Social Sciences

Master of Arts in Geography

The Master of Arts in Geography is a postgraduate programme offered at twelve Kenyan universities, providing advanced study of geographic theory, spatial analysis, environmental management, and human-environment interactions. The programme prepares graduates for careers in planning, research, environmental management, GIS, and academia.

The curriculum covers geographic thought and methodology, research methods, quantitative techniques, GIS and remote sensing, climatology, geomorphology, biogeography, agricultural geography, economic geography, urban and regional planning, population geography, settlement geography, and environmental management. Students develop both theoretical understanding and practical skills in spatial analysis and geographic information systems.

Admission requires a bachelor's degree with at least a Second Class Honours (Upper Division) in geography or a related discipline from a recognised university. Applicants with a Lower Second Class Honours and relevant experience or additional qualifications may also be considered. The programme is offered full-time and part-time over two years.

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) and delivered at twelve institutions including public universities (Chuka, Garissa, JOOUST, Kaimosi, Kisii, Maseno, Moi, Pwani, Rongo) and private universities (CUEA, MKU, UEAB), making it one of the most widely offered MA programmes in Kenya.

Career prospects include roles in urban and regional planning, environmental management, GIS analysis, research, teaching, cartography, natural resource management, and consultancy. Graduates work in government planning departments, environmental agencies, research institutions, universities, NGOs, and private sector organisations requiring spatial analysis and geographic expertise.

The programme addresses Kenya's need for geographic expertise in managing urbanisation, environmental challenges, land use planning, natural resource management, and climate change adaptation. With growing application of GIS and remote sensing across sectors, demand for geography professionals with advanced spatial analysis skills continues to expand in both public and private sectors.

Skills Required

Geographic information systems (GIS)
Remote sensing and image processing
Spatial analysis and modelling
Quantitative methods in geography
Environmental management and assessment
Urban and regional planning
Cartography and map design
Field research and data collection
Geographic research methodology
Climate change analysis

Key Subjects

Geographic Thought and Methodology
Research Methods in Geography
Quantitative Techniques in Geography
GIS and Remote Sensing
Climatology
Geomorphology
Biogeography
Urban and Regional Planning
Population and Settlement Geography
Environmental Management

Certifications

ESRI ArcGIS Certification
International Geographical Union (IGU) Membership
AARSE Membership
GIS Certification (GISP)

Specializations

GIS and Remote Sensing

Focuses on geographic information systems, satellite remote sensing, digital image processing, and spatial data analysis.

Urban and Regional Planning

Examines urban spatial patterns, regional development theories, and planning methods for managing urban and regional growth.

Environmental Geography

Covers environmental management, natural resource management, climate change, and human-environment interactions.

Economic Geography

Studies spatial economic patterns, industrial location, marketing geography, and regional economic development.

Population and Settlement Geography

Examines population dynamics, demographic analysis, settlement patterns, and migration studies.

Climatology and Biogeography

Focuses on climate systems, tropical climatology, ecological biogeography, and palaeoecology.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 145,000
Private, up to: Ksh 186,200
Job market: High

The programme

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

Practicalities

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

What you study

10 subjects

Geographic Thought and Methodology
Research Methods in Geography
Quantitative Techniques in Geography
GIS and Remote Sensing
Climatology
Geomorphology
Biogeography
Urban and Regional Planning
Population and Settlement Geography
Environmental Management

Modules

11 in the programme

Advanced Geographic Thought
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Evolution of geographic thought, major paradigms and theories in geography, and contemporary methodological approaches.
Research Methods in Geography
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Research methodology for geographic research, including qualitative and quantitative methods, field research design, and academic writing.
Advanced Quantitative Methods in Geography
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Statistical and quantitative methods for spatial analysis, including spatial statistics, regression, and data analysis techniques.
Applied Remote Sensing and GIS
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Application of remote sensing and geographic information systems for spatial data analysis, image processing, and map production.
Advanced Climatology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsElective
Climate systems, tropical climatology, climate change, and the application of climatological knowledge to environmental management.
Advanced Geomorphology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsElective
Study of landforms, geomorphological processes, and terrain analysis with emphasis on tropical environments.
Advanced Urban Geography
Year 1Semester 23 creditsElective
Urban spatial patterns, urbanisation processes, urban systems, and challenges of urban management in developing countries.
Advanced Population and Settlement Geography
Year 1Semester 23 creditsElective
Population theories, demographic analysis, settlement patterns, and migration dynamics with focus on Africa.
Integrated Land Use Planning and Management
Year 2Semester 33 creditsElective
Principles and methods of land use planning, integrated land management, and sustainable land use practices.
Advanced Development Geography
Year 2Semester 33 creditsElective
Geographic perspectives on development, including theories of development, spatial inequalities, and development planning.
Thesis / Research Project
Year 2Semester 412 creditsCore
Independent research thesis on a geographic topic, conducted under faculty supervision and assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

GIS and Remote Sensing
Focuses on geographic information systems, satellite remote sensing, digital image processing, and spatial data analysis.
Urban and Regional Planning
Examines urban spatial patterns, regional development theories, and planning methods for managing urban and regional growth.
Environmental Geography
Covers environmental management, natural resource management, climate change, and human-environment interactions.
Economic Geography
Studies spatial economic patterns, industrial location, marketing geography, and regional economic development.
Population and Settlement Geography
Examines population dynamics, demographic analysis, settlement patterns, and migration studies.
Climatology and Biogeography
Focuses on climate systems, tropical climatology, ecological biogeography, and palaeoecology.

