Arts & Humanities

Master of Arts in Planning

The Master of Arts in Planning is a postgraduate programme that trains professionally qualified personnel in urban and regional planning. The programme provides planners with the requisite skills and specialised knowledge to address challenges associated with rapid urbanisation and resource use in Africa.

Core areas include planning theory, urban and regional planning, spatial analysis, land use planning, rural development, urban development, planning methods, GIS, and research. Students engage with both theoretical foundations and practical planning studio work.

The programme is offered by the University of Nairobi and Kenyatta University. UoN offers MA in Planning through its Department of Urban and Regional Planning, a leading institution for training planners in Eastern and Southern Africa. KU offers MA in Urban and Regional Planning through its School of Engineering and Architecture.

Students develop competencies in planning analysis, urban and regional planning, spatial planning, land use, GIS, planning studio, and research. The programme includes coursework, studio work, fieldwork, examinations, research project, and oral defence.

UoN tuition is KES 9,000 per unit with total programme cost of KES 598,000 (~KES 299,000/year). KU charges KES 367,200/year. Entry requires a Bachelor's degree with at least Second Class Honours Upper Division in planning, architecture, geography, or related field.

Graduates pursue careers as urban planners, regional planners, city managers, planning consultants, and development planners in government, counties, private sector, and international agencies.

Skills Required

Urban and Regional Planning
Land Use Planning
Spatial Analysis and GIS
Planning Theory and Practice
Urban Development Management
Rural Development Planning
Planning Studio and Design
Research Methods in Planning
Environmental Planning
Transportation Planning

Key Subjects

Planning Theory
Urban and Regional Planning
Spatial Analysis and GIS
Land Use Planning
Urban Development
Rural Development
Planning Methods and Techniques
Environmental Planning
Transportation Planning
Research Methods in Planning

Certifications

KIP Planning Certification
UN-Habitat Urban Planning Certification

Specializations

Urban Planning

Focuses on urban planning, city planning, land use, zoning, urban design, and planning and managing urban areas and cities.

Regional Planning

Examines regional planning, regional development, spatial planning, regional analysis, and planning and managing regional development.

Rural Development Planning

Covers rural development planning, rural land use, community planning, rural services, and planning for rural development.

Environmental Planning

Focuses on environmental planning, environmental impact assessment, natural resource planning, sustainability, and planning for environmental sustainability.

Transportation Planning

Examines transportation planning, transport systems, road networks, public transport, and planning and managing transportation systems.

GIS and Spatial Analysis

Covers GIS, spatial analysis, remote sensing, cartography, mapping, and using GIS and spatial tools for planning.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 367,200
Private, up to: Ksh 249,800
Job market: High

The programme

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

Practicalities

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

What you study

10 subjects

Planning Theory
Urban and Regional Planning
Spatial Analysis and GIS
Land Use Planning
Urban Development
Rural Development
Planning Methods and Techniques
Environmental Planning
Transportation Planning
Research Methods in Planning

Modules

12 in the programme

Planning Theory and History
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines planning theory, planning history, approaches, paradigms, rational, incremental, advocacy planning, and understanding planning through theory.
Urban and Regional Planning
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers urban and regional planning, planning principles, land use, zoning, urban design, and planning and managing urban and regional areas.
Methods and Techniques of Planning Analysis
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines planning methods and techniques, demographic analysis, economic analysis, spatial analysis, and methods for planning analysis.
GIS and Spatial Analysis for Planning
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers GIS, spatial analysis, remote sensing, cartography, mapping, and using GIS and spatial tools for planning and analysis.
Urban Development
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines urban development, urbanisation, urban growth, urban management, cities, and understanding and managing urban development.
Rural Development Planning
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers rural development planning, rural land use, community planning, rural services, agriculture, and planning for rural development.
Land Use Planning
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines land use planning, land use analysis, zoning, subdivision, land tenure, and planning and managing land use.
Rural, Urban and Regional Planning Studio
Year 1Semester 24 creditsCore
Practical planning studio providing hands-on experience in planning projects, site analysis, plan preparation, and planning design for rural, urban, and regional areas.
Environmental Planning and EIA
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers environmental planning, environmental impact assessment, natural resource planning, sustainability, and planning for environmental sustainability.
Transportation Planning
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines transportation planning, transport systems, road networks, public transport, traffic management, and planning and managing transportation systems.
African Urban and Regional Economic Development
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers African urban and regional economic development, economic base, regional economics, development planning, and understanding economic development in African contexts.
Research Project
Year 2Semester 24 creditsCore
Original research project on a planning topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Urban Planning
Focuses on urban planning, city planning, land use, zoning, urban design, and planning and managing urban areas and cities.
Regional Planning
Examines regional planning, regional development, spatial planning, regional analysis, and planning and managing regional development.
Rural Development Planning
Covers rural development planning, rural land use, community planning, rural services, and planning for rural development.
Environmental Planning
Focuses on environmental planning, environmental impact assessment, natural resource planning, sustainability, and planning for environmental sustainability.
Transportation Planning
Examines transportation planning, transport systems, road networks, public transport, and planning and managing transportation systems.
GIS and Spatial Analysis
Covers GIS, spatial analysis, remote sensing, cartography, mapping, and using GIS and spatial tools for planning.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MA Planning programme begins with morning lectures on planning theory, urban development, or spatial analysis. Students engage with both theoretical foundations and practical planning studio work. Planning theory sessions cover planning theory, planning history, approaches, paradigms, and understanding planning through theory. Urban planning sessions examine urban planning, land use, zoning, urban design, city planning, and planning and managing urban areas. Regional planning sessions cover regional planning, regional development, spatial planning, regional analysis, and planning and managing regional development. Spatial analysis sessions examine GIS, spatial analysis, remote sensing, cartography, mapping, and using GIS and spatial tools for planning. Land use sessions cover land use planning, land use analysis, zoning, subdivision, and planning and managing land use. Rural development sessions examine rural development planning, rural land use, community planning, and planning for rural development. Planning studio sessions provide hands-on experience in planning projects, site analysis, plan preparation, and planning design. Environmental planning sessions cover environmental planning, EIA, natural resources, sustainability, and planning for environmental sustainability. Transportation sessions examine transportation planning, transport systems, road networks, public transport, and planning transportation systems. Research methods sessions prepare students for their project, covering planning research methods, design, and data analysis. Fieldwork provides opportunities for site visits, field studies, and practical planning exposure. Guest lectures from practising planners, government officials, UN-Habitat experts, and international planning scholars provide real-world insights. The programme culminates in a research project.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's rapid urbanisation, devolution, county planning needs, and infrastructure development create high demand for qualified planners.
Career opportunities across government, counties, private sector, NGOs, international agencies, consultancy, and academia.
UoN's Department of Urban and Regional Planning is a leading institution for training planners in Eastern and Southern Africa.
Programme provides versatile planning skills applicable across urban, regional, rural, environmental, and transportation planning.

