Social Sciences

Master of Arts (Urban Geography)

The Master of Arts in Urban Geography at the University of Nairobi is a postgraduate research programme that examines urban systems, city structures, and the spatial dynamics of urbanisation. The programme prepares graduates for careers in urban planning, city management, research, policy development, and academia.

The curriculum covers urban geography theory, urban systems and hierarchies, urban land use, urbanisation in developing countries, urban housing, urban informality, urban environmental issues, GIS for urban analysis, and research methods. Students develop analytical skills for understanding spatial patterns of urban development, urban challenges, and city planning processes.

Admission requires a bachelor's degree with at least a Lower Second Class Honours in geography, urban planning, or a related discipline from the University of Nairobi or a recognised institution. A Pass degree with a relevant postgraduate diploma is also acceptable. The programme is offered by research and thesis.

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) and delivered through the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies at the University of Nairobi. The programme is research-based, allowing students to focus on specific urban geography topics relevant to Kenya and East Africa.

Career prospects include roles in urban planning, city management, housing policy, urban development, research, consultancy, and academia. Graduates work in government planning ministries, county governments, urban development authorities, research institutions, consulting firms, and international development organisations.

The programme addresses Kenya's rapid urbanisation challenges, with the country experiencing significant rural-urban migration, growth of informal settlements, urban infrastructure deficits, and urban environmental degradation. With devolved governance placing planning responsibilities at the county level, demand for qualified urban geographers continues to grow in both public and private sectors concerned with sustainable urban development and city management.

Skills Required

Urban spatial analysis
Urban land use planning
Urbanisation pattern analysis
GIS for urban analysis
Urban housing and informality analysis
Urban environmental assessment
Urban systems and hierarchy analysis
Urban policy analysis
Research methodology in geography
Urban data analysis

Key Subjects

Urban Geography Theory
Urban Systems and Hierarchies
Urban Land Use
Urbanisation in Developing Countries
Urban Housing
Urban Informality
Urban Environmental Issues
GIS for Urban Analysis
Research Methods in Geography
Urban Policy

Certifications

ISOCARP Membership
ESRI GIS Certification
Geographical Society of Kenya Membership
UN-Habitat Urban Planning Certification

Specializations

Urban Land Use and Planning

Focuses on urban land use patterns, land use change, zoning, and spatial planning in Kenyan and East African cities.

Urbanisation and Demographic Change

Examines urbanisation processes, rural-urban migration, demographic transitions, and urban population dynamics.

Urban Housing and Informality

Covers housing markets, informal settlements, slum upgrading, and housing policy in developing country cities.

Urban Environmental Management

Focuses on urban environmental challenges including pollution, waste management, green spaces, and urban sustainability.

Urban Economic Geography

Examines urban economic structure, business districts, informal economies, and the spatial economy of cities.

Smart Cities and Urban Technology

Covers smart city concepts, urban technology, digital urban services, and data-driven urban management.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 216,000
Private, up to: Ksh 220,800
Job market: High

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: 10 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Urban Geography Theory
Urban Systems and Hierarchies
Urban Land Use
Urbanisation in Developing Countries
Urban Housing
Urban Informality
Urban Environmental Issues
GIS for Urban Analysis
Research Methods in Geography
Urban Policy

Modules

11 in the programme

Urban Geography Theory
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Theoretical foundations of urban geography, including urban models, city systems, and spatial theories of urban development.
Research Methods in Geography
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Research methodology for geographical and urban research, including qualitative and quantitative methods, field techniques, and academic writing.
Urbanisation in Developing Countries
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Urbanisation processes in developing countries, including rural-urban migration, urban growth, and demographic transitions in Africa.
Urban Land Use and Spatial Structure
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Urban land use patterns, land use models, zoning, and the spatial structure of cities in Kenya and East Africa.
Urban Housing and Informality
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Housing markets, informal settlements, slum formation, housing policy, and upgrading strategies in developing country cities.
GIS for Urban Analysis
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Application of GIS and remote sensing for urban land use mapping, urban growth analysis, and spatial urban planning.
Urban Environmental Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Urban environmental challenges including pollution, waste management, urban green spaces, and environmental sustainability in cities.
Urban Economic Geography
Year 1Semester 23 creditsElective
Economic structure of cities, business districts, informal economies, and the spatial economy of urban areas.
Urban Policy and Governance
Year 2Semester 33 creditsElective
Urban policy frameworks, city governance, devolved urban management, and urban development policy in Kenya.
Smart Cities and Urban Technology
Year 2Semester 33 creditsElective
Smart city concepts, urban technology applications, digital urban services, and data-driven urban management.
Thesis / Research Project
Year 2Semester 412 creditsCore
Independent research thesis on an urban geography topic, conducted under faculty supervision and assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Urban Land Use and Planning
Focuses on urban land use patterns, land use change, zoning, and spatial planning in Kenyan and East African cities.
Urbanisation and Demographic Change
Examines urbanisation processes, rural-urban migration, demographic transitions, and urban population dynamics.
Urban Housing and Informality
Covers housing markets, informal settlements, slum upgrading, and housing policy in developing country cities.
Urban Environmental Management
Focuses on urban environmental challenges including pollution, waste management, green spaces, and urban sustainability.
Urban Economic Geography
Examines urban economic structure, business districts, informal economies, and the spatial economy of cities.
Smart Cities and Urban Technology
Covers smart city concepts, urban technology, digital urban services, and data-driven urban management.

