Education

Master of Education in Educational Management and Policy Studies

The Master of Education in Educational Management and Policy Studies is a postgraduate programme that combines educational management expertise with policy analysis skills, equipping graduates for leadership roles in both institutional management and education policy development. The programme prepares professionals to navigate the intersection of management practice and policy frameworks in the education sector.

Core areas of study include educational management theory, education policy analysis, institutional governance, educational planning, human resource management in education, financial management in education, educational change management, comparative education policy, education law, quality assurance in education, and research methods. Students engage with both management challenges and policy dilemmas in diverse educational contexts.

The programme is offered by numerous Kenyan universities including Kibabii University, University of Eldoret, Kenyatta University, and many others. Kibabii University and University of Eldoret offer the programme through their Schools of Education. The programme combines management theory with policy studies, providing a comprehensive understanding of educational systems.

Students develop competencies in educational management, policy analysis, institutional governance, strategic planning, financial management, change management, comparative policy analysis, research methodology, and quality assurance. The programme includes coursework, examinations, and a research thesis, integrating management practice with policy analysis.

The programme is delivered over two academic years with full-time and part-time modes available. Coursework includes core management and policy units, with a thesis component in the second year. The programme is designed for education managers, policy practitioners, school administrators, and education officers seeking combined management and policy expertise.

Graduates pursue careers as school principals, education policy analysts, education officers, institutional leaders, educational consultants, programme managers, and policy advisors in schools, government education departments, NGOs, international organisations, and educational institutions.

Skills Required

Educational Management Theory and Practice
Education Policy Analysis and Development
Institutional Governance and Leadership
Educational Planning and Strategy
Human Resource Management in Education
Financial Management in Education
Comparative Education Policy Analysis
Educational Change Management
Quality Assurance in Education
Research Methods in Education

Key Subjects

Educational Management Theory
Education Policy Analysis and Development
Institutional Governance and Leadership
Educational Planning and Economics
Human Resource Management in Education
Financial Management in Education
Comparative Education Policy
Educational Change Management
Quality Assurance in Education
Research Methods in Education

Certifications

KEMI Educational Management Certification
CCEAM Professional Membership

Specializations

Educational Management

Focuses on educational management theory, institutional management, school administration, and operational management of educational institutions.

Education Policy Studies

Examines education policy analysis, policy development, policy implementation, and evaluating policy impact in the education sector.

Educational Planning and Economics

Covers educational planning, economics of education, education sector planning, resource allocation, and cost analysis in education.

Institutional Governance

Focuses on institutional governance, board management, regulatory compliance, accountability frameworks, and governance structures in educational institutions.

Comparative Education Policy

Examines comparative education policy, comparing policy approaches across countries, and analysing global education policy trends.

Educational Change and Reform

Covers change management in education, leading educational reforms, policy change processes, and implementing reform in educational institutions.

Quality Assurance and Standards

Focuses on quality assurance frameworks, education standards, institutional evaluation, and quality improvement in educational systems.

Education Law and Regulation

Examines education law, regulatory frameworks governing education, legal compliance in educational management, and education rights.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 246,000
Private, up to: Ksh 209,292
Job market: High

The programme

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

Practicalities

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

What you study

10 subjects

Educational Management Theory
Education Policy Analysis and Development
Institutional Governance and Leadership
Educational Planning and Economics
Human Resource Management in Education
Financial Management in Education
Comparative Education Policy
Educational Change Management
Quality Assurance in Education
Research Methods in Education

Modules

10 in the programme

Educational Management Theory and Practice
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines educational management theory, management principles in education, organisational behaviour, and management practice in educational institutions.
Education Policy Analysis and Development
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers education policy analysis methods, policy development processes, policy implementation, and evaluating policy impact in education.
Institutional Governance and Leadership
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines institutional governance, board management, leadership theory in education, accountability frameworks, and governance structures in educational institutions.
Educational Planning and Economics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers educational planning, economics of education, education sector planning, resource allocation, and cost analysis in education.
Human Resource Management in Education
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines HR management in educational settings, staff development, teacher management, performance management, and building effective educational teams.
Financial Management in Education
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers financial management of educational institutions, budgeting, resource allocation, school financing, and financial accountability in education.
Comparative Education Policy
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines comparative education policy, comparing policy approaches across countries, and analysing global education policy trends and their relevance to Kenya.
Educational Change and Reform Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers change management in education, leading educational reforms, policy change processes, and implementing reform in educational institutions.
Research Methods in Education
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers qualitative and quantitative research methodologies for conducting original research in educational management and policy studies.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research thesis on an educational management and policy studies topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and management-policy theory, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Educational Management
Focuses on educational management theory, institutional management, school administration, and operational management of educational institutions.
Education Policy Studies
Examines education policy analysis, policy development, policy implementation, and evaluating policy impact in the education sector.
Educational Planning and Economics
Covers educational planning, economics of education, education sector planning, resource allocation, and cost analysis in education.
Institutional Governance
Focuses on institutional governance, board management, regulatory compliance, accountability frameworks, and governance structures in educational institutions.
Comparative Education Policy
Examines comparative education policy, comparing policy approaches across countries, and analysing global education policy trends.
Educational Change and Reform
Covers change management in education, leading educational reforms, policy change processes, and implementing reform in educational institutions.
Quality Assurance and Standards
Focuses on quality assurance frameworks, education standards, institutional evaluation, and quality improvement in educational systems.
Education Law and Regulation
Examines education law, regulatory frameworks governing education, legal compliance in educational management, and education rights.

