Social Sciences

Master of Arts in Psychology

The Master of Arts in Psychology is a postgraduate programme that provides advanced study of psychological theory, research, and practice. The programme prepares graduates for careers in counselling, mental health, research, education, and organisational psychology.

Core areas include psychological theory, research methods, counselling psychology, psychometrics, psychological statistics, psychotherapy, ethics, and practicum. Students engage with both theoretical foundations and practical counselling and assessment skills.

The programme is offered by the University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University, and Moi University. UoN offers MA in Psychology through its Faculty of Arts and Department of Psychology. KU offers MA in Counselling Psychology through its School of Humanities and Social Sciences. Moi offers MA in Counselling Psychology through its School of Arts and Social Sciences.

Students develop competencies in psychological assessment, counselling, research, psychotherapy, and mental health. The programme includes coursework, examinations, practicum, research project, and oral defence.

UoN tuition is KES 27,000 per unit with total programme cost of approximately KES 537,000 (~KES 268,500/year). KU charges KES 216,000/year. Entry requires a Bachelor's degree with at least Second Class Honours Upper Division in Psychology or related field.

Graduates pursue careers as counselling psychologists, mental health practitioners, researchers, HR specialists, and lecturers in hospitals, schools, NGOs, private practice, and academia.

Skills Required

Psychological Assessment and Testing
Counselling and Psychotherapy
Research Methods in Psychology
Psychometrics and Statistics
Theories of Counselling
Mental Health and Psychopathology
Ethics in Counselling and Psychology
Group and Family Therapy
Community Psychology
Organisational Psychology

Key Subjects

Theories of Counselling
Research Methods in Psychology
Psychometrics and Psychological Statistics
Psychotherapeutic Communication Practices
Ethics in Counselling and Public Law
Psychopathology
Counselling Approaches
Group and Family Therapy
Community Psychology
Organisation and Administration of Counselling Services

Certifications

KPA Psychology Certification
IUPsyS Psychology Certification

Specializations

Counselling Psychology

Focuses on counselling psychology, theories of counselling, psychotherapy, counselling approaches, and providing counselling and psychotherapy services.

Clinical Psychology

Examines clinical psychology, psychopathology, diagnosis, treatment, clinical assessment, and understanding and treating mental health disorders.

Community Psychology

Covers community psychology, community mental health, HIV/AIDS counselling, substance abuse, and understanding and supporting community mental health.

Organisational Psychology

Focuses on organisational psychology, workplace behaviour, HR, employee wellbeing, organisational development, and applying psychology in organisations.

Educational Psychology

Examines educational psychology, school counselling, learning, development, guidance, and applying psychology in educational settings.

Health Psychology

Covers health psychology, health behaviour, chronic illness, counselling special populations, and applying psychology to health and wellbeing.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 268,500
Private, up to: Ksh 297,140
Job market: High

The programme

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

Practicalities

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

What you study

10 subjects

Theories of Counselling
Research Methods in Psychology
Psychometrics and Psychological Statistics
Psychotherapeutic Communication Practices
Ethics in Counselling and Public Law
Psychopathology
Counselling Approaches
Group and Family Therapy
Community Psychology
Organisation and Administration of Counselling Services

Modules

12 in the programme

Theories of Counselling
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines counselling theories, psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioural, humanistic, existential, and understanding counselling through theory.
General Research Methods
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research methods, design, data collection, analysis, and conducting research in psychology, preparing students for their project.
Psychometrics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines psychological testing, assessment, test construction, reliability, validity, and psychological measurement and assessment.
Psychological Statistics and ICT
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers psychological statistics, descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, data analysis, and using ICT for psychological research.
Principles of Guidance
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines principles of guidance, guidance process, school guidance, career guidance, and understanding and providing guidance services.
Psychological Research Methods
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers advanced research methods in psychology, experimental design, quasi-experimental, qualitative, and conducting psychological research.
Ethics in Counselling and Public Law
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines ethics in counselling, professional conduct, confidentiality, public law, and ethical and legal issues in psychology practice.
Counselling Approaches
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers counselling approaches, techniques, interventions, CBT, person-centred, solution-focused, and practising counselling approaches and techniques.
Psychotherapeutic Communication Practices
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines psychotherapeutic communication, therapeutic alliance, interviewing, active listening, and communication skills for counselling and psychotherapy.
Child and Adolescent Psychopathology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers child and adolescent mental health, developmental disorders, behavioural disorders, and understanding and treating child and adolescent psychopathology.
Counselling Practicum
Year 2Semester 14 creditsCore
Supervised counselling practicum providing hands-on counselling experience in a relevant field station, with KU requiring 500 hours of supervised practice.
Research Project
Year 2Semester 24 creditsCore
Original research project on a psychology topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Counselling Psychology
Focuses on counselling psychology, theories of counselling, psychotherapy, counselling approaches, and providing counselling and psychotherapy services.
Clinical Psychology
Examines clinical psychology, psychopathology, diagnosis, treatment, clinical assessment, and understanding and treating mental health disorders.
Community Psychology
Covers community psychology, community mental health, HIV/AIDS counselling, substance abuse, and understanding and supporting community mental health.
Organisational Psychology
Focuses on organisational psychology, workplace behaviour, HR, employee wellbeing, organisational development, and applying psychology in organisations.
Educational Psychology
Examines educational psychology, school counselling, learning, development, guidance, and applying psychology in educational settings.
Health Psychology
Covers health psychology, health behaviour, chronic illness, counselling special populations, and applying psychology to health and wellbeing.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MA Psychology programme begins with morning lectures on counselling theories, psychometrics, or research methods. Students engage with both theoretical foundations and practical counselling and assessment skills. Counselling theory sessions cover psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioural, humanistic, existential, and understanding counselling through theory. Research methods sessions examine research design, statistics, psychometrics, and conducting research in psychology. Psychometrics sessions cover psychological testing, assessment, test construction, and psychological measurement and assessment. Psychotherapy sessions examine counselling approaches, techniques, interventions, and practising counselling and psychotherapy. Ethics sessions cover ethics in counselling, public law, professional conduct, and ethical practice in psychology. Psychopathology sessions examine mental health disorders, diagnosis, treatment, and understanding mental health and psychopathology. Group and family therapy sessions cover group dynamics, family systems, marital therapy, and conducting group and family therapy. Community psychology sessions examine community mental health, HIV/AIDS counselling, substance abuse, and supporting community mental health. Practicum sessions provide hands-on counselling experience under supervision, with KU requiring 500 hours of supervised practicum. Guest lectures from practising psychologists, psychiatrists, hospital counsellors, and international psychology scholars provide real-world insights. The programme culminates in a research project or thesis.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's mental health needs, trauma, substance abuse, HIV/AIDS, and family challenges create high demand for qualified psychology professionals.
Career opportunities in hospitals, schools, NGOs, private practice, HR, government, prisons, and academia.
Programme includes supervised practicum providing hands-on counselling experience before graduation.
KU offers blended learning with face-to-face and online modes, providing flexible study options.

