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Master of Arts in Political Science

<p>The Master of Arts in Political Science is a postgraduate programme that provides advanced study of political theory, government, public policy, international relations, and comparative politics. The programme prepares graduates for leadership roles in governance, public service, diplomacy, research, and political analysis.

Duration
2 years
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 218,500
Ksh 437,000 total
Private tuition
Ksh 297,140
Ksh 594,280 total
Job market
Moderate
Market demand for graduates

The short answer

What it costs
Up to Ksh 218,500 a year at a public institution, Ksh 437,000 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 297,140 a year at a private one.The detail
Who can get in
A KCSE mean grade of N/A (Postgraduate) or above. There is another way in without it.The detail
How long, and when
Takes 2 years, full-time, part-time, blended, online, with 0 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 6 institutions.The detail
Where it leads
8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Early Childhood Strategist, at 10 out of 100.The detail

The programme

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

Overview

Core areas include political theory, comparative politics, public administration, international relations, research methods, Kenyan politics, African politics, and public policy. Students engage with both theoretical frameworks and practical political analysis.

The programme is offered by the University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University, and Maseno University. UoN offers MA in Political Science and Public Administration through its Department of Political Science. KU offers MA in Political Science through its School of Humanities. Maseno offers MA in Political Science through its School of Development and Strategic Studies.

Students develop competencies in political analysis, governance, public policy, research, and political theory. The programme includes coursework, examinations, research project or thesis, and oral defence.

UoN tuition is KES 21,000 per unit with total programme cost of approximately KES 437,000 (~KES 218,500/year). KU charges KES 216,000/year. Entry requires a Bachelor's degree with at least Second Class Honours Upper Division in Political Science or related field.

Graduates pursue careers as political analysts, policy analysts, public administrators, diplomatic officers, researchers, and governance advisors in government, NGOs, international organisations, and academia.

Skills Required

  • Political Theory and Analysis
  • Comparative Politics
  • Public Policy Analysis
  • Governance and Public Administration
  • International Relations
  • Research Methods in Political Science
  • Political Research and Data Analysis
  • African Politics and Governance
  • Diplomacy and Foreign Policy
  • Political Communication

Key Subjects

  • Political Theory
  • Comparative Politics
  • Public Administration
  • International Relations
  • Research Methods in Political Science
  • Politics in Kenya
  • African Politics
  • Public Policy
  • Diplomacy and Foreign Policy
  • Political Economy

Certifications

  • IPSA Political Science Certification
  • AAPS Political Science Certification

Specializations

Political Theory

Focuses on political theory, political philosophy, democracy, justice, power, authority, and understanding politics through theoretical frameworks.

Comparative Politics

Examines comparative politics, political systems, regimes, institutions, democratisation, and comparing political systems across countries.

Public Policy

Covers public policy, policy analysis, policy process, policy evaluation, and understanding and analysing public policy.

International Relations

Focuses on international relations, IR theory, foreign policy, diplomacy, global governance, and understanding international relations.

African Politics

Examines African politics, governance in Africa, democratisation, conflict, development, and understanding politics in African contexts.

Public Administration

Covers public administration, governance, public management, decentralisation, service delivery, and understanding and managing public administration.

What you study

10 subjects
  • Political Theory
  • Comparative Politics
  • Public Administration
  • International Relations
  • Research Methods in Political Science
  • Politics in Kenya
  • African Politics
  • Public Policy
  • Diplomacy and Foreign Policy
  • Political Economy

Modules

12 in the programme

  • Theory and Methods of Political Research

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Examines political research theory and methods, design, data collection, analysis, and conducting research in political science, preparing students for their thesis.

  • Politics in Kenya

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Covers politics in Kenya, institutions, elections, parties, devolution, political history, and understanding Kenyan politics and governance.

  • Public and Development Administration in Kenya

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Examines public and development administration in Kenya, governance, public management, decentralisation, service delivery, and understanding administration in Kenya.

  • Comparative Politics

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Covers comparative politics, political systems, regimes, institutions, democratisation, and comparing political systems across countries and regions.

  • Political Theory

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Examines political theory, political philosophy, democracy, justice, power, authority, freedom, and understanding politics through theoretical frameworks.