A day as a student

A typical day combines theoretical study with practical spatial analysis. Mornings involve lectures on geographic thought, climatology, geomorphology, or urban planning, followed by GIS lab sessions using software like ArcGIS or QGIS. Afternoons include field trips, remote sensing practicals, or research methodology seminars. Students work with spatial data, satellite imagery, and geographic databases. Fieldwork is a significant component, with trips to study landforms, urban environments, or environmental management sites. Independent reading, spatial analysis projects, and thesis research occupy significant time, with access to computer labs and GIS software.

The trade offs

In its favour

Widely offered at twelve institutions, providing extensive choice of location, cost, and programme focus.
Strong career demand in GIS, environmental management, urban planning, and climate change adaptation.
Wide tuition range from KES 119,000/year at public universities to KES 186,200/year at private institutions.
Practical skills in GIS and remote sensing are highly transferable across multiple sectors.

Against it

Programme quality and resources may vary significantly across twelve institutions.
Some institutions may have limited GIS lab facilities and software access.
Fieldwork requirements may be logistically challenging and add to programme costs.
Broad curriculum may lack depth in specialised areas at smaller institutions.

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

Public119k to 145k

119k at Chuka University145k at Pwani University

Private131k to 186k

131k at Mount Kenya University186k at University of Eastern Africa, Baraton

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

Chuka 119K/yr (PDF). Pwani 145K/yr (tuko). MKU 131.1K/yr. UEAB 186.2K/yr.

HELB offers postgraduate loans for Kenyan students at public universities. RCMRD may provide training grants for GIS and remote sensing capacity building. Individual universities may offer institutional graduate scholarships based on merit.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
RCMRD Training Grants
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.
RCMRD Training Grant
ScholarshipKsh 200,000
The Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development may provide training support for GIS and remote sensing capacity building in Africa.
University Graduate Scholarship
ScholarshipKsh 145,000Kenyan
Individual universities may offer institutional graduate scholarships based on academic merit. Contact respective graduate schools 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, natural resources, education (with geography specialisation), and related disciplines. Applicants must have taken geography at undergraduate level. The programme is offered full-time and part-time over two years at twelve institutions across Kenya.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment
Coursework40% of the mark
Ongoing assessment through assignments, GIS practicals, field reports, seminar presentations, and research papers throughout each semester.
End-of-Semester Examination
Examination60% of the mark
Written examination conducted at the end of each semester for each course unit.
Fieldwork Assessment
Practical30% of the mark
Assessment of field research skills through fieldwork reports, data collection exercises, and field-based geographic analysis.
Thesis / Research Project
Project100% of the mark
Independent research thesis on a geographic 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. All twelve offering institutions are CUE-accredited universities.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Statutory accreditation required for all university programmes in Kenya. All twelve offering institutions are CUE-accredited universities.
GIS Certification Institute (GISCI)
Professional certification
International professional certification for GIS professionals. Graduates may pursue GISP certification for professional recognition.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

GIS Analyst
High demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 280,000
Analyses spatial data using GIS software, creates maps and spatial models, and supports decision-making for government, NGOs, and private sector.
Urban and Regional Planner
High demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 300,000
Plans and manages urban and regional development, including land use planning, zoning, and development control for government and consultancies.
Environmental Manager
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 270,000
Manages environmental resources, conducts environmental assessments, and develops management plans for government, NGOs, and private sector.
University Lecturer in Geography
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 250,000
Teaches geography courses at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, conducts research, and supervises student projects.
Research Officer
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 230,000
Conducts geographic and environmental research for research institutions, government agencies, and international organisations.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers in urban and regional planning, environmental management, GIS analysis, research, teaching, cartography, natural resource management, and consultancy across government, NGOs, and private sector.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

ArcGIS
Gis softwarePrimary
Industry-standard GIS software for spatial data analysis, map production, and geographic modelling.
QGIS
Gis softwarePrimary
Open-source GIS software providing comprehensive spatial analysis and mapping capabilities.
Google Earth Engine
Remote sensing platform
Cloud-based platform for satellite imagery analysis and large-scale geographic data processing.
SPSS
Statistical software
Statistical analysis software for quantitative geographic research and data analysis.
R Studio
Statistical software
Open-source statistical computing environment for spatial data analysis and reproducible geographic research.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Geography is just about memorising maps and capitals.
Geography is a scientific discipline analysing spatial patterns, human-environment interactions, and complex geographic systems using advanced tools like GIS and remote sensing.
Geography graduates can only become teachers.
Graduates pursue diverse careers including urban planning, environmental management, GIS analysis, consultancy, research, and natural resource management across sectors.
GIS is just about making maps.
GIS involves sophisticated spatial data analysis, modelling, and decision support systems used across government, business, and environmental management.
Geography is not relevant in the digital age.
Geography is more relevant than ever, with location-based services, spatial data, climate change, and urbanisation driving demand for geographic expertise.
All universities offer the same geography programme.
While sharing common foundations, institutions differ in specialisation options, faculty expertise, and available resources, with some focusing on specific areas like GIS, planning, or environmental management.
Fieldwork in geography is outdated.
Fieldwork remains essential for geographic research, complementing digital tools with direct observation and data collection in real-world environments.