Business

Master of Arts in Leadership

The Master of Arts in Leadership is a postgraduate programme offered by Pan Africa Christian University, Adventist University of Africa, and International Leadership University. The programme equips students and professionals with leadership competencies for effectiveness in leading teams and organisations through enhanced commitment, capability, and practical effectiveness.

The programme is interdisciplinary and collaborative, designed to enhance leadership capabilities and competencies for improving organisational effectiveness. It is open to qualified individuals from diverse professional and academic backgrounds including church, education, healthcare, business, government, and non-governmental organisations.

Core areas of study include foundations of leadership, financial leadership, information technology for leaders, leadership ethics and values, strategic leadership, change management, human resource management, and research methods. Students examine leadership theory and practice from multiple perspectives.

At Pan Africa Christian University, the programme is a 27-month course consisting of 33 credits including 6 core courses, 5 specialised stream courses, and a major paper. Specialisation tracks include Business Leadership, Church Leadership, and Educational Leadership, allowing students to focus on their specific professional context.

At Adventist University of Africa, the programme offers full-time (two years) and part-time (three years) modes with specialisations in Business Leadership, Church Leadership, and Educational Leadership. The programme emphasises values-based leadership grounded in Christian principles.

Graduates are prepared for senior leadership roles in organisations across sectors including business, education, healthcare, government, NGOs, and religious institutions. The programme's focus on practical leadership effectiveness makes it particularly valuable for mid-career professionals seeking to advance to senior management positions.

Skills Required

Strategic Leadership
Organisational Change Management
Financial Leadership
Human Resource Management
Leadership Ethics and Values
Crisis Management
Team Leadership and Development
Strategic Planning
Governance and Policy Development
Research and Analytical Skills

Key Subjects

Foundations of Leadership
Financial Leadership
Information Technology for Leaders
Leadership Ethics and Christian Values
Strategic Leadership and Planned Change
Human Resource Management
Change and Crisis Management
Resource Mobilisation and Grant Proposal Writing
Governance and Administrative Policies
Research Methods in Leadership

Certifications

Kenya Institute of Management Membership
International Leadership Association Membership

Specializations

Business Leadership

Focuses on strategic leadership, change management, procurement, supply chain management, and resource mobilisation for business and corporate contexts.

Church Leadership

Examines leadership in multicultural contexts, human resource management in church settings, governance, and administrative policies for religious organisations.

Educational Leadership

Covers human resource management in education, strategic leadership in education, educational financial management, curriculum design, and education policy studies.

Organisational Leadership

Focuses on leading organisational transformation, culture change, and developing high-performing teams across sectors.

Transformational Leadership

Equips leaders with skills to drive transformational change in communities, NGOs, and social enterprises serving marginalised populations.

Governance and Public Leadership

Examines governance frameworks, public policy, and ethical leadership in government and public sector organisations.

Healthcare Leadership

Focuses on leadership challenges in healthcare organisations, including health systems management and healthcare policy.

Non-Profit Leadership

Covers leadership of NGOs and non-profit organisations, including resource mobilisation, stakeholder engagement, and impact measurement.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 220,500
Private, up to: Ksh 200,000
Job market: High

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

Foundations of Leadership
Financial Leadership
Information Technology for Leaders
Leadership Ethics and Christian Values
Strategic Leadership and Planned Change
Human Resource Management
Change and Crisis Management
Resource Mobilisation and Grant Proposal Writing
Governance and Administrative Policies
Research Methods in Leadership

Modules

10 in the programme

Foundations of Leadership
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines foundational theories and models of leadership including trait, behavioural, contingency, and transformational leadership approaches.
Financial Leadership
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers financial management principles for leaders, including budgeting, financial analysis, resource allocation, and financial decision-making.
Information Technology for Leaders
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines the role of information technology in leadership, including digital transformation, data-driven decision-making, and technology strategy.
Leadership Ethics and Christian Values
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Explores ethical frameworks for leadership, Christian values in leadership practice, and moral decision-making in organisational contexts.
Strategic Leadership and Planned Change
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers strategic leadership, organisational change management, and the leadership of transformation initiatives in organisations.
Human Resource Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines human resource management principles for leaders, including talent management, performance management, and employee engagement.
Change and Crisis Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsElective
Covers leadership during crises, change management strategies, and building organisational resilience in turbulent environments.
Resource Mobilisation and Grant Proposal Writing
Year 2Semester 13 creditsElective
Develops skills in resource mobilisation, fundraising, grant proposal writing, and financial sustainability for organisations.
Governance and Administrative Policies
Year 2Semester 13 creditsElective
Examines governance frameworks, administrative policies, and institutional leadership for effective organisational governance.
Major Paper / Thesis
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research paper or thesis on a leadership topic, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Business Leadership
Focuses on strategic leadership, change management, procurement, supply chain management, and resource mobilisation for business and corporate contexts.
Church Leadership
Examines leadership in multicultural contexts, human resource management in church settings, governance, and administrative policies for religious organisations.
Educational Leadership
Covers human resource management in education, strategic leadership in education, educational financial management, curriculum design, and education policy studies.
Organisational Leadership
Focuses on leading organisational transformation, culture change, and developing high-performing teams across sectors.
Transformational Leadership
Equips leaders with skills to drive transformational change in communities, NGOs, and social enterprises serving marginalised populations.
Governance and Public Leadership
Examines governance frameworks, public policy, and ethical leadership in government and public sector organisations.
Healthcare Leadership
Focuses on leadership challenges in healthcare organisations, including health systems management and healthcare policy.
Non-Profit Leadership
Covers leadership of NGOs and non-profit organisations, including resource mobilisation, stakeholder engagement, and impact measurement.

