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Agriculture

Master of Science (Agricultural Resource Management)

<p>The Master of Science in Agricultural Resource Management is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in agricultural resource planning, management, and sustainability. The programme combines agricultural science with natural resource management and environmental stewardship.

Duration
2 years
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 433,500
Ksh 867,000 total
Job market
High
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 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 agricultural production systems, resource economics, environmental management, climate change, GIS and remote sensing, agro-meteorology, project planning, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both resource management theory and practical agricultural application.

The programme is offered by the University of Nairobi, University of Embu, and South Eastern Kenya University. All are public universities offering the programme over two academic years through full-time and part-time modes.

Students develop competencies in agricultural resource assessment, resource economics, environmental management, climate change adaptation, GIS applications, agro-meteorology, project management, and research methods. The programme includes coursework, field practicum, examinations, and thesis.

University of Embu charges approximately KES 188,500/year for science-based masters. UoN and SEKU also offer the programme with similar fee structures. Entry requires a Bachelor's degree in agricultural science, biological science, environmental science, or related fields with at least Second Class Honours Upper Division.

Graduates pursue careers as agricultural resource managers, environmental consultants, agricultural project managers, climate change specialists, research officers, and lecturers in agricultural resource management.

Skills Required

  • Agricultural Resource Assessment and Planning
  • Resource Economics and Valuation
  • Environmental Management and Conservation
  • Climate Change Adaptation in Agriculture
  • GIS and Remote Sensing Applications
  • Agro-meteorology and Climate Analysis
  • Project Planning and Management
  • Agricultural Production Systems Analysis
  • Research Methods in Agricultural Science
  • Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

  • Agricultural Production Systems
  • Agricultural Resource Economics
  • Environmental Management and Post-Harvest Technology
  • Agro-meteorology and Climate Change
  • Remote Sensing and GIS
  • Project Planning and Management
  • Biometrics for Agricultural Sciences
  • Research Methods and Scientific Communication
  • Agricultural Development Planning
  • Thesis Research

Certifications

  • KAAA Professional Membership
  • KSSA Professional Membership

Specializations

Land Resource Management

Focuses on land resources, covering land assessment, land use planning, soil management, and managing land resources for agricultural production.

Water Resource Management

Examines water resources, covering water assessment, irrigation management, water conservation, and managing water resources for agriculture.

Climate Change and Agriculture

Covers climate change adaptation, covering climate analysis, adaptation strategies, climate-smart agriculture, and managing climate risks in agriculture.

Environmental Management

Focuses on environmental management, covering environmental assessment, environmental conservation, environmental impact, and managing environmental resources in agriculture.

Agricultural Resource Economics

Examines resource economics, covering resource valuation, resource allocation, cost-benefit analysis, and managing agricultural resource economics.

Agro-meteorology

Covers agro-meteorology, covering weather analysis, climate monitoring, crop-weather relationships, and managing agro-meteorological information.

What you study

10 subjects
  • Agricultural Production Systems
  • Agricultural Resource Economics
  • Environmental Management and Post-Harvest Technology
  • Agro-meteorology and Climate Change
  • Remote Sensing and GIS
  • Project Planning and Management
  • Biometrics for Agricultural Sciences
  • Research Methods and Scientific Communication
  • Agricultural Development Planning
  • Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

  • Biometrics for Agricultural Sciences

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Examines statistical methods, biometrics, experimental design, data analysis, and analysing and interpreting agricultural data.

  • Research Methods and Scientific Communication

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Covers research design, data collection, analysis, scientific writing, and conducting agricultural research, preparing students for their thesis.

  • Remote Sensing and GIS

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Examines remote sensing, GIS applications, spatial analysis, image processing, and managing geographic data for agricultural resource management.

  • Agricultural Production Systems

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Covers cropping systems, livestock systems, production efficiency, sustainable production, and managing agricultural production systems.

