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Masters of Education in Special needs Educational

<p>The Masters of Education in Special Needs Education is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in special needs education, inclusive education, and disability support. The programme provides specialised training in special needs pedagogy, assessment, intervention, and inclusive education practices.

Duration
2 years
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 295,800
Ksh 591,600 total
Private tuition
Ksh 191,050
Ksh 382,100 total
Job market
High
Market demand for graduates

The short answer

What it costs
Up to Ksh 295,800 a year at a public institution, Ksh 591,600 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 N/A (Postgraduate) or above. There is another way in without it.The detail
How long, and when
Takes 2 years, full-time, part-time, school-based, with 0 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 3 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

Core areas include special needs education theory, inclusive education, assessment and intervention, visual impairment education, hearing impairment education, learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, gifted and talented education, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both theoretical and practical work through coursework, teaching practice, and research.

The programme is offered by Kenyatta University as a public institution through the School of Education. Pwani University offers MEd in Special Needs Education as a public institution. Maseno University also offers the programme. Programmes are available over two years.

Students develop competencies in special needs pedagogy, assessment, inclusive education, intervention design, and research. The programme includes coursework, examinations, teaching practice in special schools, and a supervised research thesis, preparing graduates for special needs education and leadership roles.

KU charges approximately KES 142,700 per year while Pwani University charges approximately KES 137,700 per year. No private university confirmed offering this exact programme at verified rates. Entry requires at least an Upper Second Class Honours degree in Education (Special Needs), Special Needs Education, or a related field from a recognised institution.

Graduates pursue careers as special needs lecturers, special education officers, inclusive education consultants, assessment specialists, special school administrators, and teacher trainers across universities, special schools, education ministries, and NGOs.

Skills Required

  • Special Needs Education Theory and Practice
  • Inclusive Education Design and Implementation
  • Assessment and Identification of Learning Needs
  • Visual Impairment Education Strategies
  • Hearing Impairment Education Strategies
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder Support
  • Learning Disabilities Intervention
  • Gifted and Talented Education
  • Research Methods in Special Education
  • Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

  • Special Needs Education Theory and Practice
  • Inclusive Education Design and Implementation
  • Assessment and Identification of Learning Needs
  • Visual Impairment Education Strategies
  • Hearing Impairment Education Strategies
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder Support
  • Learning Disabilities Intervention
  • Gifted and Talented Education
  • Research Methods in Special Education
  • Thesis Research

Certifications

  • KISE Special Education Certification
  • KICD Curriculum Developer Certification

Specializations

Visual Impairment Education

Focuses on visual impairment education, covering visual, impairment, education, Braille, and managing visual impairment education strategies.

Hearing Impairment Education

Examines hearing impairment education, covering hearing, impairment, education, sign, and managing hearing impairment education strategies.

Learning Disabilities

Covers learning disabilities, covering learning, disabilities, intervention, education, and managing learning disabilities intervention.

Autism Spectrum Disorders

Focuses on autism spectrum, covering autism, spectrum, disorders, support, and managing autism spectrum disorder support.

Inclusive Education

Examines inclusive education, covering inclusive, education, design, implementation, and managing inclusive education design and implementation.

Gifted and Talented Education

Covers gifted and talented education, covering gifted, talented, education, support, and managing gifted and talented education.

What you study

10 subjects
  • Special Needs Education Theory and Practice
  • Inclusive Education Design and Implementation
  • Assessment and Identification of Learning Needs
  • Visual Impairment Education Strategies
  • Hearing Impairment Education Strategies
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder Support
  • Learning Disabilities Intervention
  • Gifted and Talented Education
  • Research Methods in Special Education
  • Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

  • Special Needs Education Theory and Practice

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Examines special needs theory, covering special, needs, education, theory, and managing special needs education theory and practice.

  • Inclusive Education Design and Implementation

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Covers inclusive education, covering inclusive, education, design, implementation, and managing inclusive education design and implementation.

  • Assessment and Identification of Learning Needs

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Examines assessment, covering assessment, identification, learning, needs, and managing assessment and identification of learning needs.

  • Visual Impairment Education Strategies

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Covers visual impairment, covering visual, impairment, education, Braille, and managing visual impairment education strategies.

