Education

Masters of Education in Language Education (English or Kiswahili)

The Masters of Education in Language Education is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in language teaching, pedagogy, and research with specialisation in either English or Kiswahili. The programme provides specialised training in language teaching methodology, linguistics, literature, and curriculum development.

Core areas include language teaching methodology, applied linguistics, literature in education, curriculum development, language assessment, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both theoretical and practical work through coursework, teaching practice, and research.

The programme is offered by Moi University as a public institution through the School of Education, with separate tracks for English and Kiswahili. Kenyatta University offers a related MEd in Educational Communication and Technology (Language Education). Both programmes are available over two years.

Students develop competencies in language pedagogy, applied linguistics, curriculum development, assessment, and research. The programme includes coursework, examinations, teaching practice, and a supervised research thesis, preparing graduates for language education and research roles.

KU charges approximately KES 142,700 per year while Moi University charges approximately KES 187,200 per year. No private university confirmed offering this exact programme. Entry requires at least an Upper Second Class Honours degree in Education or a related field with a language specialisation from a recognised institution.

Graduates pursue careers as language lecturers, language education officers, curriculum developers, language researchers, teacher trainers, and lecturers across universities, secondary schools, education ministries, and teacher training colleges.

Skills Required

Language Teaching Methodology and Pedagogy
Applied Linguistics in Education
Literature in Language Education
Curriculum Development in Language Education
Language Assessment and Evaluation
Second Language Acquisition Theory
Educational Communication Technology
Materials Development for Language Teaching
Research Methods in Language Education
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Language Teaching Methodology and Pedagogy
Applied Linguistics in Education
Literature in Language Education
Curriculum Development in Language Education
Language Assessment and Evaluation
Second Language Acquisition Theory
Educational Communication Technology
Materials Development for Language Teaching
Research Methods in Language Education
Thesis Research

Certifications

KICD Curriculum Developer Certification
IATEFL Professional Membership

Specializations

English Language Education

Focuses on English language education, covering English, language, education, teaching, and managing English language education and pedagogy.

Kiswahili Language Education

Examines Kiswahili language education, covering Kiswahili, language, education, teaching, and managing Kiswahili language education and pedagogy.

Applied Linguistics

Covers applied linguistics, covering applied, linguistics, language, education, and managing applied linguistics in education.

Literature in Education

Focuses on literature in education, covering literature, education, language, teaching, and managing literature in language education.

Language Assessment

Examines language assessment, covering language, assessment, evaluation, testing, and managing language assessment and evaluation.

Educational Communication Technology

Covers educational communication, covering educational, communication, technology, language, and managing educational communication technology in language education.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 246,000
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: Full-time, Part-time, School-based
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 20 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Language Teaching Methodology and Pedagogy
Applied Linguistics in Education
Literature in Language Education
Curriculum Development in Language Education
Language Assessment and Evaluation
Second Language Acquisition Theory
Educational Communication Technology
Materials Development for Language Teaching
Research Methods in Language Education
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Language Teaching Methodology and Pedagogy
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines language teaching, covering language, teaching, methodology, pedagogy, and managing language teaching methodology and pedagogy.
Applied Linguistics in Education
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers applied linguistics, covering applied, linguistics, language, education, and managing applied linguistics in education.
Second Language Acquisition Theory
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines second language acquisition, covering second, language, acquisition, theory, and managing second language acquisition theory.
Literature in Language Education
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers literature in education, covering literature, education, language, teaching, and managing literature in language education.
Curriculum Development in Language Education
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines curriculum development, covering curriculum, development, language, education, and managing curriculum development in language education.
Language Assessment and Evaluation
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers language assessment, covering language, assessment, evaluation, testing, and managing language assessment and evaluation.
Educational Communication Technology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines educational communication, covering educational, communication, technology, language, and managing educational communication technology.
Research Methods in Language Education
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers research, methods, language, education, and conducting research in language education, preparing students for their thesis.
Materials Development for Language Teaching
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines materials development, covering materials, development, language, teaching, and managing materials development for language teaching.
Sociolinguistics in Education
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers sociolinguistics, covering sociolinguistics, education, language, society, and managing sociolinguistics in education.
Language Policy and Planning in Education
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines language policy, covering language, policy, planning, education, and managing language policy and planning in education.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 212 creditsCore
Original supervised research thesis on a language education topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and language education knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

English Language Education
Focuses on English language education, covering English, language, education, teaching, and managing English language education and pedagogy.
Kiswahili Language Education
Examines Kiswahili language education, covering Kiswahili, language, education, teaching, and managing Kiswahili language education and pedagogy.
Applied Linguistics
Covers applied linguistics, covering applied, linguistics, language, education, and managing applied linguistics in education.
Literature in Education
Focuses on literature in education, covering literature, education, language, teaching, and managing literature in language education.
Language Assessment
Examines language assessment, covering language, assessment, evaluation, testing, and managing language assessment and evaluation.
Educational Communication Technology
Covers educational communication, covering educational, communication, technology, language, and managing educational communication technology in language education.