A day as a student

A typical day centres on independent research and fieldwork. Mornings involve literature review, urban data processing, or meetings with thesis supervisors. Students work with urban data from KNBS, county governments, and satellite imagery, using GIS software and statistical tools to analyse urban patterns. Fieldwork is a significant component, with visits to neighbourhoods, informal settlements, urban renewal projects, and city planning offices for data collection. The programme is research-based, so most time is spent on independent study, field research, and thesis writing, with access to the university library, GIS laboratory, and online urban databases.

The trade offs

In its favour

High career demand driven by Kenya's rapid urbanisation and devolved urban governance.
Access to Nairobi as a living laboratory for urban geography research, with UN-Habitat headquarters.
Affordable tuition at KES 281,000 total for the MA programme.
Research-based format allows focus on specific urban challenges relevant to Kenya.

Against it

Only offered at one institution, limiting choice for prospective students.
Research-based format may lack structured coursework for students preferring taught programmes.
Urban fieldwork in informal settlements may present safety and access challenges.
Niche specialisation within geography may limit career options compared to dedicated urban planning degrees.

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 216k

187k at Moi University216k at Kenyatta University

Private156k to 221k

156k at KCA University221k 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

KU MA 216K/yr (ku.ac.ke). Moi 187.2K/yr. KCA ~155.8K. Daystar ~221K/yr.

HELB offers postgraduate loans for Kenyan students. UN-Habitat, headquartered in Nairobi, may provide research opportunities for urban research. UoN may offer institutional graduate scholarships based on merit.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
UN-Habitat Research Grants
UoN Graduate Scholarships

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan citizens pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities. Applicants must meet HELB eligibility criteria.
UN-Habitat Research Grant
ScholarshipKsh 300,000
UN-Habitat, headquartered in Nairobi, may provide research opportunities for urban research aligned with UN-Habitat priorities.
UoN Graduate Scholarship
ScholarshipKsh 140,500Kenyan
The University of Nairobi may offer institutional graduate scholarships based on academic merit. Contact the School of Graduate Studies for details.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: The programme is open to graduates from geography, urban planning, environmental studies, sociology, and related disciplines. The programme is research-based, offered full-time and part-time at the University of Nairobi, Department of Geography and Environmental Studies.

How you are assessed

4 components

Research Proposal Defence
Practical100% of the mark
Oral defence of the research proposal before a faculty committee, demonstrating the feasibility and academic merit of the proposed research.
Thesis / Research Project
Project100% of the mark
Independent research thesis on an urban geography topic, assessed through written submission and oral defence.
Supervisory Assessment
Coursework100% of the mark
Ongoing assessment by thesis supervisors of research progress, methodology, and academic rigour throughout the programme.
Seminar Presentations
Practical100% of the mark
Research seminar presentations to peers and faculty, demonstrating research progress and receiving feedback on thesis work.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE), Kenya's statutory body for university quality assurance. The University of Nairobi is a CUE-accredited public university.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Statutory accreditation required for all university programmes in Kenya. The University of Nairobi is a CUE-accredited public university.
International Urban Planning and Design Association (ISOCARP)
Professional alignment
Global urban planning association. Graduates may access ISOCARP professional networks, conferences, and professional development opportunities.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Urban Planner
High demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 280,000
Plans urban development, manages land use, and develops urban policy for county governments and planning departments.
Urban Research Officer
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 240,000
Conducts urban research on housing, informality, and urban development for research institutions and international organisations.
Housing Policy Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 260,000
Analyses housing policy, informal settlement upgrading, and affordable housing for government and development organisations.
Urban Development Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 300,000
Provides consultancy on urban development projects, city planning, and urban management for consulting firms and international organisations.
University Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 250,000
Teaches urban geography, geography, or urban planning at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, conducts research, and supervises student projects.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers in urban planning, city management, housing policy, urban development, research, consultancy, and academia across government, county governments, and international organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

ArcGIS
Gis softwarePrimary
GIS software for urban land use mapping, urban growth analysis, and spatial urban planning.
QGIS
Gis softwarePrimary
Open-source GIS software for urban spatial analysis, neighbourhood mapping, and geographic data processing.
R Studio
Statistical software
Statistical computing environment for urban data analysis, demographic modelling, and research data processing.
Google Earth Engine
Remote sensing platform
Cloud-based platform for satellite imagery analysis of urban growth, land use change, and urban sprawl monitoring.
SPSS
Statistical software
Statistical analysis software for quantitative urban geography research and survey data analysis.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Urban geography is just about city maps.
Urban geography examines spatial patterns of urban development, social processes, economic structures, and environmental challenges in cities.
Urban geography is the same as urban planning.
Urban geography focuses on understanding and analysing urban patterns and processes, while urban planning focuses on designing and managing urban development.
There is no career demand for urban geographers in Kenya.
Kenya's rapid urbanisation, devolved governance, and urban infrastructure challenges create strong demand for urban geography expertise.
Urban informality is too difficult to study.
Informal settlements are a major focus of urban geography research, with established methods for studying informality and its role in urban systems.
The programme only leads to academic careers.
Graduates work in county governments, planning departments, consulting firms, international development organisations, and NGOs, not only academia.
Urban geography is irrelevant in the digital age.
Digital technology, smart cities, and urban data are emerging areas in urban geography, making it more relevant than ever.