  • Markets and Marketing of Agricultural Products

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Examines agricultural markets, marketing systems, market analysis, agricultural trade, and managing agricultural product marketing.

  • Environmental Management and Post-Harvest Technology

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Covers environmental management, environmental assessment, post-harvest technology, food loss reduction, and managing environmental resources in agriculture.

  • Agro-meteorology and Climate Change

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Examines agro-meteorology, weather analysis, climate monitoring, climate change adaptation, and managing climate risks in agriculture.

  • Project Planning and Management

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Covers project design, project implementation, project monitoring, project evaluation, and managing agricultural and resource management projects.

  • Agricultural Development Planning

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Examines agricultural development planning, covering development theory, planning methods, development strategies, and managing agricultural development.

  • Agricultural Resource Economics

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Covers resource economics, resource valuation, resource allocation, cost-benefit analysis, and managing agricultural resource economics.

  • 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 resource management topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and agricultural resource knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

  • Land Resource Management

    Focuses on land resources, covering land assessment, land use planning, soil management, and managing land resources for agricultural production.

  • Water Resource Management

    Examines water resources, covering water assessment, irrigation management, water conservation, and managing water resources for agriculture.

  • Climate Change and Agriculture

    Covers climate change adaptation, covering climate analysis, adaptation strategies, climate-smart agriculture, and managing climate risks in agriculture.

  • Environmental Management

    Focuses on environmental management, covering environmental assessment, environmental conservation, environmental impact, and managing environmental resources in agriculture.

  • Agricultural Resource Economics

    Examines resource economics, covering resource valuation, resource allocation, cost-benefit analysis, and managing agricultural resource economics.

  • Agro-meteorology

    Covers agro-meteorology, covering weather analysis, climate monitoring, crop-weather relationships, and managing agro-meteorological information.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Agricultural Resource Management programme combines lectures, field visits, GIS laboratory sessions, seminars, and independent study. Sessions cover agricultural production systems, resource economics, environmental management, climate change, and GIS applications. Agricultural production sessions examine cropping systems, livestock systems, production efficiency, and managing agricultural production. Resource economics sessions cover resource valuation, resource allocation, cost-benefit analysis, and managing agricultural resource economics. Environmental management sessions cover environmental assessment, environmental conservation, environmental impact, and managing environmental resources. Climate change sessions cover climate analysis, adaptation strategies, climate-smart agriculture, and managing climate risks. GIS sessions cover remote sensing, spatial analysis, GIS applications, and managing geographic data for agriculture. Agro-meteorology sessions cover weather analysis, climate monitoring, crop-weather relationships, and managing agro-meteorological information. Project planning sessions cover project design, project implementation, project monitoring, and managing agricultural projects. Research methods sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. Field visits provide hands-on experience with resource assessment in agricultural settings, environmental monitoring, and field data collection. GIS laboratory sessions provide practical experience with GIS software, remote sensing data, and spatial analysis. Seminars and discussion groups provide opportunities for debating current issues in agricultural resource management. Guest lectures from experienced resource managers, environmental consultants, and agricultural scientists provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a research thesis on an agricultural resource management topic.

The trade-offs

In its favourAgainst it
High demand for agricultural resource management professionals with growing concerns about climate change, food security, and environmental sustainability.UoN and SEKU fees not independently verified, limiting fee comparison.
Programme is offered by multiple universities (UoN, Embu, SEKU), providing institutional choice.No private university confirmed offering this exact programme, limiting options for private institution preference.
Programme combines resource management with GIS, climate change, and environmental management, providing versatile skills.Programme may overlap with MSc in Environmental Science or Natural Resource Management, causing confusion for prospective students.
University of Embu offers affordable fees at approximately KES 188,500/year for science-based masters.Field practicum may require travel to agricultural sites and 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

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. Ministry of Agriculture may provide training support for agricultural 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 agricultural staff involved in resource management.

  • FAO Training Support

    GrantKsh 200,000

    Food and Agriculture Organization provides training support for agricultural development 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 Postgraduate Diploma are considered. Contact respective universities for specific admission requirements.

