Law

Master of Arts in Environmental Law

The Master of Arts in Environmental Law at the University of Nairobi is a two-year postgraduate programme offered by the Faculty of Law through the Centre for Advanced Studies in Environmental Law and Policy (CASELAP). It provides specialised training in environmental law, equipping graduates with expertise to address complex environmental legal challenges in Kenya and globally.

The programme covers environmental jurisprudence, international environmental law, land use law, and tools and procedures in environmental assessment. Students engage with the legal frameworks governing natural resource management, pollution control, and environmental governance at national and international levels.

The first year is dedicated to coursework, with students taking ten units comprising seven core modules and three electives. Elective options include energy law, water resources law, mineral resources law, human rights and the environment, and legal issues in disaster management, allowing specialisation in areas of professional interest.

The second year focuses on proposal development, research, thesis writing, and examination. Students conduct original research contributing to the advancement of environmental legal scholarship, addressing real-world environmental governance challenges in the African context.

The programme is delivered through face-to-face, e-learning, and blended learning modes, with virtual lectures accommodating working professionals. Teaching methods include seminars, case studies, and independent research, fostering analytical and critical engagement with environmental legal issues.

Graduates are prepared for roles as environmental lawyers, legal advisers, policy analysts, corporate compliance officers, and academics. The programme's accreditation by the Commission for University Education ensures professional recognition across Kenya and the wider East African region.

Skills Required

Environmental Jurisprudence
International Environmental Law
Land Use Law
Environmental Impact Assessment
Legal Research Methods
Natural Resource Management Law
Energy and Mineral Law
Environmental Compliance and Enforcement
Climate Change Law
Environmental Policy Analysis

Key Subjects

Environmental Jurisprudence
International Environmental Law
Land Use Law
Research Methods in Environmental Law
Tools and Procedures in Environmental Assessment
Energy Law
Water Resources Law
Mineral Resources Law
Human Rights and the Environment
Environmental Law in Conflict Situations

Certifications

NEMA Registered Environmental Lead Expert
Law Society of Kenya Membership

Specializations

International Environmental Law

Focuses on international legal frameworks governing environmental protection, including treaties, conventions, and cross-border environmental governance.

Land Use and Planning Law

Examines legal frameworks governing land use, spatial planning, and environmental considerations in land development decisions.

Energy and Mineral Resources Law

Covers legal frameworks for energy production, mineral extraction, and natural resource exploitation, including environmental compliance requirements.

Water Resources Law

Focuses on legal frameworks governing water resource management, allocation, and protection under Kenyan and international law.

Human Rights and the Environment

Explores the intersection of human rights and environmental protection, including environmental justice and community rights.

Environmental Liability and Responsibility

Examines legal frameworks for environmental damage liability, responsibility, and remediation under domestic and international law.

Disaster Management Law

Covers legal issues in disaster management, including regulatory frameworks for prevention, response, and recovery.

Technology and Environmental Law

Explores the legal implications of technology in environmental contexts, including environmental monitoring, compliance technologies, and digital governance.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 280,300
Job market: Moderate

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time, Blended, Online
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 20 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Environmental Jurisprudence
International Environmental Law
Land Use Law
Research Methods in Environmental Law
Tools and Procedures in Environmental Assessment
Energy Law
Water Resources Law
Mineral Resources Law
Human Rights and the Environment
Environmental Law in Conflict Situations

Modules

12 in the programme

Environmental Jurisprudence
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines the philosophical and theoretical foundations of environmental law, including principles of environmental justice, sustainability, and intergenerational equity.
Land Use Law
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers legal frameworks governing land use, spatial planning, and environmental considerations in land development and management decisions.
Research Methods in Environmental Law Studies
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers quantitative and qualitative research methodologies for conducting original legal research in environmental law and policy.
International Environmental Law
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines international legal frameworks governing environmental protection, including treaties, conventions, and cross-border environmental governance mechanisms.
Tools and Procedures in Environmental Assessment
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers legal tools and procedures for environmental impact assessment, including regulatory requirements, assessment methodologies, and compliance frameworks.
Energy Law
Year 1Semester 23 creditsElective
Examines legal frameworks for energy production, distribution, and regulation, including renewable energy, oil and gas, and environmental compliance in the energy sector.
Water Resources Law
Year 1Semester 23 creditsElective
Covers legal frameworks governing water resource management, allocation, protection, and transboundary water governance.
Mineral Resources Law
Year 1Semester 23 creditsElective
Examines legal frameworks for mineral extraction, mining rights, environmental compliance in mining operations, and community benefit sharing.
Human Rights and the Environment
Year 1Semester 23 creditsElective
Explores the intersection of human rights and environmental protection, including environmental justice, community rights, and procedural environmental rights.
Legal Issues in Disaster Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsElective
Covers legal and regulatory frameworks for disaster prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery, including environmental disaster management.
Environmental Law in Conflict Situations
Year 1Semester 23 creditsElective
Examines environmental legal challenges in conflict and post-conflict situations, including environmental damage, resource exploitation, and transitional justice.
Master's Thesis
Year 2Semester 124 creditsCore
Original research thesis equivalent to eight units, conducting independent legal research on an environmental law topic and contributing to scholarly knowledge.

Specialisations

International Environmental Law
Focuses on international legal frameworks governing environmental protection, including treaties, conventions, and cross-border environmental governance.
Land Use and Planning Law
Examines legal frameworks governing land use, spatial planning, and environmental considerations in land development decisions.
Energy and Mineral Resources Law
Covers legal frameworks for energy production, mineral extraction, and natural resource exploitation, including environmental compliance requirements.
Water Resources Law
Focuses on legal frameworks governing water resource management, allocation, and protection under Kenyan and international law.
Human Rights and the Environment
Explores the intersection of human rights and environmental protection, including environmental justice and community rights.
Environmental Liability and Responsibility
Examines legal frameworks for environmental damage liability, responsibility, and remediation under domestic and international law.
Disaster Management Law
Covers legal issues in disaster management, including regulatory frameworks for prevention, response, and recovery.
Technology and Environmental Law
Explores the legal implications of technology in environmental contexts, including environmental monitoring, compliance technologies, and digital governance.

