Education

Master of Education (Guidance & Counselling)

The Master of Education (Guidance and Counselling) is a postgraduate programme that prepares educators and professionals to provide psychological support, guidance, and counselling services in educational and organisational settings. The programme combines counselling theory with educational practice.

Core areas include counselling theories and techniques, career guidance, developmental psychology, group counselling, family counselling, crisis intervention, educational research methods, and thesis research. Students engage with both theoretical counselling foundations and practical guidance skills.

The programme is offered by multiple Kenyan universities including Kenyatta University, Moi University, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST), Egerton University, and Catholic University of Eastern Africa. Public and private universities offer the programme over two academic years through full-time, part-time, and school-based modes.

Students develop competencies in counselling techniques, psychological assessment, career guidance, crisis intervention, group facilitation, family support, and research methods. The programme includes coursework, examinations, practicum, and thesis research.

Kenyatta University charges a total programme fee of approximately KES 246,000 (approximately KES 123,000/year). Egerton University charges KES 120,700/year. MMUST charges KES 62,000/semester (approximately KES 124,000/year). Catholic University of Eastern Africa also offers the programme. Entry requires a Bachelor of Education degree with at least Second Class Honours Upper Division or Lower Division with relevant experience.

Graduates pursue careers as school counsellors, guidance officers, career advisors, counselling psychologists, and student support specialists in schools, colleges, and organisations.

Skills Required

Counselling Theories and Techniques
Career Guidance and Development
Developmental Psychology
Group Counselling Facilitation
Crisis Intervention and Management
Family Counselling
Psychological Assessment
Educational Research Methods
Student Support and Welfare
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Counselling Theories and Techniques
Career Guidance and Development
Developmental Psychology
Group Counselling
Family Counselling
Crisis Intervention
Psychological Assessment
Educational Research Methods
Student Support and Welfare
Thesis Research

Certifications

TSC Teacher Registration
KCPA Counsellor Certification

Specializations

School Counselling

Focuses on providing counselling and guidance services in school settings, supporting student wellbeing, academic progress, and personal development.

Career Guidance

Examines career development theory, career assessment, and providing career guidance and counselling to students and young people.

Crisis and Trauma Counselling

Covers crisis intervention, trauma counselling, and supporting individuals and communities through traumatic events and crises.

Family and Marriage Counselling

Focuses on family systems, marriage counselling, and supporting families and couples through relationship challenges.

Group Counselling

Examines group dynamics, group counselling techniques, and facilitating therapeutic and support groups in educational settings.

Grief and Loss Counselling

Covers grief counselling, bereavement support, and helping individuals cope with loss and life transitions.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 168,650
Private, up to: Ksh 186,750
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

Counselling Theories and Techniques
Career Guidance and Development
Developmental Psychology
Group Counselling
Family Counselling
Crisis Intervention
Psychological Assessment
Educational Research Methods
Student Support and Welfare
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Counselling Theories and Techniques
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines major counselling theories including psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioural, person-centred, and solution-focused approaches and their application.
Developmental Psychology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers cognitive, social, and emotional development across the lifespan and implications for counselling practice in educational settings.
Career Guidance and Development
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines career development theory, career assessment tools, and providing career guidance and counselling to students and young people.
Educational Research Methods
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers research design, data collection, analysis, and conducting counselling and education research, preparing students for their thesis.
Group Counselling
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines group dynamics, group counselling techniques, and facilitating therapeutic and support groups in educational settings.
Family and Marriage Counselling
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers family systems theory, marriage counselling, and supporting families and couples through relationship challenges.
Crisis Intervention and Trauma Counselling
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines crisis response, trauma counselling, and supporting individuals and communities through traumatic events and crises.
Psychological Assessment in Counselling
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers assessment tools, interpretation, and using psychological assessment to inform counselling practice and intervention planning.
Counselling Ethics and Professional Practice
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines ethical principles, professional standards, confidentiality, boundaries, and legal issues in counselling practice.
Practicum in Guidance and Counselling
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Supervised practicum in school or counselling settings, providing hands-on experience applying counselling skills under professional supervision.
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 a guidance and counselling topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

School Counselling
Focuses on providing counselling and guidance services in school settings, supporting student wellbeing, academic progress, and personal development.
Career Guidance
Examines career development theory, career assessment, and providing career guidance and counselling to students and young people.
Crisis and Trauma Counselling
Covers crisis intervention, trauma counselling, and supporting individuals and communities through traumatic events and crises.
Family and Marriage Counselling
Focuses on family systems, marriage counselling, and supporting families and couples through relationship challenges.
Group Counselling
Examines group dynamics, group counselling techniques, and facilitating therapeutic and support groups in educational settings.
Grief and Loss Counselling
Covers grief counselling, bereavement support, and helping individuals cope with loss and life transitions.