A day as a student

A typical day combines lectures, seminars, teaching practice, and independent study. Sessions cover language teaching methodology, applied linguistics, literature in education, curriculum development, and language assessment. Teaching methodology sessions examine language, teaching, methodology, pedagogy, and managing language teaching methodology. Linguistics sessions cover applied, linguistics, language, education, and managing applied linguistics in education. Literature sessions cover literature, education, language, teaching, and managing literature in language education. Curriculum sessions cover curriculum, development, language, education, and managing curriculum development in language education. Assessment sessions cover language, assessment, evaluation, testing, and managing language assessment. The programme culminates in a supervised research thesis on a language education topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme addresses high demand for language education professionals in Kenya's education sector.
Two public universities confirmed offering related programmes, providing options for students.
Programme offers specialisation in either English or Kiswahili, covering Kenya's two official languages.
Graduates are eligible for KICD curriculum developer certification and IATEFL professional membership.

Against it

Fee difference between KU (KES 142,700/year) and Moi (KES 187,200/year).
No private university confirmed offering this programme.
Language teaching roles may require TSC registration in Kenya.
Programme may require school-based study mode which may not suit all 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

Public187k to 246k

187k at Moi University246k at Kenyatta University

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

KU 246K/yr (ku.ac.ke). Moi ~187K/yr. Kabarak 165K, AIU 191K/yr.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. Universities may offer scholarships for eligible students. IATEFL may offer fellowships for English language teaching research and education.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
University Scholarship
IATEFL Fellowship

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
University Scholarship
ScholarshipKsh 187,200Kenyan
Moi University and KU may offer scholarships for eligible postgraduate language education students.
IATEFL Fellowship
ScholarshipKsh 250,000
IATEFL may offer fellowships for English language teaching research and education.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: Moi University and KU require at least Upper Second Class Honours in Education or a related field. Lower Second Class may be considered with teaching experience or a Postgraduate Diploma in Education. 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, teaching practice reports, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Written examinations covering language teaching methodology, applied linguistics, curriculum development, and language assessment.
Teaching Practice Assessment
Project40% of the mark
Practical assessment through teaching practice, demonstrating language teaching methodology and pedagogy skills.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original supervised research thesis on a language education topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and language education knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Moi University (public) offers MEd in Language Education (English and Kiswahili) through the School of Education. KU (public) offers MEd in Educational Communication and Technology (Language Education). The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in language education. Graduates may interact with KICD for curriculum development certification and IATEFL for international standards. The programme aligns with CUE, KICD, and IATEFL language education frameworks.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. Moi University (public) offers MEd in Language Education (English and Kiswahili) through the School of Education. KU (public) offers MEd in Educational Communication and Technology (Language Education). The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in language education. Graduates may interact with KICD for curriculum development certification and IATEFL for international standards. The programme aligns with CUE, KICD, and IATEFL language education frameworks.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Language Lecturer
High demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 400,000
Teaches language at university or college level, covering language, lecturer, teaching, education, and managing language instruction.
Language Education Officer
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 300,000
Manages language education, covering language, education, officer, programmes, and managing language education programmes.
Curriculum Developer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 350,000
Develops language curriculum, covering curriculum, developer, language, education, and managing curriculum development in language education.
Language Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 300,000
Conducts language research, covering language, researcher, research, education, and managing language education research.
Teacher Trainer
High demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 350,000
Trains language teachers, covering teacher, trainer, language, education, and managing teacher training in language education.
Education Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 400,000
Teaches language education at university level, overseeing instruction, research, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

SPSS
SoftwarePrimary
SPSS for language education research data analysis, covering statistics, data, analysis, language, and managing language research data analysis.
NVivo
Software
NVivo for qualitative data analysis in language research, covering NVivo, qualitative, data, analysis, and managing qualitative data analysis.
Moodle
Software
Moodle for educational communication and online language teaching, covering Moodle, online, teaching, language, and managing online language education.
Reference Management Software
Software
Reference management for language research and thesis writing, covering references, research, thesis, language, and managing research references.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Language education is just about teaching grammar.
Language education covers methodology, linguistics, literature, assessment, curriculum development, and technology beyond just grammar.
This programme is only for English or Kiswahili teachers.
The programme is for professionals from education, linguistics, and related fields, not just language teachers.
Language education has limited career prospects in Kenya.
Language education professionals are in high demand in schools, universities, and teacher training colleges as Kenya emphasises language competence.
This programme is the same as a general MA in Linguistics.
MEd in Language Education focuses on pedagogy and curriculum development, while MA Linguistics focuses on linguistic theory and research.
Technology has made language teaching less important.
Technology has enhanced language education, creating new opportunities in educational communication and digital language learning.
You need to be a native speaker to teach language education.
The programme is accessible to graduates with relevant language qualifications, not just native speakers.