Business

Master of Business Administration (Conservation)

The Master of Business Administration (Conservation) is a specialised postgraduate programme that combines business management principles with conservation and natural resource management. The programme equips conservation professionals with business skills and business professionals with conservation knowledge for leadership roles in the conservation sector.

Core areas include strategic management, financial management, conservation biology, natural resource management, environmental governance, wildlife economics, community conservation, sustainable tourism, and research methods. Students engage with both business frameworks and conservation science applications.

The programme is offered by Laikipia University, a public university located in the Laikipia Plateau, a region renowned for wildlife conservation and community conservancies. The programme was accredited by CUE in 2013 and is designed to address the need for business-savvy conservation leaders in Kenya and Africa.

Students develop competencies in conservation management, business strategy, financial analysis, environmental governance, community engagement, and research. The programme includes coursework, examinations, project or thesis, and oral defence.

Laikipia University (public) charges approximately KES 100,000–140,000/year for master's programmes. Entry requires a Bachelor's degree with at least Second Class Honours (Upper Division) or Lower Second with two years of relevant work experience.

Graduates pursue careers as conservation managers, wildlife programme managers, environmental consultants, NGO directors, and sustainable tourism managers in conservation organisations, NGOs, government, and private sector.

Skills Required

Conservation Management and Planning
Business Strategy and Management
Financial Management for Conservation
Natural Resource Management
Environmental Governance and Policy
Wildlife Economics and Valuation
Community Conservation and Engagement
Sustainable Tourism Management
Project Management for Conservation
Research Methods in Conservation

Key Subjects

Strategic Management for Conservation
Financial Management for Conservation Organisations
Conservation Biology and Wildlife Management
Natural Resource Management and Economics
Environmental Governance and Policy
Wildlife Economics and Valuation
Community Conservation and Engagement
Sustainable Tourism and Ecotourism
Project Management for Conservation
Research Methods in Conservation

Certifications

IUCN Conservation Certification
AWF Conservation Leadership Certification

Specializations

Wildlife Conservation Management

Focuses on wildlife conservation, wildlife management, protected area management, wildlife economics, and managing and leading wildlife conservation organisations.

Community Conservation

Examines community conservation, community-based conservation, community engagement, conservancy management, and managing and leading community conservation initiatives.

Environmental Governance

Covers environmental governance, environmental policy, conservation law, regulatory compliance, and understanding and applying environmental governance in conservation.

Sustainable Tourism

Focuses on sustainable tourism, ecotourism, wildlife tourism, tourism management, and managing and developing sustainable tourism in conservation areas.

Conservation Finance

Examines conservation finance, funding mechanisms, carbon markets, payment for ecosystem services, and financing conservation initiatives and organisations.

Natural Resource Management

Covers natural resource management, resource economics, sustainable use, resource governance, and managing and conserving natural resources.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 170,800
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

Strategic Management for Conservation
Financial Management for Conservation Organisations
Conservation Biology and Wildlife Management
Natural Resource Management and Economics
Environmental Governance and Policy
Wildlife Economics and Valuation
Community Conservation and Engagement
Sustainable Tourism and Ecotourism
Project Management for Conservation
Research Methods in Conservation

