Social Sciences

Master of Research and Public Policy

The Master of Research and Public Policy (MRPP) is a unique collaborative postgraduate programme that combines social science research training with public policy analysis. The programme prepares graduates to conduct policy-oriented research, analyse public policy issues, and contribute to evidence-based policymaking in Kenya and across Africa.

Core areas of study include qualitative and quantitative research methods, public policy development and analysis, governance and politics of public policy, social science foundations, economics for public policy, research ethics, gender and social diversity, leadership and public policy, and global contexts of public policy. Students engage with both theoretical foundations and practical applications in research and policy.

The programme is offered by the University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University, and Moi University, with Egerton University and Maseno University as colleges. The MRPP is a collaborative programme designed and implemented by 16 participating universities across 9 African countries, supported by the Partnership for African Social and Governance Research (PASGR). The programme uses a common architecture, course content, and teaching practices across all partner universities.

Students develop competencies in research design, policy analysis, quantitative and qualitative methods, policy evaluation, governance analysis, economic analysis of policy, ethical research practice, and applying research evidence to policy. The programme uses participatory learning, interactive teaching tools, group projects, case studies, and e-learning materials. Students complete coursework, industrial attachment, and a research thesis.

The programme is delivered over two academic years with two semesters per year, followed by a long break for field experience and data collection. The programme is full-time with evening blended delivery (virtual and physical) at UoN. The collaborative model enables students to interact across MRPP universities and access international practices and experience.

Graduates pursue careers as policy researchers, policy analysts, monitoring and evaluation specialists, governance consultants, public policy educators, and research consultants in government, think tanks, NGOs, international organisations, and universities.

Skills Required

Policy Analysis and Development
Quantitative Research Methods
Qualitative Research Methods
Public Policy Evaluation
Governance and Political Analysis
Economic Analysis of Public Policy
Research Ethics and Integrity
Evidence-Based Policymaking
Gender and Social Diversity Analysis
Research Project Management and Thesis Writing

Key Subjects

Qualitative Research Methods
Quantitative Research Methods
Public Policy Development and Analysis
Governance and Politics of Public Policy
Social Science Foundations for Public Policy
Economics for Public Policy
Ethics in Research and Public Policy
Gender, Social Diversity, Equity and Public Policy
Leadership and Public Policy
Global Context of Public Policy

Certifications

PASGR MRPP Certification
KIPPRA Policy Research Certification

Specializations

Policy Research

Focuses on designing and conducting policy-oriented research, using research methods to inform policy, and producing evidence for policymaking.

Public Policy Analysis

Examines public policy analysis, policy development processes, evaluating policy options, and applying analytical tools to public policy issues.

Governance and Public Policy

Covers governance, politics of public policy, understanding governance systems, and analysing how governance structures shape policy outcomes.

Social Policy and Equity

Focuses on social policy, gender and social diversity in policy, equity considerations, and ensuring policies address social inclusion and justice.

Economic Policy Analysis

Examines economics for public policy, economic analysis of policy options, understanding economic implications of policy decisions, and fiscal policy.

Global and Comparative Public Policy

Covers global context of public policy, comparative policy analysis, understanding international policy frameworks, and policy transfer and learning.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 220,500
Private, up to: Ksh 297,140
Job market: Very high

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Evening, Blended
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 15 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Qualitative Research Methods
Quantitative Research Methods
Public Policy Development and Analysis
Governance and Politics of Public Policy
Social Science Foundations for Public Policy
Economics for Public Policy
Ethics in Research and Public Policy
Gender, Social Diversity, Equity and Public Policy
Leadership and Public Policy
Global Context of Public Policy

