Business

Master of Business Administration and Management with IT

The Master of Business Administration and Management with IT is a specialised postgraduate programme that integrates business administration and management principles with information technology. The programme produces graduates who are competent in both managerial practice and technology, addressing the modern workplace demand for professionals who understand business strategy and IT systems.

Core areas include management practice, strategic management, financial management, management information systems, IT project management, e-commerce, network and communication systems, database management, and business research. Students engage with both business frameworks and technology applications.

The programme is closely related to the MBA with Information Technology offered at Kibabii University through its School of Business and Economics. That programme was developed in response to surveys showing that 70% of MBA graduates lacked basic IT skills, making them dependent on IT experts for managing information systems.

Students develop competencies in business management, information systems, IT project management, e-commerce, data management, and research. The programme includes coursework, examinations, thesis, and oral defence over four semesters across two years.

Kibabii University (public) charges KES 166,800 in Year 1 and KES 138,300 in Year 2, totalling KES 305,100 for the full programme. Entry requires a Bachelor's degree with at least Upper Second Class Honours or Lower Second with relevant work experience.

Graduates pursue careers as IT managers, business analysts, project managers, systems managers, e-commerce managers, and technology consultants in organisations requiring both business and technology expertise.

Skills Required

Business Administration and Management Practice
Management Information Systems
IT Project Management
Strategic Management and Planning
Financial Management and Analysis
E-Commerce and Digital Business
Network and Communication Systems
Database Management and Administration
Business Research and Analytics
Technology Strategy and Innovation

Key Subjects

Management Practice and Organisational Behaviour
Strategic Management
Financial Management
Management Information Systems
IT Project Management
E-Commerce Technologies
Network and Communication Systems
Database Management Systems
Web Programming and Development
Business Research Methods

Certifications

PMI Project Management Certification
KIM Management Certification

Specializations

Management Information Systems

Focuses on management information systems, enterprise systems, database management, business intelligence, and managing and developing information systems for organisations.

IT Project Management

Examines IT project management, software project planning, IT project execution, agile methodologies, and managing and delivering IT projects.

E-Commerce and Digital Business

Covers e-commerce, digital business, online platforms, electronic payments, and managing and developing e-commerce and digital business.

Network and Communication Systems

Focuses on network and communication systems, network design, network security, communication technologies, and managing and administering network systems.

Database Management

Examines database management, database design, SQL, database administration, and managing and administering database systems.

Technology Strategy

Covers technology strategy, IT strategy, digital transformation, technology innovation, and managing and developing technology strategy in organisations.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 170,800
Private, up to: Ksh 700,000
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: 20 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Management Practice and Organisational Behaviour
Strategic Management
Financial Management
Management Information Systems
IT Project Management
E-Commerce Technologies
Network and Communication Systems
Database Management Systems
Web Programming and Development
Business Research Methods

Modules

12 in the programme

Management Practice and Organisational Behaviour
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines management practice, organisational behaviour, management principles, leadership, and understanding and applying management principles in organisations.
Operating Systems
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers operating systems, operating system concepts, administration, configuration, and managing and administering operating systems.
Database Management Systems
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines database management, database design, SQL, database administration, and managing and administering database systems.
Human Resource Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers human resource management, talent management, leadership development, and managing and developing human resources.
Object Oriented Analysis and Design
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines object-oriented analysis and design, UML, software design principles, and analysing and designing software systems.
Marketing Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers marketing management, marketing strategy, digital marketing, consumer behaviour, and managing and developing marketing strategy.
Research Methods
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines research methods, design, data collection, analysis, and conducting business and IT research, preparing students for their thesis.
Network and Communication Systems
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers network and communication systems, network design, network security, communication technologies, and managing and administering network systems.
E-Commerce Technologies
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines e-commerce, digital business, online platforms, electronic payments, and managing and developing e-commerce technologies.
Strategic Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers strategic management, strategy formulation, competitive strategy, business strategy, and understanding and developing organisational strategy.
Management Information Systems
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines management information systems, enterprise systems, business intelligence, and managing and developing information systems for organisations.
Thesis Writing
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research thesis on a business and IT topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Management Information Systems
Focuses on management information systems, enterprise systems, database management, business intelligence, and managing and developing information systems for organisations.
IT Project Management
Examines IT project management, software project planning, IT project execution, agile methodologies, and managing and delivering IT projects.
E-Commerce and Digital Business
Covers e-commerce, digital business, online platforms, electronic payments, and managing and developing e-commerce and digital business.
Network and Communication Systems
Focuses on network and communication systems, network design, network security, communication technologies, and managing and administering network systems.
Database Management
Examines database management, database design, SQL, database administration, and managing and administering database systems.
Technology Strategy
Covers technology strategy, IT strategy, digital transformation, technology innovation, and managing and developing technology strategy in organisations.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MBA and Management with IT programme combines lectures, practical sessions, case studies, and research. Sessions cover management practice, strategic management, financial management, management information systems, IT project management, e-commerce, and network systems. Management practice sessions examine organisational behaviour, management principles, leadership, and managing organisations. Strategic management sessions cover strategy formulation, competitive strategy, and developing organisational strategy. Financial management sessions examine financial analysis, corporate finance, investment, and managing finances. Management information systems sessions cover enterprise systems, database management, business intelligence, and managing and developing information systems. IT project management sessions examine project planning, execution, agile methodologies, and managing and delivering IT projects. E-commerce sessions cover online platforms, electronic payments, digital business, and managing and developing e-commerce. Network and communication sessions examine network design, network security, communication technologies, and managing network systems. Database management sessions cover database design, SQL, database administration, and managing database systems. Web programming sessions cover web development, web applications, and developing web technologies. Research methods sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. Practical sessions in computer labs provide hands-on technology experience. Case studies combine business and IT challenges. Guest lectures from IT executives and business leaders provide industry insights. The programme culminates in a research thesis on a business and IT topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme uniquely combines business administration, management, and IT, addressing the workplace gap where managers lack technology competencies.
Graduates are versatile in both management and technology, making them competitive for roles requiring both business and IT expertise.
Kibabii University offers affordable tuition at KES 305,100 total for the full programme, making it accessible.
High demand for IT-savvy business professionals as organisations undergo digital transformation across all sectors.

