Education

Master of Measurement and Evaluation

The Master of Measurement and Evaluation is a postgraduate programme that equips education professionals with advanced knowledge and skills in educational measurement, assessment, and programme evaluation. The programme prepares graduates to design assessment instruments, evaluate educational programmes, and contribute to evidence-based decision-making in education.

Core areas of study include educational measurement, assessment design, programme evaluation, research methods, statistics, psychometrics, test construction, data analysis, evaluation frameworks, and thesis writing. Students engage with both quantitative and qualitative evaluation methodologies.

The programme is offered by the University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University, and Moi University, with Egerton University listed as a college. UoN offers M.Ed Measurement and Evaluation at Kikuyu Campus. KU offers Master of Education in Educational Research, Evaluation and Measurement. The programme bridges education and research methodology.

Students develop competencies in educational measurement, assessment design, programme evaluation, psychometrics, statistical analysis, test construction, research methods, data analysis, evaluation frameworks, and reporting. The programme includes coursework, examinations, and a research thesis.

The programme is delivered over two years with full-time and part-time modes available. UoN offers the programme at Kikuyu Campus in full-time mode. The programme is designed for teachers, education officers, assessment specialists, and researchers seeking advanced measurement and evaluation expertise.

Graduates pursue careers as assessment specialists, evaluation officers, education researchers, examination officers, monitoring and evaluation specialists, and education consultants in schools, examination councils, government, NGOs, and international organisations.

Skills Required

Educational Measurement and Assessment
Programme Evaluation Methods
Psychometrics and Test Construction
Statistical Analysis in Education
Research Methods in Education
Data Analysis and Interpretation
Evaluation Framework Design
Assessment Instrument Development
Monitoring and Evaluation
Educational Research Reporting

Key Subjects

Educational Measurement
Programme Evaluation
Psychometrics
Test Construction
Statistical Analysis
Research Methods in Education
Assessment Design
Data Analysis
Evaluation Frameworks
Monitoring and Evaluation

Certifications

AfrEA Evaluation Certification
AERA Measurement Certification

Specializations

Educational Measurement

Focuses on educational measurement theory, assessment design, scaling, score interpretation, and applying measurement principles to educational assessment.

Programme Evaluation

Examines programme evaluation methods, evaluation design, formative and summative evaluation, and evaluating educational programmes and policies.

Psychometrics

Covers psychometric theory, item response theory, classical test theory, reliability and validity, and advanced psychometric methods.

Assessment Design

Focuses on assessment instrument design, test construction, rubric development, performance assessment, and designing effective educational assessments.

Research Methods

Examines quantitative and qualitative research methods, research design, data collection, and conducting educational research.

Monitoring and Evaluation

Covers monitoring and evaluation frameworks, M&E systems, indicators, data collection for M&E, and reporting evaluation findings.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 278,300
Private, up to: Ksh 191,050
Job market: Moderate

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 20 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Educational Measurement
Programme Evaluation
Psychometrics
Test Construction
Statistical Analysis
Research Methods in Education
Assessment Design
Data Analysis
Evaluation Frameworks
Monitoring and Evaluation

Modules

10 in the programme

Educational Measurement Theory
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines educational measurement theory, classical test theory, reliability, validity, item analysis, and applying measurement principles to educational assessment.
Programme Evaluation Methods
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers programme evaluation methods, evaluation design, formative and summative evaluation, and evaluating educational programmes and policies.
Psychometrics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines psychometric theory, item response theory, classical test theory, reliability and validity, and advanced psychometric methods for assessment.
Test Construction and Assessment Design
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers assessment instrument design, test construction, rubric development, performance assessment, and designing effective educational assessments.
Statistical Analysis in Education
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines statistical methods for educational data analysis, descriptive and inferential statistics, and using statistical software for educational research.
Research Methods in Education
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers quantitative and qualitative research methods, research design, data collection methods, and conducting educational research.
Evaluation Frameworks and Design
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines evaluation frameworks, logic models, theory of change, evaluation indicators, and designing comprehensive evaluation frameworks.
Monitoring and Evaluation Systems
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers monitoring and evaluation systems, M&E frameworks, data collection for M&E, performance indicators, and reporting evaluation findings.
Data Analysis and Interpretation
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers advanced data analysis techniques, interpreting educational data, using statistical software, and presenting research findings effectively.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research thesis on a measurement and evaluation topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and measurement theory, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Educational Measurement
Focuses on educational measurement theory, assessment design, scaling, score interpretation, and applying measurement principles to educational assessment.
Programme Evaluation
Examines programme evaluation methods, evaluation design, formative and summative evaluation, and evaluating educational programmes and policies.
Psychometrics
Covers psychometric theory, item response theory, classical test theory, reliability and validity, and advanced psychometric methods.
Assessment Design
Focuses on assessment instrument design, test construction, rubric development, performance assessment, and designing effective educational assessments.
Research Methods
Examines quantitative and qualitative research methods, research design, data collection, and conducting educational research.
Monitoring and Evaluation
Covers monitoring and evaluation frameworks, M&E systems, indicators, data collection for M&E, and reporting evaluation findings.