Modules

12 in the programme

Strategic Management for Conservation
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines strategic management, strategy formulation, competitive strategy, conservation strategy, and understanding and developing organisational strategy for conservation.
Financial Management for Conservation Organisations
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers financial analysis, budgeting, fundraising, grant management, and managing finances in conservation organisations and NGOs.
Conservation Biology and Wildlife Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines conservation biology, wildlife management, biodiversity, protected area management, and understanding and applying conservation science.
Natural Resource Management and Economics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers natural resource management, resource economics, sustainable use, resource governance, and managing and conserving natural resources.
Environmental Governance and Policy
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines environmental governance, environmental policy, conservation law, regulatory compliance, and understanding and applying environmental governance.
Wildlife Economics and Valuation
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers wildlife economics, wildlife valuation, economic analysis, cost-benefit analysis, and understanding the economics of wildlife and conservation.
Community Conservation and Engagement
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines community-based conservation, conservancy management, community engagement, and managing and leading community conservation initiatives.
Sustainable Tourism and Ecotourism
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers sustainable tourism, ecotourism, wildlife tourism, tourism management, and managing and developing sustainable tourism in conservation areas.
Research Methods in Conservation
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines research methods, design, data collection, analysis, and conducting research in conservation management, preparing students for their project or thesis.
Project Management for Conservation
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers project management, project planning, project execution, monitoring and evaluation, and managing and delivering conservation projects.
Research Project Proposal
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Preparation of research project or thesis proposal, including research design, literature review, methodology, and proposal presentation.
Research Project or Thesis
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research project or thesis on a conservation management topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Wildlife Conservation Management
Focuses on wildlife conservation, wildlife management, protected area management, wildlife economics, and managing and leading wildlife conservation organisations.
Community Conservation
Examines community conservation, community-based conservation, community engagement, conservancy management, and managing and leading community conservation initiatives.
Environmental Governance
Covers environmental governance, environmental policy, conservation law, regulatory compliance, and understanding and applying environmental governance in conservation.
Sustainable Tourism
Focuses on sustainable tourism, ecotourism, wildlife tourism, tourism management, and managing and developing sustainable tourism in conservation areas.
Conservation Finance
Examines conservation finance, funding mechanisms, carbon markets, payment for ecosystem services, and financing conservation initiatives and organisations.
Natural Resource Management
Covers natural resource management, resource economics, sustainable use, resource governance, and managing and conserving natural resources.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MBA (Conservation) programme at Laikipia University combines lectures, case studies, field visits, and research. Sessions cover strategic management, financial management, conservation biology, and environmental governance. Strategic management sessions examine strategy formulation, competitive strategy, conservation strategy, and understanding and developing organisational strategy for conservation. Financial management sessions cover financial analysis, budgeting, fundraising, grant management, and managing finances in conservation organisations. Conservation biology sessions examine wildlife management, biodiversity, protected area management, and understanding and applying conservation science. Natural resource management sessions cover resource economics, sustainable use, resource governance, and managing and conserving natural resources. Environmental governance sessions examine environmental policy, conservation law, regulatory compliance, and understanding and applying environmental governance. Wildlife economics sessions cover wildlife valuation, economic analysis, cost-benefit analysis, and understanding the economics of wildlife and conservation. Community conservation sessions examine community-based conservation, conservancy management, community engagement, and managing and leading community conservation. Sustainable tourism sessions cover ecotourism, wildlife tourism, tourism management, and managing and developing sustainable tourism. Research methods sessions prepare students for their project or thesis, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. Field visits to nearby conservancies, national parks, and community conservation areas provide practical exposure. Guest lectures from conservation leaders, NGO directors, and wildlife managers provide real-world insights. The programme culminates in a research project or thesis on a conservation management topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme uniquely combines business management with conservation, addressing the need for business-savvy conservation leaders in Kenya and Africa.
Laikipia University is located in the Laikipia Plateau, surrounded by wildlife conservancies and community conservation areas, providing practical exposure.
Kenya's conservation sector, wildlife tourism, community conservancies, and environmental NGOs create moderate demand for qualified conservation management professionals.
Career opportunities across conservation organisations, NGOs, government, tourism, environmental consulting, and community development.

Against it

Programme is only offered at Laikipia University (public), providing no alternative institution choice.
Exact fee structure is not easily accessible online, requiring prospective students to contact the university directly.
Conservation sector salaries may be lower than traditional business sectors, particularly in NGOs and community organisations.
Programme may be perceived as niche, limiting recognition compared to a general MBA in some business circles.

