Education

Master of Education (Curriculum Studies and Educational Administration)

The Master of Education (Curriculum Studies and Educational Administration) is a postgraduate programme that combines curriculum development with educational leadership and management. The programme prepares graduates for research, policy, and practitioner roles across curriculum design, school administration, and educational planning.

Core areas include curriculum development and evaluation, educational administration and management, educational planning, corporate governance in education, economics of education, and research methods. Students engage with both curriculum theory and administrative practice.

The programme is offered by KCA University, titled Master of Educational Administration, Curriculum and Policy Studies, through its School of Education, Arts and Social Sciences, and by Lukenya University, titled Master of Education with specialisation options in Curriculum Studies, Educational Administration, Corporate Governance in Education, and Educational Planning, through its School of Education and Social Sciences. Both are private universities offering the programme over two years across six trimesters or four semesters.

Students develop competencies in curriculum development, educational leadership, strategic planning, policy analysis, research methods, and governance. The programme includes coursework, examinations, and a dissertation or project across the duration of study.

KCA University charges approximately KES 153,440 per year, with a total programme cost of KES 306,879. Lukenya University charges approximately KES 125,000 per year based on its 2025 postgraduate fee structure. Entry requires a Bachelor's degree with at least Upper Second Class Honours or Second Class Lower Division with two years of relevant work experience.

Graduates pursue careers as curriculum developers, school principals, education administrators, education policy analysts, and researchers in schools, ministries of education, and educational institutions.

Skills Required

Curriculum Development and Evaluation
Educational Administration and Leadership
Educational Planning and Policy
Corporate Governance in Education
Economics of Education
Educational Research Methods
Strategic Planning in Education
School Management and Supervision
Educational Policy Analysis
Academic Writing and Research

Key Subjects

Curriculum Development and Evaluation
Educational Administration and Management
Educational Planning
Corporate Governance in Education
Economics of Education
Educational Research Methods
Educational Policy Analysis
School Leadership and Supervision
Strategic Planning in Education
Dissertation Research

Certifications

TSC Education Administrator Registration
KEMI Education Management Certification

Specializations

Curriculum Studies

Focuses on curriculum development, design, implementation, and evaluation, examining curriculum theory and practice in educational institutions.

Educational Administration

Examines educational leadership, management, supervision, and administration of educational institutions and systems.

Educational Planning

Covers educational planning, policy formulation, resource allocation, and planning for educational development and reform.

Corporate Governance in Education

Focuses on governance structures, accountability, and management practices in educational institutions and systems.

Economics of Education

Examines the economics of education, cost-benefit analysis, education financing, and resource allocation in education systems.

Education Policy Studies

Covers education policy analysis, development, implementation, and evaluation at institutional and national levels.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 246,000
Private, up to: Ksh 200,000
Job market: Moderate

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time, Weekend
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 20 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Curriculum Development and Evaluation
Educational Administration and Management
Educational Planning
Corporate Governance in Education
Economics of Education
Educational Research Methods
Educational Policy Analysis
School Leadership and Supervision
Strategic Planning in Education
Dissertation Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Curriculum Development and Design
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines curriculum theory, design principles, curriculum models, and processes for developing and designing educational curricula.
Educational Administration and Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers educational leadership theory, management principles, organisational behaviour, and administration of educational institutions.
Educational Planning
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines educational planning processes, policy formulation, resource allocation, and planning for educational development and reform.
Research Methods in Education
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers research design, data collection, analysis, and conducting educational research, preparing students for their dissertation or project.
Corporate Governance in Education
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines governance structures, accountability mechanisms, and management practices in educational institutions and systems.
Economics of Education
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers economics of education, cost-benefit analysis, education financing, and resource allocation in education systems.
Curriculum Evaluation and Assessment
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines curriculum evaluation methods, assessment strategies, and evaluating curriculum effectiveness and outcomes.
Organisational Behaviour in Education
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers organisational behaviour theory, motivation, leadership styles, and applying organisational behaviour concepts to educational institutions.
Education Policy Analysis
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines education policy development, implementation, evaluation, and analysing education policy at institutional and national levels.
Human Resource Management in Education
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers human resource management principles, staff development, performance management, and managing human resources in educational institutions.
Research Proposal and Seminar
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Preparation of research proposal, including research design, literature review, methodology, and proposal presentation for dissertation or project.
Dissertation/Project
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original dissertation or project on a curriculum studies or educational administration topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Curriculum Studies
Focuses on curriculum development, design, implementation, and evaluation, examining curriculum theory and practice in educational institutions.
Educational Administration
Examines educational leadership, management, supervision, and administration of educational institutions and systems.
Educational Planning
Covers educational planning, policy formulation, resource allocation, and planning for educational development and reform.
Corporate Governance in Education
Focuses on governance structures, accountability, and management practices in educational institutions and systems.
Economics of Education
Examines the economics of education, cost-benefit analysis, education financing, and resource allocation in education systems.
Education Policy Studies
Covers education policy analysis, development, implementation, and evaluation at institutional and national levels.

