Master of Science in Agricultural & Rural Development
The Master of Science in Agricultural & Rural Development is a master's programme offered at Kenyan universities. This postgraduate degree prepares professionals for advanced practice and research careers in agriculture & environment.
The short answer
- What it costs
- Up to Ksh 188,650 a year at a public institution, Ksh 188,650 to Ksh 377,300 for the whole course.The detail
- Who can get in
- A KCSE mean grade of B- or above, plus 2 subject grades. There is another way in without it.The detail
- How long, and when
- Takes 1-2 years, full-time, part-time, with 0 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 1 institution.The detail
- Where it leads
- 8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Aquaculture Technologist, at 3 out of 100.The detail
The programme
What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.
What you study
10 subjects- Agricultural Research Methods
- Agricultural Economics
- Crop Science
- Soil Management
- Agricultural Extension
- Biostatistics
- Sustainable Agriculture
- Agricultural Policy
- Plant Breeding
- Food Science and Technology
Modules
8 in the programmeRural development and agricultural projects Specialization
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced knowledge in rural development and agricultural projects.
Research Methodology and Statistics
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Experimental design, data analysis, and research methods in agriculture.
Kenya Agricultural Context and Policy
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Agricultural policy, Kenya's farming systems, and development priorities.
Sustainable and Climate-Smart Practices
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Sustainable intensification and climate adaptation strategies.
Extension and Communication
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Technology transfer and farmer communication strategies.
Field Research and Data Collection
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Practical field research methods and data management.
Thesis Seminar and Proposal Development
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Thesis proposal development and research planning.
Independent Thesis Research
Year 3Semester 26 creditsCore
Year 2 independent thesis research on specialisation topic.
Specialisations
Primary Rural development and agricultural projects Specialization
Deep focus on rural development and agricultural projects theory, research methods, and applications in Kenya
Research and Innovation Focus
Emphasis on conducting original research and developing innovations in the field
Extension and Development Focus
Emphasis on technology transfer, farmer training, and agricultural development
A day as a student
A typical day involves attending lectures on agricultural science, conducting field or laboratory experiments, analysing data, reviewing scientific literature, and meeting with supervisors to discuss research progress.
The trade-offs
| In its favour | Against it |
|---|---|
| Specialized knowledge creates competitive advantage in job market | Fieldwork can be physically demanding and weather-dependent |
| Research opportunities contribute directly to solving Kenya's agricultural challenges | Research funding and positions can be competitive and sometimes limited |
| International research partnerships provide global exposure and collaboration | Some specialisations have smaller job markets requiring flexibility in location |
What it costs
Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.
What it costs, and where
Against 303 agriculture coursesAnnual 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
U.Eldoret 162.6K/yr; Egerton FOA ~188.7K/yr. Private unverified.
DAAD, FAO, and ICRAF offer research scholarships. KALRO provides research affiliation. HELB offers postgraduate loans.
Funding options
HELB Postgraduate Loan
Loan
Kenyan citizens enrolled in accredited postgraduate programmes
DAAD Scholarship
Scholarship
African postgraduate researchers in agriculture
National Research Fund
Grant
Postgraduate researchers in Kenyan institutions
Scholarships
5 recordedHELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 100,000Kenyan
Kenyan citizens pursuing postgraduate studies
KALRO Research Fellowship
FellowshipKsh 120,000Kenyan
Agriculture graduates conducting research
International Research Partnerships
FellowshipKsh 200,000
Graduates pursuing research with international institutions
University Postgraduate Scholarship
ScholarshipKsh 80,000Kenyan
Outstanding postgraduate students at Kenyan universities
AGRA Scholarship Program
ScholarshipKsh 250,000
Agriculture graduates from East Africa
Scholarships you could apply for
2 usable where it is taught- Chevening Scholarships Kenya
Closes 30 November 2026FullUK Government
Full masters in UK
- AfDB Japan Scholarship Program
Closes 28 February 2027FullAfrican Development Bank
Full graduate study abroad
Getting in
The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.
What you need
Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Science or related discipline with minimum GPA of 3.0 and demonstrated interest in the specialisation
When it next starts
Taught at 1 institutionIncluding Kenya Methodist University.
Including Kenya Methodist University.
Including Kenya Methodist University.
How you are assessed
4 componentsContinuous Assessment
Cat20% of the mark
Assignments, quizzes, seminars, and participation
Research Proposal and Presentations
Clinical10% of the mark
Thesis proposal presentation and seminar presentations - Year 2
Independent Thesis Research and Writing
Research30% of the mark
Independent thesis research, analysis, and final thesis submission - Year 2
Coursework Examinations
Exam40% of the mark
End-of-semester examinations on coursework topics - Year 1
Accreditation
Commission for University Education
Academic accreditationRequired
Mandatory accreditation for all university postgraduate programmes in Kenya.
Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Agricultural programmes may also be affiliated with KALRO and the Ministry of Agriculture.
Where it leads
The roles it opens, and what you leave with.
Where graduates go
5 rolesPolicy Officer
Medium demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 280,000
Develop and implement agricultural policy.
University Lecturer
Medium demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 300,000
Teach and conduct research at university level.
Rural Specialist/Researcher
Medium high demandKsh 95,000 to Ksh 250,000
Conduct specialized research.
Extension Specialist
Medium demandKsh 85,000 to Ksh 200,000
Lead extension programmes and technology transfer.
Agricultural Consultant
Medium demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 350,000
Provide specialized consulting services.
Graduate outcomes
Graduates pursue careers as agricultural officers, research scientists, extension officers, agribusiness managers, and environmental consultants in Kenya's agricultural sector.
Where these fields lead
8 careers- Aquaculture TechnologistAgriculture3Low exposure
- Climate-Resilient Seed BreederAgriculture3Low exposure
- Veterinary Public OfficerAgriculture3Low exposure
- Veterinary OfficerAgriculture7Low exposure
- Farm Insurance AssessorAgriculture11Low exposure
- Value Chain AnalystAgriculture12Low exposure
- Agricultural EconomistAgriculture13Low exposure
- Agroecological Farming SpecialistAgriculture13Low exposure
Common misconceptions
A Masters in Agriculture is only for those who want to farm.
Graduates work at KALRO, FAO, Ministry of Agriculture, agribusiness companies, NGOs, and universities in diverse roles.
Agricultural science is low-tech.
Modern agricultural science involves biotechnology, precision agriculture, GIS, data analytics, and molecular biology.
All agriculture Masters require extensive fieldwork.
Many programmes offer laboratory-based, computational, or policy-focused research options.
Agriculture Masters graduates have limited earning potential.
Kenya's agriculture sector offers growing opportunities in agribusiness, food processing, research, and international development.