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Social Sciences

Master of Arts in Public Administration & Policy

The Master of Arts in Public Administration & Policy is a master's programme offered at Kenyan universities. This postgraduate degree prepares professionals for advanced practice and research careers in business & economics.

Duration
1-2 years
Public, up to
Ksh 187,200
Private, up to
Ksh 249,800
Job market
Moderate

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode
Full-time, Part-time
Attachment
0 months
Average class
25 students
Award
Masters

What you study

10 subjects
  • Management Theory and Practice
  • Managerial Economics
  • Financial Management
  • Strategic Management
  • Business Research Methods
  • Marketing Management
  • Human Resource Management
  • Management Information Systems
  • Corporate Governance
  • Project Management

Modules

12 in the programme

  • Public Administration Theory

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Theories of public administration from classical to contemporary approaches and their application in Kenya's governance system

  • Public Policy Analysis and Formulation

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Policy-making processes, policy analysis tools, and policy formulation for effective government decision-making

  • Public Financial Management

    Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore

    Public budgeting, public expenditure management, and financial accountability under Kenya's Public Finance Management Act

  • Organizational Behaviour in the Public Sector

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Understanding behaviour in public organisations including motivation, leadership, and organisational culture

  • Human Resource Management in Public Service

    Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore

    Managing people in the public service including recruitment, performance management, and public service values

  • Administrative Law

    Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore

    Legal framework for public administration including constitutional provisions, administrative justice, and judicial review

  • Local Government and Devolution

    Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore

    Structure and functions of devolved government in Kenya, intergovernmental relations, and county public administration

  • Public Sector Reform

    Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore

    Public sector reform processes in Kenya including performance contracting, service delivery improvement, and institutional restructuring

  • Ethics and Accountability in Public Service

    Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore

    Ethical standards, anti-corruption mechanisms, and accountability systems in Kenya's public service

  • Public Service Delivery and Citizen Engagement

    Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore

    Improving public services, citizen-centred approaches, and public participation in governance

  • Research Methods in Public Administration

    Year 4Semester 23 creditsCore

    Research design and methods for public administration and policy research

  • Thesis

    Year 4Semester 36 creditsCore

    Original research on a public administration or policy topic addressing a governance challenge in Kenya

Specialisations

  • Public Sector Reform and Governance

    Specialisation in public sector improvement and governance

  • Public Financial Management

    Specialisation in public budgeting, finance, and accountability

  • Public Policy Analysis

    Focus on policy formulation, analysis, and evaluation

  • Devolution and Local Governance

    Focus on county government administration and intergovernmental relations

  • Human Resource Management in Public Service

    Focus on managing human resources in the public sector

A day as a student

A typical day involves attending case study discussions, working on group projects, analysing financial data, participating in business simulations, networking at industry events, and meeting with supervisors for research project guidance.

The trade offs

In its favour

  • Devolved governance has created administrative positions in all 47 counties, expanding public administration career opportunities
  • Public service offers career stability, pension benefits, and defined career progression pathways
  • Part-time study options allow in-service public servants to upgrade qualifications while continuing employment

Against it

  • Public service recruitment processes can be lengthy and subject to political and budgetary influences
  • Public service salaries, while stable, may be lower than comparable positions in the private sector or international organisations
  • Implementing public policies and reforms in Kenya's complex governance environment can be challenging and slow

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
Public120k to 187k
120k at Chuka University187k at Moi University
Private140k to 250k
140k at KAG East 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

Moi 187.2K, Chuka 120K/yr verified. Daystar 249.8K. KAG East unverified.

HELB offers postgraduate loans. Many employers sponsor MBA studies for high-performing employees. DAAD and other international scholarships are available for economics and business research.

Funding options

  • HELB Postgraduate Loan

    Loan

    Kenyan citizens enrolled in accredited postgraduate programmes

  • Employer Sponsorship

    Sponsorship

    Employees with employer study support policies

  • DAAD Scholarship

    Scholarship

    Postgraduate researchers in partnership with German universities

Scholarships

4 recorded

  • DAAD In-Country Scholarship

    FellowshipKsh 500,000

    Strong academic record in public administration, political science, or governance

  • University of Nairobi Scholarship

    GrantKsh 200,000Kenyan

    Outstanding academic achievement in public administration or related field

  • HELB Postgraduate Loan

    LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan

    Kenyan citizen enrolled in accredited Masters programme

  • Government Training Support

    SponsorshipKsh 300,000Kenyan

    Public servants sponsored by their ministries or departments

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade
Upper Second Class Honours or equivalent in Public Administration, Political Science, Sociology, Law, Economics, or a related field
Alternative entry
Candidates with Lower Second Class Honours may be admitted with at least two years of professional experience in public service, governance, or a related field

  • Public Administration

    Upper Second Class

  • Political Science

    Upper Second Class

  • Sociology

    Upper Second Class

How you are assessed

5 components

  • Continuous Assessment Tests

    Cat20% of the mark

    Tests on public administration theory, policy analysis, and governance

  • Policy Briefs and Case Studies

    Project25% of the mark

    Written policy analyses and case study reports on public administration issues

  • End of Semester Examinations

    Exam20% of the mark

    Formal written examinations at the end of each taught semester

  • Thesis

    Research25% of the mark

    Original research on a public administration or policy topic examined by oral defence

  • Public Sector Attachment

    Practicum10% of the mark

    Supervised practical experience in a government ministry, county government, or state corporation

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Business programmes may also be accredited by the Kenya Institute of Management (KIM) or international bodies like AMBA.

Accredited by

  • Kenya Institute of Management

    Professional

    Professional body for managers in Kenya relevant for public administration professionals

  • Commission for University Education

    NationalRequired

    All university degree programmes in Kenya must be accredited by CUE

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

  • Governance Specialist

    Medium demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 250,000

    Advises on governance and public administration for international organisations, development partners, or consulting firms

  • Policy Analyst

    Medium demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 200,000

    Analyses policies and provides policy advice for government ministries, KIPPRA, parliamentary committees, or development organisations

  • Public Administrator

    High demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 180,000

    Manages public programmes and services in national government ministries, county governments, or state corporations

  • Programme Officer - Governance

    Medium demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 180,000

    Manages governance and public sector programmes for UNDP, development partners, or governance-focused NGOs

  • County Administrator

    High demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 150,000

    Serves in administrative positions in county governments supporting service delivery and governance

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as business analysts, financial managers, management consultants, project managers, and corporate executives in Kenya's business sector.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Related courses

Keep this

Fees and entry marks for Master of Arts in Public Administration & Policy are restated every intake. Save it and the app keeps this version, so you can see what changed when it does.

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