Modules

12 in the programme

Qualitative Research Methods
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines qualitative research approaches, data collection techniques, coding and analysis, ethnography, interviews, focus groups, and applying qualitative methods to policy research.
Quantitative Research Methods
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers quantitative research design, survey methodology, sampling, statistical analysis, and applying quantitative methods to policy research and analysis.
Public Policy Development and Analysis
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines public policy development processes, policy analysis frameworks, evaluating policy options, and understanding how policies are formulated, implemented, and evaluated.
Governance and Politics of Public Policy
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers governance systems, political processes shaping policy, understanding how political institutions and governance structures influence policy outcomes.
Social Science Foundations for Public Policy
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines social science theories and concepts underlying public policy, understanding social phenomena, and applying social science perspectives to policy analysis.
Economics for Public Policy
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers economic principles for policy analysis, cost-benefit analysis, fiscal policy, understanding economic implications of policy decisions, and economic evaluation of policy options.
Ethics in Research and Public Policy
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines research ethics, ethical principles in policy research, managing ethical dilemmas, and ensuring ethical conduct in research and policy practice.
Gender, Social Diversity, Equity and Public Policy
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers gender and social diversity in policy, equity considerations, analysing how policies affect different social groups, and ensuring inclusive and equitable policy outcomes.
Leadership and Public Policy
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines leadership in public policy, policy leadership skills, managing policy processes, and the role of leadership in effective policy development and implementation.
Global Context of Public Policy
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers global influences on public policy, international policy frameworks, comparative policy analysis, policy transfer, and understanding policy in a globalised context.
Contemporary Issues in Public Policy
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines contemporary policy issues in Africa and Kenya, emerging policy challenges, and analysing current policy debates and developments.
Research and Thesis Writing
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Research thesis on a public policy topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and policy analysis, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Policy Research
Focuses on designing and conducting policy-oriented research, using research methods to inform policy, and producing evidence for policymaking.
Public Policy Analysis
Examines public policy analysis, policy development processes, evaluating policy options, and applying analytical tools to public policy issues.
Governance and Public Policy
Covers governance, politics of public policy, understanding governance systems, and analysing how governance structures shape policy outcomes.
Social Policy and Equity
Focuses on social policy, gender and social diversity in policy, equity considerations, and ensuring policies address social inclusion and justice.
Economic Policy Analysis
Examines economics for public policy, economic analysis of policy options, understanding economic implications of policy decisions, and fiscal policy.
Global and Comparative Public Policy
Covers global context of public policy, comparative policy analysis, understanding international policy frameworks, and policy transfer and learning.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MRPP programme begins with evening lectures on qualitative research methods, public policy analysis, or governance. The programme uses participatory learning with interactive teaching tools, group projects, and case studies rather than traditional lectures. Students engage in policy analysis exercises, debating policy options, and analysing real policy cases from Kenya and across Africa. Research methods sessions cover both qualitative and quantitative approaches, with practical exercises in data collection, coding, and analysis. Economics for public policy sessions examine how economic principles inform policy decisions. Gender and social diversity sessions explore how policies affect different social groups and how to ensure equitable policy outcomes. E-learning materials enable students to interact with peers across MRPP universities in other African countries, bringing international practices and perspectives into the classroom. Guest lectures from policy practitioners, think tank researchers, and government officials provide real-world policy insights. Group projects involve analysing specific policy issues and presenting policy recommendations. After the first academic year, students go on a long break for field experience and data collection for their thesis. The collaborative nature of the programme provides unique networking opportunities across African universities and access to a pan-African community of policy scholars and practitioners.

The trade offs

In its favour

Unique collaborative programme across 16 African universities, providing pan-African networking and international perspectives on public policy.
Growing demand for evidence-based policymaking creates very high demand for policy researchers and analysts in government, NGOs, and international organisations.
Programme combines research methods with policy analysis, producing graduates who can both generate evidence and apply it to policy.
PASGR support ensures quality assurance, common standards, shared resources, and continuous improvement across all partner universities.

Against it

Programme is relatively new (launched 2014), with limited alumni networks compared to more established programmes.
Specific fee structures for KU, Moi, Egerton, and Maseno could not be independently verified, making cost comparison difficult.
Programme requires full-time study with industrial attachment, which may be challenging for working professionals despite evening blended delivery.
Small class sizes (approximately 11-15 per cohort) mean limited intake capacity and competitive admission.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 241 social sciences courses

Public187k to 221k

187k at Moi University221k at University of Nairobi

Private156k to 297k

156k at KCA University297k at United States International University 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

UoN ~220.5K/yr. Moi 187.2K/yr. KCA ~155.8K/yr. USIU ~297K/yr (eafinder).