A day as a student

A typical day involves attending lectures on leadership theory, strategic management, or financial leadership. Students engage in case study discussions analysing real-world leadership challenges, participate in team-building exercises and leadership simulations, and present strategic plans for organisational change. The blended learning approach combines face-to-face sessions with online coursework. Those in the research phase conduct organisational assessments, analyse leadership practices, and work on their major paper or thesis under faculty supervision.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme offers three specialisation tracks (Business, Church, Educational Leadership) allowing students to tailor their studies to their professional context.
Offered at three institutions providing choice of university, campus location, and programme format.
Blended and online learning modes accommodate working professionals, combining flexibility with face-to-face interaction.
Interdisciplinary programme open to professionals from diverse backgrounds including business, education, healthcare, government, and NGOs.

Against it

All three institutions are private, with fees of approximately KES 200,000 per year, which may be challenging for self-sponsored students.
Programme requires significant work experience (minimum 3 years at PAC), which may exclude recent graduates.
Leadership degrees from faith-based institutions may be perceived as less secular in some corporate environments.
The 27-month duration at PAC is longer than the standard 2-year master's programme, requiring additional time commitment.

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 331 business courses

Public118k to 221k

118k at Maseno University221k at University of Nairobi

Private130k to 200k

130k at Mount Kenya University200k at Pan Africa Christian 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

UoN MA 220.5K/yr(keguide). Maseno ~118K/yr(yumpu). PAC ~200K/yr(keguide). MKU 130K/yr(eduplace)

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

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
University Postgraduate Bursary
MasterCard Foundation Scholars Programme

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
University Postgraduate Bursary
ScholarshipKsh 50,000Kenyan
Postgraduate students demonstrating financial need at their respective universities.
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: Applicants with a CGPA of 2.5 to 2.99 may be accepted on probation. Previous work experience in leadership is highly desirable. Applicants must be in active service at the time of application and provide recommendations from a religious leader and employer or previous university.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment
Coursework40% of the mark
CATs, case study analyses, leadership projects, presentations, and reflective journals conducted throughout each semester.
Final Examination
Examination60% of the mark
End-of-semester examination covering all course unit content, including essay questions and leadership analysis scenarios.
Major Paper / Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research paper or thesis on a leadership topic, assessed through written submission and oral defence.
Practical Leadership Assessment
Coursework20% of the mark
Practical assessment of leadership skills through simulations, team projects, and organisational analysis exercises.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE), ensuring recognition across Kenya and the wider East African region. The programme is offered by Pan Africa Christian University, Adventist University of Africa, and International Leadership University.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Statutory accreditation for all Kenyan universities and their degree programmes.
Kenya Institute of Management
Professional membership
Kenyan professional management body. Membership recommended for professional networking and recognition.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Organisational Leader
High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 400,000
Leads organisations in business, education, healthcare, or NGO sectors, with senior leadership positions earning KES 200,000 to 400,000 per month.
Human Resource Manager
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 250,000
Manages human resource functions including talent management, performance management, and organisational development.
Programme Manager (NGO)
High demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 300,000
Manages programmes and projects in non-governmental organisations, with international NGOs paying KES 200,000 to 350,000 per month.
Strategic Planning Manager
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 280,000
Leads strategic planning processes, organisational change initiatives, and performance improvement projects.
Church/Administrative Leader
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 200,000
Provides leadership in church and religious organisations, managing operations, programmes, and administrative functions.
University Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 200,000
Teaches leadership and management courses at universities, contributing to research and scholarship.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue senior leadership roles in business, education, healthcare, government, NGOs, and religious organisations, with strong demand for leadership expertise across all sectors in Kenya.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Microsoft Project
SoftwarePrimary
Project management software for planning, executing, and monitoring strategic initiatives and change projects.
SPSS
SoftwarePrimary
Statistical software for research data analysis in leadership studies and organisational research.
Microsoft Excel
Software
Financial analysis and data management tool for budgeting, forecasting, and performance tracking.
Zoom
Platform
Video conferencing platform for online learning, virtual team leadership, and remote collaboration.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Leadership cannot be taught; it is an innate quality.
Research shows that leadership capabilities can be developed through structured learning, practice, reflection, and feedback, which is the core premise of the programme.
A leadership degree is only for those in senior management.
The programme is designed for emerging and mid-career professionals seeking to develop leadership capabilities for career advancement and organisational impact.
Leadership studies is not a rigorous academic discipline.
The programme includes advanced research methodology, organisational theory, strategic analysis, and a thesis or major paper requiring original scholarly research.
Only business professionals benefit from a leadership degree.
The programme serves professionals from education, healthcare, government, NGOs, religious institutions, and community organisations, with specialised tracks for different sectors.
Christian university leadership programmes are only for church leaders.
While grounded in Christian values, the programme is open to all and serves diverse sectors including business, education, healthcare, and government.
Online and blended learning modes are less effective than traditional study.
The programme's blended approach combines online flexibility with face-to-face interaction, accommodating working professionals while maintaining academic rigour.