Environmental Science

Master of Science (Environmental Science)

The Master of Science in Environmental Science is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in environmental science, natural resource management, and sustainable development. The programme combines environmental science theory with research methodology and practical field application.

Core areas include environmental science, climate change, biodiversity conservation, environmental impact assessment, water resources management, industrial ecology, toxic substances, energy resources, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both environmental science theory and practical field research through coursework and thesis.

The programme is offered by Kenyatta University, Egerton University, and Karatina University. All are public universities offering the programme over two academic years through full-time, open learning, and distance learning modes of study.

Students develop competencies in environmental science, climate change analysis, biodiversity conservation, environmental impact assessment, water resources management, industrial ecology, and research methods. The programme includes coursework, continuous assessment tests, field research, examinations, and a research thesis.

Egerton charges approximately KES 110,000/year (KES 55,000/semester). KU charges approximately KES 295,800/year for science-based masters. Entry requires a Bachelor's degree with First Class or Second Class Honours Upper Division in environmental science, agriculture, biological sciences, natural resources, or related fields from a recognised university.

Graduates pursue careers as environmental scientists, environmental impact assessment specialists, biodiversity conservation officers, climate change analysts, environmental consultants, and lecturers in environmental science across government, NGOs, research institutions, and universities.

Skills Required

Environmental Science and Analysis
Climate Change Science and Response
Biodiversity Conservation and Management
Environmental Impact Assessment
Water Resources Management
Industrial Ecology and Sustainable Production
Toxic Substances and Environmental Health
Energy Resources and Sustainable Development
Research Methods in Environmental Science
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Environment and Development
Global Warming and Climate Change
Nature and Biodiversity Conservation
Toxic Substances and Sustainable Development
Industrial Ecology and Sustainable Development
Energy Resources for Sustainable Development
Environmental Impact Assessment
Water Resources Management
Research Methods in Environmental Science
Thesis Research

Certifications

NEMA EIA Lead Expert Certification
UNEP Environmental Science Certification

Specializations

Climate Change

Focuses on climate change science, covering global warming, climate impacts, adaptation, mitigation, and managing climate change responses.

Biodiversity Conservation

Examines biodiversity conservation, covering conservation biology, protected areas, species conservation, and managing biodiversity.

Water Resources

Covers water resources management, covering water quality, watershed management, water governance, and managing water resources.

Environmental Impact Assessment

Focuses on EIA, covering EIA methodology, environmental auditing, impact analysis, and managing EIA processes.

Industrial Ecology

Examines industrial ecology, covering sustainable production, cleaner production, industrial environmental management, and managing industrial sustainability.

Energy Resources

Covers energy resources, covering renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy policy, and managing energy for sustainable development.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 295,800
Private, up to: Ksh 249,800
Job market: High

The programme

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

Practicalities

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

What you study

10 subjects

Environment and Development
Global Warming and Climate Change
Nature and Biodiversity Conservation
Toxic Substances and Sustainable Development
Industrial Ecology and Sustainable Development
Energy Resources for Sustainable Development
Environmental Impact Assessment
Water Resources Management
Research Methods in Environmental Science
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Environment and Development
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines environment-development interactions, sustainable development, environmental economics, and managing environment and development.
Statistics for Environmental Science
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers statistical methods, data analysis, environmental statistics, research statistics, and managing environmental data analysis.
Research Methods in Environmental Science
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research design, data collection, analysis, ethical issues, and conducting environmental research, preparing students for their thesis.
Global Warming and Climate Change
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines global warming, climate change science, climate impacts, adaptation, mitigation, and managing climate change responses.
Nature and Biodiversity Conservation
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers biodiversity, conservation biology, protected areas, species conservation, ecosystem management, and managing biodiversity conservation.
Toxic Substances and Sustainable Development
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines toxic substances, environmental toxicology, hazardous waste, chemical safety, and managing toxic substances and sustainable development.
Industrial Ecology and Sustainable Development
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers industrial ecology, sustainable production, cleaner production, life cycle analysis, and managing industrial sustainability.
Energy Resources for Sustainable Development
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines energy resources, renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy policy, and managing energy for sustainable development.
Environmental Impact Assessment
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers EIA methodology, environmental auditing, impact analysis, stakeholder participation, EIA reporting, and managing EIA processes.
Water Resources Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines water resources, water quality, watershed management, water governance, aquatic ecosystems, and managing water resources.
Wildlife and Forest Resources Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers wildlife management, forest management, protected area management, community conservation, and managing wildlife and forest resources.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research thesis on an environmental science topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and environmental science knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Climate Change
Focuses on climate change science, covering global warming, climate impacts, adaptation, mitigation, and managing climate change responses.
Biodiversity Conservation
Examines biodiversity conservation, covering conservation biology, protected areas, species conservation, and managing biodiversity.
Water Resources
Covers water resources management, covering water quality, watershed management, water governance, and managing water resources.
Environmental Impact Assessment
Focuses on EIA, covering EIA methodology, environmental auditing, impact analysis, and managing EIA processes.
Industrial Ecology
Examines industrial ecology, covering sustainable production, cleaner production, industrial environmental management, and managing industrial sustainability.
Energy Resources
Covers energy resources, covering renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy policy, and managing energy for sustainable development.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Environmental Science programme combines lectures, field exercises, practical sessions, seminars, and independent study. Sessions cover environmental science, climate change, biodiversity conservation, environmental impact assessment, and water resources management. Environmental science sessions examine environmental systems, environmental processes, environmental monitoring, environmental analysis, and managing environmental science. Climate change sessions cover global warming, climate science, climate impacts, adaptation, mitigation, and managing climate change responses. Biodiversity conservation sessions cover conservation biology, protected areas, species conservation, ecosystem management, and managing biodiversity. Environmental impact assessment sessions cover EIA methodology, environmental auditing, impact analysis, stakeholder participation, and managing EIA processes. Water resources management sessions cover water quality, watershed management, water governance, aquatic ecosystems, and managing water resources. Industrial ecology sessions cover sustainable production, cleaner production, industrial environmental management, life cycle analysis, and managing industrial sustainability. Toxic substances sessions cover environmental toxicology, hazardous waste, chemical safety, risk assessment, and managing toxic substances. Energy resources sessions cover renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy policy, energy systems, and managing energy for sustainable development. Research methods sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering research design, data collection, statistical analysis, and scientific writing. Field exercises provide practical experience with environmental sampling, ecological surveys, field data collection, and environmental monitoring. Seminars and critique paper presentations provide opportunities for debating current issues in environmental science. Guest lectures from experienced environmental scientists, NEMA officials, and researchers provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a research thesis on an environmental science topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