A day as a student

A typical day during the M.Ed. (Curriculum Studies and Educational Administration) programme combines lectures, seminars, case studies, and independent study. Sessions cover curriculum development, educational administration, educational planning, and governance. Curriculum development sessions examine curriculum theory, design, implementation, and evaluation in educational institutions. Educational administration sessions cover leadership, management, supervision, and administration of educational institutions and systems. Educational planning sessions examine policy formulation, resource allocation, and planning for educational development and reform. Corporate governance sessions cover governance structures, accountability, and management practices in educational institutions. Economics of education sessions examine cost-benefit analysis, education financing, and resource allocation. Research methods sessions cover research design, data collection, analysis, and conducting educational research, preparing students for their dissertation. Policy analysis sessions examine education policy development, implementation, and evaluation. Case studies of school leadership and curriculum reform provide practical application of theory. Seminars and discussion groups provide opportunities for debating current issues in education administration and curriculum. Guest lectures from school principals, education administrators, and policy makers provide real-world insights. The programme culminates in a dissertation or project on a curriculum studies or educational administration topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme combines curriculum development with educational administration, providing integrated knowledge valuable for education leadership roles.
Offered by two private universities with flexible study modes including weekend and part-time options for working professionals.
Graduates qualify for diverse roles in curriculum development, school administration, education policy, and research.
Broad curriculum covering governance, economics of education, and planning provides well-rounded preparation for education leadership.

Against it

Programme is only offered by private universities, with no public university option for this exact combined title.
Total programme cost at KCA University (KES 306,879) may be higher than comparable single-specialisation M.Ed. programmes at public universities.
Career advancement to senior education leadership positions may require additional experience beyond the M.Ed.
Limited geographic choice with only two private universities offering this specific combined programme.

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

Public187k to 246k

187k at Moi University246k at Kenyatta University

Private187k to 200k

187k at KCA University200k at Lukenya 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 246K (joweri.com). Moi ~187K (worldscholarshipforum). KCA 186,879 (kcau.ac.ke). Lukenya ~200K (businessradar)

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. TSC supports teacher and administrator professional development. KCA University and Lukenya University offer scholarships and bursaries for qualifying postgraduate students.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
TSC Teacher Professional Development
KCA University Scholarships

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate education studies at recognised universities.
TSC Teacher Professional Development
ScholarshipKsh 150,000Kenyan
Teachers Service Commission supports professional development for registered teachers pursuing postgraduate education administration qualifications.
KCA University Scholarships
ScholarshipKsh 100,000Kenyan
KCA University offers scholarships and bursaries for qualifying postgraduate students demonstrating academic merit or financial need.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: KCA University requires a Bachelor's degree in any field with required work experience, or any other equivalent qualification approved by the university Senate. Lukenya University requires First Class or Upper Second Class Honours Bachelor's degree, or Second Class Lower Division with two years' working 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, case study analysis, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination40% of the mark
Written examinations covering curriculum development, educational administration, educational planning, and governance, conducted at end of each trimester or semester.
Case Studies and Practical Assessment
Practical30% of the mark
Practical assessment through case studies of school leadership and curriculum reform, applying theoretical knowledge to real-world educational challenges.
Dissertation/Project
Research100% of the mark
Original dissertation or project on a curriculum studies or educational administration 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). KCA University offers Master of Educational Administration, Curriculum and Policy Studies through its School of Education, Arts and Social Sciences, and Lukenya University offers Master of Education with combined specialisations through its School of Education and Social Sciences. Both programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate education administration and curriculum studies.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. KCA University offers Master of Educational Administration, Curriculum and Policy Studies through its School of Education, Arts and Social Sciences, and Lukenya University offers Master of Education with combined specialisations through its School of Education and Social Sciences. Both programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate education administration and curriculum studies.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Curriculum Developer
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 400,000
Develops education curricula and instructional materials, overseeing curriculum design, content development, and supporting education quality.
School Principal
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 350,000
Leads and manages a school, overseeing administration, staff, curriculum implementation, and ensuring effective school operations.
Education Administrator
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 450,000
Manages education programmes and institutions, overseeing administration, policy implementation, and ensuring effective education delivery.
Education Policy Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 450,000
Analyses education policy, overseeing research, analysis, policy development, and providing policy advice to government and institutions.
Education Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 400,000
Conducts research in curriculum and education administration, overseeing research projects, publishing findings, and contributing to education knowledge.
University Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches education administration and curriculum studies at universities, overseeing instruction, research, and supporting student learning.

Graduate outcomes

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

SPSS
SoftwarePrimary
Statistical analysis software for educational research, data analysis, quantitative methods, and analysing and interpreting research data for dissertation.
Microsoft Excel
Software
Spreadsheet software for education data analysis, budget planning, resource allocation, and managing and analysing education administration data.
Microsoft PowerPoint
Software
Presentation software for policy briefs, curriculum presentations, research presentations, and communicating education administration content.
Microsoft Word
Software
Word processing software for research papers, dissertation writing, policy documents, and producing academic and administrative documents.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Curriculum studies and educational administration are separate, unrelated fields.
The combined programme recognises that curriculum development and educational leadership are interconnected, with administrators needing curriculum expertise and curriculum developers needing understanding of institutional management.
This degree is only for teachers seeking promotion to headship.
Graduates work in curriculum development, education policy, ministry positions, educational consulting, and research, not just school leadership roles.
The programme is only offered at one university.
The combined curriculum studies and educational administration programme is offered by both KCA University and Lukenya University, providing choice of institution.
Educational administration training does not require research skills.
The programme includes substantial research methods training and a dissertation or project, developing rigorous research and analytical skills.
This is the same as a general M.Ed. degree.
The programme specifically combines curriculum studies with educational administration, planning, and governance into an integrated professional degree distinct from single-specialisation M.Ed. programmes.
The programme has limited career prospects in Kenya.
Kenya's expanding education sector, including private schools, NGOs, and ministry positions, creates demand for qualified curriculum and education administration professionals.