Environmental Science

Master of Science in Energy Management

The Master of Science in Energy Management is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in energy management, energy efficiency, energy policy, and sustainable energy planning. The programme combines energy management theory with practical energy auditing, policy analysis, and research application.

Core areas include energy management systems, energy auditing and efficiency, energy economics, energy policy and regulation, renewable energy management, energy modelling, demand-side management, energy conservation, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both energy management theory and practical auditing and analysis through coursework and research.

The programme is offered by the University of Nairobi through the Faculty of Engineering, also available through the Centre for Open and Distance Learning (CODL). Moi University offers MSc in Sustainable Energy and Energy Access through the School of Engineering. JKUAT offers MSc in Energy Technology at KES 413,000 total through the Institute of Energy and Environmental Technology. All are public universities offering programmes over two academic years through full-time, part-time, and distance learning modes.

Students develop competencies in energy management, auditing, efficiency, economics, policy, and renewable energy. The programme includes coursework, examinations, energy audit projects, and a supervised research thesis.

University of Nairobi charges approximately KES 529,500/year (KES 1,059,000 total) for MSc in Energy Management. JKUAT charges approximately KES 206,500/year (KES 413,000 total) for MSc in Energy Technology. Moi University charges similar fees for sustainable energy programmes. Entry requires a Bachelor's degree with Second Class Honours in engineering, science, environmental, or related fields from a recognised university.

Graduates pursue careers as energy managers, energy auditors, energy consultants, energy policy analysts, renewable energy project managers, and lecturers in energy management across energy companies, manufacturing firms, government agencies, consulting firms, international organisations, and universities.

Skills Required

Energy Management Systems and ISO 50001
Energy Auditing and Efficiency Assessment
Energy Economics and Cost Analysis
Energy Policy and Regulation Analysis
Renewable Energy Project Management
Energy Modelling and Forecasting
Demand-Side Management and Conservation
Energy Performance Measurement and Verification
Research Methods in Energy Management
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Energy Management Systems and ISO 50001
Energy Auditing and Efficiency Assessment
Energy Economics and Cost Analysis
Energy Policy and Regulation Analysis
Renewable Energy Project Management
Energy Modelling and Forecasting
Demand-Side Management and Conservation
Energy Performance Measurement and Verification
Research Methods in Energy Management
Thesis Research

Certifications

EPRA Energy Manager Certification
ISO 50001 Energy Management Certification

Specializations

Energy Efficiency and Conservation

Focuses on energy efficiency and conservation, covering auditing, optimisation, ISO 50001, building efficiency, and managing energy efficiency.

Energy Economics and Finance

Examines energy economics and finance, covering costing, tariffs, investment, financing, and managing energy economics.

Energy Policy and Regulation

Covers energy policy and regulation, covering policy, regulation, governance, reform, and managing energy policy.

Renewable Energy Management

Focuses on renewable energy management, covering solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, project management, and managing renewable energy.

Energy Planning and Modelling

Examines energy planning and modelling, covering forecasting, simulation, optimisation, scenarios, and managing energy planning.

Demand-Side Management

Covers demand-side management, covering load management, efficiency, demand response, and managing demand-side programmes.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 480,000
Private, up to: Ksh 0
Job market: High

