Education

Master of Arts (Guidance and Counselling)

The Master of Arts in Guidance and Counselling at Egerton University is a postgraduate programme that provides advanced training in counselling psychology, guidance services, and mental health support. The programme prepares graduates for careers in professional counselling, school guidance, mental health services, and academia.

The curriculum covers counselling theory and practice, psychological assessment, career guidance, family and marriage counselling, grief and trauma counselling, group counselling, research methods in counselling, and counselling ethics. Students develop practical counselling skills through supervised practice and theoretical understanding through coursework and research.

Admission requires a bachelor's degree in Education, Sociology, Theology, Philosophy, Psychology, or a related discipline with at least Second Class Honours (Upper Division) from a recognised institution. Applicants with a Lower Second Class Honours and relevant experience in counselling, research, teaching, or work in higher education may also be considered.

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) and delivered through the Department of Psychology, Counselling and Educational Foundations at Egerton University. The programme is offered full-time and part-time over two years at the Njoro and Nakuru Town campuses.

Career prospects include roles in professional counselling, school guidance, mental health services, employee assistance programmes, rehabilitation counselling, marriage and family therapy, and academia. Graduates work in schools, universities, hospitals, NGOs, counselling centres, government agencies, and private practice.

The programme addresses Kenya's growing need for qualified counselling professionals, given increasing awareness of mental health, rising psychological challenges in educational institutions, and the impact of social and economic pressures on wellbeing. With expanding recognition of counselling as a critical service in schools, workplaces, and communities, demand for qualified guidance and counselling practitioners continues to grow across the education, health, and social services sectors.

Skills Required

Counselling theory and practice
Psychological assessment
Career guidance and counselling
Family and marriage counselling
Grief and trauma counselling
Group counselling facilitation
Counselling ethics and professional practice
Research methods in counselling
Mental health intervention
Supervised counselling practice

Key Subjects

Counselling Theory and Practice
Psychological Assessment
Career Guidance
Family and Marriage Counselling
Grief and Trauma Counselling
Group Counselling
Research Methods in Counselling
Counselling Ethics
Mental Health Intervention
Developmental Psychology

Certifications

Kenya Counselling and Psychological Association (KCPA) Certification
Kenya Association of Professional Counsellors (KAPC) Membership
International Association for Counselling (IAC) Membership
American Counseling Association (ACA) Membership

Specializations

School Guidance and Counselling

Focuses on counselling children and adolescents in educational settings, including academic guidance, behavioural intervention, and school-based mental health support.

Marriage and Family Counselling

Examines couples therapy, family systems counselling, and intervention strategies for family and relationship challenges.

Trauma and Grief Counselling

Covers trauma-informed counselling, grief therapy, crisis intervention, and support for individuals experiencing loss or traumatic events.

Career Guidance and Counselling

Focuses on career development theory, vocational assessment, career counselling practice, and guidance for educational and career decision-making.

Rehabilitation Counselling

Examines counselling for individuals with disabilities, addiction recovery, and rehabilitation support services.

Mental Health Counselling

Covers mental health assessment, intervention strategies, and counselling for anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 171,900
Private, up to: Ksh 191,050
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: 20 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Counselling Theory and Practice
Psychological Assessment
Career Guidance
Family and Marriage Counselling
Grief and Trauma Counselling
Group Counselling
Research Methods in Counselling
Counselling Ethics
Mental Health Intervention
Developmental Psychology

Modules

11 in the programme

Counselling Theory and Practice
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Major counselling theories and their application, including person-centred, cognitive-behavioural, psychodynamic, and integrative approaches.
Psychological Assessment
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Principles and practice of psychological assessment, including standardised tests, intake assessment, and case formulation in counselling.
Research Methods in Counselling
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Research methodology for counselling research, including qualitative and quantitative methods, ethical research, and academic writing.
Developmental Psychology for Counselling
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Human development across the lifespan, including cognitive, social, emotional, and personality development relevant to counselling practice.
Career Guidance and Counselling
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Career development theory, vocational assessment, career counselling practice, and guidance for educational and career decision-making.
Family and Marriage Counselling
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Family systems theory, couples therapy, and intervention strategies for family and relationship challenges.
Group Counselling
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Group dynamics, group counselling theory, facilitation skills, and therapeutic factors in group counselling.
Counselling Ethics and Professional Practice
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Ethical principles in counselling, professional standards, confidentiality, boundaries, and legal issues in counselling practice.
Grief and Trauma Counselling
Year 2Semester 33 creditsElective
Grief theory, trauma-informed counselling, crisis intervention, and support for individuals experiencing loss or traumatic events.
Mental Health Counselling
Year 2Semester 33 creditsElective
Mental health assessment, intervention strategies for anxiety and depression, and counselling for common mental health conditions.
Thesis / Research Project
Year 2Semester 412 creditsCore
Independent research thesis on a guidance and counselling topic, conducted under faculty supervision and assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

School Guidance and Counselling
Focuses on counselling children and adolescents in educational settings, including academic guidance, behavioural intervention, and school-based mental health support.
Marriage and Family Counselling
Examines couples therapy, family systems counselling, and intervention strategies for family and relationship challenges.
Trauma and Grief Counselling
Covers trauma-informed counselling, grief therapy, crisis intervention, and support for individuals experiencing loss or traumatic events.
Career Guidance and Counselling
Focuses on career development theory, vocational assessment, career counselling practice, and guidance for educational and career decision-making.
Rehabilitation Counselling
Examines counselling for individuals with disabilities, addiction recovery, and rehabilitation support services.
Mental Health Counselling
Covers mental health assessment, intervention strategies, and counselling for anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions.

