Education

Master of Education (Early Childhood Studies)

The Master of Education (Early Childhood Studies) is a postgraduate programme that examines early childhood development, education, and care from a broad interdisciplinary perspective. The programme prepares graduates for advanced roles in early childhood policy, research, curriculum development, and institutional leadership.

Core areas include early childhood studies theory, child development, curriculum and pedagogy, family and community engagement, early childhood policy, educational research methods, and thesis research. Students engage with theoretical foundations and applied practice in early years contexts.

The programme is offered by Kenyatta University through its Department of Early Childhood Studies, and Moi University through its School of Education, both public universities, as well as Mount Kenya University, a private university, through its Department of Early Childhood Studies. Programmes run over two years with full-time, part-time, and distance learning options.

Students develop competencies in child development analysis, early years policy formulation, curriculum design, family engagement strategies, research methods, and institutional leadership. The programme includes coursework, examinations, and thesis research.

Kenyatta University charges KES 120,000/year tuition (East Africans) plus KES 22,700/year statutory fees, totalling approximately KES 142,700/year. Mount Kenya University charges KES 45,550 per semester full-time (approximately KES 91,100/year). Entry requires a Bachelor of Education degree with at least Second Class Honours Upper Division or Lower Division with relevant work experience.

Graduates pursue careers as early childhood studies specialists, policy analysts, curriculum developers, programme coordinators, and researchers in early years institutions, government agencies, and international organisations.

Skills Required

Early Childhood Studies Theory
Child Development Analysis
Early Years Curriculum and Pedagogy
Family and Community Engagement
Early Childhood Policy Formulation
Educational Research Methods
Programme Planning and Evaluation
Early Childhood Institutional Leadership
Advocacy for Early Years Education
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Early Childhood Studies Theory
Child Development
Early Years Curriculum and Pedagogy
Family and Community Engagement
Early Childhood Policy
Educational Research Methods
Programme Planning and Evaluation
Early Childhood Leadership
Advocacy for Early Years Education
Thesis Research

Certifications

TSC Teacher Registration
OMEP Early Childhood Education Certification

Specializations

Early Childhood Policy and Advocacy

Focuses on early childhood policy formulation, advocacy, and analysing and developing policy for early years education and care systems.

Child Development Studies

Examines child development theory, cognitive, social, and emotional development, and applying developmental knowledge to early years practice.

Family and Community Engagement

Covers strategies for engaging families and communities in early childhood education, and building partnerships to support young children's development.

Early Childhood Programme Management

Focuses on managing early childhood programmes and institutions, overseeing operations, staff, and quality assurance in early years settings.

Early Childhood Curriculum and Pedagogy

Examines curriculum design and pedagogical approaches specific to early childhood studies, integrating theory and practice for young learners.

Early Childhood Research and Evaluation

Covers research methods, programme evaluation, and conducting research to inform early childhood studies policy and practice.

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, School-based, Online
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 20 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Early Childhood Studies Theory
Child Development
Early Years Curriculum and Pedagogy
Family and Community Engagement
Early Childhood Policy
Educational Research Methods
Programme Planning and Evaluation
Early Childhood Leadership
Advocacy for Early Years Education
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Early Childhood Studies Theory
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines interdisciplinary theoretical perspectives on early years development, education, and care, drawing from psychology, education, and sociology.
Child Development
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers cognitive, social, and emotional development theories and their application to early years practice and policy.
Early Years Curriculum and Pedagogy
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines curriculum design and pedagogical approaches specific to early childhood studies, integrating theory and practice for young learners.
Educational Research Methods
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers research design, data collection, analysis, and conducting educational research, preparing students for their thesis.
Family and Community Engagement
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers strategies for engaging families and communities in early childhood education, building partnerships to support young children's development.
Early Childhood Policy and Advocacy
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines policy formulation, advocacy, and analysing and developing policy for early years education and care systems.
Programme Planning and Evaluation
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers programme planning, monitoring, and evaluation methods for early childhood education and care programmes.
Early Childhood Institutional Leadership
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines managing early childhood programmes and institutions, overseeing operations, staff, and quality assurance in early years settings.
Comparative Early Childhood Studies
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines early childhood policy and practice across different countries, comparing systems and drawing lessons for Kenyan early years education.
Field Attachment in Early Childhood Institutions
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Supervised field attachment in early childhood institutions, providing practical experience in programme management, policy implementation, and pedagogy.
Research Seminar
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Preparation of research proposal, including research design, literature review, methodology, and proposal presentation for thesis development.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research thesis on an early childhood studies topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Early Childhood Policy and Advocacy
Focuses on early childhood policy formulation, advocacy, and analysing and developing policy for early years education and care systems.
Child Development Studies
Examines child development theory, cognitive, social, and emotional development, and applying developmental knowledge to early years practice.
Family and Community Engagement
Covers strategies for engaging families and communities in early childhood education, and building partnerships to support young children's development.
Early Childhood Programme Management
Focuses on managing early childhood programmes and institutions, overseeing operations, staff, and quality assurance in early years settings.
Early Childhood Curriculum and Pedagogy
Examines curriculum design and pedagogical approaches specific to early childhood studies, integrating theory and practice for young learners.
Early Childhood Research and Evaluation
Covers research methods, programme evaluation, and conducting research to inform early childhood studies policy and practice.