Against it

UoN total programme cost of KES 537,000 (~KES 268,500/year) is relatively expensive.
Moi University fee structure for this exact programme not independently verified.
Practicum requires significant time commitment (500 hours at KU) that can be challenging for working students.
Professional registration with KPA may be required for certain counselling positions.

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 269k

187k at Moi University269k at University of Nairobi

Private171k to 297k

171k 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 Psych 268.5K/yr, Moi 187.2K verified. USIU 297K, KCA ~171K/yr verified.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. KPA supports professional development for psychologists in Kenya. IUPsyS supports psychology research globally. The programme's psychology and mental health focus attracts KPA, IUPsyS, and mental health funding.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
KPA Professional Development
IUPsyS Research Funding

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate psychology studies at recognised universities.
KPA Professional Development
GrantKsh 200,000Kenyan
KPA supports professional development for psychologists in Kenya, providing funding for postgraduate study in psychology.
IUPsyS Research Funding
FellowshipKsh 300,000
IUPsyS supports psychology research globally, providing fellowships for postgraduate study and research in psychology.

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 psychology, counselling, sociology, education, and related fields. UoN offers full-time mode. KU offers full-time, part-time, school-based, and CEP modes with blended learning. Moi offers full-time mode. Two-year programme with coursework, practicum, and research project. KU requires 500 hours of supervised practicum.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, case studies, counselling analysis papers, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination30% of the mark
Written examinations covering counselling theories, research methods, psychometrics, and ethics, conducted at end of each semester.
Practicum Assessment
Practical20% of the mark
Assessment of supervised counselling practicum, including counselling practice, case reports, supervision, and practicum report.
Research Project
Research20% of the mark
Original research project on a psychology 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 Psychology through its Department of Psychology. Kenyatta University offers MA in Counselling Psychology. Moi University offers MA in Counselling Psychology. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate psychology training.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. UoN offers MA in Psychology through its Department of Psychology. KU offers MA in Counselling Psychology. Moi offers MA in Counselling Psychology. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate psychology training.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Counselling Psychologist
High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Provides counselling and psychotherapy, overseeing assessment, therapy, interventions, and supporting mental health and wellbeing.
Mental Health Practitioner
High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Provides mental health services, overseeing assessment, treatment, counselling, and supporting mental health in hospitals and clinics.
Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Conducts psychological research, overseeing research design, data collection, analysis, and supporting evidence generation in psychology.
HR Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Applies psychology in HR, overseeing employee assessment, wellbeing, development, and supporting organisational effectiveness and employee mental health.
School Counsellor
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Provides counselling in schools, overseeing student guidance, assessment, support, and supporting student mental health and development.
University Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches psychology in universities, conducting research and training future psychologists and counsellors.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as counselling psychologists, mental health practitioners, researchers, and HR specialists in hospitals, schools, NGOs, private practice, and academia.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

SPSS
SoftwarePrimary
Statistical software for psychological research, data analysis, psychometric analysis, and quantitative data analysis.
NVivo
Software
Qualitative data analysis software for psychological research, interviews, case studies, and qualitative data analysis.
KoboToolbox
Software
Data collection platform for psychological research, surveys, assessments, and collecting psychological research data.
PsyPack
Software
Psychological assessment platform for administering tests, scoring, and managing psychological assessments and screenings.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Psychology is just about giving advice.
Psychology involves rigorous theory, research, assessment, psychotherapy, ethics, and practicum, far beyond giving advice.
Psychology is the same as psychiatry.
Psychology focuses on assessment, counselling, and psychotherapy, while psychiatry is a medical specialisation focused on diagnosis and medication.
There is no demand for psychologists in Kenya.
Kenya's mental health needs, trauma, substance abuse, HIV/AIDS, workplace stress, and family challenges create high demand for qualified psychology professionals.
Psychology is not a rigorous discipline.
Psychology involves rigorous research methods, statistics, psychometrics, and scholarly writing comparable to other social and health sciences.
A master's in psychology is redundant after a BA.
The master's provides advanced theory, practicum, research capability, and career progression to senior counselling and psychology positions.
Psychologists only work in hospitals.
Psychologists work in hospitals, schools, NGOs, private practice, HR, government, prisons, and academia.