  • Hearing Impairment Education Strategies

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Examines hearing impairment, covering hearing, impairment, education, sign, and managing hearing impairment education strategies.

  • Learning Disabilities Intervention

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Covers learning disabilities, covering learning, disabilities, intervention, education, and managing learning disabilities intervention.

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder Support

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Examines autism spectrum, covering autism, spectrum, disorders, support, and managing autism spectrum disorder support.

  • Research Methods in Special Education

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Covers research, methods, special, education, and conducting research in special education, preparing students for their thesis.

  • Gifted and Talented Education

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Examines gifted and talented, covering gifted, talented, education, support, and managing gifted and talented education.

  • Physical and Health Impairments

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Covers physical impairments, covering physical, health, impairments, education, and managing physical and health impairments education.

  • Special Education Policy and Legislation

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Examines special education policy, covering special, education, policy, legislation, and managing special education policy and legislation.

  • Research Thesis

    Year 2Semester 212 creditsCore

    Original supervised research thesis on a special needs education topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and special education knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

  • Visual Impairment Education

    Focuses on visual impairment education, covering visual, impairment, education, Braille, and managing visual impairment education strategies.

  • Hearing Impairment Education

    Examines hearing impairment education, covering hearing, impairment, education, sign, and managing hearing impairment education strategies.

  • Learning Disabilities

    Covers learning disabilities, covering learning, disabilities, intervention, education, and managing learning disabilities intervention.

  • Autism Spectrum Disorders

    Focuses on autism spectrum, covering autism, spectrum, disorders, support, and managing autism spectrum disorder support.

  • Inclusive Education

    Examines inclusive education, covering inclusive, education, design, implementation, and managing inclusive education design and implementation.

  • Gifted and Talented Education

    Covers gifted and talented education, covering gifted, talented, education, support, and managing gifted and talented education.

A day as a student

A typical day combines lectures, seminars, teaching practice in special schools, and independent study. Sessions cover special needs theory, inclusive education, assessment, visual impairment, hearing impairment, and learning disabilities. Special needs theory sessions examine special, needs, education, theory, and managing special needs education theory. Inclusive education sessions cover inclusive, education, design, implementation, and managing inclusive education design. Assessment sessions cover assessment, identification, learning, needs, and managing assessment and identification. Visual impairment sessions cover visual, impairment, education, Braille, and managing visual impairment education. Hearing impairment sessions cover hearing, impairment, education, sign, and managing hearing impairment education. Learning disabilities sessions cover learning, disabilities, intervention, education, and managing learning disabilities intervention. The programme culminates in a supervised research thesis on a special needs education topic.

The trade-offs

In its favourAgainst it
Programme addresses high demand for special needs professionals as Kenya implements inclusive education.Small fee difference between Pwani (KES 137,700/year) and KU (KES 142,700/year).
Two public universities confirmed offering the programme, providing options for students.No private university confirmed offering this programme at verified rates.
Programme covers diverse areas from visual impairment to autism to gifted and talented education.Teaching practice may require placement in special schools which may be limited.
Graduates are eligible for KISE special education certification and KICD curriculum developer certification.Programme may require emotional resilience for working with vulnerable learners.

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
Public145k to 296k
145k at Pwani University296k 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 295.8K/yr (ku.ac.ke). Pwani 145K/yr (tuko.co.ke). Kabarak 165K, AIU 191K/yr.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. Universities may offer scholarships for eligible students. UNESCO may offer inclusive education funding for research and education.

Funding options

  • HELB Postgraduate Loan

  • University Scholarship

  • UNESCO Inclusive Education Fund

Scholarships

3 recorded

  • HELB Postgraduate Loan

    LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan

    Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.

  • University Scholarship

    ScholarshipKsh 142,700Kenyan

    KU and Pwani University may offer scholarships for eligible postgraduate special needs students.

  • UNESCO Inclusive Education Fund

    ScholarshipKsh 250,000

    UNESCO may offer inclusive education funding for research and education.

