Business

Master of Arts in Valuation & Property Management

The Master of Arts in Valuation and Property Management is a specialised postgraduate programme that develops proficiency in property valuation, property development appraisals, land administration, and property management. The programme equips real estate professionals with skills to make financial and economic decisions in all aspects of property valuation, development, and management.

Core areas include property valuation, property management, real estate finance, property development appraisals, land administration, investment analysis, property law, and research methods. Students engage with both theoretical frameworks and practical valuation and management applications.

The programme is offered by the University of Nairobi through its Faculty of the Built Environment and Design, Department of Real Estate. It is the only course in the Eastern and Southern African region offering this unique combination of postgraduate training in valuation and property management.

Students develop competencies in property valuation, property management, real estate investment analysis, property development appraisals, land administration, and research. The programme includes 16 taught course units and a research project comprising 5 units, offered through coursework, written examinations, and research project.

UoN (public) charges KES 432,000/year for 2 years, with total programme cost of approximately KES 975,000 including other charges. Entry requires a Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline. The programme covers 4 to 6 semesters of 15 weeks each.

Graduates pursue careers as valuation surveyors, property managers, real estate consultants, investment analysts, and land administrators in government, financial institutions, international organisations, private enterprises, and real estate consulting firms.

Skills Required

Property Valuation and Appraisal
Property Management and Administration
Real Estate Finance and Investment Analysis
Property Development Appraisals
Land Administration and Management
Real Estate Market Analysis
Property Law and Conveyancing
Investment and Financial Decision-Making
Research Methods in Real Estate
Real Estate Risk Assessment

Key Subjects

Property Valuation and Appraisal Methods
Property Management and Administration
Real Estate Finance and Investment
Property Development Appraisals
Land Administration and Management
Real Estate Market Analysis
Property Law and Conveyancing
Urban Planning and Development
Research Methods in Real Estate
Real Estate Economics

Certifications

ISK Valuation Surveyor Certification
RICS Chartered Surveyor Certification

Specializations

Property Valuation

Focuses on property valuation, valuation methods, valuation techniques, appraisal, and valuing residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural properties.

Property Management

Examines property management, facility management, estate management, tenant management, and managing and administering real estate properties.

Real Estate Finance and Investment

Covers real estate finance, investment analysis, property investment, portfolio management, and analysing and financing real estate investments.

Property Development

Focuses on property development, development appraisals, feasibility studies, development finance, and appraising and managing property development projects.

Land Administration

Examines land administration, land management, land tenure, land registration, and administering and managing land resources and systems.

Real Estate Research

Covers real estate research, market analysis, property market research, and conducting research and analysis in real estate and property markets.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 487,500
Private, up to: Ksh 700,000
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: 20 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Property Valuation and Appraisal Methods
Property Management and Administration
Real Estate Finance and Investment
Property Development Appraisals
Land Administration and Management
Real Estate Market Analysis
Property Law and Conveyancing
Urban Planning and Development
Research Methods in Real Estate
Real Estate Economics

