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Agriculture

Master of Science (Agricultural Extension)

<p>The Master of Science in Agricultural Extension is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in agricultural extension, rural development, and farmer education. The programme combines extension theory with communication methodology and rural development practice.

Duration
2 years
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 433,500
Ksh 867,000 total
Job market
Moderate
Market demand for graduates

The short answer

What it costs
Up to Ksh 433,500 a year at a public institution, Ksh 867,000 for the whole course.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, with 0 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 5 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 agricultural extension, extension communication, rural sociology, programme planning, farmer education, technology transfer, agricultural policy, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both extension theory and practical field application through coursework and research.

The programme is offered by Egerton University, University of Kabianga, University of Embu, and Kisii University. All are public universities offering the programme over two academic years through full-time and part-time modes of study.

Students develop competencies in extension methods, communication strategies, programme planning, farmer education, technology transfer, rural development, and research methods. The programme includes coursework, field attachment, examinations, and a research thesis.

Egerton charges approximately KES 172,150/year (total KES 344,300) based on Faculty of Education and Community Studies fee structure. Entry requires a Bachelor's degree with Second Class Honours Upper Division in Agricultural Education and Extension, Agriculture, or related fields from a recognised university.

Graduates pursue careers as extension officers, rural development specialists, programme coordinators, agricultural trainers, community development officers, and lecturers in agricultural extension and rural development across government, NGOs, and agricultural organisations.

Skills Required

  • Agricultural Extension Methods and Programme Delivery
  • Extension Communication and Farmer Education
  • Rural Sociology and Community Development
  • Programme Planning and Implementation
  • Technology Transfer and Innovation Diffusion
  • Agricultural Policy Analysis and Advocacy
  • Training Needs Assessment and Curriculum Design
  • Participatory Research and Extension
  • Research Methods in Agricultural Extension
  • Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

  • Agricultural Extension Principles
  • Extension Communication and Media
  • Rural Sociology and Community Development
  • Programme Planning and Implementation
  • Farmer Education and Adult Learning
  • Technology Transfer and Innovation Diffusion
  • Agricultural Policy and Planning
  • Research Methods in Agricultural Extension
  • Participatory Extension Approaches
  • Thesis Research

Certifications

  • KALRO Associate Membership
  • AFAAS Professional Membership

Specializations

Extension Communication

Focuses on extension communication, covering communication strategies, media for extension, ICT in extension, and managing extension communication.

Rural Development

Examines rural development, covering rural sociology, community development, livelihoods, and managing rural development programmes.

Farmer Education

Covers farmer education, covering adult learning, farmer training, farmer field schools, and managing farmer education programmes.

Technology Transfer

Focuses on technology transfer, covering innovation diffusion, technology adoption, agricultural innovation systems, and managing technology transfer.

Agricultural Policy Extension

Examines agricultural policy extension, covering policy communication, policy advocacy, policy implementation, and managing policy extension.

Participatory Extension

Covers participatory extension, covering participatory approaches, farmer participatory research, community engagement, and managing participatory extension.

What you study

10 subjects
  • Agricultural Extension Principles
  • Extension Communication and Media
  • Rural Sociology and Community Development
  • Programme Planning and Implementation
  • Farmer Education and Adult Learning
  • Technology Transfer and Innovation Diffusion
  • Agricultural Policy and Planning
  • Research Methods in Agricultural Extension
  • Participatory Extension Approaches
  • Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

  • Agricultural Extension Principles

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Examines extension concepts, extension approaches, extension history, extension models, and managing extension programmes.

  • Extension Communication and Media

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Covers communication strategies, media for extension, ICT in extension, extension messages, and managing extension communication.

  • Rural Sociology and Community Development

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Examines rural communities, social structures, community development, livelihoods, and managing rural development programmes.

  • Research Methods in Agricultural Extension

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Covers research design, data collection, analysis, ethical issues, and conducting extension research, preparing students for their thesis.

  • Programme Planning and Implementation

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Covers programme design, programme implementation, programme monitoring, programme evaluation, and managing extension programmes.

  • Farmer Education and Adult Learning

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Examines adult learning, farmer training, farmer field schools, extension education, and managing farmer education programmes.