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

Public100k to 171k

100k at Laikipia 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

Laikipia/Maseno/MKU unverified. Strathmore 350,000x2=700,000/yr verified.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. AWF supports conservation professionals in Africa. WWF offers conservation fellowships. The programme's conservation focus attracts conservation organisation, donor, and NGO funding.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
AWF Conservation Funding
WWF Conservation Fellowship

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate conservation management studies at recognised universities.
AWF Conservation Funding
GrantKsh 250,000
African Wildlife Foundation supports conservation professionals in Africa, providing funding for postgraduate study.
WWF Conservation Fellowship
FellowshipKsh 200,000
WWF offers conservation fellowships for conservation professionals pursuing postgraduate study in conservation management.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: Laikipia University offers MBA (Conservation) through its School of Business. The programme runs for 2 years with full-time and part-time modes. Entry requires a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field with at least Second Class Honours (Upper Division) or Lower Second with two years of relevant work experience. The programme is designed for conservation professionals, wildlife managers, NGO staff, and those seeking to combine business skills with conservation. Contact Laikipia 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, case studies, conservation project proposals, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination40% of the mark
Written examinations covering strategic management, financial management, conservation biology, and environmental governance.
Field Project and Case Study
Practical30% of the mark
Practical assessment through field project, conservation case study analysis, field visits, and producing conservation management reports.
Research Project or Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research project or thesis on a conservation 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). Laikipia University offers MBA (Conservation), accredited in 2013, through its School of Business. The programme is located in the Laikipia Plateau, a region renowned for wildlife conservation and community conservancies. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate business administration with conservation specialisation.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE in 2013. Laikipia University offers MBA (Conservation) through its School of Business. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate business administration with conservation specialisation.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Conservation Manager
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages conservation programmes, overseeing conservation projects, wildlife management, community engagement, and ensuring effective conservation outcomes.
Wildlife Programme Manager
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Manages wildlife programmes, overseeing wildlife conservation, research, monitoring, and ensuring effective wildlife conservation and management.
Environmental Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Consults on environmental matters, overseeing advisory, assessment, compliance, and providing environmental expertise and solutions to clients.
NGO Programme Director
Low demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 600,000
Directs NGO programmes, overseeing programme strategy, operations, fundraising, and ensuring effective programme delivery and organisational sustainability.
Sustainable Tourism Manager
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages sustainable tourism, overseeing ecotourism, wildlife tourism, community tourism, and ensuring sustainable tourism development and management.
Conservancy Manager
Moderate demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 450,000
Manages community conservancies, overseeing conservancy operations, wildlife management, community engagement, and ensuring effective conservancy management.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as conservation managers, wildlife programme managers, environmental consultants, and NGO directors in conservation organisations, NGOs, and government.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

GIS Software (ArcGIS)
SoftwarePrimary
Geographic Information System software for conservation mapping, spatial analysis, wildlife tracking, and managing and analysing conservation spatial data.
Microsoft Excel
Software
Spreadsheet software for financial analysis, budgeting, conservation data analysis, and managing conservation organisation finances and data.
SPSS
Software
Statistical software for conservation research, survey analysis, and quantitative data analysis in conservation and environmental research.
R Statistical Software
Software
Statistical computing software for conservation research, data analysis, ecological modelling, and quantitative analysis in conservation science.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

MBA Conservation is just about wildlife.
The programme combines business management with conservation, covering finance, strategy, governance, community engagement, and sustainable tourism, not just wildlife.
Conservation doesn't need business skills.
Conservation organisations increasingly need business-savvy leaders for financial sustainability, strategic planning, and effective management.
There are no career opportunities in conservation management.
Kenya's conservation sector, community conservancies, wildlife tourism, and environmental NGOs create demand for qualified conservation management professionals.
MBA Conservation is the same as a general MBA.
While grounded in business principles, this programme specifically addresses conservation sector challenges, environmental governance, and wildlife economics.
The programme is only for those working in wildlife.
Graduates work across conservation organisations, NGOs, government, tourism, environmental consulting, and community development.
Conservation is not a viable career path in Kenya.
Kenya's wildlife tourism contributes significantly to GDP, and conservation is a growing sector with diverse career opportunities.