Modules

12 in the programme

Advanced Property Valuation Methods
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines advanced valuation methods, sales comparison, income capitalisation, cost approach, residual valuation, and valuing residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural properties.
Property Management and Administration
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers property management, facility management, estate management, tenant management, maintenance, and managing and administering real estate properties.
Real Estate Finance and Investment
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines real estate finance, investment analysis, property investment, portfolio management, mortgage finance, and analysing and financing real estate investments.
Property Development Appraisals
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers property development, development appraisals, feasibility studies, development finance, project management, and appraising and managing property development projects.
Land Administration and Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines land administration, land management, land tenure, land registration, land information systems, and administering and managing land resources and systems.
Property Law and Conveyancing
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers property law, conveyancing, land law, property rights, leases, and understanding and applying property law in valuation and management.
Real Estate Market Analysis
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines real estate market analysis, market research, property market trends, supply and demand analysis, and analysing real estate markets.
Research Methods in Real Estate
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers research methods, design, data collection, analysis, and conducting research in real estate and property, preparing students for their research project.
Real Estate Economics
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines real estate economics, urban economics, land economics, property cycles, and understanding economic principles and forces in real estate markets.
Urban Planning and Development
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers urban planning, urban development, land use planning, zoning, development control, and understanding urban planning and development in property context.
Real Estate Risk Assessment
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines real estate risk, risk assessment, risk management, environmental risk, market risk, and assessing and managing risks in real estate investment and property management.
Research Project
Year 2Semester 25 creditsCore
Original research project on a valuation or property management topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Property Valuation
Focuses on property valuation, valuation methods, valuation techniques, appraisal, and valuing residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural properties.
Property Management
Examines property management, facility management, estate management, tenant management, and managing and administering real estate properties.
Real Estate Finance and Investment
Covers real estate finance, investment analysis, property investment, portfolio management, and analysing and financing real estate investments.
Property Development
Focuses on property development, development appraisals, feasibility studies, development finance, and appraising and managing property development projects.
Land Administration
Examines land administration, land management, land tenure, land registration, and administering and managing land resources and systems.
Real Estate Research
Covers real estate research, market analysis, property market research, and conducting research and analysis in real estate and property markets.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MA in Valuation and Property Management programme at UoN combines lectures, practical sessions, fieldwork, and research. Sessions cover property valuation, property management, real estate finance, and property development. Property valuation sessions examine valuation methods, valuation techniques, sales comparison, income capitalisation, cost approach, and valuing residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural properties. Property management sessions cover facility management, estate management, tenant management, maintenance, and managing and administering real estate properties. Real estate finance sessions examine investment analysis, property investment, portfolio management, mortgage finance, and analysing and financing real estate investments. Property development sessions cover development appraisals, feasibility studies, development finance, project management, and appraising and managing property development projects. Land administration sessions examine land administration, land management, land tenure, land registration, and administering and managing land resources and systems. Property law sessions cover conveyancing, land law, property rights, and understanding and applying property law in valuation and management. Market analysis sessions examine real estate market analysis, market research, property market trends, and analysing real estate markets. Research methods sessions prepare students for their research project, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. Practical training includes field visits to properties, valuation exercises, site inspections, and case studies. The programme includes 16 taught course units (11 in Year 1, 5 in Year 2) plus a research project comprising 5 units. Guest lectures from valuers, property managers, real estate developers, and financial institutions provide real-world insights. The programme culminates in a research project on a valuation or property management topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme is unique in Eastern and Southern Africa, the only one offering this combination of valuation and property management training.
Kenya's growing real estate sector, infrastructure development, and land administration needs create moderate demand for qualified professionals.
Career opportunities across government, financial institutions, international organisations, private enterprises, and real estate consulting firms.
Programme combines theoretical coursework with practical valuation exercises, field visits, and site inspections.

Against it

Programme is only offered at UoN (public), providing no alternative institution choice.
Tuition of KES 432,000/year (total ~KES 975,000) may be challenging for self-sponsored students.
Programme requires background in real estate, land economics, or related field, limiting entry for those from other disciplines.
Some career paths may require additional professional certification from ISK or RICS for senior positions.

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 331 business courses

Public488k to 488k

488k at University of Nairobi488k at University of Nairobi

Private119k to 700k

119k at Mount Kenya University700k at Strathmore 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

UoN 975,000/2=487,500/yr incl all charges (recmqs.uonbi.ac.ke). MKU 119,100. Strathmore 700,000.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. UoN offers financial aid for qualifying students. ISK supports professional development for surveyors and valuers in Kenya. The programme's professional focus attracts real estate sector, financial institution, and professional body funding.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
UoN Financial Aid
ISK Professional Development Funding

