Engineering

Master of Arts in Housing Administration

The Master of Arts in Housing Administration is a postgraduate programme offered by the University of Nairobi through the Department of Real Estate, Construction Management and Quantity Surveying in the Faculty of the Built Environment and Design. The programme provides advanced training in housing policy, administration, and management, preparing graduates for leadership roles in the housing sector.

The programme examines housing as a critical component of urban development, covering housing policy, housing finance, housing administration, property management, and urban development. Students develop competence in housing policy analysis, housing programme management, property administration, and the regulatory frameworks governing housing.

Core areas of study include housing economics, housing policy and administration, property development, urban economics and management, land management, financial management in real estate, property management, environmental impact assessment, and research methods. The programme emphasises both policy understanding and practical administration skills.

The University of Nairobi's Department of Real Estate, Construction Management and Quantity Surveying has a long history of training professionals in land economics, real estate, and housing administration. The department introduced the MA in Housing Administration around 1984 and has since produced graduates working across Kenya's housing and real estate sector.

The programme is designed for graduates and professionals in real estate, land economics, urban planning, housing, or related fields seeking advanced training for careers in housing administration, property management, and urban development. Students complete coursework, examinations, and a research project over four semesters.

Graduates are prepared for careers as housing administrators, property managers, housing policy analysts, real estate managers, urban development officers, and housing programme coordinators in government housing agencies, real estate firms, financial institutions, NGOs, and international development organisations.

Skills Required

Housing Policy Analysis
Housing Administration
Property Management
Housing Finance
Urban Economics
Land Management
Property Development
Real Estate Valuation
Environmental Impact Assessment
Research Methods in Built Environment

Key Subjects

Housing Economics and Administration
Housing Policy
Property Development
Urban Economics and Management
Land Management
Financial Management in Real Estate
Property Management
Environmental Impact Assessment
Research Methods in Built Environment
Computer Applications in Property Management

Certifications

Institution of Surveyors of Kenya Membership
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Certification

Specializations

Housing Policy

Focuses on housing policy formulation, implementation, and evaluation at national and county levels, including affordable housing and slum upgrading.

Property Management

Covers property management including residential and commercial property administration, facilities management, and tenant relations.

Housing Finance

Examines housing finance mechanisms including mortgage markets, housing microfinance, and public housing finance.

Urban Development

Focuses on urban development and housing including urban planning, land use, and the integration of housing in urban development strategies.

Land Administration

Covers land administration including land registration, land tenure systems, and land management frameworks relevant to housing.

Affordable Housing

Examines affordable housing strategies including social housing, public-private partnerships, and low-cost housing technologies.

Real Estate Investment

Focuses on real estate investment analysis including property portfolio management, investment valuation, and risk assessment.

Housing Programme Management

Covers management of housing programmes and projects including programme design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 432,000
Job market: Moderate

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

Housing Economics and Administration
Housing Policy
Property Development
Urban Economics and Management
Land Management
Financial Management in Real Estate
Property Management
Environmental Impact Assessment
Research Methods in Built Environment
Computer Applications in Property Management

Modules

10 in the programme

Research Methods in Built Environment
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research methodologies for conducting original research in housing and built environment, including quantitative and qualitative methods and academic writing.
Property Development
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines property development processes including feasibility analysis, development appraisal, financing, and project management for residential and commercial development.
Computer Applications in Property Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers computer applications used in property management and valuation, including property management software, GIS, and database management.
Urban Economics and Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines urban economics including urbanisation, land use, urban management, and the economic forces shaping urban development and housing markets.
Land Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers land management frameworks including land tenure systems, land registration, land use planning, and land administration relevant to housing.
Financial Management in Real Estate
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines financial management in real estate including property finance, mortgage markets, investment analysis, and financial modelling for property projects.
Property Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers residential and commercial property management including facilities management, tenant relations, maintenance management, and property administration.
Housing Economics and Administration
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines housing economics including housing demand and supply, housing markets, housing policy, and the administration of housing programmes and institutions.
Environmental Impact Assessment
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers environmental impact assessment for property and housing development projects, including regulatory frameworks and assessment methodologies.
Research Project
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research project on a housing administration topic, demonstrating mastery of housing analysis and policy evaluation, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Housing Policy
Focuses on housing policy formulation, implementation, and evaluation at national and county levels, including affordable housing and slum upgrading.
Property Management
Covers property management including residential and commercial property administration, facilities management, and tenant relations.
Housing Finance
Examines housing finance mechanisms including mortgage markets, housing microfinance, and public housing finance.
Urban Development
Focuses on urban development and housing including urban planning, land use, and the integration of housing in urban development strategies.
Land Administration
Covers land administration including land registration, land tenure systems, and land management frameworks relevant to housing.
Affordable Housing
Examines affordable housing strategies including social housing, public-private partnerships, and low-cost housing technologies.
Real Estate Investment
Focuses on real estate investment analysis including property portfolio management, investment valuation, and risk assessment.
Housing Programme Management
Covers management of housing programmes and projects including programme design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.

