Agriculture

Master of Science in Climate Change and Agroforestry

The Master of Science in Climate Change and Agroforestry is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in climate adaptation, agroforestry systems, and sustainable land management. The programme combines climate science with practical agroforestry and natural resource management application.

Core areas include climate change science, agroforestry systems, carbon sequestration, sustainable land management, climate adaptation, environmental policy, watershed management, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both climate theory and practical field and laboratory work through coursework and research.

The programme is offered by South Eastern Kenya University and related programmes are offered by Kenyatta University and University of Eldoret. All are public universities offering the programme over two academic years through full-time and part-time modes of study.

Students develop competencies in climate change science, agroforestry systems, carbon sequestration, sustainable land management, climate adaptation, environmental policy, watershed management, and research methods. The programme includes coursework, examinations, fieldwork, and a supervised research thesis.

SEKU charges approximately KES 200,000/year for science-based programmes. KU charges KES 295,800–326,400/year for science-based masters. Entry requires a Bachelor's degree with Second Class Honours Upper Division in agriculture, forestry, environmental science, biological sciences, or related fields from a recognised university.

Graduates pursue careers as climate change officers, agroforestry specialists, environmental consultants, conservation officers, land management advisors, and lecturers in climate change and agroforestry across government agencies, NGOs, research institutions, international organisations, and universities.

Skills Required

Climate Change Science and Impact Assessment
Agroforestry Systems Design and Management
Carbon Sequestration and Greenhouse Gas Accounting
Sustainable Land Management and Restoration
Climate Adaptation and Resilience Planning
Environmental Policy and Governance
Watershed Management and Hydrology
Geographic Information Systems for Natural Resources
Research Methods in Climate and Agroforestry
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Climate Change Science and Impact Assessment
Agroforestry Systems Design and Management
Carbon Sequestration and Greenhouse Gas Accounting
Sustainable Land Management and Restoration
Climate Adaptation and Resilience Planning
Environmental Policy and Governance
Watershed Management and Hydrology
Geographic Information Systems for Natural Resources
Research Methods in Climate and Agroforestry
Thesis Research

Certifications

KEFRI Research Certification
Climate Change Professional Certification

Specializations

Climate Adaptation

Focuses on climate adaptation, covering adaptation strategies, vulnerability assessment, resilience building, community adaptation, and managing climate adaptation.

Agroforestry Systems

Examines agroforestry systems, covering tree-crop integration, alley farming, silvopasture, parkland systems, and managing agroforestry systems.

Carbon Management

Covers carbon management, covering carbon sequestration, GHG accounting, MRV, carbon markets, and managing carbon management.

Sustainable Land Management

Focuses on sustainable land management, covering soil conservation, land restoration, watershed management, and managing sustainable land management.

Climate Policy

Examines climate policy, covering environmental governance, climate agreements, policy analysis, advocacy, and managing climate policy.

Dryland Agroforestry

Covers dryland agroforestry, covering drought-resistant species, ASAL farming, water harvesting, dryland trees, and managing dryland agroforestry.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 326,400
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