A day as a student

A typical day during the M.Ed. (Guidance and Counselling) programme combines lectures, role-play exercises, seminars, practicum, and independent study. Sessions cover counselling theories, career guidance, developmental psychology, and crisis intervention. Counselling theories sessions examine major theoretical approaches including psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioural, person-centred, and solution-focused counselling. Career guidance sessions cover career development theory, career assessment tools, and providing career counselling to students. Developmental psychology sessions examine cognitive, social, and emotional development across the lifespan and implications for counselling practice. Group counselling sessions cover group dynamics, facilitation techniques, and conducting therapeutic and support groups. Family counselling sessions examine family systems theory, marriage counselling, and supporting families through challenges. Crisis intervention sessions cover crisis response, trauma counselling, and supporting individuals through traumatic events. Psychological assessment sessions cover assessment tools, interpretation, and using assessment to inform counselling practice. Research methods sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. Role-play exercises provide hands-on practice of counselling techniques and skills in supervised settings. Practicum placements in schools or counselling centres provide real-world experience applying counselling skills under supervision. Seminars and discussion groups provide opportunities for case consultation and peer learning. Guest lectures from practising counsellors and psychologists provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a research thesis on a guidance and counselling topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme is offered by multiple universities including both public and private, providing wide choice of institution, fee range, and study mode.
High and growing demand for counselling professionals in Kenyan schools due to increasing awareness of mental health and student wellbeing.
Diverse career paths spanning school counselling, career guidance, crisis intervention, and private counselling practice.
Reasonable tuition ranging from KES 120,700 to KES 124,000 per year at verified institutions.

Against it

Practicum component requires significant time commitment for supervised counselling practice alongside coursework.
Professional recognition as a certified counsellor may require additional certification beyond the M.Ed. degree.
Emotional demands of counselling work can lead to burnout and compassion fatigue if self-care practices are not maintained.
Overlap with related programmes like Educational Psychology and Counselling Psychology may cause confusion for prospective students.

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

Public151k to 169k

151k at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology169k at Egerton University

Private131k to 187k

131k at Mount Kenya University187k at Catholic University of Eastern Africa

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

Egerton 169K, MMUST 151K/yr (egerton.ac.ke). CUEA 187K, MKU 131K/yr.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. TSC supports teacher professional development. KCPA may provide support for professional development in counselling. Programmes addressing mental health and student wellbeing may attract support from health and welfare organisations.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
TSC Teacher Professional Development
KCPA Professional 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 guidance and counselling qualifications.
KCPA Professional Development Support
ScholarshipKsh 100,000Kenyan
Kenya Counselling and Psychological Association supports professional development for members pursuing postgraduate counselling qualifications.

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 of Education degree with Upper Second Class Honours, or Lower Second Division with two years of relevant experience. Some universities accept Bachelor's degrees in related fields with counselling 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, role-play evaluations, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination40% of the mark
Written examinations covering counselling theories, developmental psychology, career guidance, and crisis intervention.
Practicum Assessment
Practical30% of the mark
Practical assessment through supervised practicum, demonstrating counselling skills, ethical practice, and professional competency.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on a guidance and counselling 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, Moi University, MMUST, and Egerton University (public) and Catholic University of Eastern Africa (private) all offer M.Ed. in Guidance and Counselling. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate guidance and counselling training. Graduates are eligible for TSC registration and KCPA certification.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. Kenyatta University, Moi University, MMUST, and Egerton University (public) and Catholic University of Eastern Africa (private) all offer M.Ed. in Guidance and Counselling. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate guidance and counselling training. Graduates are eligible for TSC registration and KCPA certification.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

School Counsellor
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 300,000
Provides counselling and guidance to students in schools, overseeing psychological support, career guidance, and student wellbeing.
Guidance Officer
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 350,000
Coordinates guidance and counselling services in educational institutions, overseeing programme design, implementation, and student support.
Career Advisor
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 300,000
Provides career guidance and counselling to students and job seekers, overseeing career assessment, planning, and development support.
Counselling Psychologist
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 400,000
Provides professional counselling services, overseeing psychological assessment, therapy, and supporting client mental health and wellbeing.
Student Support Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 350,000
Supports student welfare and development in educational institutions, overseeing counselling services, crisis response, and student support programmes.
Education Counsellor
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 350,000
Provides counselling support in educational settings, overseeing student guidance, personal development, and academic support services.

Graduate outcomes