Education

Masters of Education in Comparative Education

The Masters of Education in Comparative Education is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in comparative and international education, educational research, and policy analysis. The programme provides specialised training in comparative education theory, international education systems, educational research, and cross-cultural analysis.

Core areas include comparative education theory, international education systems, educational research, cross-cultural analysis, education policy, globalisation and education, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both theoretical and practical work through coursework, comparative studies, and research.

The programme is offered by the University of Nairobi as a public institution through the Faculty of Education. Moi University offers a related MEd in Comparative Education. Both programmes are available over two years.

Students develop competencies in comparative analysis, international education research, policy analysis, and cross-cultural understanding. The programme includes coursework, examinations, comparative projects, and a supervised research thesis, preparing graduates for comparative education and research roles.

UoN charges approximately KES 280,000 per year while Moi University charges approximately KES 187,200 per year. No private university confirmed offering this exact programme. Entry requires at least an Upper Second Class Honours degree in Education or a related field from a recognised institution.

Graduates pursue careers as comparative education researchers, education policy analysts, international education consultants, curriculum developers, education officers, and lecturers across universities, research institutions, government agencies, NGOs, and international organisations.

Skills Required

Comparative Education Theory and Analysis
International Education Systems Comparison
Educational Research and Policy Analysis
Cross-Cultural Education Studies
Globalisation and Education Analysis
Education Data Collection and Analysis
International Education Policy Evaluation
Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods
Academic Writing and Publication
Thesis Research and Defence

Key Subjects

Comparative Education Theory and Analysis
International Education Systems Comparison
Educational Research and Policy Analysis
Cross-Cultural Education Studies
Globalisation and Education Analysis
Education Data Collection and Analysis
International Education Policy Evaluation
Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods
Academic Writing and Publication
Thesis Research

Certifications

UNESCO IBE Comparative Education Certification
WCCES Professional Membership

Specializations

Comparative Education Systems

Focuses on comparative education systems, covering comparative, education, systems, international, and managing comparative education systems analysis.

International Education Policy

Examines international education policy, covering international, education, policy, analysis, and managing international education policy analysis.

Cross-Cultural Education

Covers cross-cultural education, covering cross-cultural, education, studies, analysis, and managing cross-cultural education studies.

Globalisation and Education

Focuses on globalisation and education, covering globalisation, education, analysis, impact, and managing globalisation and education analysis.

Education in Emergencies

Examines education in emergencies, covering education, emergencies, conflict, crisis, and managing education in emergencies and crisis.

International Development Education

Covers international development education, covering international, development, education, aid, and managing international development education.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 278,300
Private, up to: Ksh 191,050
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: 15 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Comparative Education Theory and Analysis
International Education Systems Comparison
Educational Research and Policy Analysis
Cross-Cultural Education Studies
Globalisation and Education Analysis
Education Data Collection and Analysis
International Education Policy Evaluation
Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods
Academic Writing and Publication
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Comparative Education Theory and Analysis
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines comparative education theory, covering comparative, education, theory, analysis, and managing comparative education theory and analysis.
International Education Systems Comparison
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers international education systems, covering international, education, systems, comparison, and managing international education systems comparison.
Cross-Cultural Education Studies
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines cross-cultural education, covering cross-cultural, education, studies, analysis, and managing cross-cultural education studies.
Globalisation and Education
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers globalisation and education, covering globalisation, education, analysis, impact, and managing globalisation and education analysis.
Education Policy Analysis
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines education policy, covering education, policy, analysis, evaluation, and managing education policy analysis.
International Development Education
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers international development education, covering international, development, education, aid, and managing international development education.
Education in Emergencies and Conflict
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines education in emergencies, covering education, emergencies, conflict, crisis, and managing education in emergencies and conflict.
Research Methods in Education
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers research, methods, education, statistics, and conducting research in education, preparing students for their thesis.
African Education Systems
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines African education systems, covering African, education, systems, development, and managing African education systems analysis.
International Education Assessment
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers international assessment, covering international, education, assessment, PISA, TIMSS, and managing international education assessment.
Education and Sustainable Development Goals
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines education and SDGs, covering education, sustainable, development, goals, and managing education and sustainable development goals.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 212 creditsCore
Original supervised research thesis on a comparative education topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and comparative education knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Comparative Education Systems
Focuses on comparative education systems, covering comparative, education, systems, international, and managing comparative education systems analysis.
International Education Policy
Examines international education policy, covering international, education, policy, analysis, and managing international education policy analysis.
Cross-Cultural Education
Covers cross-cultural education, covering cross-cultural, education, studies, analysis, and managing cross-cultural education studies.
Globalisation and Education
Focuses on globalisation and education, covering globalisation, education, analysis, impact, and managing globalisation and education analysis.
Education in Emergencies
Examines education in emergencies, covering education, emergencies, conflict, crisis, and managing education in emergencies and crisis.
International Development Education
Covers international development education, covering international, development, education, aid, and managing international development education.