Climate Change Science and Impact Assessment
Agroforestry Systems Design and Management
Carbon Sequestration and Greenhouse Gas Accounting
Sustainable Land Management and Restoration
Climate Adaptation and Resilience Planning
Environmental Policy and Governance
Watershed Management and Hydrology
Geographic Information Systems for Natural Resources
Research Methods in Climate and Agroforestry
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Climate Change Science and Impact Assessment
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines climate systems, greenhouse gases, global warming, climate modelling, impact assessment, and managing climate change.
Agroforestry Systems Design and Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers tree-crop integration, alley farming, silvopasture, parkland systems, windbreaks, and managing agroforestry systems.
Research Methods in Climate and Agroforestry
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research design, data collection, analysis, field methods, and conducting climate and agroforestry research, preparing students for their thesis.
Carbon Sequestration and Greenhouse Gas Accounting
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines carbon stocks, GHG accounting, MRV, carbon markets, REDD+, and managing carbon management.
Sustainable Land Management and Restoration
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers soil conservation, land restoration, watershed management, erosion control, and managing sustainable land management.
Climate Adaptation and Resilience Planning
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines adaptation strategies, vulnerability assessment, resilience building, community adaptation, and managing climate adaptation.
Environmental Policy and Climate Governance
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers environmental governance, climate agreements, policy analysis, advocacy, and managing climate policy.
Watershed Management and Hydrology
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines hydrology, water resources, catchment management, water harvesting, and managing watersheds.
GIS for Natural Resource Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers spatial analysis, remote sensing, vegetation mapping, land use mapping, and managing GIS data.
Dryland Agroforestry and ASAL Systems
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines drought-resistant species, ASAL farming, water harvesting, dryland trees, and managing dryland agroforestry.
Community-Based Natural Resource Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers community engagement, participatory management, livelihoods, governance, and managing community-based natural resource management.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 29 creditsCore
Original supervised research thesis on a climate change and agroforestry topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Climate Adaptation
Focuses on climate adaptation, covering adaptation strategies, vulnerability assessment, resilience building, community adaptation, and managing climate adaptation.
Agroforestry Systems
Examines agroforestry systems, covering tree-crop integration, alley farming, silvopasture, parkland systems, and managing agroforestry systems.
Carbon Management
Covers carbon management, covering carbon sequestration, GHG accounting, MRV, carbon markets, and managing carbon management.
Sustainable Land Management
Focuses on sustainable land management, covering soil conservation, land restoration, watershed management, and managing sustainable land management.
Climate Policy
Examines climate policy, covering environmental governance, climate agreements, policy analysis, advocacy, and managing climate policy.
Dryland Agroforestry
Covers dryland agroforestry, covering drought-resistant species, ASAL farming, water harvesting, dryland trees, and managing dryland agroforestry.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Climate Change and Agroforestry programme combines lectures, laboratory sessions, fieldwork, practical workshops, seminars, and independent study. Sessions cover climate change science, agroforestry systems, carbon management, and sustainable land management. Climate change science sessions examine climate systems, greenhouse gases, global warming, climate modelling, impact assessment, and managing climate change. Agroforestry systems sessions cover tree-crop integration, alley farming, silvopasture, parkland systems, windbreaks, and managing agroforestry systems. Carbon sequestration sessions cover carbon stocks, GHG accounting, MRV, carbon markets, REDD+, and managing carbon management. Sustainable land management sessions cover soil conservation, land restoration, watershed management, erosion control, and managing sustainable land management. Climate adaptation sessions cover adaptation strategies, vulnerability assessment, resilience building, community adaptation, and managing climate adaptation. Environmental policy sessions cover environmental governance, climate agreements, policy analysis, advocacy, and managing climate policy. Watershed management sessions cover hydrology, water resources, catchment management, water harvesting, and managing watersheds. GIS sessions cover spatial analysis, remote sensing, vegetation mapping, land use mapping, and managing GIS data. Research methods sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. Laboratory sessions provide hands-on experience with soil analysis, carbon measurement, plant analysis, and climate data analysis. Fieldwork provides hands-on experience with agroforestry plot assessment, tree measurement, soil sampling, vegetation surveys, and community engagement. Practical workshops provide hands-on experience with agroforestry design, carbon accounting, land restoration planning, and climate adaptation planning. Seminars and discussion groups provide opportunities for debating current issues in climate change and agroforestry. Guest lectures from experienced climate scientists, agroforesters, and environmental professionals provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a supervised research thesis on a climate change and agroforestry topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

High demand for climate and agroforestry professionals with growing climate action, environmental conservation, sustainable agriculture, carbon markets, and green economy initiatives in Kenya.
Programme offered by three public universities (SEKU, KU, UoE), providing institutional choice.
Programme addresses pressing national and global challenges including climate change, food security, and environmental degradation.
Strong industry links with KEFRI, IPCC, and environmental organisations providing research collaboration and career opportunities.