  • Technology Transfer and Innovation Diffusion

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Covers innovation diffusion, technology adoption, agricultural innovation systems, and managing technology transfer.

  • Agricultural Policy and Planning

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Examines policy analysis, policy communication, agricultural policy, policy implementation, and managing policy extension.

  • Participatory Extension Approaches

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Covers participatory approaches, farmer participatory research, community engagement, PRA tools, and managing participatory extension.

  • ICT in Agricultural Extension

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Examines ICT in extension, e-extension, digital agriculture, mobile extension, and managing ICT in extension.

  • Statistics in Agricultural Extension

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Covers statistical methods, data analysis, research statistics, and analysing and interpreting extension research data.

  • Research Thesis

    Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore

    Original research thesis on an agricultural extension topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and extension knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

  • Extension Communication

    Focuses on extension communication, covering communication strategies, media for extension, ICT in extension, and managing extension communication.

  • Rural Development

    Examines rural development, covering rural sociology, community development, livelihoods, and managing rural development programmes.

  • Farmer Education

    Covers farmer education, covering adult learning, farmer training, farmer field schools, and managing farmer education programmes.

  • Technology Transfer

    Focuses on technology transfer, covering innovation diffusion, technology adoption, agricultural innovation systems, and managing technology transfer.

  • Agricultural Policy Extension

    Examines agricultural policy extension, covering policy communication, policy advocacy, policy implementation, and managing policy extension.

  • Participatory Extension

    Covers participatory extension, covering participatory approaches, farmer participatory research, community engagement, and managing participatory extension.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Agricultural Extension programme combines lectures, field visits, seminars, community engagement, and independent study. Sessions cover extension principles, communication, rural sociology, programme planning, and technology transfer. Extension principles sessions examine extension concepts, extension approaches, extension history, and managing extension programmes. Communication sessions cover communication strategies, media for extension, ICT in extension, extension messages, and managing extension communication. Rural sociology sessions cover rural communities, social structures, community development, livelihoods, and managing rural development. Programme planning sessions cover programme design, programme implementation, programme monitoring, programme evaluation, and managing extension programmes. Technology transfer sessions cover innovation diffusion, technology adoption, agricultural innovation systems, and managing technology transfer. Farmer education sessions cover adult learning, farmer training, farmer field schools, and managing farmer education. Participatory extension sessions cover participatory approaches, farmer participatory research, community engagement, and managing participatory extension. Research methods sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. Field visits provide practical experience with extension programmes, farmer groups, agricultural projects, and field data collection. Community engagement provides hands-on experience with community mobilisation, participatory assessment, and community development. Seminars and discussion groups provide opportunities for debating current issues in agricultural extension. Guest lectures from experienced extension officers, rural development specialists, and agricultural professionals provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a research thesis on an agricultural extension topic.

The trade-offs

In its favourAgainst it
Growing demand for extension professionals with agricultural transformation, devolution, and food security focus in Kenya.Other university fees not independently verified, limiting fee comparison.
Programme is offered by multiple universities (Egerton, Kabianga, Embu, Kisii), providing institutional choice.No private university confirmed offering this exact programme, limiting options.
Programme combines extension theory with practical field application, providing versatile skills for rural development.Programme requires background in agriculture or related field, which may limit access for some students.
Egerton offers competitive fees at approximately KES 172,150/year with school-based option for working professionals.Career prospects may be concentrated in government and NGO sectors, limiting options in private sector.

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 303 agriculture courses
Public110k to 434k
110k at Rongo University434k at University of Nairobi

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 ~433.5K/yr (Faculty of Agriculture, uonbi.ac.ke). Rongo 110K/yr (eafinder.com). Private unverified.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. KALRO may provide training support for research staff. FAO and AFAAS may provide training support for extension professionals. Some NGOs and agricultural organisations may sponsor staff for postgraduate study.

Funding options

  • HELB Postgraduate Loan

  • KALRO Training Support

  • FAO Training Support

Scholarships

3 recorded

  • HELB Postgraduate Loan

    LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan

    Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.

  • KALRO Training Support

    ScholarshipKsh 150,000Kenyan

    Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization supports training for research staff.