A day as a student

A typical day during the M.Ed. (Early Childhood Studies) programme combines lectures, seminars, field visits, and independent study. Sessions cover early childhood studies theory, child development, curriculum and pedagogy, and policy. Early childhood studies theory sessions examine interdisciplinary perspectives on early years development, education, and care. Child development sessions cover cognitive, social, and emotional development theories and their application to early years practice. Curriculum and pedagogy sessions examine curriculum design, pedagogical approaches, and teaching strategies specific to early childhood studies. Family and community engagement sessions cover strategies for engaging families and communities in early childhood education and building partnerships. Early childhood policy sessions examine policy formulation, advocacy, and analysing and developing policy for early years systems. Programme management sessions cover managing early childhood programmes and institutions, operations, and quality assurance. Research methods sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. Field visits to early childhood institutions provide practical exposure to programme management and pedagogy. Seminars and discussion groups provide opportunities for debating current issues in early childhood studies. Guest lectures from early childhood policy makers, programme directors, and researchers provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a research thesis on an early childhood studies topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme provides broad interdisciplinary knowledge spanning education, policy, family engagement, and programme management for early years.
Offered by both public and private universities, providing choice of institution, fee range, and study mode.
Career opportunities extend beyond classroom teaching to policy, programme management, and research roles.
Mount Kenya University offers distance and institution-based learning options for working professionals.

Against it

Fee variation between institutions (KES 91,100 to KES 142,700/year) requires careful comparison of costs and value.
Career paths in policy and programme management may be more competitive and require additional experience.
Overlap with related early childhood degree titles (Development, Education) may cause confusion for prospective students.
Limited number of universities offering this exact combined studies title compared to more common specialisations.

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

Public246k to 278k

246k at Kenyatta University278k at University of Nairobi

Private91k to 191k

91k at Mount Kenya 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). KU 246K (joweri.com). MKU 91K full-time (victormatara). AIU 191K (aiu.ac.ke)

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. TSC supports teacher professional development. UNICEF and other international organisations may provide support for early childhood development research and programming. Early childhood studies programmes may attract funding from child welfare and development organisations.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
TSC Teacher Professional Development
UNICEF Early Childhood Development Support

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 early childhood studies qualifications.
UNICEF Early Childhood Development Support
GrantKsh 250,000
UNICEF supports early childhood development research and programming, providing grants for postgraduate study and research.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: Kenyatta University requires a Bachelor of Education degree in a related field with Upper Second Class Honours, or Lower Second with two years' experience. Mount Kenya University requires a Bachelor's degree in Education (ECS) or relevant field with Upper Second Class Honours, or a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Studies with Lower Second Division and two years' 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, policy briefs, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination40% of the mark
Written examinations covering early childhood studies theory, child development, curriculum and pedagogy, and policy.
Field Attachment and Practical Assessment
Practical30% of the mark
Practical assessment through field attachment in early childhood institutions, demonstrating programme management and policy implementation skills.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on an early childhood studies 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). Kenyatta University offers M.Ed. in Early Childhood Studies through its Department of Early Childhood Studies, Moi University through its School of Education, and Mount Kenya University through its Department of Early Childhood Studies. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate early childhood studies training. Graduates are eligible for TSC registration.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. Kenyatta University offers M.Ed. in Early Childhood Studies through its Department of Early Childhood Studies, Moi University through its School of Education, and Mount Kenya University through its Department of Early Childhood Studies. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate early childhood studies training. Graduates are eligible for TSC registration.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Early Childhood Studies Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 350,000
Specialises in early childhood studies, overseeing programme design, policy analysis, and supporting early years education and care quality.
Early Childhood Policy Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 400,000
Analyses early childhood policy, overseeing research, analysis, policy development, and providing policy advice to government and organisations.
Programme Coordinator
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 350,000
Coordinates early childhood programmes, overseeing implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and ensuring programme quality and effectiveness.
Curriculum Developer
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 400,000
Develops early childhood curricula and instructional materials, overseeing curriculum design, content development, and supporting education quality.
Early Childhood Studies Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 400,000
Conducts research in early childhood studies, overseeing research projects, publishing findings, and contributing to early years knowledge.
Teacher Educator
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 450,000
Trains future early childhood educators at universities and teacher training colleges, overseeing teacher education and professional development.

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 thesis.
Microsoft Word
Software
Word processing software for research papers, thesis writing, policy briefs, and producing academic and early childhood studies documents.
Microsoft PowerPoint
Software
Presentation software for research presentations, programme reports, and communicating early childhood studies content and findings.
NVivo
Software
Qualitative data analysis software for research, coding, thematic analysis, and analysing and interpreting qualitative research data in early childhood studies.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Early Childhood Studies is the same as Early Childhood Education or Development.
While related, Early Childhood Studies takes a broader interdisciplinary approach encompassing policy, family engagement, and programme management alongside education and development.
This degree only prepares graduates for classroom teaching.
Graduates work in policy analysis, programme management, curriculum development, research, and advocacy roles beyond direct classroom teaching.
Early childhood studies has limited career prospects beyond preschools.
Graduates work in government agencies, NGOs, international organisations, and research institutions focused on early years development and policy.
The programme does not require significant research skills.
The programme includes substantial research methods training and a thesis, developing rigorous research and analytical skills applicable to policy and programme evaluation.
Public and private universities offer identical programmes.
While covering similar core content, universities may differ in specialisation focus, delivery mode, and fee structure, giving students choice based on their needs.
Early childhood studies is not a rigorous academic discipline.
The programme covers complex interdisciplinary theory drawing from psychology, education, sociology, and policy studies, requiring rigorous academic engagement.