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. PASGR offers scholarships for MRPP students across the African network. ACBF provides research grants for policy research capacity building in Africa. The programme's collaborative pan-African design attracts significant donor and international organisation funding.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
PASGR Scholarships
ACBF Research Grants

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
PASGR Scholarships
ScholarshipKsh 400,000Kenyan
PASGR offers scholarships for MRPP students across the African network, supporting students who demonstrate academic merit and policy research potential.
ACBF Research Grants
GrantKsh 500,000
African Capacity Building Foundation provides research grants for policy research capacity building in Africa, supporting postgraduate policy research.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: The MRPP programme attracts a rich diversity of students from various backgrounds including economics, agriculture, education, security management, environmental studies, theology, and project management. Two-year full-time programme with evening blended delivery (virtual and physical) at UoN. Industrial attachment after first year for field experience and data collection. The programme is part of a collaborative network of 16 African universities supported by PASGR.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Group Projects
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, group projects, policy analysis exercises, case studies, and class participation using participatory learning approaches.
Written Examinations
Examination30% of the mark
Written examinations covering research methods, public policy analysis, governance, and economics for public policy, conducted at end of each semester.
Industrial Attachment Report
Practical40% of the mark
Industrial attachment involving field experience in a policy-related organisation, with a written report assessing the application of research and policy skills in practice.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on a public policy topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and policy analysis, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). The MRPP is a collaborative programme supported by the Partnership for African Social and Governance Research (PASGR), with common architecture and assessment standards across 16 African universities. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate public policy and research training.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. The MRPP is a collaborative programme supported by PASGR with common assessment standards across 16 African universities.
Partnership for African Social and Governance Research (PASGR)
Programme quality assuranceRequired
PASGR provides quality assurance for the MRPP programme across all partner universities, ensuring common standards, curriculum, and assessment.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Policy Researcher
Very high demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 600,000
Conducts policy research in think tanks, research institutions, and universities, producing evidence to inform public policy and contributing to policy knowledge.
Policy Analyst
Very high demandKsh 140,000 to Ksh 550,000
Analyses public policy issues, evaluating policy options, preparing policy briefs, and advising government, NGOs, and international organisations on policy matters.
Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist
Very high demandKsh 160,000 to Ksh 600,000
Designs and implements M&E frameworks for public policy programmes, evaluating policy effectiveness and impact using research methods.
Governance Consultant
High demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 550,000
Consults on governance and public policy, advising organisations on governance systems, policy processes, and institutional reform.
Public Policy Educator
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaches public policy and research methods in universities, conducting policy research, training future policy professionals, and contributing to academic scholarship.
Research Consultant
High demandKsh 140,000 to Ksh 550,000
Provides research consulting services to organisations, conducting policy research, evaluations, and advisory services for government, NGOs, and private sector.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as policy researchers, policy analysts, M&E specialists, and governance consultants in government, think tanks, NGOs, and international organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

SPSS
SoftwarePrimary
Statistical analysis software for quantitative policy research, analysing survey data, and conducting statistical analysis for policy studies.
NVivo Qualitative Analysis Software
SoftwarePrimary
Qualitative data analysis software for coding and analysing interview data, policy documents, and other qualitative research data.
Stata
Software
Statistical software for policy research, econometric analysis, and data analysis in public policy studies.
EndNote Reference Management
Software
Reference management software for managing bibliographies, citations, and research references for policy research and academic writing.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

MRPP is the same as a Master of Public Administration (MPA).
MRPP focuses on research methods and public policy analysis, distinct from MPA which focuses on public administration and management. MRPP combines research training with policy, not administration.
This programme is only for those working in government.
MRPP graduates work in diverse settings including NGOs, think tanks, research institutions, international organisations, universities, and private sector, not just government.
The collaborative programme is less rigorous than traditional programmes.
MRPP uses common assessment standards across 16 universities, with quality assured by PASGR, and the collaborative design brings international best practices and diverse perspectives.
Public policy research has limited career prospects in Kenya.
Growing demand for evidence-based policymaking in government, NGOs, and international organisations creates very high demand for policy researchers and analysts in Kenya and across Africa.
This programme is only for social science graduates.
MRPP accepts graduates from diverse backgrounds including economics, agriculture, education, security management, environmental studies, and project management, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of public policy.
The programme is too theoretical and disconnected from real policy practice.
MRPP uses case study teaching, industrial attachment, participatory learning, and policy analysis projects that directly engage with real policy issues and practical policy challenges.