  • International Relations

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Covers international relations, IR theory, foreign policy, diplomacy, global governance, international system, and understanding international relations.

  • African Politics and Governance

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Examines African politics, governance in Africa, democratisation, conflict, development, regional organisations, and understanding politics in African contexts.

  • Public Policy Analysis

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Covers public policy, policy analysis, policy process, policy evaluation, policy instruments, and understanding and analysing public policy.

  • Political Economy

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Examines political economy, state and economy, development, globalisation, economic policy, and understanding the intersection of politics and economics.

  • Diplomacy and Foreign Policy

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Covers diplomacy, foreign policy, international negotiation, diplomatic practice, and understanding and managing diplomacy and foreign policy.

  • Governance and Democratisation

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Examines governance, democratisation, good governance, accountability, transparency, elections, and understanding and promoting governance and democracy.

  • Research Project or Thesis

    Year 2Semester 28 creditsCore

    Original research project or thesis on a political science topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

  • Political Theory

    Focuses on political theory, political philosophy, democracy, justice, power, authority, and understanding politics through theoretical frameworks.

  • Comparative Politics

    Examines comparative politics, political systems, regimes, institutions, democratisation, and comparing political systems across countries.

  • Public Policy

    Covers public policy, policy analysis, policy process, policy evaluation, and understanding and analysing public policy.

  • International Relations

    Focuses on international relations, IR theory, foreign policy, diplomacy, global governance, and understanding international relations.

  • African Politics

    Examines African politics, governance in Africa, democratisation, conflict, development, and understanding politics in African contexts.

  • Public Administration

    Covers public administration, governance, public management, decentralisation, service delivery, and understanding and managing public administration.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MA Political Science programme begins with morning lectures on political theory, comparative politics, or public policy. Students engage with both theoretical frameworks and practical political analysis. Political theory sessions cover political philosophy, democracy, justice, power, authority, and understanding politics through theory. Comparative politics sessions examine political systems, regimes, institutions, democratisation, and comparing political systems across countries. Public administration sessions cover governance, public management, decentralisation, service delivery, and understanding and managing public administration. International relations sessions examine IR theory, foreign policy, diplomacy, global governance, and understanding international relations. Kenyan politics sessions cover politics in Kenya, institutions, elections, parties, devolution, and understanding Kenyan politics. African politics sessions examine governance in Africa, democratisation, conflict, development, and understanding politics in African contexts. Public policy sessions cover policy analysis, policy process, policy evaluation, and understanding and analysing public policy. Research methods sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering political research methods, design, and data analysis. Guest lectures from politicians, diplomats, governance experts, KSG officials, and international political scientists provide real-world insights. The programme culminates in a research project or thesis.

The trade-offs

In its favourAgainst it
Kenya's governance needs, devolution, policy development, diplomacy, and civil society create demand for qualified political science professionals.Political science is a competitive field with many graduates competing for limited positions.
Career opportunities across government, counties, NGOs, international organisations, diplomacy, and academia.Maseno fee structure for this exact programme not independently verified.
Programme provides versatile analytical and research skills applicable across governance, policy, diplomacy, and research.Some positions may require additional professional qualifications or experience.
KU offers blended and online learning modes, providing flexible study options.Academic and research positions are competitive and may require doctoral qualifications.

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
Public187k to 219k
187k at Moi University219k at University of Nairobi
Private138k to 297k
138k at KCA University297k at United States International University Africa

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 218.5K/yr, Moi 187.2K verified. USIU ~297K/yr. KCA unverified for Pol Sci.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. IPSA supports political science research globally. KSG supports governance training in Kenya. The programme's political science and governance focus attracts IPSA, KSG, and governance funding.

Funding options

  • HELB Postgraduate Loan

  • IPSA Research Funding

  • KSG Governance Funding

Scholarships

3 recorded

  • HELB Postgraduate Loan

    LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan

    Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate political science studies at recognised universities.

  • IPSA Research Funding

    FellowshipKsh 250,000

    IPSA supports political science research globally, providing fellowships for postgraduate study in political science.