A day as a student

A typical day combines theoretical study with practical counselling skills development. Mornings involve lectures on counselling theory, psychological assessment, or developmental psychology. Afternoons include skills practice sessions where students role-play counselling scenarios, receive feedback from faculty, and develop their counselling competencies. Students engage with case studies, ethical dilemmas, and supervised counselling practice. Research methodology sessions prepare students for their thesis or research project. The programme emphasises both theoretical knowledge and practical skills, with students spending time in the counselling laboratory, observing counselling sessions, and developing their professional counselling identity. Independent reading, case analysis, and thesis research occupy significant time.

The trade offs

In its favour

High career demand driven by growing mental health awareness and counselling needs in schools and communities.
Combines theoretical knowledge with practical counselling skills development through supervised practice.
Affordable tuition at KES 171,900/year at a public university.
Offered at both Njoro and Nakuru Town campuses with full-time and part-time options.

Against it

Only offered at one institution for this specific MA programme, limiting choice.
Counselling careers, while fulfilling, may not be as financially lucrative as other professional fields.
Emotional demands of counselling work require personal resilience and self-care.
Professional registration and certification requirements may involve additional steps beyond the degree.

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 243 education courses

Public121k to 172k

121k at Laikipia University172k at Egerton University

Private165k to 191k

165k at Kabarak University191k at Africa International 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

Egerton 171,900/yr Yr1 (official PDF). Laikipia 120,700/yr (kenyaplex). Kabarak, AIU verified.

HELB offers postgraduate loans for Kenyan students. KCPA may provide professional development grants for counselling training. Egerton University may offer institutional graduate scholarships based on merit.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
KCPA Professional Development Grants
Egerton University 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.
KCPA Professional Development Grant
ScholarshipKsh 150,000Kenyan
KCPA may provide professional development grants for counselling training and continuing professional development for members.
Egerton University Graduate Scholarship
ScholarshipKsh 171,900Kenyan
Egerton University may offer institutional graduate scholarships based on academic merit. Contact the Faculty of Education and Community 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 education, sociology, theology, philosophy, psychology, and related disciplines. The programme is offered full-time and part-time over two years at Egerton University, Department of Psychology, Counselling and Educational Foundations, Njoro and Nakuru Town campuses.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment
Coursework40% of the mark
Ongoing assessment through counselling skills demonstrations, case study analysis, research papers, seminar presentations, and practical counselling exercises throughout each semester.
End-of-Semester Examination
Examination60% of the mark
Written examination conducted at the end of each semester for theoretical course units.
Supervised Counselling Practice
Practical50% of the mark
Assessment of practical counselling skills through supervised counselling sessions, skills demonstrations, and feedback from faculty supervisors.
Thesis / Research Project
Project100% of the mark
Independent research thesis on a guidance and counselling topic, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE), Kenya's statutory body for university quality assurance. Egerton University is a CUE-accredited public university. Graduates may pursue professional certification with the Kenya Counselling and Psychological Association (KCPA).

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Statutory accreditation required for all university programmes in Kenya. Egerton University is a CUE-accredited public university.
Kenya Counselling and Psychological Association (KCPA)
Professional certification
Kenyan professional body for counsellors. Graduates may pursue KCPA professional certification for professional counselling practice in Kenya.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Professional Counsellor
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 250,000
Provides individual, group, and family counselling services for counselling centres, hospitals, NGOs, or private practice.
School Guidance Counsellor
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 200,000
Provides guidance and counselling services in schools, supporting student academic, personal, and career development.
Employee Assistance Programme Counsellor
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 280,000
Provides counselling and support services for employees in workplaces, addressing mental health, stress, and work-life challenges.
Rehabilitation Counsellor
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 220,000
Counsels individuals in rehabilitation from addiction, injury, or disability, supporting recovery and reintegration.
University Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 250,000
Teaches counselling, psychology, or education courses at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, conducts research, and supervises student projects.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers in professional counselling, school guidance, mental health services, employee assistance programmes, rehabilitation counselling, and academia across schools, universities, hospitals, NGOs, and private practice.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

SPSS
Statistical softwarePrimary
Statistical analysis software for counselling research, survey data analysis, and quantitative research.
R Studio
Statistical software
Statistical computing environment for research data analysis and counselling outcome research.
Qualtrics
Survey software
Survey platform for counselling research, client feedback collection, and programme evaluation.
NVivo
Qualitative analysis software
Qualitative data analysis software for analysing counselling session transcripts, interview data, and case studies.
Microsoft Office
Productivity software
Office suite for case documentation, report writing, and professional communication in counselling practice.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Counselling is just about giving advice.
Professional counselling involves evidence-based therapeutic techniques, assessment, and structured intervention, not simply giving advice.
Anyone can be a counsellor without formal training.
Professional counselling requires formal training in psychological theory, therapeutic techniques, ethics, and supervised practice to ensure competent and safe practice.
Counselling is only for people with mental illness.
Counselling supports individuals through life challenges, career decisions, relationship issues, grief, and personal development, not only mental illness.
There is no career demand for counsellors in Kenya.
Growing mental health awareness, school-based counselling requirements, and workplace employee assistance programmes create increasing demand for qualified counsellors.
Guidance and counselling is the same as psychology.
While related, guidance and counselling focuses on supportive counselling and guidance services, while psychology encompasses broader psychological science and clinical practice.
Counsellors only work in schools.
Counsellors work in diverse settings including hospitals, NGOs, private practice, workplaces, rehabilitation centres, and community organisations, not only schools.