Scholarships you could apply for

2 usable where it is taught
Save one and be reminded before it closes

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade
N/A (Postgraduate)minimum entry
Alternative entry

KU and Pwani University require at least Upper Second Class Honours in Education or a related field. Lower Second Class may be considered with relevant teaching experience in special needs settings. Contact respective universities for specific admission requirements.

When it next starts

Taught at 3 institutions
January 20273 institutions

Including Pwani University, Maseno University, Kenyatta University.

May 20273 institutions

Including Pwani University, Maseno University, Kenyatta University.

September 20273 institutions

Including Pwani University, Maseno University, Kenyatta University.

How you are assessed

4 components

  • Coursework and Continuous Assessment

    Coursework30% of the mark

    Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, case studies, seminar presentations, and class participation.

  • Written Examinations

    Examination70% of the mark

    Written examinations covering special needs theory, inclusive education, assessment, and intervention strategies.

  • Teaching Practice Assessment

    Project40% of the mark

    Practical assessment through teaching practice in special schools, demonstrating special needs pedagogy and intervention skills.

  • Research Thesis

    Research100% of the mark

    Original supervised research thesis on a special needs education topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and special education knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

  • Commission for University Education (CUE)

    Academic accreditationRequired

    Programme accredited by CUE. KU (public) offers MEd in Special Education through the School of Education. Pwani University (public) offers MEd in Special Needs Education. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in special needs education. Graduates may interact with KISE for special education certification and KICD for curriculum development. The programme aligns with CUE, KISE, KICD, and UNESCO inclusive education frameworks.

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). KU (public) offers MEd in Special Education through the School of Education. Pwani University (public) offers MEd in Special Needs Education. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in special needs education. Graduates may interact with KISE for special education certification and KICD for curriculum development. The programme aligns with CUE, KISE, KICD, and UNESCO inclusive education frameworks.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

  • Special Needs Lecturer

    High demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 400,000

    Teaches special needs education at university or college level, covering special, needs, lecturer, teaching, and managing special needs instruction.

  • Special Education Officer

    High demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 300,000

    Manages special education, covering special, education, officer, programmes, and managing special education programmes.

  • Inclusive Education Consultant

    Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 350,000

    Provides inclusive education consulting, covering inclusive, education, consultant, advisory, and managing inclusive education consulting.

  • Assessment Specialist

    Moderate demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 300,000

    Conducts learning needs assessment, covering assessment, specialist, learning, needs, and managing assessment and identification.

  • Special School Administrator

    Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 350,000

    Manages special school operations, covering special, school, administrator, operations, and managing special school administration.

  • Teacher Trainer

    High demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 350,000

    Trains special needs teachers, covering teacher, trainer, special, needs, and managing teacher training in special needs education.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as special needs lecturers, special education officers, inclusive education consultants, assessment specialists, special school administrators, and teacher trainers across universities, special schools, education ministries, and NGOs.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

  • SPSS

    SoftwarePrimary

    SPSS for special education research data analysis, covering statistics, data, analysis, special, and managing special education research data analysis.

  • NVivo

    Software

    NVivo for qualitative data analysis in special education research, covering NVivo, qualitative, data, analysis, and managing qualitative data analysis.

  • Individualised Education Program (IEP) Software

    Software

    IEP software for individualised education planning, covering IEP, individualised, education, planning, and managing individualised education programs.

  • Excel

    Software

    Excel for special education data management and reporting, covering Excel, data, special, education, and managing special education data management.

Common misconceptions

  • Special needs education is just about teaching disabled children.

    Special needs education covers inclusive education, gifted and talented, learning disabilities, autism, and systemic policy beyond just disability.

  • This programme is only for special education graduates.

    The programme is for professionals from education, psychology, and related fields, not just special education graduates.

  • Special needs education has limited career prospects in Kenya.

    Special needs professionals are in high demand as Kenya implements inclusive education policies.

  • This programme is the same as educational psychology.

    Special needs education focuses on pedagogy and intervention, while educational psychology covers broader psychological assessment and support.

  • Inclusive education means putting all children in the same classroom without support.

    Inclusive education involves systematic design, accommodation, and specialist support to ensure all learners can participate.

  • You need special education experience to study this programme.

    The programme is accessible to graduates from various fields seeking special needs education specialisation, not just experienced special educators.

Further reading

Read next