Against it

Programme is only offered at Kibabii University, providing no alternative institution choice.
Kibabii University is located in Bungoma, which may be inconvenient for students preferring Nairobi-based institutions.
IT modules may require continuous skill updating as technology evolves rapidly.
Programme may not be as widely recognised as a general MBA from more established business schools.

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

Public153k to 171k

153k at Kibabii University171k at Maseno University

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

Kibabai 305,100/2=152,550/yr (2024 PDF). Maseno/MKU unverified. Strathmore 350,000x2=700,000/yr.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. Kibabii University offers bursaries for qualifying students. PMI supports project management professionals globally. The programme's IT focus attracts technology company, professional body, and government ICT funding.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
Kibabii University Bursary
PMI Certification Funding

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate business and IT studies at recognised universities.
Kibabii University Bursary
BursaryKsh 50,000Kenyan
Kibabii University offers bursaries for qualifying postgraduate students demonstrating financial need.
PMI Certification Funding
ScholarshipKsh 150,000
Project Management Institute supports project management professionals pursuing postgraduate study and professional certifications.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: Kibabii University offers the closely related MBA with Information Technology through its School of Business and Economics over 2 years, full-time and part-time. Entry requires a Bachelor's degree with at least Upper Second Class Honours or Lower Second with relevant work experience. The programme is designed for business graduates seeking IT skills and IT graduates seeking business management skills. Contact Kibabii University for specific admission requirements and procedures.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, practical IT exercises, case studies, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination40% of the mark
Written examinations covering management practice, strategic management, management information systems, and IT project management.
Practical IT Projects and Case Studies
Practical30% of the mark
Practical assessment through IT projects, system development exercises, case study analysis, and producing business and IT reports.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on a business and IT 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). Kibabii University offers the closely related MBA with Information Technology through its School of Business and Economics. The programme was developed to address the IT skills gap among MBA graduates. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate business administration and management with information technology.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. Kibabii University offers the closely related MBA with Information Technology through its School of Business and Economics. The programme was developed to address the IT skills gap among MBA graduates. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate business administration and management with information technology.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

IT Manager
High demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 600,000
Manages IT operations, overseeing systems, infrastructure, teams, and ensuring effective and secure IT service delivery.
Business Analyst
High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Analyses business operations and IT needs, overseeing analysis, requirements, process improvement, and providing business and IT insights.
IT Project Manager
High demandKsh 140,000 to Ksh 550,000
Manages IT projects, overseeing planning, execution, teams, budgets, and ensuring successful IT project delivery.
Systems Manager
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages information systems, overseeing systems, databases, applications, and ensuring effective and secure systems operation.
E-Commerce Manager
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages e-commerce operations, overseeing online platforms, digital sales, payments, and ensuring effective e-commerce performance.
Technology Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 600,000
Consults on technology matters, overseeing advisory, analysis, strategy, and providing technology expertise and solutions to clients.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as IT managers, business analysts, project managers, systems managers, and technology consultants in organisations requiring both business and technology expertise.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Microsoft Excel
SoftwarePrimary
Spreadsheet software for financial modelling, business analysis, data analysis, and managing business data and calculations.
SQL Database Tools
Software
Database management tools for database design, queries, administration, and managing and analysing database systems.
Microsoft Project
Software
Project management software for IT project planning, scheduling, tracking, and managing and delivering IT projects.
Visual Studio Code
Software
Code editor for web programming, development, debugging, and developing and managing web applications and technologies.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

This programme is just an IT degree with some business modules.
The programme provides equal weight to business administration, management, and IT, producing graduates versatile in both domains.
You need an IT background to enrol.
The programme is designed for business graduates seeking IT skills and IT graduates seeking business management skills, making it accessible from both backgrounds.
This is the same as a general MBA.
While grounded in business principles, this programme specifically includes IT modules like management information systems, e-commerce, network systems, and database management.
IT skills become outdated quickly, making the programme less valuable.
The programme teaches fundamental IT management principles and frameworks that remain relevant, alongside current technologies providing immediate workplace value.
The programme is only for those wanting IT careers.
Graduates pursue diverse careers in management, consulting, project management, and entrepreneurship, with IT knowledge providing a competitive advantage.
Combining business and IT dilutes both areas.
The programme is designed to complement business management with practical IT skills, addressing a real workplace gap where managers lack technology competencies.