  • FAO Training Support

    GrantKsh 250,000

    FAO provides training support for agricultural extension professionals in developing countries.

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

Most universities require Upper Second Class Honours in agriculture or related field. Lower Second Division holders with relevant experience or published research are considered. Contact respective universities for specific admission requirements.

When it next starts

Taught at 5 institutions
January 20275 institutions

Including University of Kabianga, University of Embu, Egerton University.

May 20275 institutions

Including University of Kabianga, University of Embu, Egerton University.

September 20275 institutions

Including University of Kabianga, University of Embu, Egerton University.

How you are assessed

4 components

  • Coursework and Continuous Assessment

    Coursework30% of the mark

    Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, seminar presentations, field reports, extension projects, and class participation.

  • Written Examinations

    Examination40% of the mark

    Written examinations covering extension principles, communication, rural sociology, programme planning, and technology transfer.

  • Practical and Field Assessment

    Practical30% of the mark

    Practical assessment through field projects, extension programme design, community engagement exercises, field attachment, and demonstrating extension skills.

  • Research Thesis

    Research100% of the mark

    Original research thesis on an agricultural extension topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and extension knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

  • Commission for University Education (CUE)

    Academic accreditationRequired

    Programme accredited by CUE. Egerton University, University of Kabianga, University of Embu, and Kisii University (all public) offer MSc in Agricultural Extension. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in agricultural extension. Graduates are eligible for KALRO associate membership and AFAAS professional membership.

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Egerton University, University of Kabianga, University of Embu, and Kisii University (all public) offer MSc in Agricultural Extension. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in agricultural extension. Graduates are eligible for KALRO associate membership and AFAAS professional membership.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

  • Extension Officer

    Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000

    Manages extension programmes, overseeing farmer education, technology transfer, field visits, and managing extension services.

  • Rural Development Specialist

    Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000

    Manages rural development programmes, overseeing community development, livelihoods, programme management, and managing rural development.

  • Programme Coordinator

    Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000

    Coordinates agricultural programmes, overseeing programme planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and managing programme operations.

  • Agricultural Trainer

    Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000

    Delivers agricultural training, overseeing training design, training delivery, training evaluation, and managing training programmes.

  • Community Development Officer

    Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000

    Manages community development programmes, overseeing community mobilisation, participatory planning, project implementation, and managing community development.

  • Extension Lecturer

    Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000

    Teaches agricultural extension at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, field supervision, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as extension officers, rural development specialists, programme coordinators, agricultural trainers, community development officers, and lecturers in agricultural extension and rural development across government, NGOs, and agricultural organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

  • SPSS

    SoftwarePrimary

    SPSS statistical software for extension research, covering data analysis, statistical tests, and managing research data.

  • Participatory Rural Appraisal Tools

    Equipment

    PRA tools for community engagement, covering participatory assessment, community mapping, and managing participatory research.

  • ICT Extension Platforms

    Software

    ICT extension platforms for e-extension, covering mobile extension, digital agriculture, and managing ICT in extension.

  • Microsoft Office

    Software

    Microsoft Office for extension programme management, covering presentations, documents, spreadsheets, and managing extension materials.

Common misconceptions

  • Agricultural extension is just about telling farmers what to do.

    Modern extension covers participatory approaches, farmer education, technology transfer, and capacity building using evidence-based methods.

  • This programme is only for those working in government extension.

    Extension skills are valuable in NGOs, research, community development, agribusiness, and any organisation dealing with farmer education and rural development.

  • Agricultural extension has limited career prospects in Kenya.

    With agricultural transformation, devolution, and increasing focus on food security, demand for extension professionals is growing in Kenya.

  • Extension is outdated in the digital age.

    Modern extension integrates ICT, digital agriculture, e-extension, and innovative communication strategies with traditional approaches.

  • This programme is the same as agricultural education.

    While related, agricultural extension focuses on farmer education and technology transfer, while agricultural education focuses on formal classroom teaching and curriculum.

  • Extension is not relevant to modern agriculture.

    Extension is critical to technology adoption, climate-smart agriculture, market access, and agricultural transformation in Kenya.

Further reading

Read next