A day as a student

A typical day combines lectures, seminars, comparative studies, and independent study. Sessions cover comparative education theory, international education systems, cross-cultural analysis, globalisation, and education policy. Comparative theory sessions examine comparative, education, theory, analysis, and managing comparative education theory. International systems sessions cover international, education, systems, comparison, and managing international education systems comparison. Cross-cultural sessions cover cross-cultural, education, studies, analysis, and managing cross-cultural education studies. Globalisation sessions cover globalisation, education, analysis, impact, and managing globalisation and education. Policy sessions cover education, policy, analysis, evaluation, and managing education policy analysis. Seminars provide opportunities for comparative study presentations and discussing research findings. The programme culminates in a supervised research thesis on a comparative education topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme provides unique comparative and international perspective on education systems.
Two public universities confirmed offering the programme, providing options for students.
Programme covers diverse areas from comparative theory to globalisation to education in emergencies.
Graduates are eligible for UNESCO IBE certification and WCCES professional membership.

Against it

Fee difference between Moi (KES 187,200/year) and UoN (KES 280,000/year).
No private university confirmed offering this programme.
Career paths may be more limited compared to broader education programmes.
Programme may require travel for international comparative studies and research.

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 243 education courses

Public145k to 278k

145k at Pwani University278k at University of Nairobi

Private165k to 191k

165k at Kabarak University191k at Africa International 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 278K (uonbi.ac.ke). Moi ~187K (worldscholarshipforum). Pwani 145K (tuko.co.ke). Kabarak 165K, AIU 191K

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. Universities may offer scholarships for eligible students. UNESCO IBE and ADEA may offer fellowships for comparative education research and education.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
University Scholarship
UNESCO Fellowship

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
University Scholarship
ScholarshipKsh 280,000Kenyan
UoN and Moi University may offer scholarships for eligible postgraduate education students.
UNESCO Fellowship
ScholarshipKsh 300,000
UNESCO IBE and ADEA may offer fellowships for comparative education research and education.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: UoN and Moi University require at least Upper Second Class Honours in Education or a related field. Lower Second Class may be considered with relevant work experience. Contact respective universities for specific admission requirements.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, comparative study reports, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Written examinations covering comparative education theory, international systems, globalisation, and education policy.
Comparative Study Project
Project40% of the mark
Practical assessment through comparative study projects, demonstrating comparative analysis, policy evaluation, and research skills.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original supervised research thesis on a comparative education topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and comparative education knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). UoN (public) offers MEd in Comparative and International Education through the Faculty of Education. Moi University (public) offers MEd in Comparative Education. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in comparative education. Graduates may interact with UNESCO IBE for international standards and WCCES for professional membership. The programme aligns with CUE, UNESCO IBE, and WCCES global comparative education frameworks.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. UoN (public) offers MEd in Comparative and International Education through the Faculty of Education. Moi University (public) offers MEd in Comparative Education. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in comparative education. Graduates may interact with UNESCO IBE for international standards and WCCES for professional membership. The programme aligns with CUE, UNESCO IBE, and WCCES global comparative education frameworks.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Comparative Education Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 350,000
Conducts comparative education research, covering comparative, education, researcher, research, and managing comparative education research.
Education Policy Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 350,000
Analyses education policy, covering education, policy, analyst, analysis, and managing education policy analysis.
International Education Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 400,000
Provides international education consulting, covering international, education, consultant, advisory, and managing international education consulting.
Curriculum Developer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 350,000
Develops education curriculum, covering curriculum, developer, education, comparative, and managing curriculum development.
Education Officer
High demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 300,000
Manages education operations, covering education, officer, operations, programmes, and managing education operations.
Education Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 400,000
Teaches comparative education at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

SPSS
SoftwarePrimary
SPSS for education research data analysis, covering statistics, data, analysis, education, and managing education research data analysis.
NVivo
Software
NVivo for qualitative data analysis in comparative education research, covering NVivo, qualitative, data, analysis, and managing qualitative data analysis.
Stata
Software
Stata for econometric analysis in education research, covering Stata, econometrics, analysis, education, and managing education econometric analysis.
Excel
Software
Excel for education data management and reporting, covering Excel, data, education, management, and managing education data management.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Comparative education is just about comparing schools in different countries.
Comparative education covers theory, policy, globalisation, cross-cultural analysis, and international development beyond simple comparisons.
This programme is only for education graduates.
The programme is for professionals from social sciences, international relations, and related fields, not just education graduates.
Comparative education has limited career prospects in Kenya.
Comparative education professionals are in demand in NGOs, international organisations, and government as Kenya engages with global education frameworks.
This programme is the same as international education.
Comparative education focuses on systematic comparison of education systems, while international education covers broader cross-border education practices.
Comparative education is only about developed countries.
The programme covers both developed and developing countries, with particular relevance to African and Global South education systems.
You need international experience to study this programme.
The programme is accessible to graduates from various fields seeking comparative education specialisation, not just those with international experience.