Education

Master of Education in Educational Foundations

The Master of Education in Educational Foundations is a postgraduate programme that equips education professionals with advanced knowledge of the philosophical, sociological, historical, and psychological foundations of education. The programme examines the theoretical and conceptual bases that underpin educational practice, policy, and research.

Core areas of study include philosophy of education, sociology of education, history of education, comparative education, psychology of education, educational research methods, education for rural and urban development, comparative and international education, gender issues in education, and educational policy analysis. Students engage with foundational questions about the purpose, nature, and social context of education.

The programme is offered by numerous Kenyan universities including Kenyatta University, University of Nairobi, Egerton University, and many others. Kenyatta University offers the programme through its Department of Educational Foundations in the School of Education and Lifelong Learning. The programme is available in regular, DSVOL, and CEP modes.

Students develop competencies in educational theory, critical analysis, comparative education research, policy analysis, educational research methodology, and academic writing. The programme combines coursework, examinations, and a thesis or project, integrating foundational theory with educational practice and policy.

The programme is delivered over two years for full-time students and three to four years for part-time students. Coursework includes common units, departmental core units, core units, and elective units, with a thesis or project component. The programme is designed for teachers, education researchers, policy analysts, and educational professionals seeking deeper theoretical understanding.

Graduates pursue careers as teacher educators, educational researchers, policy analysts, education officers, curriculum developers, educational consultants, and academic faculty in universities, research institutions, government education departments, and international education organisations.

Skills Required

Philosophy of Education
Sociology of Education
History of Education
Comparative and International Education
Psychology of Education
Educational Research Methods
Educational Policy Analysis
Critical Analysis of Educational Practice
Education for Rural and Urban Development
Gender Analysis in Education

Key Subjects

Philosophy of Education
Sociology of Education
History of Education
Comparative and International Education
Psychology of Education
Educational Research Methods
Education for Rural and Urban Development
Gender Issues in Education
Educational Policy Analysis
Statistics in Education

Certifications

CIES Professional Membership
KNATCOM Education Certification

Specializations

Philosophy of Education

Focuses on philosophical foundations of education, educational thought, ethics in education, and the philosophical basis of educational policy and practice.

Sociology of Education

Examines sociological foundations of education, social contexts of learning, education and social change, and the relationship between education and society.

History of Education

Covers historical development of education, history of education in Kenya and Africa, and historical analysis of educational policy and practice.

Comparative Education

Focuses on comparative and international education, comparing educational systems across countries, and analysing global education trends and policies.

Psychology of Education

Examines psychological foundations of education, learning theories, cognitive development, and the application of psychology to educational practice.

Education and Development

Covers education for rural and urban development, education and sustainable development goals, and the role of education in social and economic development.

Gender and Education

Examines gender issues in education, feminist perspectives on education, gender equity in educational policy, and education for gender equality.

Educational Policy Studies

Focuses on educational policy analysis, policy development processes, and the theoretical foundations of educational policy making.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 246,000
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: 25 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Philosophy of Education
Sociology of Education
History of Education
Comparative and International Education
Psychology of Education
Educational Research Methods
Education for Rural and Urban Development
Gender Issues in Education
Educational Policy Analysis
Statistics in Education

Modules

10 in the programme

Philosophy of Education
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines philosophical foundations of education, educational thought, ethics in education, and the philosophical basis of educational policy and practice.
Sociology of Education
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers sociological foundations of education, social contexts of learning, education and social change, and the relationship between education and society.
History of Education
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines historical development of education, history of education in Kenya and Africa, and historical analysis of educational policy and practice.
Comparative and International Education
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers comparative education methodology, comparison of educational systems across countries, and analysis of global education trends and policies.
Psychology of Education
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines psychological foundations of education, learning theories, cognitive development, and the application of psychology to educational practice.
Educational Research Methods
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers qualitative and quantitative research methodologies for conducting original research in educational foundations, including research design and data analysis.
Education for Rural and Urban Development
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines education for rural and urban development, education and sustainable development goals, and the role of education in social and economic development.
Gender Issues in Education
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers gender issues in education, feminist perspectives on education, gender equity in educational policy, and education for gender equality.
Educational Policy Analysis
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines educational policy analysis methods, policy development processes, and the theoretical foundations of educational policy making in Kenya and internationally.
Research Thesis or Project
Year 2Semester 28 creditsCore
Original research thesis or project on an educational foundations topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and foundational theory, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Philosophy of Education
Focuses on philosophical foundations of education, educational thought, ethics in education, and the philosophical basis of educational policy and practice.
Sociology of Education
Examines sociological foundations of education, social contexts of learning, education and social change, and the relationship between education and society.
History of Education
Covers historical development of education, history of education in Kenya and Africa, and historical analysis of educational policy and practice.
Comparative Education
Focuses on comparative and international education, comparing educational systems across countries, and analysing global education trends and policies.
Psychology of Education
Examines psychological foundations of education, learning theories, cognitive development, and the application of psychology to educational practice.
Education and Development
Covers education for rural and urban development, education and sustainable development goals, and the role of education in social and economic development.
Gender and Education
Examines gender issues in education, feminist perspectives on education, gender equity in educational policy, and education for gender equality.
Educational Policy Studies
Focuses on educational policy analysis, policy development processes, and the theoretical foundations of educational policy making.