Against it

KU tuition of KES 367,200/year is relatively expensive compared to UoN.
Programme requires intensive studio work, fieldwork, and practical projects that can be demanding.
Planning positions in government may require additional professional registration with KIP.
Planning can be politically sensitive, requiring navigation of competing interests and stakeholders.

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 188 arts & humanities courses

Public187k to 367k

187k at Moi University367k at Kenyatta University

Private138k to 250k

138k at KCA University250k at Daystar 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

KU 367.2K/yr, Moi 187.2K/yr. Daystar ~249.8K/yr. KCA unverified

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. UN-Habitat supports urban planning globally. KIP supports planning professionals in Kenya. The programme's planning and urban development focus attracts UN-Habitat, government, and development funding.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
UN-Habitat Planning Funding
KIP Professional Funding

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate planning studies at recognised universities.
UN-Habitat Planning Funding
FellowshipKsh 350,000
UN-Habitat supports urban planning globally, providing fellowships for postgraduate study in urban and regional planning.
KIP Professional Funding
GrantKsh 200,000Kenyan
KIP supports planning professionals in Kenya, providing funding for postgraduate study in planning.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: The programme accepts graduates from diverse fields including planning, architecture, geography, economics, sociology, law, engineering, and environmental sciences. UoN offers full-time mode. KU offers full-time, school-based, and digital modes. Programme consists of 34 course units including lectures, seminars, fieldwork, studio, research project, and examinations. Minimum 4 semesters, maximum 12 semesters.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, planning analysis papers, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Planning Studio
Practical30% of the mark
Assessment of planning studio work, including site analysis, plan preparation, planning design, and studio presentation.
Written Examinations
Examination20% of the mark
Written examinations covering planning theory, methods, urban and regional planning, and research methods, conducted at end of each semester.
Research Project
Research20% of the mark
Original research project on a planning topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). University of Nairobi offers MA in Planning through its Department of Urban and Regional Planning. Kenyatta University offers MA in Urban and Regional Planning. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate planning training.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. UoN offers MA in Planning through its Department of Urban and Regional Planning. KU offers MA in Urban and Regional Planning. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate planning training.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Urban Planner
High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Plans and manages urban areas, overseeing land use, zoning, urban design, development control, and supporting sustainable urban development.
Regional Planner
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Plans and manages regional development, overseeing regional plans, spatial planning, regional analysis, and supporting balanced regional development.
City/County Planner
High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Serves as county planner, overseeing county planning, CIDP, land use, development control, and supporting county development and planning.
Planning Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 650,000
Provides planning consultancy, overseeing plans, EIA, feasibility studies, and supporting planning projects for clients and organisations.
Development Planner
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Plans development programmes, overseeing development planning, project design, M&E, and supporting development programmes and projects.
University Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches planning in universities, conducting research and training future urban and regional planners.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as urban planners, regional planners, city managers, and planning consultants in government, counties, private sector, and international agencies.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

ArcGIS
SoftwarePrimary
GIS software for spatial analysis, mapping, land use planning, cartography, and spatial data management for planning.
QGIS
Software
Open-source GIS software for spatial analysis, mapping, cartography, and spatial data management for planning.
AutoCAD
Software
Design software for planning drawings, site plans, layouts, and creating planning designs and technical drawings.
SPSS
Software
Statistical software for planning research, demographic analysis, survey analysis, and quantitative data analysis.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Planning is just about drawing maps.
Planning involves rigorous theory, spatial analysis, policy, economics, sociology, environmental analysis, and research, far beyond drawing maps.
Planning is only for architects.
Planning accepts graduates from diverse fields including geography, economics, sociology, law, engineering, and environmental sciences.
There is no demand for planners in Kenya.
Kenya's rapid urbanisation, devolution, county planning needs, and infrastructure development create high demand for qualified planners.
Planning is not a rigorous discipline.
Planning involves rigorous research methods, spatial analysis, GIS, statistics, and scholarly writing comparable to other professional disciplines.
A master's in planning is redundant after a bachelor's.
The master's provides advanced planning theory, research capability, specialisation, and career progression to senior planning positions.
Planners only work in government.
Planners work in government, counties, private sector, NGOs, international agencies, consultancy, and academia.