Agriculture

Master of Science (Agricultural Extension and Rural Development)

The Master of Science in Agricultural Extension and Rural Development is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in agricultural extension, rural development, and community development. The programme combines agricultural science with extension education and rural development practice.

Core areas include agricultural extension, rural development, community studies, agricultural policy, project management, adult education, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both extension theory and practical rural development application.

The programme is offered by Egerton University, University of Eldoret, and Kenya Methodist University. Egerton and UoE are public universities, while KEMU is a private university. All offer the programme over two academic years through full-time and part-time modes.

Students develop competencies in agricultural extension, rural development, community engagement, agricultural policy, project management, adult education, research methods, and agricultural communication. The programme includes coursework, field practicum, examinations, and thesis.

Egerton University charges approximately KES 188,650/year (total KES 377,300). KEMU charges approximately KES 52,500/semester for distance learning mode. Entry requires a Bachelor's degree in agriculture or related fields with at least Second Class Honours Upper Division or Lower Division with two years of experience.

Graduates pursue careers as agricultural extension officers, rural development specialists, community development officers, agricultural project managers, agricultural policy analysts, and lecturers in agricultural extension.

Skills Required

Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services
Rural Development Planning and Implementation
Community Engagement and Mobilisation
Agricultural Policy Analysis
Project Management in Agriculture
Adult Education and Training
Agricultural Communication and Information
Research Methods in Agricultural Extension
Programme Monitoring and Evaluation
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Agricultural Extension Methods and Advisory Services
Rural Development Theory and Practice
Community Studies and Engagement
Agricultural Policy and Food Systems
Project Management in Agriculture
Adult Education and Training
Agricultural Communication and Information Management
Research Methods in Agricultural Extension
Statistics and Biometrics
Thesis Research

Certifications

KAAA Professional Membership
GFRAS Professional Membership

Specializations

Agricultural Extension

Focuses on agricultural extension, covering extension methods, advisory services, farmer education, technology transfer, and managing agricultural extension programmes.

Rural Development

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

Community Studies and Extension

Covers community studies, covering community analysis, community engagement, community mobilisation, and managing community development initiatives.

Agricultural Education

Focuses on agricultural education, covering curriculum development, teaching methods, agricultural training, and managing agricultural education programmes.

Agricultural Policy and Planning

Examines agricultural policy, covering policy analysis, agricultural planning, food policy, and managing agricultural policy processes.

Project Management in Agriculture

Covers project management, covering project planning, project implementation, project monitoring, and managing agricultural and rural development projects.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 433,500
Private, up to: Ksh 112,500
Job market: High

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

Agricultural Extension Methods and Advisory Services
Rural Development Theory and Practice
Community Studies and Engagement
Agricultural Policy and Food Systems
Project Management in Agriculture
Adult Education and Training
Agricultural Communication and Information Management
Research Methods in Agricultural Extension
Statistics and Biometrics
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Agricultural Extension Methods and Advisory Services
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines extension methods, advisory services, farmer education, technology transfer, and managing agricultural extension programmes.
Rural Development Theory and Practice
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers rural development theory, rural livelihoods, community development, rural transformation, and managing rural development programmes.
Statistics and Biometrics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines statistical methods, biometrics, data analysis, statistical software, and analysing and interpreting agricultural data.
Research Methods in Agricultural Extension
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers research design, data collection, analysis, and conducting agricultural extension research, preparing students for their thesis.
Community Studies and Engagement
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers community analysis, community engagement, community mobilisation, participatory development, and managing community development initiatives.
Agricultural Policy and Food Systems
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines agricultural policy, policy analysis, agricultural planning, food policy, and managing agricultural policy processes.
Project Management in Agriculture
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers project planning, project implementation, project monitoring, project evaluation, and managing agricultural and rural development projects.
Adult Education and Training
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines adult learning, training methods, curriculum development, extension training, and managing adult education programmes.
Agricultural Communication and Information Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers communication strategies, information management, extension communication, ICT in extension, and managing agricultural information.
Agricultural Innovation Systems
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines agricultural innovation systems, covering innovation theory, innovation platforms, technology adoption, and managing agricultural innovation.
Research Seminar
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Preparation of research proposal and thesis, including research design, literature review, methodology, and presentation.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research thesis on an agricultural extension or rural development topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and agricultural extension knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Agricultural Extension
Focuses on agricultural extension, covering extension methods, advisory services, farmer education, technology transfer, and managing agricultural extension programmes.
Rural Development
Examines rural development, covering rural development theory, rural livelihoods, community development, and managing rural development programmes.
Community Studies and Extension
Covers community studies, covering community analysis, community engagement, community mobilisation, and managing community development initiatives.
Agricultural Education
Focuses on agricultural education, covering curriculum development, teaching methods, agricultural training, and managing agricultural education programmes.
Agricultural Policy and Planning
Examines agricultural policy, covering policy analysis, agricultural planning, food policy, and managing agricultural policy processes.
Project Management in Agriculture
Covers project management, covering project planning, project implementation, project monitoring, and managing agricultural and rural development projects.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Agricultural Extension and Rural Development programme combines lectures, field visits, community engagement sessions, seminars, and independent study. Sessions cover agricultural extension, rural development, community studies, agricultural policy, and project management. Agricultural extension sessions examine extension methods, advisory services, farmer education, technology transfer, and managing extension programmes. Rural development sessions cover rural development theory, rural livelihoods, community development, and managing rural development programmes. Community studies sessions cover community analysis, community engagement, community mobilisation, and managing community development initiatives. Agricultural policy sessions cover policy analysis, agricultural planning, food policy, and managing agricultural policy processes. Project management sessions cover project planning, project implementation, project monitoring, and managing agricultural and rural development projects. Adult education sessions cover adult learning, training methods, curriculum development, and managing adult education programmes. Agricultural communication sessions cover communication strategies, information management, extension communication, and managing agricultural information. Research methods sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. Field visits provide hands-on experience with extension practice in rural communities, agricultural projects, and development organisations. Community engagement sessions provide practical experience with community mobilisation, needs assessment, and participatory development. Seminars and discussion groups provide opportunities for debating current issues in agricultural extension and rural development. Guest lectures from experienced extension officers, rural development practitioners, and policy makers provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a research thesis on an agricultural extension or rural development topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