A day as a student

A typical day involves attending lectures on housing economics, property development, or urban management at the University of Nairobi's Faculty of the Built Environment and Design. Students engage in seminar discussions on housing policy challenges in Kenya, analysing case studies of affordable housing projects and slum upgrading programmes. The programme includes practical sessions in computer applications for property management and valuation exercises. Students participate in field visits to housing developments and construction sites. Guest lectures from housing ministry officials, NHC managers, and real estate professionals provide industry insights. Those in the research phase conduct independent research on housing topics, working on their research project under faculty supervision.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme addresses Kenya's critical housing challenges, including affordable housing, urbanisation, and slum upgrading, making it highly relevant to national development.
Offered at UoN's Faculty of the Built Environment, which has a long history and strong reputation in real estate and housing education.
Kenya's affordable housing agenda under the Big Four creates strong demand for housing professionals in government and private sector.
Programme combines policy understanding with practical administration skills, providing versatile career preparation.

Against it

Programme fees are relatively high compared to other MA programmes at UoN, reflecting the specialised nature of built environment education.
Only one institution offers this specific programme, limiting choice and comparison.
The programme may be perceived as niche compared to broader business or public administration degrees.
Requires background in real estate, land economics, or related fields, limiting eligibility for graduates from unrelated disciplines.

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 332 engineering courses

Public432k to 432k

432k at University of Nairobi432k at Technical University of Kenya

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 ~432,000/yr (per UoN fee schedule). TUK, private unverified.

Funding options include HELB postgraduate loans for Kenyan students, UoN bursaries for demonstrated financial need, and potential World Bank scholarships for urban development and housing studies.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
University of Nairobi Bursary
World Bank Housing Scholarships

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
University of Nairobi Bursary
ScholarshipKsh 50,000Kenyan
UoN students demonstrating academic merit and financial need.
World Bank Housing Scholarships
ScholarshipKsh 300,000
Students pursuing studies in housing and urban development, administered through World Bank programmes. Availability varies.

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 offered in full-time and part-time modes with duration from 18 months to 3 years. Main intake is in September. Application fee is KES 4,000.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment
Coursework40% of the mark
CATs, housing analysis assignments, property valuation exercises, seminar presentations, and case study analyses conducted throughout each semester.
Final Examination
Examination60% of the mark
End-of-semester examination covering housing economics, property management, and urban development, including essay questions and numerical problems.
Field Visit Report
Practical20% of the mark
Practical assessment involving field visits to housing developments or property sites, demonstrating ability to analyse housing projects and property management practices.
Research Project
Research100% of the mark
Original research project on a housing administration topic, equivalent to five course units, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

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 University of Nairobi's Department of Real Estate, Construction Management and Quantity Surveying in the Faculty of the Built Environment and Design.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Statutory accreditation for all Kenyan universities and their degree programmes.
Institution of Surveyors of Kenya
Professional membership
Kenyan professional body for surveyors and real estate professionals. ISK membership recommended for housing and real estate professionals.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Housing Administrator
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 300,000
Manages housing programmes and institutions for government agencies, real estate firms, or development organisations, overseeing housing administration and policy implementation.
Property Manager
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 280,000
Manages residential and commercial properties for real estate firms, property companies, or institutional investors, overseeing maintenance, tenant relations, and property performance.
Housing Policy Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 320,000
Analyses housing policy issues and provides research and recommendations to government, think tanks, or international organisations on housing policy.
Real Estate Manager
High demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 400,000
Manages real estate portfolios for property companies, financial institutions, or private investors, overseeing investment performance and asset management.
Urban Development Officer
Moderate demandKsh 85,000 to Ksh 300,000
Works on urban development projects for government agencies, NGOs, or international organisations, integrating housing into urban development strategies.
Housing Programme Coordinator
Moderate demandKsh 85,000 to Ksh 280,000
Coordinates housing programmes for government, NGOs, or international development organisations, managing programme design, implementation, and evaluation.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as housing administrators, property managers, housing policy analysts, and real estate managers in government housing agencies, real estate firms, and development organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

GIS Software
SoftwarePrimary
Geographic Information Systems software for mapping housing developments, analysing urban land use, and visualising spatial patterns in housing and property management.
Microsoft Excel
SoftwarePrimary
Spreadsheet software for financial modelling, property valuation, investment analysis, and housing data analysis.
Property Management Software
Software
Property management platforms for managing tenant records, maintenance schedules, rent collection, and property administration.
SPSS
Software
Statistical software for analysing housing market data, demographic trends, and survey data in housing research.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Housing administration is just about managing rental properties.
The programme covers housing policy, finance, urban development, land management, and property development, addressing the full spectrum of housing sector challenges.
This programme is only for architects and builders.
The programme accepts graduates from diverse fields including economics, commerce, finance, law, and agriculture, reflecting the multidisciplinary nature of housing administration.
Housing administration has limited career prospects in Kenya.
Kenya's affordable housing agenda and rapid urbanisation create strong demand for housing professionals in government, real estate, finance, and development sectors.
This degree is the same as a real estate degree.
While related, housing administration focuses specifically on housing policy, affordable housing, and housing programme management, complementing broader real estate and property management degrees.
Housing policy is a government concern with no private sector relevance.
Private sector developers, financial institutions, and consulting firms all engage with housing policy and require professionals who understand the regulatory and policy environment.
The programme is outdated and irrelevant to contemporary housing challenges.
The programme has been periodically revised since its introduction in 1984, incorporating contemporary issues like affordable housing technology, sustainable urban development, and housing microfinance.