, sustainable forest management, forest conservation, and community forestry.
Wildlife Management
Examines wildlife conservation, protected area management, human-wildlife conflict, and wildlife policy.
Wetland and Water Resource Management
Focuses on wetland conservation, watershed management, freshwater biodiversity, and water resource governance.
Community-Based Natural Resource Management
Covers community participation in conservation, benefit-sharing mechanisms, and sustainable livelihoods linked to natural resources.
Environmental Policy and Governance
Examines environmental policy frameworks, natural resource governance, and environmental legislation in Kenya and East Africa.

A day as a student

A typical day centres on independent research and fieldwork. Mornings involve literature review, biodiversity data analysis, or meetings with thesis supervisors. Students attend research methodology seminars and engage with environmental data, GIS software, and conservation planning tools. Fieldwork is a significant component, with visits to national parks, forest reserves, wetlands, and community conservation areas for data collection. Students analyse biodiversity patterns, conduct species surveys, and assess natural resource use. The programme is research-based, so most time is spent on independent study, field research, and thesis writing, with access to the university library, GIS laboratory, and environmental research databases.

The trade offs

In its favour

Strong career demand driven by Kenya's conservation agenda and environmental regulations.
Access to Nairobi's concentration of environmental organisations including UNEP, IUCN, and KWS.
Affordable tuition at KES 281,000 total for the MA programme.
Multidisciplinary approach integrating ecology, geography, economics, and policy.

Against it

Only offered at one institution, limiting choice for prospective students.
Research-based format may lack structured coursework for students preferring taught programmes.
Environmental careers, while impactful, may not be as financially lucrative as other professional fields.
Fieldwork in remote conservation areas requires travel and additional costs not included in tuition.

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

Public187k to 296k

187k at Moi University296k at Kenyatta 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 KES 295,800/yr (ku.ac.ke). Moi ~KES 187,200/yr (worldscholarshipforum). Private unverified.

HELB offers postgraduate loans for Kenyan students. IUCN may provide research grants for conservation research. UoN may offer institutional graduate scholarships based on merit. UNEP and other international environmental organisations may offer research collaboration opportunities.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
IUCN Research Grants
UoN Graduate Scholarships

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan citizens pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities. Applicants must meet HELB eligibility criteria.
IUCN Conservation Research Grant
ScholarshipKsh 400,000
IUCN may provide research grants for biodiversity conservation research, particularly for projects aligned with IUCN conservation priorities.
UoN Graduate Scholarship
ScholarshipKsh 140,500Kenyan
The University of Nairobi may offer institutional graduate scholarships based on academic merit. Contact the School of Graduate Studies for details.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: The programme is open to graduates from geography, environmental science, biology, natural resource management, wildlife management, and related disciplines. The programme is research-based, offered full-time and part-time at the University of Nairobi, Department of Geography, Population and Environmental Studies.

How you are assessed

4 components

Research Proposal Defence
Practical100% of the mark
Oral defence of the research proposal before a faculty committee, demonstrating the feasibility and academic merit of the proposed research.
Thesis / Research Project
Project100% of the mark
Independent research thesis on a biodiversity or natural resource management topic, assessed through written submission and oral defence.
Supervisory Assessment
Coursework100% of the mark
Ongoing assessment by thesis supervisors of research progress, methodology, and academic rigour throughout the programme.
Seminar Presentations
Practical100% of the mark
Research seminar presentations to peers and faculty, demonstrating research progress and receiving feedback on thesis work.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE), Kenya's statutory body for university quality assurance. The University of Nairobi is a CUE-accredited public university.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Statutory accreditation required for all university programmes in Kenya. The University of Nairobi is a CUE-accredited public university.
National Environment Management Authority (NEMA)
Professional alignment
Kenyan environmental regulatory body. Graduates may pursue NEMA Environmental Impact Assessment Lead Expert registration for professional environmental practice.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Conservation Officer
High demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 250,000
Manages conservation programmes, monitors biodiversity, and implements conservation strategies for wildlife services, NGOs, and conservation organisations.
Environmental Management Officer
High demandKsh 95,000 to Ksh 260,000
Implements environmental management plans, conducts environmental assessments, and ensures compliance for NEMA, government, and private sector.
Natural Resource Planner
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 240,000
Plans and manages natural resource use, develops resource management plans, and advises on sustainable resource governance.
Research Officer
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 230,000
Conducts biodiversity and natural resource research for research institutions, universities, and international conservation organisations.
University Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 250,000
Teaches environmental science, geography, or conservation at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, conducts research, and supervises student projects.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers in biodiversity conservation, natural resource management, environmental planning, protected area management, research, and academia across environmental agencies, wildlife services, international organisations, and NGOs.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

ArcGIS
Gis softwarePrimary
GIS software for biodiversity mapping, protected area planning, and spatial analysis of natural resources.
R Studio
Statistical softwarePrimary
Statistical computing environment for biodiversity data analysis, ecological modelling, and conservation research.
QGIS
Gis software
Open-source GIS software for spatial analysis, habitat mapping, and environmental data processing.
Google Earth Engine
Remote sensing platform
Cloud-based platform for satellite imagery analysis of habitat change, deforestation monitoring, and land cover mapping.
SPSS
Statistical software
Statistical analysis software for environmental survey data analysis and quantitative conservation research.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Biodiversity management is just about protecting animals.
Biodiversity management encompasses ecosystems, habitats, species, genetic diversity, policy, community engagement, and sustainable resource use.
Natural resource management opposes development.
Natural resource management seeks to balance conservation with sustainable development, ensuring resources support both present and future needs.
There are no career opportunities in environmental management in Kenya.
Kenya's extensive protected area network, environmental regulations, and conservation agenda create strong demand for environmental management professionals.
Conservation is only for biologists.
Conservation requires diverse expertise including geography, economics, policy, community development, and spatial analysis, not only biology.
Community-based conservation is ineffective.
Community-based conservation has demonstrated success in Kenya, including wildlife conservancies and community forests that balance conservation with livelihoods.
Environmental research is purely desk-based.
Environmental research involves extensive fieldwork, species surveys, community interviews, GIS analysis, and practical engagement with conservation challenges.