High demand for agricultural extension and rural development professionals in Kenya across government, NGOs, and private sector.
Programme is offered by multiple universities (Egerton, UoE, KEMU), providing institutional choice.
Programme combines extension with rural development, providing versatile skills for agricultural and community development.
Egerton University offers affordable fees at approximately KES 188,650/year.

Against it

University of Eldoret fees not independently verified, limiting fee comparison.
KEMU fee structure is for DLM mode only, day mode fees may differ.
Programme may overlap with MSc in Agricultural Extension (without rural development), causing confusion for prospective students.
Field practicum may require travel to rural areas, which can be challenging for some students.

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

Private113k to 113k

113k at Kenya Methodist University113k at Kenya Methodist 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 ~433.5K/yr (uonbi.ac.ke). Rongo 110K/yr (eafinder.com). KEMU ~113K/yr (eafinder.com).

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. Ministry of Agriculture may provide training support for extension staff. FAO may provide training support for agricultural development professionals. Some agricultural organisations and counties may sponsor staff for postgraduate study.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
Ministry of Agriculture Training Support
FAO Training Support

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
Ministry of Agriculture Training Support
ScholarshipKsh 150,000Kenyan
Ministry of Agriculture supports training for extension staff involved in agricultural advisory services.
FAO Training Support
GrantKsh 200,000
Food and Agriculture Organization provides training support for agricultural development professionals in developing countries.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: Most universities require Upper Second Class Honours in agriculture or related field. Lower Second Division holders with two years of relevant experience are considered. 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, field reports, seminar presentations, case studies, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination50% of the mark
Written examinations covering agricultural extension, rural development, community studies, agricultural policy, and project management.
Field Practicum Assessment
Practical20% of the mark
Practical assessment through field practicum performance, community engagement exercises, extension project design, and demonstrating extension skills.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on an agricultural extension or rural development topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and agricultural extension knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Egerton University and University of Eldoret (both public) and Kenya Methodist University (private) offer MSc programmes in Agricultural Extension and Rural Development. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in agricultural extension and rural development. Graduates are eligible for KAAA and GFRAS professional membership.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. Egerton University and University of Eldoret (both public) and Kenya Methodist University (private) offer MSc programmes in Agricultural Extension and Rural Development. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in agricultural extension and rural development. Graduates are eligible for KAAA and GFRAS professional membership.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Agricultural Extension Officer
High demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Manages agricultural extension services, overseeing farmer education, technology transfer, advisory services, and managing extension programmes.
Rural Development Specialist
High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages rural development programmes, overseeing programme design, implementation, monitoring, and managing rural development projects.
Community Development Officer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 400,000
Manages community development initiatives, overseeing community engagement, mobilisation, needs assessment, and managing community development programmes.
Agricultural Project Manager
Moderate demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 600,000
Manages agricultural and rural development projects, overseeing project planning, implementation, monitoring, and managing project operations.
Agricultural Policy Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Analyses agricultural policy, overseeing policy research, policy analysis, policy advocacy, and contributing to agricultural policy development.
Agricultural 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

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

SPSS
SoftwarePrimary
Statistical analysis software for agricultural extension research, data analysis, and analysing and interpreting research data for thesis.
NVivo
Software
Qualitative data analysis software for agricultural extension research, covering qualitative analysis, coding, and managing qualitative research data.
GIS Software
Software
Geographic information system software for rural development mapping, covering spatial analysis, rural mapping, and managing geographic data.
Microsoft Excel
Software
Spreadsheet software for agricultural data management, project planning, budgeting, and managing agricultural extension data.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Agricultural extension is just about telling farmers what to do.
Agricultural extension covers comprehensive advisory services including farmer education, technology transfer, capacity building, and participatory development approaches.
This programme is only for government extension officers.
Agricultural extension and rural development skills are valuable in NGOs, international organisations, private sector, and any organisation working in agriculture and rural development.
Rural development is just about farming.
Rural development covers comprehensive rural transformation including livelihoods, infrastructure, social services, economic diversification, and community development.
Agricultural extension has limited career prospects.
Agricultural extension and rural development is a growing field with high demand for qualified professionals across government, NGOs, and private sector in Kenya.
This programme is not relevant to modern agriculture.
Agricultural extension is critical to modernising agriculture, promoting new technologies, improving productivity, and ensuring sustainable agricultural practices.
Extension officers are outdated in the digital age.
Modern extension uses digital tools, ICT, mobile platforms, and data-driven approaches to deliver advisory services more effectively to farmers.