When it next starts

Taught at 3 institutions
January 20273 institutions

Including South Eastern Kenya University, University of Kabianga, University of Embu.

May 20273 institutions

Including South Eastern Kenya University, University of Kabianga, University of Embu.

September 20273 institutions

Including South Eastern Kenya University, University of Kabianga, University of Embu.

How you are assessed

4 components

  • Coursework and Continuous Assessment

    Coursework30% of the mark

    Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, field reports, GIS exercises, seminar presentations, and class participation.

  • Written Examinations

    Examination50% of the mark

    Written examinations covering agricultural production, resource economics, environmental management, climate change, and GIS.

  • Practical and Field Assessment

    Practical20% of the mark

    Practical assessment through field exercises, GIS practicals, resource assessment projects, and demonstrating resource management skills.

  • Research Thesis

    Research100% of the mark

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

Accreditation

  • Commission for University Education (CUE)

    Academic accreditationRequired

    Programme accredited by CUE. University of Nairobi, University of Embu, and South Eastern Kenya University (all public) offer MSc in Agricultural Resource Management. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in agricultural resource management. Graduates are eligible for KAAA and KSSA professional membership.

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). University of Nairobi, University of Embu, and South Eastern Kenya University (all public) offer MSc in Agricultural Resource Management. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in agricultural resource management. Graduates are eligible for KAAA and KSSA professional membership.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

  • Agricultural Resource Manager

    High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000

    Manages agricultural resources in organisations, overseeing resource assessment, resource planning, and managing agricultural resource use.

  • Environmental Consultant

    Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000

    Consults on environmental management in agriculture, providing advisory services, environmental assessment, and technical guidance.

  • Agricultural Project Manager

    Moderate demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 600,000

    Manages agricultural and resource management projects, overseeing project planning, implementation, monitoring, and managing project operations.

  • Climate Change Specialist

    High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000

    Specialises in climate change adaptation in agriculture, overseeing climate analysis, adaptation planning, and managing climate-smart agriculture.

  • Agricultural Research Officer

    Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000

    Conducts agricultural research, overseeing research design, data collection, analysis, and managing research activities.

  • Agricultural Lecturer

    Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000

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

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as agricultural resource managers, environmental consultants, agricultural project managers, climate change specialists, research officers, and lecturers in agricultural resource management.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

  • ArcGIS

    SoftwarePrimary

    GIS software for agricultural resource management, covering spatial analysis, resource mapping, land assessment, and managing geographic data.

  • SPSS

    Software

    Statistical analysis software for agricultural research, data analysis, and analysing and interpreting research data for thesis.

  • ERDAS Imagine

    Software

    Remote sensing software for image processing, covering satellite imagery, image classification, land cover analysis, and managing remote sensing data.

  • Microsoft Excel

    Software

    Spreadsheet software for agricultural data management, resource analysis, budgeting, and managing agricultural resource data.

Common misconceptions

  • Agricultural resource management is just about farming.

    Agricultural resource management covers comprehensive resource planning including land, water, climate, environmental management, and economic analysis of agricultural resources.

  • This programme is only for those working in agriculture.

    Resource management skills are valuable in environmental management, climate change adaptation, conservation, consulting, and any organisation managing natural resources.

  • Resource management has limited career prospects.

    With growing concerns about climate change, food security, and environmental sustainability, demand for agricultural resource management professionals is increasing.

  • This programme is not relevant to modern challenges.

    Agricultural resource management is critical to addressing climate change, food security, environmental degradation, and sustainable development challenges.

  • GIS and remote sensing are too technical for agriculture.

    GIS and remote sensing are essential tools for modern agricultural resource management, providing spatial data for planning, monitoring, and decision-making.

  • Resource management is only about conservation.

    Resource management balances conservation with productive use, covering resource economics, production systems, and sustainable resource use for agricultural development.

Further reading

Read next