A day as a student

A typical day involves attending lectures on educational measurement, psychometrics, or programme evaluation. Students engage in practical sessions designing assessment instruments, analysing test data, or conducting programme evaluations. Group projects involve developing evaluation frameworks, constructing tests, or analysing educational data sets. Statistical analysis sessions include using SPSS or R for educational data analysis, reliability analysis, and validity studies. Research methodology sessions prepare students for their thesis, with practical training in educational research methods. The programme at UoN is based at Kikuyu Campus in full-time mode. Guest lectures from KNEC officials, evaluation consultants, and experienced researchers provide real-world insights. The programme connects measurement theory to educational practice, with students applying learning to real assessment and evaluation challenges. Those in the thesis phase conduct independent educational research, working under faculty supervision.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's growing focus on evidence-based education policy and programme accountability creates demand for qualified measurement and evaluation professionals.
Programme develops transferable skills applicable in education, health, development, NGOs, and government sectors beyond education.
UoN programme based at Kikuyu Campus with experienced faculty and strong research tradition in educational measurement.
Graduates can pursue careers in examination councils, government, NGOs, and international organisations with competitive salaries.

Against it

Programme is offered at only three public universities, limiting geographic access for prospective students.
No private university offers this programme, limiting options for students preferring private institution environments.
Programme requires strong quantitative and statistical skills, which may be challenging for some students.
Specialised nature may limit career options compared to broader education or research degrees.

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 278k

187k at Moi University278k at University of Nairobi

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

UoN MEd 278K/yr (kenyaeducationguide). Moi ~187K/yr (worldscholarshipforum). Kabarak 165K, AIU 191K (official sites).

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. UNESCO offers education research grants. AfrEA provides evaluation capacity building grants for African professionals.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
UNESCO Education Research Grants
AfrEA Evaluation Capacity Building Grants

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
UNESCO Education Research Grants
ScholarshipKsh 250,000
UNESCO offers education research grants for professionals in developing countries pursuing educational measurement and research.
AfrEA Evaluation Capacity Building Grants
ScholarshipKsh 200,000
AfrEA provides evaluation capacity building grants for African professionals pursuing evaluation education.

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 designed for teachers, education officers, assessment specialists, and researchers. Full-time and part-time modes available. UoN programme based at Kikuyu Campus.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment
Coursework30% of the mark
CATs, measurement exercises, evaluation design assignments, data analysis projects, and seminar presentations conducted throughout each semester.
Practical Projects
Practical30% of the mark
Practical assessment involving test construction, programme evaluation design, statistical analysis exercises, and assessment instrument development.
Final Examination
Examination40% of the mark
End-of-semester examination covering measurement theory, psychometrics, evaluation methods, and statistics, including essay and computational questions.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on a measurement and evaluation topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and measurement theory, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University, and Moi University are all CUE-accredited public universities. The programme aligns with KNEC standards for educational assessment.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University, and Moi University are all CUE-accredited public universities.
Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC)
Professional standards
KNEC sets standards for educational assessment in Kenya. The programme aligns with KNEC assessment standards and practices.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Assessment Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 350,000
Designs and develops educational assessments, oversees test construction, and ensures assessment quality in examination councils or educational institutions.
Evaluation Officer
High demandKsh 75,000 to Ksh 350,000
Evaluates educational programmes and policies, conducting formative and summative evaluations for government, NGOs, or international organisations.
Education Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 400,000
Conducts educational research, analysing educational data and publishing findings for universities, research institutions, or policy organisations.
Examination Officer
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 300,000
Manages examination processes in examination councils or educational institutions, overseeing test administration, scoring, and results reporting.
Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist
High demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 400,000
Designs and implements M&E systems for educational programmes, tracking indicators, collecting data, and reporting on programme performance.
Education Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 85,000 to Ksh 400,000
Provides consulting services on educational assessment, programme evaluation, and research for schools, government, or international organisations.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as assessment specialists, evaluation officers, education researchers, and M&E specialists in examination councils, government, NGOs, and international organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

SPSS
SoftwarePrimary
Statistical analysis software for educational data analysis, reliability analysis, validity studies, and quantitative research.
R
SoftwarePrimary
Statistical programming language for advanced data analysis, psychometric analysis, item response theory, and educational research.
Microsoft Excel
Software
Spreadsheet software for educational data management, basic statistical analysis, assessment scoring, and evaluation reporting.
NVivo
Software
Qualitative data analysis software for analysing qualitative evaluation data, interview transcripts, and open-ended responses.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Measurement and evaluation is just about marking exams.
The programme covers comprehensive educational measurement including psychometrics, programme evaluation, research methods, and statistical analysis, far beyond exam marking.
This programme is only for teachers.
Graduates work in diverse organisations including examination councils, government ministries, NGOs, international organisations, and research institutions.
Measurement and evaluation has limited career prospects in Kenya.
Kenya's growing focus on evidence-based education policy, programme evaluation, and accountability creates demand for qualified measurement and evaluation professionals.
You need a mathematics background to study this programme.
The programme develops statistical and measurement skills from foundational levels and accepts graduates with education and social science backgrounds.
This programme is the same as a general M.Ed.
The programme specifically focuses on measurement, assessment, psychometrics, and evaluation, distinct from general education programmes.
Evaluation skills are only relevant in education.
Measurement and evaluation skills are transferable to programme evaluation in health, development, NGOs, and government sectors beyond education.