Social Sciences

Master of Arts in Counselling

The Master of Arts in Counselling Studies at International Leadership University is a postgraduate programme that provides advanced training in counselling theory, practice, and research. The programme prepares graduates to provide professional counselling services in diverse settings, integrating psychological principles with ethical and faith-based perspectives on human wellbeing.

The curriculum covers counselling theories, therapeutic techniques, psychological assessment, group counselling, family therapy, crisis intervention, research methods, and professional ethics. Students develop practical counselling skills through supervised practice, case studies, and fieldwork placements, building competence in addressing mental health, relational, and life transition challenges.

Admission requires a bachelor's degree with at least a Second Class Upper Division or a GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale from an accredited university. Applicants with a Lower Second Class Honours or GPA of 2.5 may be considered with at least two years of relevant experience, subject to academic probation in the first semester. The programme is offered on a full-time and part-time basis.

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) and delivered through the School of Education and Social Sciences at ILU's Kilimani campus in Nairobi. International Leadership University is a private Christian institution with a mission-oriented approach to leadership and counselling education.

Career prospects include roles in professional counselling, mental health services, pastoral counselling, family therapy, school counselling, employee assistance programmes, and counselling education. Graduates work in hospitals, schools, churches, NGOs, counselling centres, and private practice.

The programme addresses Kenya's growing mental health needs, with increasing recognition of the importance of professional counselling services for individuals, families, and communities facing psychological, relational, and social challenges. The demand for qualified counsellors has grown alongside awareness of mental health issues in Kenya.

Skills Required

Counselling theory and practice
Therapeutic techniques and interventions
Psychological assessment
Group counselling facilitation
Family and couples therapy
Crisis intervention and trauma counselling
Research methods in counselling
Professional ethics in counselling
Cross-cultural counselling
Supervised counselling practice

Key Subjects

Counselling Theories
Therapeutic Techniques
Psychological Assessment
Group Counselling
Family Therapy
Crisis Intervention
Research Methods in Counselling
Professional Ethics
Cross-cultural Counselling
Supervised Counselling Practice

Certifications

Kenya Counselling and Psychological Association Registration
Kenya Association of Professional Counsellors Certification
American Counseling Association Membership
International Association for Counselling Membership

Specializations

Clinical Counselling

Focuses on counselling individuals with mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, grief, and trauma, using evidence-based therapeutic approaches.

Family and Marriage Therapy

Examines family systems theory and couples therapy approaches, addressing relational dynamics, communication, and conflict resolution in families.

Pastoral Counselling

Integrates theological perspectives with counselling practice, providing faith-informed counselling for individuals and families in church and community settings.

School Counselling

Covers counselling approaches for educational settings, including student mental health, career guidance, and crisis intervention in schools.

Crisis and Trauma Counselling

Focuses on counselling individuals experiencing crisis, trauma, and grief, including disaster response, post-traumatic stress, and critical incident debriefing.

Group Counselling

Develops skills in facilitating group counselling sessions, including group dynamics, therapeutic group processes, and support group facilitation.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 220,500
Private, up to: Ksh 218,400
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: 15 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Counselling Theories
Therapeutic Techniques
Psychological Assessment
Group Counselling
Family Therapy
Crisis Intervention
Research Methods in Counselling
Professional Ethics
Cross-cultural Counselling
Supervised Counselling Practice

Modules

11 in the programme

Counselling Theories
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Major counselling theories including psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioural, person-centred, existential, and systemic approaches to counselling practice.
Therapeutic Techniques
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Practical therapeutic techniques and interventions, including active listening, motivational interviewing, cognitive restructuring, and behavioural interventions.
Psychological Assessment
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Principles and tools for psychological assessment, including standardised tests, clinical interviews, and behavioural observations in counselling contexts.
Research Methods in Counselling
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Quantitative and qualitative research methods for counselling research, including research design, data collection, and analysis for counselling practice.
Group Counselling
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Theory and practice of group counselling, including group dynamics, therapeutic group processes, co-facilitation, and support group leadership.
Family Therapy
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Family systems theory and family therapy approaches, addressing relational dynamics, communication patterns, and intervention strategies for families.
Crisis Intervention
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Crisis intervention and trauma counselling, including critical incident debriefing, suicide risk assessment, and disaster mental health response.
Professional Ethics in Counselling
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Ethical principles and codes of conduct for counselling practice, including confidentiality, informed consent, boundaries, and professional regulation.
Cross-cultural Counselling
Year 2Semester 33 creditsElective
Cultural factors in counselling, including cultural identity, cultural sensitivity, and adapting counselling approaches for diverse cultural contexts.
Supervised Counselling Practice
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Supervised fieldwork placement providing hands-on counselling experience in a professional setting, with regular supervision and case consultation.
Thesis / Research Project
Year 2Semester 412 creditsCore
Independent research thesis or project on a counselling topic, conducted under faculty supervision and assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Clinical Counselling
Focuses on counselling individuals with mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, grief, and trauma, using evidence-based therapeutic approaches.
Family and Marriage Therapy
Examines family systems theory and couples therapy approaches, addressing relational dynamics, communication, and conflict resolution in families.
Pastoral Counselling
Integrates theological perspectives with counselling practice, providing faith-informed counselling for individuals and families in church and community settings.
School Counselling
Covers counselling approaches for educational settings, including student mental health, career guidance, and crisis intervention in schools.
Crisis and Trauma Counselling
Focuses on counselling individuals experiencing crisis, trauma, and grief, including disaster response, post-traumatic stress, and critical incident debriefing.
Group Counselling
Develops skills in facilitating group counselling sessions, including group dynamics, therapeutic group processes, and support group facilitation.