  • KSG Governance Funding

    GrantKsh 200,000Kenyan

    KSG supports governance training in Kenya, providing funding for postgraduate study in political science and governance.

Scholarships you could apply for

2 usable where it is taught
Save one and be reminded before it closes

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade
N/A (Postgraduate)minimum entry
Alternative entry

The programme accepts graduates from political science, international relations, public administration, history, sociology, and related fields. UoN offers evening blended mode. KU offers full-time, school-based, and digital modes. Maseno offers full-time and part-time modes. Two-year programme with coursework in Year 1 and thesis in Year 2.

When it next starts

Taught at 6 institutions
January 20276 institutions

Including Kisii University, Multimedia University of Kenya, University of Nairobi.

May 20276 institutions

Including Kisii University, Multimedia University of Kenya, University of Nairobi.

September 20276 institutions

Including Kisii University, Multimedia University of Kenya, University of Nairobi.

How you are assessed

4 components

  • Coursework and Continuous Assessment

    Coursework40% of the mark

    Continuous assessment through coursework essays, political analysis papers, seminar presentations, case studies, and class participation.

  • Written Examinations

    Examination30% of the mark

    Written examinations covering political theory, comparative politics, public policy, and research methods, conducted at end of each semester.

  • Research Seminar and Proposal

    Practical30% of the mark

    Assessment of research seminar and proposal, including research design, literature review, methodology, and proposal presentation.

  • Research Project or Thesis

    Research100% of the mark

    Original research project or thesis on a political science topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

  • Commission for University Education (CUE)

    Academic accreditationRequired

    Programme accredited by CUE. UoN offers MA in Political Science and Public Administration. KU offers MA in Political Science. Maseno offers MA in Political Science. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate political science training.

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). University of Nairobi offers MA in Political Science and Public Administration. Kenyatta University offers MA in Political Science. Maseno University offers MA in Political Science. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate political science training.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

  • Political Analyst

    Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000

    Analyses political developments, overseeing political research, analysis, briefings, and supporting political understanding and decision-making.

  • Policy Analyst

    Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000

    Analyses public policy, overseeing policy research, analysis, development, and supporting evidence-based policy and governance.

  • Public Administrator

    Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000

    Manages public administration, overseeing governance, public management, service delivery, and supporting effective public administration.

  • Diplomatic Officer

    Moderate demandKsh 140,000 to Ksh 600,000

    Serves in diplomatic missions, overseeing foreign policy, bilateral relations, negotiation, and supporting Kenya's international relations.

  • Governance Advisor

    Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000

    Advises on governance, overseeing governance reform, policy, institutions, and supporting good governance and democracy.

  • University Lecturer

    Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 500,000

    Teaches political science in universities, conducting research and training future political scientists and governance professionals.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as political analysts, policy analysts, public administrators, diplomatic officers, and researchers in government, NGOs, and international organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

  • SPSS

    SoftwarePrimary

    Statistical software for political research, survey analysis, electoral analysis, and quantitative data analysis.

  • Stata

    Software

    Statistical software for political research, econometric analysis, time series, and quantitative data analysis.

  • NVivo

    Software

    Qualitative data analysis software for political research, interviews, content analysis, and qualitative data analysis.

  • KoboToolbox

    Software

    Data collection platform for political research, surveys, public opinion, and collecting political science research data.

Common misconceptions

  • Political science is just about politics and politicians.

    Political science involves rigorous theory, comparative analysis, research, policy analysis, and scholarly study, far beyond everyday politics.

  • Political science only leads to politics.

    The programme opens careers in governance, public service, diplomacy, research, policy analysis, NGOs, and academia.

  • There is no demand for political science graduates in Kenya.

    Kenya's governance needs, devolution, policy development, diplomacy, and civil society create demand for qualified political science professionals.

  • Political science is not a rigorous discipline.

    Political science involves rigorous research methods, theory, data analysis, and scholarly writing comparable to other social sciences.

  • A master's in political science is redundant after a BA.

    The master's provides advanced theory, research capability, specialisation, and career progression to senior governance and policy positions.

  • Political science is the same as public administration.

    While related, political science focuses on political systems, power, and governance, while public administration focuses on managing public organisations and service delivery.

Further reading

Read next