A day as a student

A typical day involves attending evening lectures at the Faculty of Law or virtual sessions, covering topics such as environmental jurisprudence, international environmental law, or land use law. Students engage in case study analysis of environmental litigation, discuss regulatory frameworks, and participate in seminars on emerging environmental legal issues. Those in the thesis phase spend time in the library conducting legal research, analysing case law, and writing their dissertation under faculty supervision.

The trade offs

In its favour

Offered at the University of Nairobi, Kenya's premier public university, through the specialised CASELAP centre.
Comprehensive curriculum covering diverse environmental law areas including energy, water, minerals, and international environmental governance.
Flexible delivery modes including evening and virtual lectures accommodate working legal professionals.
Kenya hosts UNEP headquarters, providing unique opportunities for engagement with international environmental law institutions.

Against it

Only one institution in Kenya offers this exact MA programme, limiting choice and geographic accessibility.
Programme fees of KES 560,600 total are relatively high for a public university programme.
Evening and virtual lecture schedule may not suit all students, particularly those seeking full-time daytime study.
Thesis component equivalent to eight units represents a significant time and research commitment in the second year.

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 12 law courses

Public280k to 280k

280k at University of Nairobi280k at University of Nairobi

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 MA Env Law KES 560,600/2yr=280,300/yr (law-school.uonbi.ac.ke). KU doesn't offer. Private unverified.

Funding options include HELB postgraduate loans for Kenyan students, UoN postgraduate bursaries for demonstrated financial need, and the MasterCard Foundation Scholars Programme for academically talented Africans.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
UoN Postgraduate Bursary
MasterCard Foundation Scholars Programme

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
UoN Postgraduate Bursary
ScholarshipKsh 50,000Kenyan
Postgraduate students demonstrating financial need at the University of Nairobi.
MasterCard Foundation Scholars Programme
ScholarshipKsh 400,000
Academically talented young Africans facing economic, social, or institutional barriers.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: Holders of a Postgraduate Diploma in environmental law, environmental studies, or related fields may be considered, provided they satisfy the minimum requirements for admission to a Bachelor's degree qualification level.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment Tests
Coursework40% of the mark
CATs, seminar presentations, legal memoranda, and case study analyses conducted throughout each semester.
Final Examination
Examination60% of the mark
End-of-semester examination covering all module content, including essay questions, problem questions, and legal analysis.
Master's Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis equivalent to eight units, assessed through written submission and oral defence.
Seminar Participation
Coursework30% of the mark
Active participation in seminars including presentations, moot court exercises, and critical discussions on environmental legal issues.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE), ensuring recognition across Kenya and the wider East African region. The programme is offered by the Faculty of Law through CASELAP at the University of Nairobi.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Statutory accreditation for all Kenyan universities and their degree programmes.
Law Society of Kenya
Professional body
Professional body for lawyers in Kenya. Membership recommended for legal practitioners.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Environmental Lawyer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 250,000
Practises environmental law in private firms, corporations, or as a consultant, advising on compliance, litigation, and environmental transactions. NEMA lawyers earn approximately KES 150,000 per month.
Environmental Compliance Officer
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Ensures corporate compliance with environmental regulations, conducting audits and developing environmental management systems for private sector organisations.
Environmental Policy Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 200,000
Analyses and develops environmental policies for government agencies, NGOs, and international organisations, contributing to environmental law reform.
Legal Adviser — Natural Resources
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 300,000
Provides legal advice on natural resource management, extraction rights, and environmental compliance for government, corporate, or NGO clients.
University Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 200,000
Teaches environmental law at universities and contributes to legal research and scholarship in environmental jurisprudence.
ESG Analyst
High demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 220,000
Assesses environmental, social, and governance compliance for investment firms, corporations, and rating agencies, applying environmental law expertise.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue roles as environmental lawyers, legal advisers, policy analysts, and compliance officers in government, private practice, NGOs, and international organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Kenya Law Reports (eKLR)
DatabasePrimary
Official database of Kenyan case law and legislation, essential for environmental legal research.
NEMA Environmental Regulations Portal
PlatformPrimary
Official portal for Kenyan environmental regulations, compliance requirements, and impact assessment procedures.
Microsoft Word
Software
Primary tool for legal document drafting, thesis preparation, and professional writing.
Westlaw / LexisNexis
Database
International legal research databases for accessing environmental law journals, case law, and regulatory materials.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Environmental law is only for lawyers.
The programme accepts graduates from diverse fields including environmental sciences, natural resource management, and social sciences, not just law graduates.
Environmental law has limited career prospects in Kenya.
Growing environmental regulation, ESG compliance requirements, climate change litigation, and natural resource disputes create increasing demand for environmental law expertise.
Environmental law is only about pollution control.
The programme covers diverse areas including land use, energy, minerals, water resources, human rights, disaster management, and international environmental governance.
The programme is purely theoretical with no practical application.
The programme includes tools and procedures in environmental assessment, practical case studies, and a thesis addressing real-world environmental legal challenges.
Environmental law is a niche field with no international relevance.
Environmental law is a rapidly growing international field, with Kenya hosting UNEP headquarters and playing a leading role in global environmental governance.
A thesis is optional in the programme.
The thesis is a compulsory component equivalent to eight units, requiring original research and constituting a significant portion of the programme.