A day as a student

A typical day begins with morning lectures on counselling theories, therapeutic techniques, or psychological assessment, followed by practical counselling skills workshops. Afternoons involve role-play counselling sessions, case study discussions, and supervision groups where students present and analyse their counselling practice. Students regularly engage with guest practitioners from mental health organisations and counselling centres. Fieldwork placements at hospitals, schools, or counselling centres provide hands-on experience with real clients under professional supervision. Independent reading, reflective journaling, and research project development occupy significant time, with regular consultations with faculty supervisors.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme integrates faith-based perspectives with professional counselling standards, suitable for both secular and pastoral counselling careers.
High demand for professional counsellors in Kenya driven by growing mental health awareness and expanding counselling services.
Includes supervised counselling practice providing hands-on experience with real clients in professional settings.
Full-time and part-time study options accommodate working professionals.

Against it

Only offered at one institution, limiting choice for prospective students.
Tuition at a private university is higher than at public institutions.
Limited scholarship opportunities specifically for counselling studies at the postgraduate level.
Supervised practice placements may be challenging to arrange and require significant time commitment.

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 241 social sciences courses

Public118k to 221k

118k at Maseno University221k at University of Nairobi

Private188k to 218k

188k at Daystar University218k at International Leadership 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

Maseno 236,700/2yr(yumpu). UoN 441K/2yr(uonbi). Daystar 94K/sem(studyinkenya). ILU 218,400/yr(tuko).

HELB offers postgraduate loans for Kenyan students. ILU may offer institutional financial aid for qualifying students. Church and ministry sponsorships may be available for students preparing for pastoral counselling roles. External mental health organisations may provide training support.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
ILU Institutional Financial Aid
Church and Ministry Sponsorships

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan citizens pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities. Applicants must meet HELB eligibility criteria.
ILU Institutional Financial Aid
ScholarshipKsh 100,000Kenyan
Qualifying postgraduate students at International Leadership University based on academic merit and financial need.
Church and Ministry Sponsorships
ScholarshipKsh 200,000Kenyan
Students sponsored by churches and Christian ministries for counselling and pastoral training programmes.

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 diverse disciplines including psychology, education, social work, theology, health sciences, and related fields. Non-English speakers must provide certified proof of English proficiency. Application fee is KES 1,500.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment
Coursework40% of the mark
Ongoing assessment through assignments, counselling skills demonstrations, case study analyses, and seminar presentations throughout each semester.
End-of-Semester Examination
Examination60% of the mark
Written examination conducted at the end of each semester for each course unit.
Supervised Practice Assessment
Practical100% of the mark
Assessment of counselling practice skills through supervised fieldwork placement, including case reports, supervision feedback, and practice portfolio.
Thesis / Research Project
Project100% of the mark
Independent research thesis on a 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. International Leadership University is a CUE-accredited private Christian university.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Statutory accreditation required for all university programmes in Kenya. International Leadership University is a CUE-accredited private Christian university.
Kenya Counselling and Psychological Association (KCPA)
Professional registration
Kenyan professional body for counsellors. Graduates should register with KCPA for professional recognition and practice licensing.

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 220,000
Provides individual, couples, and family counselling services in private practice, counselling centres, or institutional settings.
School Counsellor
High demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 180,000
Provides counselling support to students in educational institutions, addressing academic, social, emotional, and career development needs.
Mental Health Counsellor
High demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 230,000
Works in hospitals, clinics, and mental health organisations providing counselling for individuals with mental health conditions.
Pastoral Counsellor
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 200,000
Provides faith-informed counselling in church and ministry settings, integrating theological and psychological perspectives.
Employee Assistance Programme Counsellor
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 250,000
Provides counselling services to employees through workplace EAP programmes, addressing work-related and personal challenges.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers in professional counselling, mental health services, pastoral counselling, family therapy, school counselling, and counselling education across hospitals, schools, churches, and NGOs.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

SPSS
Research softwarePrimary
Statistical analysis software for counselling research, outcome measurement, and programme evaluation.
NVivo
Research softwarePrimary
Qualitative data analysis software for analysing interview data, case studies, and counselling session transcripts.
PHQ-9 and GAD-7 Assessment Tools
Assessment tools
Standardised screening tools for depression and anxiety, widely used in counselling assessment and outcome monitoring.
EndNote
Reference management
Reference management software for organising citations and bibliographies in academic writing and thesis preparation.
Counselling Session Recording Software
Practice tools
Practice management software for scheduling, session notes, client records, and counselling practice administration.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Counselling is just about giving advice.
Professional counselling involves evidence-based therapeutic techniques, psychological assessment, and structured interventions grounded in counselling theory and research.
You need to be a psychologist to be a counsellor.
The programme is open to graduates from diverse backgrounds including education, social work, theology, and health sciences, preparing them for professional counselling practice.
Counselling is only for people with mental illness.
Counsellors work with individuals facing life transitions, relationship challenges, grief, career decisions, and personal growth, not only clinical mental health conditions.
A Christian university counselling programme is not professionally recognised.
The programme is CUE-accredited and meets professional standards, with graduates eligible for registration with KCPA and KAPC.
Counselling has limited career prospects in Kenya.
Growing awareness of mental health in Kenya has increased demand for professional counsellors in schools, hospitals, NGOs, and corporate settings.
The programme is only for those wanting to become pastors.
While ILU has a Christian mission, the programme prepares professional counsellors for diverse secular and faith-based settings, not exclusively pastoral roles.