Education

Master of Education in Educational Administration, Curriculum and Policy Studies

The Master of Education in Educational Administration, Curriculum and Policy Studies is a postgraduate programme that prepares educators for leadership roles in educational administration, curriculum development, and education policy. The programme combines educational administration theory with curriculum studies and policy analysis.

Core areas include educational administration, curriculum development, education policy studies, educational planning, educational leadership, educational research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both administrative theory and curriculum and policy practice.

The programme is offered by KCA University and the University of Nairobi. Both public and private universities offer the programme over two academic years through part-time and weekend modes.

Students develop competencies in educational administration, curriculum design, policy analysis, educational planning, leadership, research methods, and academic writing. The programme includes coursework, examinations, seminars, and thesis.

KCA University offers the programme over 6 trimesters (2 years) with intakes in January, May, and September. The University of Nairobi charges a total of KES 556,600 (~KES 278,300/year) for its M.Ed programme. Entry requires a Bachelor's degree in Education or related fields with at least Second Class Honours Upper Division or Lower Division with relevant experience.

Graduates pursue careers as education administrators, curriculum developers, education policy analysts, school principals, education officers, and lecturers in educational administration and curriculum studies.

Skills Required

Educational Administration and Leadership
Curriculum Development and Design
Education Policy Analysis
Educational Planning
Educational Research Methods
School Management and Governance
Education Economics and Finance
Curriculum Evaluation and Assessment
Strategic Planning in Education
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Educational Administration and Leadership
Curriculum Development and Design
Education Policy Studies
Educational Planning
Economics of Education
Educational Research Methods
School Management and Governance
Curriculum Evaluation
Strategic Planning in Education
Thesis Research

Certifications

TSC Administrative Certification
KICD Curriculum Specialist Certification

Specializations

Educational Administration

Focuses on educational administration and leadership, covering school management, educational leadership, and institutional governance.

Curriculum Studies

Examines curriculum development and design, covering curriculum theory, curriculum design, curriculum evaluation, and curriculum innovation.

Education Policy Studies

Covers education policy analysis and development, covering policy formulation, policy implementation, and policy evaluation in education.

Educational Planning

Focuses on educational planning, covering strategic planning, resource planning, and educational development planning.

Economics of Education

Examines economics of education, covering education financing, cost-benefit analysis, and economic dimensions of education.

Corporate Governance in Education

Covers governance in educational institutions, covering corporate governance principles, institutional governance, and accountability in education.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 278,300
Private, up to: Ksh 191,050
Job market: High

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Part-time, Weekend
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 25 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Educational Administration and Leadership
Curriculum Development and Design
Education Policy Studies
Educational Planning
Economics of Education
Educational Research Methods
School Management and Governance
Curriculum Evaluation
Strategic Planning in Education
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Educational Administration and Leadership
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines educational leadership theory, school management, institutional governance, and educational administration practice.
Curriculum Development and Design
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers curriculum theory, curriculum design models, curriculum development processes, and curriculum innovation.
Education Policy Studies
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines education policy formulation, implementation, evaluation, and policy analysis methods in education.
Educational Research Methods
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers research design, data collection, analysis, and conducting educational research, preparing students for their thesis.
Educational Planning
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers strategic planning in education, resource planning, educational development planning, and education sector planning.
Economics of Education
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines education financing, cost-benefit analysis of education, education investment, and economic dimensions of education.
Curriculum Evaluation and Assessment
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers curriculum evaluation methods, assessment design, learning outcomes assessment, and evaluating curriculum effectiveness.
Corporate Governance in Education
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines corporate governance principles in education, institutional governance, accountability, and governance structures.
Strategic Planning and Management in Education
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers strategic planning for educational institutions, strategic management, and implementing strategic plans in education.
Contemporary Issues in Education
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines current trends, challenges, and developments in education, including education reforms, technology in education, and global education issues.
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 educational administration, curriculum, or policy studies topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Educational Administration
Focuses on educational administration and leadership, covering school management, educational leadership, and institutional governance.
Curriculum Studies
Examines curriculum development and design, covering curriculum theory, curriculum design, curriculum evaluation, and curriculum innovation.
Education Policy Studies
Covers education policy analysis and development, covering policy formulation, policy implementation, and policy evaluation in education.
Educational Planning
Focuses on educational planning, covering strategic planning, resource planning, and educational development planning.
Economics of Education
Examines economics of education, covering education financing, cost-benefit analysis, and economic dimensions of education.
Corporate Governance in Education
Covers governance in educational institutions, covering corporate governance principles, institutional governance, and accountability in education.