A day as a student

A typical day involves attending lectures at Kenyatta University's School of Education on philosophy of education, sociology of education, or comparative education. Students engage in seminar discussions analysing foundational texts, educational theories, and the philosophical basis of educational practice. Group projects involve comparative education research, policy analysis papers, or historical studies of educational development. Research methodology sessions prepare students for their thesis, with statistics training for educational data analysis. Elective courses allow exploration of specialised topics such as gender in education, education for development, or international education. Guest lectures from visiting scholars, education policy experts, and international education consultants provide diverse perspectives. Those in the thesis phase conduct independent research on educational foundations topics, working under faculty supervision.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme is widely offered at over 60 Kenyan universities, providing extensive accessibility and flexible study modes.
Programme develops critical analytical and research skills valued across education policy, research, and academic careers.
Programme provides interdisciplinary foundation drawing on philosophy, sociology, history, and psychology, offering broad intellectual perspective.
Kenyatta University offers the programme through multiple modes including regular, DSVOL, and CEP, accommodating diverse student needs.

Against it

Programme is perceived as theoretical, which may not appeal to students seeking directly practical or vocational skills.
Career paths are less clearly defined compared to administration or curriculum specialisations, requiring graduates to position themselves strategically.
With over 60 offering institutions, programme quality and content may vary significantly between universities.
Kenyatta University fees of KES 246,000 per year are relatively high for a public university, compared to other institutions.

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

Public172k to 246k

172k at Egerton University246k at Kenyatta University

Private187k to 191k

187k at Catholic University of Eastern Africa191k 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

KU 246,000/yr. Egerton 171,900/yr. CUEA 93,375/sem, AIU 95,525/sem (official PDFs)

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. TSC may grant study leave with sponsorship for teachers pursuing postgraduate education. Kenyatta University and other universities offer limited internal financial aid for postgraduate students.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
TSC Study Leave Sponsorship
University Financial Aid

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
TSC Study Leave Sponsorship
ScholarshipKsh 246,000Kenyan
TSC-employed teachers may be granted study leave with sponsorship for postgraduate education in educational foundations.
University Financial Aid
ScholarshipKsh 100,000
Postgraduate students demonstrating academic merit and financial need at offering universities.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: The programme is available in full-time (2-3 years) and part-time (3-4 years) modes. Application fee is KES 2,000-3,000 depending on institution. KU offers regular, DSVOL, and CEP modes. The programme is designed for teachers, researchers, policy analysts, and educational professionals seeking deeper theoretical understanding.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment
Coursework40% of the mark
CATs, philosophical analysis essays, comparative education reports, policy analysis papers, literature reviews, and seminar presentations conducted throughout each semester.
Research Exercises
Practical20% of the mark
Practical assessment involving comparative education research projects, policy analysis exercises, historical research, and qualitative research assignments.
Final Examination
Examination40% of the mark
End-of-semester examination covering educational foundations theory, philosophy, sociology, and comparative education, including essay questions and critical analysis.
Research Thesis or Project
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis or project on an educational foundations topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and foundational theory, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Kenyatta University, University of Nairobi, Egerton University, and all other offering institutions are CUE-accredited. The programme is offered through Departments of Educational Foundations in university Schools of Education.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. Kenyatta University, University of Nairobi, Egerton University, and all other offering institutions are CUE-accredited.
Teachers Service Commission (TSC)
Professional recognition
TSC regulates teacher employment in Kenya. Graduates seeking teaching or administrative positions in TSC-managed schools may need TSC recognition.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Teacher Educator
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 280,000
Teaches educational foundations, philosophy of education, or sociology of education at teacher training colleges or universities.
Educational Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 75,000 to Ksh 300,000
Conducts research on educational theory, policy, and practice for research institutions, universities, or international education organisations.
Policy Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 300,000
Analyses education policy issues for government agencies, think tanks, or international organisations, applying foundational theory to policy challenges.
Education Officer
High demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 280,000
Works in county or national education offices, overseeing education policy implementation, school supervision, and quality assurance.
Curriculum Developer
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 350,000
Develops curriculum frameworks informed by educational theory and foundational research for educational institutions or curriculum development agencies.
Educational Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 350,000
Provides consulting services on educational policy, theory, and practice for schools, NGOs, government agencies, or international organisations.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as teacher educators, educational researchers, policy analysts, and education officers in universities, research institutions, government, and international organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

SPSS
SoftwarePrimary
Statistical analysis software for educational research, including survey data analysis, demographic analysis, and programme evaluation.
NVivo
SoftwarePrimary
Qualitative data analysis software for analysing interview data, policy documents, historical texts, and qualitative research in educational foundations.
Zotero
Software
Reference management software for organising research sources, citations, and bibliographies in educational foundations research.
Google Scholar
Software
Academic search engine for accessing educational research literature, foundational texts, and comparative education resources.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Educational foundations is just abstract theory with no practical application.
The programme provides the theoretical and conceptual basis for understanding educational practice, policy, and research, with direct applications to teaching, policy making, and educational leadership.
This programme is only for those who want to teach in universities.
While graduates can teach in universities, they also work as researchers, policy analysts, education officers, and consultants in diverse educational settings.
Educational foundations has limited career prospects.
The programme develops critical analytical and research skills valued in education policy, research, international development, and academic careers.
Foundations is the easiest MEd specialisation.
The programme involves rigorous philosophical analysis, sociological research, historical inquiry, and comparative study, meeting postgraduate academic standards.
You need a philosophy background to study educational foundations.
The programme accepts graduates from diverse educational backgrounds, as foundations draws on multiple disciplines including philosophy, sociology, history, and psychology.
Educational foundations is irrelevant to modern education challenges.
The programme examines contemporary issues including education for development, gender equity, comparative education, and policy analysis, directly relevant to modern educational challenges.