Environmental Science

Master of Arts (Water Resources Management)

The Master of Arts in Water Resources Management at the University of Nairobi is a postgraduate research programme that examines water resource systems, water governance, and sustainable water management. The programme prepares graduates for careers in water resource planning, water policy, environmental management, research, and academia.

The curriculum covers hydrology, water resource assessment, water governance and policy, watershed management, water and sanitation, water conflict management, climate change and water resources, GIS for water resource analysis, and research methods. Students develop analytical skills for understanding water resource systems, management challenges, and policy frameworks.

Admission requires a bachelor's degree with at least a Lower Second Class Honours in geography, environmental science, hydrology, water resource management, 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 water resource management topics relevant to Kenya and East Africa.

Career prospects include roles in water resource planning, water policy development, watershed management, water supply and sanitation, environmental consultancy, research, and academia. Graduates work in water authorities, government ministries, NGOs, international development organisations, research institutions, and universities.

The programme addresses Kenya's critical water challenges, including water scarcity, catchment degradation, pollution, competing water demands, and climate change impacts on water resources. With growing national focus on water security, devolved water governance, and the Sustainable Development Goals for water and sanitation, demand for qualified water resource management professionals continues to increase across public and private sectors concerned with sustainable water management.

Skills Required

Water resource assessment
Water governance and policy analysis
Watershed management
Hydrological analysis
GIS for water resource management
Water and sanitation planning
Water conflict management
Climate change and water resources
Research methodology in water management
Water quality assessment

Key Subjects

Hydrology
Water Resource Assessment
Water Governance and Policy
Watershed Management
Water and Sanitation
Water Conflict Management
Climate Change and Water Resources
GIS for Water Resource Analysis
Research Methods in Geography
Water Quality Management

Certifications

Water Resources Authority (WRA) Affiliation
ESRI GIS Certification
International Water Association (IWA) Membership
Geographical Society of Kenya Membership

Specializations

Water Governance and Policy

Focuses on water governance frameworks, water rights, water policy, and institutional arrangements for water resource management.

Watershed and Catchment Management

Examines watershed management, catchment conservation, land-water interactions, and integrated catchment management approaches.

Water Supply and Sanitation

Covers water supply systems, sanitation services, water treatment, and access to safe water in urban and rural contexts.

Water and Climate Change

Focuses on climate change impacts on water resources, adaptation strategies, and climate-resilient water management.

Transboundary Water Management

Examines management of shared water resources, water conflict, cooperation frameworks, and transboundary water governance in East Africa.

Water Economics and Financing

Covers water economics, water pricing, financing water infrastructure, and economic instruments for water resource management.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 295,800
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

Hydrology
Water Resource Assessment
Water Governance and Policy
Watershed Management
Water and Sanitation
Water Conflict Management
Climate Change and Water Resources
GIS for Water Resource Analysis
Research Methods in Geography
Water Quality Management

Modules

11 in the programme

Water Resource Management Theory
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Theoretical foundations of water resource management, including integrated water resource management, water cycles, and management frameworks.
Research Methods in Geography
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Research methodology for geographical and water resource research, including field methods, statistical analysis, and academic writing.
Hydrology and Water Assessment
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Hydrological processes, water resource assessment methods, hydrological data analysis, and water balance studies.
Water Governance and Policy
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Water governance frameworks, water policy, water rights, institutional arrangements, and water law in Kenya and East Africa.
Watershed Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Watershed management principles, catchment conservation, land-water interactions, and integrated catchment management approaches.
GIS for Water Resource Analysis
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Application of GIS and remote sensing for watershed mapping, water resource assessment, and spatial water management planning.
Water and Sanitation
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Water supply systems, sanitation services, water treatment, and access to safe water in urban and rural contexts in Kenya.
Water Conflict Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsElective
Water conflict analysis, transboundary water management, dispute resolution, and cooperation frameworks for shared water resources.
Climate Change and Water Resources
Year 2Semester 33 creditsElective
Climate change impacts on water resources, adaptation strategies, and climate-resilient water management in East Africa.
Water Economics and Financing
Year 2Semester 33 creditsElective
Water economics, water pricing, financing water infrastructure, and economic instruments for water resource management.
Thesis / Research Project
Year 2Semester 412 creditsCore
Independent research thesis on a water resource management topic, conducted under faculty supervision and assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Water Governance and Policy
Focuses on water governance frameworks, water rights, water policy, and institutional arrangements for water resource management.
Watershed and Catchment Management
Examines watershed management, catchment conservation, land-water interactions, and integrated catchment management approaches.
Water Supply and Sanitation
Covers water supply systems, sanitation services, water treatment, and access to safe water in urban and rural contexts.
Water and Climate Change
Focuses on climate change impacts on water resources, adaptation strategies, and climate-resilient water management.
Transboundary Water Management
Examines management of shared water resources, water conflict, cooperation frameworks, and transboundary water governance in East Africa.
Water Economics and Financing
Covers water economics, water pricing, financing water infrastructure, and economic instruments for water resource management.

