Social Sciences

Master of Arts in Political Science

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.

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.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 218,500
Private, up to: Ksh 297,140
Job market: Moderate

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

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 favour

Kenya's governance needs, devolution, policy development, diplomacy, and civil society create demand for qualified political science professionals.
Career opportunities across government, counties, NGOs, international organisations, diplomacy, and academia.
Programme provides versatile analytical and research skills applicable across governance, policy, diplomacy, and research.
KU offers blended and online learning modes, providing flexible study options.

Against it

Political science is a competitive field with many graduates competing for limited positions.
Maseno fee structure for this exact programme not independently verified.
Some positions may require additional professional qualifications or experience.
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.

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 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.

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

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.

Accredited by

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.

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.

Industry links

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.