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate valuation and property management studies at recognised universities.
UoN Financial Aid
ScholarshipKsh 150,000Kenyan
UoN offers financial aid for qualifying students based on merit and need.
ISK Professional Development Funding
GrantKsh 150,000Kenyan
ISK supports professional development for surveyors and valuers in Kenya, providing funding for postgraduate study.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: The programme covers a minimum of 4 semesters and a maximum of 6 semesters of 15 weeks each. It consists of 11 taught course units in Year 1 and 5 course units in Year 2 plus a research project comprising 5 units. The programme is offered mainly through coursework, written examinations, and research project. Intake in September. The programme targets real estate professionals such as valuers, property managers, building surveyors, and land administrators.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, valuation exercises, case studies, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination40% of the mark
Written examinations covering property valuation, property management, real estate finance, and research methods, conducted at end of each semester.
Practical Valuation Exercises
Practical30% of the mark
Practical assessment through valuation exercises, site inspections, field visits, property inspections, and producing valuation reports.
Research Project
Research100% of the mark
Original research project on a valuation or property management 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 Valuation and Property Management (course code B92) through its Department of Real Estate in the Faculty of the Built Environment and Design. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate real estate and property management training. It is the only programme in Eastern and Southern Africa offering this unique combination of valuation and property management training.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. UoN offers MA in Valuation and Property Management (course code B92) through its Department of Real Estate in the Faculty of the Built Environment and Design. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate real estate and property management training. It is the only programme in Eastern and Southern Africa offering this unique combination.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Valuation Surveyor
Moderate demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 600,000
Values properties for various purposes, overseeing valuation, appraisal, assessment, and producing valuation reports for sale, purchase, mortgage, taxation, and compensation.
Property Manager
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages real estate properties, overseeing facility management, tenant management, maintenance, and ensuring properties are well-managed and maintained.
Real Estate Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Consults on real estate matters, overseeing advisory, valuation, development appraisals, and providing real estate advice and solutions to clients.
Investment Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 600,000
Analyses real estate investments, overseeing investment analysis, portfolio management, feasibility studies, and supporting real estate investment decision-making.
Land Administrator
Low demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Administers land resources, overseeing land administration, land management, land registration, and supporting land administration and management.
Property Development Manager
Moderate demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 600,000
Manages property development projects, overseeing development appraisals, feasibility, project management, and delivering property development projects.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as valuation surveyors, property managers, real estate consultants, and investment analysts in government, financial institutions, and real estate consulting firms.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Argus Enterprise
SoftwarePrimary
Real estate valuation and investment analysis software for property valuation, cash flow analysis, investment analysis, and real estate financial modelling.
Microsoft Excel
Software
Spreadsheet software for real estate analysis, valuation calculations, investment modelling, and managing property and valuation data.
GIS Software (ArcGIS)
Software
Geographic Information System software for land administration, spatial analysis, property mapping, and managing and analysing land and property spatial data.
SPSS
Software
Statistical software for real estate research, market analysis, survey analysis, and quantitative data analysis in property and valuation research.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Valuation and property management is just about selling houses.
The programme involves rigorous valuation methods, financial analysis, investment appraisal, land administration, property law, and research, far beyond house sales.
A master's in valuation is unnecessary for a career in real estate.
The master's provides advanced skills in valuation, finance, and management, essential for senior positions in consulting, financial institutions, and government.
The programme is only for those who want to be estate agents.
Graduates pursue careers as valuation surveyors, property managers, investment analysts, land administrators, and consultants across multiple sectors.
There are no career opportunities in valuation in Kenya.
Kenya's growing real estate sector, infrastructure development, and land administration needs create demand for qualified valuation and property management professionals.
Valuation and property management is the same as real estate or land economics.
While related, this programme specifically combines valuation and property management, a unique combination not offered elsewhere in Eastern and Southern Africa.
The programme is widely available at many universities.
UoN is the only university in Eastern and Southern Africa offering this unique combination of postgraduate training in valuation and property management.