High demand for environmental science professionals with growing environmental regulations, climate change concerns, and sustainability requirements in Kenya.
Programme is offered by multiple universities (KU, Egerton, Karatina), providing institutional choice.
Egerton offers affordable fees at approximately KES 110,000/year (KES 55,000/semester).
Programme combines theoretical science with practical field research, providing versatile skills for research and practice.

Against it

KU fees are relatively high at KES 295,800-326,400/year for science-based masters.
Karatina University fees not independently verified, limiting fee comparison.
No private university confirmed offering this exact programme, limiting options.
Programme requires science background, which may limit access for non-science graduates.

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 181 environmental science courses

Public187k to 296k

187k at Moi University296k at Kenyatta University

Private131k to 250k

131k at Mount Kenya University250k at Daystar 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

KU 295,800/yr confirmed (ku.ac.ke). Moi 187K. Daystar 250K, MKU 131K/yr.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. KU may offer postgraduate bursaries for eligible students. UNEP may provide training support for environmental science professionals, particularly those in developing countries. Some environmental NGOs and research institutions may sponsor staff for postgraduate study.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
KU Postgraduate Bursary
UNEP Training Support

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
KU Postgraduate Bursary
ScholarshipKsh 100,000Kenyan
Kenyatta University offers postgraduate bursaries for eligible students.
UNEP Training Support
GrantKsh 300,000
United Nations Environment Programme provides training support for environmental science 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 First Class or Upper Second Class Honours in environmental science or related field. Lower Second Division holders with relevant experience and research capability are considered. Contact respective universities for specific admission requirements.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment Tests
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through CATs, practicals, term papers, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Written examinations covering environmental science, climate change, biodiversity conservation, EIA, and water resources management.
Field Research Assessment
Practical100% of the mark
Field research assessment through ecological surveys, environmental sampling, field data collection, and demonstrating environmental science field skills.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on an environmental science topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and environmental science knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Kenyatta University, Egerton University, and Karatina University (all public) offer MSc in Environmental Science. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in environmental science. Graduates are eligible for NEMA EIA Lead Expert certification and UNEP environmental science certification.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. Kenyatta University, Egerton University, and Karatina University (all public) offer MSc in Environmental Science. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in environmental science. Graduates are eligible for NEMA EIA Lead Expert certification and UNEP environmental science certification.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Environmental Scientist
High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Conducts environmental research and analysis, overseeing environmental monitoring, data analysis, environmental assessment, and managing environmental science projects.
EIA Specialist
High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Conducts environmental impact assessments, overseeing EIA methodology, impact analysis, environmental auditing, and managing EIA processes.
Biodiversity Conservation Officer
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages biodiversity conservation programmes, overseeing conservation planning, species monitoring, protected area management, and managing biodiversity.
Climate Change Analyst
High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Analyses climate change data, overseeing climate modelling, impact assessment, adaptation planning, and managing climate change analysis.
Environmental Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 140,000 to Ksh 600,000
Consults on environmental issues, overseeing environmental assessment, compliance auditing, sustainability advisory, and managing environmental consulting.
Environmental Science Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches environmental science 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

GIS
SoftwarePrimary
GIS for environmental science, covering spatial analysis, environmental mapping, land use analysis, and managing environmental spatial data.
SPSS
Software
SPSS statistical software for environmental research, covering data analysis, statistical tests, and managing research data.
R
Software
R statistical software for environmental data analysis, covering statistical modelling, data visualisation, and managing environmental data.
EIA Software
Software
EIA software for environmental impact assessment, covering impact analysis, EIA reporting, environmental auditing, and managing EIA processes.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Environmental science is just about nature conservation.
Environmental science covers comprehensive science including climate change, pollution, toxic substances, industrial ecology, energy resources, and water resources management.
This programme is only for those working in environmental agencies.
Environmental science skills are valuable in government, NGOs, research institutions, corporate sustainability, consulting, and any organisation dealing with environmental compliance.
Environmental science has limited career prospects in Kenya.
With growing environmental regulations, climate change concerns, and sustainability requirements, demand for environmental science professionals is increasing in Kenya.
Climate change is not a science discipline.
Climate change science involves rigorous atmospheric science, modelling, data analysis, impact assessment, and mitigation research.
Environmental impact assessment is just paperwork.
EIA involves rigorous scientific assessment, field data collection, impact analysis, stakeholder engagement, and environmental monitoring.
Environmental science is anti-development.
Environmental science supports sustainable development by ensuring economic growth is balanced with environmental protection and resource conservation.