Against it

SEKU fees estimated and not independently verified, requiring prospective students to confirm directly.
KU fees are moderate at KES 295,800–326,400/year, which may still be challenging for some students.
No private university confirmed offering this programme, limiting options.
Programme requires agriculture, forestry, environmental science, or biological sciences background, which limits access for non-related graduates.

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

Public200k to 326k

200k at South Eastern Kenya University326k at Kenyatta 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 326.4K/yr (joweri). SEKU & private unverified, kept existing.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. KU may offer postgraduate bursaries for eligible students. KEFRI and forestry research organisations may provide research support. Some climate change and environmental organisations may sponsor staff for postgraduate study.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
KU Postgraduate Bursary
KEFRI Research 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.
KEFRI Research Support
GrantKsh 200,000Kenyan
KEFRI and partner organisations may provide research support for agroforestry and forestry professionals.

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, forestry, environmental science, or biological sciences. Lower Second Division holders with 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, laboratory reports, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Written examinations covering climate change science, agroforestry systems, carbon management, and sustainable land management.
Field and Practical Assessment
Practical30% of the mark
Practical assessment through fieldwork, agroforestry design, carbon measurement, GIS analysis, and demonstrating climate and agroforestry skills.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original supervised research thesis on a climate change and agroforestry topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). South Eastern Kenya University, Kenyatta University, and University of Eldoret (all public) offer MSc in Climate Change and Agroforestry or related agroforestry programmes. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in climate change and agroforestry. Graduates are eligible for KEFRI research certification and climate change professional certification.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. South Eastern Kenya University, Kenyatta University, and University of Eldoret (all public) offer MSc in Climate Change and Agroforestry or related agroforestry programmes. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in climate change and agroforestry. Graduates are eligible for KEFRI research certification and climate change professional certification.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Climate Change Officer
High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Manages climate change programmes, overseeing adaptation, mitigation, policy, reporting, and managing climate change programmes.
Agroforestry Specialist
High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Designs and manages agroforestry systems, overseeing tree-crop integration, species selection, and managing agroforestry.
Environmental Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Provides environmental consulting, overseeing EIA, environmental audits, land assessment, and managing environmental consulting.
Conservation Officer
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages conservation programmes, overseeing biodiversity, protected areas, restoration, and managing conservation.
Land Management Advisor
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Advises on land management, overseeing sustainable practices, restoration, watershed management, and managing land management.
Climate and Agroforestry Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches climate change and agroforestry at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

QGIS
SoftwarePrimary
QGIS for spatial analysis, covering vegetation mapping, land use mapping, carbon mapping, and managing spatial data.
R
Software
R for statistical analysis, covering climate data, ecological data, carbon data, and managing research data.
EX-ACT
Software
FAO EX-ACT for carbon accounting, covering GHG estimation, carbon balance, mitigation assessment, and managing carbon data.
SPSS
Software
SPSS for statistical analysis, covering survey data, experimental data, and managing research data.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Climate change and agroforestry is just about planting trees.
The programme covers comprehensive climate science, agroforestry systems, carbon management, land restoration, policy, and research beyond just planting trees.
This programme is only for foresters.
Climate and agroforestry skills are valuable for agriculturists, environmental scientists, conservationists, policy makers, researchers, and development professionals beyond just foresters.
Climate change and agroforestry has limited career prospects in Kenya.
With growing climate action, environmental conservation, sustainable agriculture, carbon markets, and green economy initiatives, demand for climate and agroforestry professionals is high in Kenya.
Carbon sequestration is just about counting trees.
Carbon sequestration covers comprehensive carbon stocks, GHG accounting, MRV systems, carbon markets, and REDD+ mechanisms.
Agroforestry is just about mixing trees and crops.
Agroforestry covers comprehensive tree-crop interactions, system design, species selection, management, economics, and ecosystem services.
Climate adaptation is just about coping with weather.
Climate adaptation covers comprehensive vulnerability assessment, resilience building, community planning, policy integration, and long-term strategies.