A day as a student

A typical day centres on independent research and fieldwork. Mornings involve literature review, hydrological data processing, or meetings with thesis supervisors. Students work with water data from WRA, meteorological departments, and international water databases, using GIS software and statistical tools to analyse water resource patterns. Fieldwork is a significant component, with visits to watersheds, water treatment facilities, catchment areas, and community water projects 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 water resource databases.

The trade offs

In its favour

High career demand driven by Kenya's water security challenges and national water management priorities.
Relevant to Kenya's devolved water governance and international water management commitments.
Affordable tuition at KES 281,000 total for the MA programme.
Research-based format allows focus on specific water management 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.
Fieldwork in remote catchment areas requires travel and additional costs not included in tuition.
Niche specialisation within geography may limit career options compared to dedicated water engineering programmes.

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 181 environmental science courses

Public187k to 296k

187k at Moi University296k at Kenyatta 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 KES 295,800/yr (ku.ac.ke). Moi ~KES 187,200/yr (worldscholarshipforum). Private unverified.

HELB offers postgraduate loans for Kenyan students. AMCOW may provide research grants for water resource research in Africa. UoN may offer institutional graduate scholarships based on merit. UN Water and IWA may offer research collaboration opportunities.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
AMCOW 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.
AMCOW Research Grant
ScholarshipKsh 350,000
AMCOW may provide research grants for water resource research in Africa, particularly for projects aligned with African water management 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, environmental science, hydrology, water engineering, agriculture, 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 a water resource management 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 Water Association (IWA)
Professional alignment
Global water professional association. Graduates may access IWA professional networks, conferences, and professional development opportunities.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Water Resource Planner
High demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 270,000
Plans water resource development, manages catchment areas, and develops water management plans for water authorities and government.
Water Policy Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 280,000
Analyses water policy, develops governance frameworks, and advises on water resource legislation for government and international organisations.
WASH Specialist
High demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 260,000
Designs and implements water, sanitation, and hygiene programmes for NGOs, UN agencies, and development organisations.
Research Officer
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 230,000
Conducts water resource and environmental research for research institutions, universities, and international water organisations.
University Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 250,000
Teaches water resource management, geography, or environmental science at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, conducts research, and supervises student projects.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers in water resource planning, water policy development, watershed management, water supply and sanitation, environmental consultancy, research, and academia across water authorities, government, and international organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

ArcGIS
Gis softwarePrimary
GIS software for watershed mapping, water resource assessment, and spatial water management planning.
R Studio
Statistical softwarePrimary
Statistical computing environment for hydrological data analysis, water resource modelling, and research data processing.
QGIS
Gis software
Open-source GIS software for spatial analysis, catchment mapping, and water resource data processing.
SWAT
Hydrological model
Soil and Water Assessment Tool for hydrological modelling, watershed simulation, and water resource impact assessment.
SPSS
Statistical software
Statistical analysis software for quantitative water resource research and survey data analysis.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Water resource management is just about water supply.
Water resource management encompasses governance, policy, ecology, economics, conflict management, and climate adaptation, not only water supply.
Water management is only for engineers.
Water management requires diverse expertise including geography, policy, economics, social science, and environmental science, not only engineering.
Kenya has enough water resources.
Kenya is classified as water-scarce, with uneven distribution, recurring droughts, and growing demand creating significant water management challenges.
Water resource management has no career prospects.
Water security is a national priority, with growing demand for water professionals in government, NGOs, international organisations, and private sector.
Water conflicts are only about international rivers.
Water conflicts occur at local, national, and transboundary levels, involving competing users, land use, and resource allocation decisions.
Water research is purely desk-based.
Water research involves extensive fieldwork, water sampling, community surveys, catchment assessment, and practical engagement with water management challenges.