A day as a student

A typical day involves attending lectures on educational management theory, education policy analysis, or institutional governance. Students engage in seminar discussions analysing case studies that combine management challenges with policy dimensions. Group projects involve developing policy briefs, institutional management plans, or comparative policy analysis reports. Research methodology sessions prepare students for their thesis, with statistics training for educational data analysis. Guest lectures from experienced school principals, education policy experts, KEMI trainers, and international education consultants provide real-world insights. Those in the thesis phase conduct independent research combining management and policy perspectives, working under faculty supervision. The programme emphasises the connection between management practice and policy frameworks in education.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme uniquely combines management practice with policy studies, providing versatile expertise for both institutional leadership and policy roles.
Programme is widely offered at over 60 Kenyan universities, providing extensive accessibility and flexible study modes.
Kenya's education reforms and devolution create strong demand for professionals with combined management and policy expertise.
Programme covers comprehensive skills including management, policy, finance, governance, and change management.

Against it

With over 60 offering institutions, programme quality and content may vary significantly between universities.
The broad scope combining management and policy may mean less depth in either area compared to specialised programmes.
Private university fees are significantly higher, with CUEA charging up to KES 307,920 per year.
Programme may overlap with other MEd specialisations, potentially causing confusion about its distinct value proposition.

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

Public168k to 246k

168k at Egerton University246k at Kenyatta University

Private187k to 209k

187k at Catholic University of Eastern Africa209k at KCA 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 167,900/yr. KCA & CUEA from official fee schedules 2025

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. TSC may grant study leave with sponsorship for teachers pursuing postgraduate education. KEMI may sponsor education officers for management and policy training. Universities offer limited internal financial aid.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
TSC Study Leave Sponsorship
KEMI Training Sponsorship

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
TSC Study Leave Sponsorship
ScholarshipKsh 167,900Kenyan
TSC-employed teachers may be granted study leave with sponsorship for postgraduate education in educational management and policy studies.
KEMI Training Sponsorship
ScholarshipKsh 150,000Kenyan
Education officers and managers may be sponsored by KEMI or county governments for educational management and policy training.

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 and part-time modes. The programme runs for two academic years. Designed for education managers, policy practitioners, school administrators, and education officers seeking combined management and policy expertise.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment
Coursework40% of the mark
CATs, management analysis essays, policy brief writing, comparative policy analysis reports, and seminar presentations conducted throughout each semester.
Practical Projects
Practical20% of the mark
Practical assessment involving policy analysis projects, institutional management case studies, governance analysis exercises, and strategic planning assignments.
Final Examination
Examination40% of the mark
End-of-semester examination covering educational management theory, policy analysis, finance, and governance, including essay questions and case analysis.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on an educational management and policy studies topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and management-policy theory, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Kibabii University, University of Eldoret, Kenyatta University, Egerton University, and all other offering institutions are CUE-accredited. The programme aligns with KEMI and TSC professional standards.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. Kibabii University, University of Eldoret, Kenyatta University, Egerton University, and all other offering institutions are CUE-accredited.
Kenya Education Management Institute (KEMI)
Professional certification
KEMI is Kenya's educational management training institute. Graduates may pursue KEMI certification for professional recognition as education managers.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

School Principal
High demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 350,000
Leads and manages schools, overseeing academic programmes, staff management, student welfare, financial management, and policy implementation.
Education Policy Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 85,000 to Ksh 320,000
Analyses education policy issues for government agencies, think tanks, or international organisations, providing evidence-based policy recommendations.
Education Officer
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 300,000
Works in county or national education offices, overseeing education policy implementation, school supervision, and quality assurance.
Institutional Leader
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 350,000
Leads educational institutions including colleges, training institutes, or university departments, overseeing governance and policy implementation.
Educational Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 400,000
Provides consulting services on educational management, policy, and institutional development for schools, NGOs, and international organisations.
Education Programme Manager
High demandKsh 85,000 to Ksh 350,000
Manages education programmes in NGOs, international organisations, or government, overseeing programme design, implementation, and policy alignment.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as school principals, education policy analysts, education officers, institutional leaders, and educational consultants in schools, government, NGOs, 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, policy evaluation, and programme assessment.
NVivo
SoftwarePrimary
Qualitative data analysis software for analysing interview data, policy documents, and qualitative research in educational management and policy studies.
Microsoft Teams
Software
Collaboration platform for educational management, supporting communication, meetings, and coordination in educational institutions.
Google Workspace for Education
Software
Education-focused productivity and collaboration tools supporting educational management, policy analysis, and institutional governance.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

This is just another name for educational administration.
The programme specifically combines management practice with policy studies, providing a unique blend of institutional management skills and policy analysis expertise.
Policy studies is too theoretical for practical educators.
Policy analysis skills are directly applicable to understanding and influencing the education policies that shape daily management practice in schools and institutions.
This programme is only for government education officers.
Graduates work in schools, colleges, universities, NGOs, international organisations, and private sector, applying management and policy expertise across diverse settings.
Educational management and policy has limited career prospects.
Kenya's education reforms, devolution, and growing demand for evidence-based policy create strong career opportunities for graduates with combined management and policy expertise.
You need policy experience to benefit from this programme.
The programme develops both management and policy analysis skills from foundational levels, preparing both current and aspiring leaders.
This programme duplicates other MEd specialisations.
The combined focus on management and policy studies provides unique expertise at the intersection of institutional management and education policy, distinct from either focus alone.