Master of Education in Governance in Education
The Master of Education in Governance in Education provides advanced training in educational governance, education policy, school leadership, and educational administration. Students learn education governance, policy analysis, school management, educational leadership, and institutional development. The programme is designed for education professionals seeking advanced governance and leadership qualifications.
The short answer
- What it costs
- Up to Ksh 278,300 a year at a public institution, Ksh 556,600 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 191,050 a year at a private one.The detail
- Who can get in
- A KCSE mean grade of Bachelor's Degree (Postgraduate) or above. There is another way in without it.The detail
- How long, and when
- Takes 2 years, full-time, part-time, with 0 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 5 institutions.The detail
- Where it leads
- 8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Early Childhood Strategist, at 10 out of 100.The detail
The programme
What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.
Overview
Students develop advanced competencies in educational governance, education policy analysis, school leadership, institutional management, and educational administration. The curriculum covers educational governance, education policy, school leadership, educational administration, research methods, and a research thesis. Practical skills are developed through case studies and leadership projects.
Educational governance expertise is important for Kenya's education sector. Schools, colleges, and education institutions require trained leaders with governance and policy skills. Kenya's education reforms and governance challenges create demand for educational governance expertise. The programme addresses the demand for advanced training in educational governance and leadership.
The programme combines classroom lectures with case studies, policy analysis, and research. Students study governance concepts, analyse education policy, examine leadership challenges, and conduct research. Teaching methods include lectures, case studies, policy analysis workshops, and research supervision. The programme emphasises governance competence, policy analysis, and leadership skills.
Graduates find employment as school principals, education officers, education administrators, or policy analysts in schools, education offices, government, and education institutions. The master's degree supports careers in educational leadership, governance, and administration.
This programme is ideal for education professionals seeking advanced governance and leadership qualifications. The programme provides advanced skills for educational governance, policy analysis, and institutional leadership.
What you study
10 subjects- Educational Governance
- Education Policy Analysis
- School Leadership and Management
- Educational Administration
- Institutional Development
- Education Law and Regulations
- Research Methods
- Strategic Planning in Education
- Quality Assurance in Education
- Thesis Research
Modules
8 in the programmeEducational Governance and Policy
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Educational governance covering governance theories, governance structures, accountability, and education policy covering policy analysis, policy formulation, and policy implementation in education.
School Leadership and Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
School leadership covering leadership theories, instructional leadership, school culture, and school management covering operations, resources, and performance management.
Education Law and Regulations
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Education law covering Kenyan education legislation, regulatory frameworks, legal rights and responsibilities, and compliance in educational institutions.
Research Methods in Education
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Research methods covering research design, qualitative and quantitative methods, educational research, and research ethics.
Strategic Planning and Institutional Development
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Strategic planning covering strategic planning processes, institutional development, change management, and strategic implementation in educational institutions.
Quality Assurance in Education
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Quality assurance covering quality standards, quality management systems, accreditation, and quality improvement in educational institutions.
Educational Administration and Finance
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Educational administration covering administrative systems, institutional management, and education finance covering budgeting, financial management, and resource allocation.
Thesis Research and Defence
Year 2Semester 16 creditsCore
A research thesis on an educational governance topic, demonstrating research competence and contributing to educational governance knowledge.
Specialisations
Education Policy
Focus on education policy analysis, policy formulation, policy implementation, and evidence-based policy making in education.
School Leadership
Focus on school leadership theories, instructional leadership, school culture, and school management.
Quality Assurance
Focus on quality standards, quality management systems, accreditation, and quality improvement in education.
A day as a student
A typical day combines morning lectures on educational governance or policy with afternoon case study discussions and policy analysis workshops. Students study governance concepts, analyse education policy, examine leadership challenges, and conduct research. Case studies involve analysing real-world governance issues in educational institutions. The programme emphasises governance competence, policy analysis, and leadership skills for educational administration.