A day as a student

A typical day during the M.Ed in Educational Administration, Curriculum and Policy Studies programme combines lectures, seminars, policy analysis exercises, curriculum design workshops, and independent study. Sessions cover educational administration, curriculum studies, policy analysis, and educational planning. Educational administration sessions examine educational leadership, school management, and institutional governance. Curriculum studies sessions cover curriculum theory, curriculum design, curriculum evaluation, and curriculum innovation. Policy studies sessions examine education policy formulation, implementation, and evaluation. Educational planning sessions cover strategic planning, resource planning, and educational development planning. Economics of education sessions cover education financing, cost-benefit analysis, and economic dimensions of education. Research methods sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. Policy analysis exercises provide practical experience with analysing education policies and developing policy recommendations. Curriculum design workshops provide hands-on experience with designing curricula and learning materials. Seminars and discussion groups provide opportunities for debating current issues in education administration, curriculum, and policy. Guest lectures from experienced education administrators, curriculum developers, and policy makers provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a research thesis on an educational administration, curriculum, or policy studies topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme uniquely combines administration, curriculum, and policy studies, providing a comprehensive view of educational leadership.
Strong career prospects in Kenya's education sector for qualified administrators, curriculum developers, and policy analysts.
Programme offered through part-time and weekend modes, suitable for working education professionals.
KCA University offers multiple intakes (January, May, September), providing flexibility for admission.

Against it

KCA University fee data not independently verified, limiting cost comparison for private institutions.
UoN fees are relatively high at ~KES 278,300/year compared to other M.Ed programmes.
Only two universities offer this specific programme combination, limiting institutional choice.
Programme may overlap with separate M.Ed in Educational Administration and M.Ed in Curriculum Studies programmes.

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

Public94k to 278k

94k at The Open University of Kenya278k 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 E55:556,600/2yr. OUK:187,500/2yr. Kabarak 82,600/sem, AIU 95,525/sem (official sites)

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. TSC may provide professional development support for education administrators. KICD may provide training support for curriculum specialists. Some educational institutions may sponsor employees for education postgraduate study.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
TSC Professional Development
KICD Training Support

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
TSC Professional Development
ScholarshipKsh 150,000Kenyan
Teachers Service Commission supports professional development for teachers and education administrators in Kenya.
KICD Training Support
ScholarshipKsh 100,000Kenyan
Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development supports training for curriculum developers and education professionals in Kenya.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: Most universities require a Bachelor's degree in Education with Upper Second Class Honours. Lower Second Division holders with relevant experience are considered. Some universities also accept postgraduate diploma holders. 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 analysis exercises, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination40% of the mark
Written examinations covering educational administration, curriculum studies, policy analysis, and educational planning.
Practical Assessment
Practical30% of the mark
Practical assessment through curriculum design exercises, policy analysis projects, case studies, and applying theory to real education scenarios.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on an educational administration, curriculum, or policy 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). University of Nairobi (public) and KCA University (private) offer M.Ed in Educational Administration, Curriculum and Policy Studies. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate education training. Graduates are eligible for TSC administrative certification and KICD curriculum specialist certification.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. University of Nairobi (public) and KCA University (private) offer M.Ed in Educational Administration, Curriculum and Policy Studies. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate education training. Graduates are eligible for TSC administrative certification and KICD curriculum specialist certification.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Education Administrator
High demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Manages educational institutions or programmes, overseeing administration, operations, and institutional governance.
Curriculum Developer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Develops curricula for educational institutions or organisations, overseeing curriculum design, development, and evaluation.
Education Policy Analyst
Low demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Analyses education policies and develops recommendations, overseeing policy research, analysis, and policy development.
School Principal
High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 400,000
Leads schools, overseeing school management, educational leadership, staff management, and school operations.
Education Officer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 400,000
Manages education programmes in government or NGOs, overseeing programme implementation, monitoring, and education service delivery.
Education Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaches educational administration and curriculum studies 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
Statistical analysis software for educational research, data analysis, and analysing and interpreting research data for thesis.
NVivo
Software
Qualitative data analysis software for analysing educational research data, interviews, and qualitative research for thesis.
Microsoft Excel
Software
Spreadsheet software for education data management, budget planning, and analysing education statistics and data.
Google Workspace for Education
Software
Education platform for collaborative work, document sharing, and managing educational content and communications.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

This programme is only for school principals.
The programme prepares professionals for diverse roles including curriculum development, policy analysis, educational planning, and academia, not just school administration.
Educational administration does not require postgraduate study.
Complex education challenges require advanced knowledge in administration, policy, and curriculum, making postgraduate study increasingly important for education leaders.
Curriculum studies is just about writing textbooks.
Curriculum studies involves curriculum theory, design, evaluation, innovation, and alignment with learning outcomes and educational goals, far beyond writing textbooks.
Education policy is only for government officials.
Education policy affects all educators, and understanding policy is valuable for teachers, administrators, and education professionals at all levels.
This programme overlaps with other M.Ed programmes.
While related, this programme uniquely combines administration, curriculum, and policy studies, providing a comprehensive view of educational leadership.
Education administration has limited career prospects.
Kenya's education sector has strong demand for qualified administrators, curriculum developers, and policy analysts in schools, government, and international organisations.