Business

Master of Business Administration Human Resource Management

The Master of Business Administration in Human Resource Management provides advanced training in HR management, strategic HR, organisational development, labour relations, and talent management. Students learn HR strategy, recruitment and selection, performance management, employee relations, and HR analytics. The programme is designed for HR professionals and managers seeking advanced HR management qualifications.

Students develop advanced competencies in strategic HR management, talent management, organisational development, labour relations, HR analytics, and leadership. The curriculum covers HR management, strategic HR, organisational behaviour, labour law and relations, talent management, research methods, and a dissertation. Practical skills are developed through case studies, seminars, and industry engagement.

HR management expertise is essential for Kenya's growing business sector. Corporations, businesses, and organisations require trained HR professionals with advanced qualifications. Kenya's evolving labour market and regulatory environment create demand for HR expertise. The programme addresses the demand for advanced HR management training.

The programme combines classroom lectures with case studies, seminars, guest speakers, and research. Students study HR concepts, analyse HR cases, examine labour relations, and conduct research. Teaching methods include lectures, case studies, seminars, report presentations, and guest speakers. The programme is offered in full-time, part-time, and distance learning modes.

Graduates find employment as HR managers, HR directors, talent managers, organisational development consultants, or labour relations specialists in corporations, businesses, and organisations across sectors. The MBA supports careers in HR leadership, talent management, and organisational development.

This programme is ideal for HR professionals and managers with at least three years of managerial experience seeking advanced HR management qualifications. The programme provides advanced skills for HR leadership and talent management roles.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 301,125
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, Distance Learning
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 30 students
Award: Master

What you study

10 subjects

Strategic Human Resource Management
Talent Management and Development
Organisational Behaviour and Development
Labour Law and Industrial Relations
Performance Management
Compensation and Benefits
HR Analytics
Research Methods
Leadership and Change Management
Dissertation Research

Modules

8 in the programme

Strategic Human Resource Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Strategic HR management covering HR strategy, strategic alignment, HR's role in organisational strategy, and strategic HR frameworks.
Talent Management and Development
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Talent management covering recruitment and selection, talent development, succession planning, career management, and building talent pipelines.
Organisational Behaviour and Development
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Organisational behaviour covering individual and group behaviour, organisational culture, and organisational development covering OD interventions and change.
Labour Law and Industrial Relations
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Labour law covering Kenyan employment law, labour relations, collective bargaining, dispute resolution, and industrial relations practice.
Performance Management and Compensation
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Performance management covering performance appraisal, feedback, and compensation covering compensation design, benefits, and total rewards strategy.
HR Analytics and Research Methods
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
HR analytics covering workforce analytics, HR metrics, data-driven HR, and research methods for HR research.
Leadership and Change Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Leadership covering leadership theory and practice, and change management covering organisational change, change models, and leading change initiatives.
Dissertation
Year 2Semester 16 creditsCore
A research dissertation on an HR management topic, demonstrating research competence and contributing to HR management knowledge and practice.

Specialisations

Talent Management
Focus on talent acquisition, development, succession planning, and building talent pipelines for organisational success.
Organisational Development
Focus on OD interventions, change management, culture transformation, and organisational effectiveness.
Labour Relations
Focus on labour law, collective bargaining, dispute resolution, and industrial relations practice.

A day as a student

A typical day combines morning lectures on strategic HR or organisational behaviour with afternoon case study discussions and seminars. Students analyse HR cases, examine labour relations issues, and engage with guest speakers from industry. The programme emphasises practical application through case studies, report presentations, and industry engagement. Research work involves analysing HR management issues and developing evidence-based recommendations.

The trade offs

In its favour

HR expertise is in high demand as organisations increasingly recognise the strategic importance of human capital.
Offered in full-time, part-time, and distance learning modes, providing flexibility for working professionals.
Aligns with IHRM Kenya professional standards, supporting professional certification.

Against it

The programme is offered at only one university with this specific HR management MBA focus.
Total programme cost of approximately KES 461,535 is significant.
Requires managerial experience, which may exclude recent graduates.

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

Public301k to 301k

301k at University of Nairobi301k at University of Nairobi

Private231k to 700k

231k at KCA 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 MBA 602,250/2yr (kenyaeducationguide). KCA MBA 461,535/2yr (KCA PDF). Strathmore 350K/sem (zangcash).

HELB loans are available for eligible Kenyan students. KCA University may offer institutional scholarships for qualifying students. Corporate sponsorships may be available through employer programmes.

Funding options

HELB Loan

Scholarships

1 recorded

HELB Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students enrolled in master's programmes at chartered universities

Getting in

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

What you need

Alternative entry: Bachelor's degree (Lower Second Class honours) from a recognised institution, or relevant managerial experience of at least 3 years. Pass degree holders with 10+ years experience may be admitted after passing an aptitude test.

How you are assessed

3 components

Coursework and Case Studies
Written examination40% of the mark
Coursework assessments, case study analyses, and examinations evaluating understanding of HR management concepts.
Seminars and Presentations
Project30% of the mark
Seminar presentations, group projects, and report presentations evaluating practical HR management skills.
Dissertation
Project30% of the mark
A research dissertation demonstrating research competence in HR management.

Accreditation

KCA University is chartered by the Commission for University Education (CUE). The MBA programme is accredited by CUE.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
KCA University is chartered by CUE. MBA programme accredited by CUE.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

4 roles

HR Manager
High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 400,000
Manages HR functions in corporations and organisations, overseeing recruitment, performance, compensation, and employee relations.
HR Director
Moderate demand
Leads HR strategy and operations as HR director, providing strategic HR leadership and managing HR teams and functions.
Talent Manager
Moderate demand
Manages talent acquisition, development, and retention programmes, building talent pipelines and supporting career development.
Organisational Development Consultant
Moderate demand
Consults on organisational development, change management, and culture transformation in corporations and organisations.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates find employment as HR managers, HR directors, talent managers, and organisational development consultants in corporations and businesses across sectors, with opportunities for senior HR leadership roles.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Industry links

Common misconceptions

HR management is just about hiring and firing.
Modern HR management covers strategic HR, talent management, organisational development, labour relations, HR analytics, and change management.
An MBA in HR is less valuable than other MBA specialisations.
HR is a critical function in every organisation, and HR expertise is in high demand as organisations recognise the strategic importance of human capital.
HR doesn't need data or analytics skills.
Modern HR requires analytics skills for data-driven decision-making in recruitment, performance, compensation, and workforce planning.
You need an HR undergraduate degree to do an MBA in HR.
MBA programmes accept graduates from various fields, with managerial experience often more important than the undergraduate specialisation.