The trade-offs
| In its favour | Against it |
|---|---|
| Educational governance skills are in demand as Kenya focuses on education quality and accountability. | The programme is offered at only one university, limiting accessibility. |
| Offered at SEKU with published fee structure and established education school. | Career opportunities are primarily within the education sector. |
| Combines governance, policy, and leadership, providing versatile skills for education administration. | May require relevant work experience in education for effective engagement with the 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 coursesAnnual 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/yr (uonbi.ac.ke). SEKU unverified. Kabarak 165K, AIU 191K/yr.
HELB loans are available for eligible Kenyan students. SEKU may offer institutional scholarships for qualifying students.
Funding options
HELB Loan
Scholarships
1 recordedHELB Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students enrolled in master's programmes at chartered universities
Scholarships you could apply for
2 usable where it is taught- Chevening Scholarships Kenya
Closes 30 November 2026FullUK Government
Full masters in UK
- AfDB Japan Scholarship Program
Closes 28 February 2027FullAfrican Development Bank
Full graduate study abroad
Getting in
The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.
What you need
Bachelor's degree in Education or relevant field with at least Second Class Honours (Upper Division) from a recognised institution. Candidates with Second Class (Lower Division) may be considered with relevant work experience.
When it next starts
Taught at 5 institutionsIncluding Maseno University, University of Nairobi, South Eastern Kenya University.
Including Maseno University, University of Nairobi, South Eastern Kenya University.
Including Maseno University, University of Nairobi, South Eastern Kenya University.
How you are assessed
3 componentsCoursework and Examinations
Written examination40% of the mark
Coursework assessments, written examinations, and assignments evaluating understanding of educational governance and policy concepts.
Case Studies and Policy Analysis Projects
Project30% of the mark
Case study analyses, policy analysis projects, and leadership assignments evaluating practical governance and analysis skills.
Thesis Defence
Project30% of the mark
A research thesis demonstrating research competence in educational governance, defended before an examination panel.
Accreditation
Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
SEKU is chartered by CUE. MEd programme accredited by CUE.
South Eastern Kenya University is chartered by the Commission for University Education (CUE). The MEd programme is accredited by CUE.
Where it leads
The roles it opens, and what you leave with.
Where graduates go
4 rolesSchool Principal
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 250,000
Leads a school as principal, providing educational leadership, managing school operations, and ensuring quality education delivery.
Education Officer
Moderate demand
Works in education offices or government, overseeing education quality, governance, and policy implementation in schools and institutions.
Education Administrator
Moderate demand
Manages administrative functions in educational institutions, overseeing operations, finance, and institutional governance.
Education Policy Analyst
Low demand
Analyses education policy in government, research institutions, or NGOs, providing evidence-based policy recommendations.
Graduate outcomes
Graduates find employment as school principals, education officers, and education administrators in schools, education offices, and government, with opportunities for educational leadership and governance roles.
Where these fields lead
8 careers- Early Childhood StrategistEducation10Low exposure
- Special Needs EducatorEducation10Low exposure
- Career Guidance CounselorEducation11Low exposure
- Early Literacy SpecialistEducation14Low exposure
- STEM Laboratory EducatorEducation14Low exposure
- TVET Competency AssessorEducation14Low exposure
- Vocational Workshop InstructorEducation14Low exposure
- Montessori EducatorEducation15Low exposure
Industry links
Common misconceptions
Educational governance is just about school management.
Educational governance covers policy analysis, institutional development, quality assurance, legal frameworks, and stakeholder engagement, not just school management.
You need to be a headteacher to study educational governance.
Educational governance is valuable for all education professionals including teachers, administrators, policy officers, and those aspiring to leadership roles.
Governance in education is only for public schools.
Educational governance applies to all institutions including private schools, colleges, universities, and education agencies.
Educational governance is not relevant in Kenya.
Kenya's education sector faces significant governance challenges including accountability, transparency, and quality assurance, making governance expertise highly relevant.