The programme

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

Practicalities

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

What you study

10 subjects

Energy Management Systems and ISO 50001
Energy Auditing and Efficiency Assessment
Energy Economics and Cost Analysis
Energy Policy and Regulation Analysis
Renewable Energy Project Management
Energy Modelling and Forecasting
Demand-Side Management and Conservation
Energy Performance Measurement and Verification
Research Methods in Energy Management
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Energy Management Systems and ISO 50001
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines ISO 50001, energy management systems, planning, implementation, monitoring, and managing energy management.
Energy Auditing and Efficiency Assessment
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers walk-through audits, detailed audits, measurement, analysis, reporting, and managing energy audits.
Energy Economics and Cost Analysis
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines costing, tariffs, investment, financing, LCC, and managing energy economics.
Research Methods in Energy Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research design, data collection, analysis, energy research methods, and conducting energy management research, preparing students for their thesis.
Energy Policy and Regulation
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers policy, regulation, governance, reform, markets, and managing energy policy.
Renewable Energy Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, project management, and managing renewable energy projects.
Energy Modelling and Forecasting
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers forecasting, simulation, optimisation, LEAP, MARKAL, and managing energy modelling.
Demand-Side Management and Conservation
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines load management, efficiency, demand response, conservation, and managing demand-side programmes.
Energy Performance Measurement and Verification
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers M and V protocols, IPMVP, baseline, savings, verification, and managing energy performance.
Building and Industrial Energy Efficiency
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines building efficiency, industrial efficiency, lighting, HVAC, motors, and managing energy efficiency.
Energy Project Finance and Investment
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers project finance, investment appraisal, risk, PPP, and managing energy project finance.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 29 creditsCore
Original supervised research thesis on an energy management topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and energy management knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Energy Efficiency and Conservation
Focuses on energy efficiency and conservation, covering auditing, optimisation, ISO 50001, building efficiency, and managing energy efficiency.
Energy Economics and Finance
Examines energy economics and finance, covering costing, tariffs, investment, financing, and managing energy economics.
Energy Policy and Regulation
Covers energy policy and regulation, covering policy, regulation, governance, reform, and managing energy policy.
Renewable Energy Management
Focuses on renewable energy management, covering solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, project management, and managing renewable energy.
Energy Planning and Modelling
Examines energy planning and modelling, covering forecasting, simulation, optimisation, scenarios, and managing energy planning.
Demand-Side Management
Covers demand-side management, covering load management, efficiency, demand response, and managing demand-side programmes.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Energy Management programme combines lectures, seminars, practical workshops, energy audit exercises, case studies, and independent study. Sessions cover energy management systems, energy auditing, energy economics, and energy policy. Energy management sessions examine ISO 50001, energy management systems, planning, implementation, and managing energy management. Energy auditing sessions cover walk-through audits, detailed audits, measurement, analysis, reporting, and managing energy audits. Energy efficiency sessions cover building efficiency, industrial efficiency, lighting, HVAC, motors, and managing energy efficiency. Energy economics sessions cover costing, tariffs, investment, financing, LCC, and managing energy economics. Energy policy sessions cover policy, regulation, governance, reform, markets, and managing energy policy. Renewable energy sessions cover solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, project management, and managing renewable energy. Energy modelling sessions cover forecasting, simulation, optimisation, LEAP, MARKAL, and managing energy modelling. Demand-side management sessions cover load management, efficiency, demand response, and managing demand-side programmes. Energy conservation sessions cover conservation measures, technologies, behavioural change, and managing conservation. Research methods sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. Practical workshops provide hands-on experience with energy audit instruments, RETScreen, HOMER, and energy management tools. Energy audit exercises provide hands-on experience with site assessments, data collection, analysis, and reporting. Case studies provide opportunities for analysing real energy management scenarios and policy issues. Seminars and discussion groups provide opportunities for debating current issues in energy management and presenting research findings. Guest lectures from experienced energy managers, auditors, and policy makers provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a supervised research thesis on an energy management topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

High demand for energy managers with Kenya's energy efficiency mandates, renewable energy targets, and industrial energy management needs.
UoN offers the programme through full-time and distance learning (CODL) modes, providing flexible study options.
JKUAT offers competitive fees at approximately KES 206,500/year (KES 413,000 total) for MSc in Energy Technology.
DAAD scholarships available for MSc in Energy Technology at JKUAT.

Against it

UoN charges significantly higher fees at approximately KES 529,500/year (KES 1,059,000 total).
Moi University specific sustainable energy fees not independently verified.
No private university confirmed offering this programme.
Programme requires engineering, science, or related background, limiting 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 181 environmental science courses

Public207k to 480k

207k at JKUAT480k 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 480,000/yr tuition (engineering.uonbi.ac.ke). JKUAT 413,000/2yr. No private.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. DAAD scholarships are available for MSc in Energy Technology at JKUAT. UoN may offer postgraduate bursaries. Some energy companies and government agencies may sponsor staff for postgraduate study. International organisations like IEA may offer fellowships for energy management professionals.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
DAAD Scholarship
UoN Postgraduate Bursary

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
DAAD Scholarship
ScholarshipKsh 500,000
DAAD provides scholarships for MSc in Energy Technology at JKUAT for international and Kenyan students.
UoN Postgraduate Bursary
ScholarshipKsh 100,000Kenyan
UoN offers postgraduate bursaries for eligible students.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: UoN requires a Bachelor's degree with at least Second Class Honours Upper Division in Engineering or related fields. JKUAT requires Upper Second in Agricultural, Engineering, Environmental, or Science discipline, or Lower Second with two years experience. Moi University requires similar qualifications. 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, energy audit reports, project reports, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Written examinations covering energy management, auditing, economics, policy, and renewable energy.
Practical and Project Assessment
Practical30% of the mark
Practical assessment through energy audit exercises, project analysis, system simulation, and demonstrating energy management skills.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original supervised research thesis on an energy management topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and energy management knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). University of Nairobi, JKUAT, and Moi University (all public) offer MSc programmes in energy management and related fields. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in energy management. Graduates are eligible for EPRA energy manager certification and ISO 50001 energy management certification.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. University of Nairobi, JKUAT, and Moi University (all public) offer MSc programmes in energy management and related fields. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in energy management. Graduates are eligible for EPRA energy manager certification and ISO 50001 energy management certification.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Energy Manager
High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 600,000
Manages energy programmes, overseeing efficiency, conservation, ISO 50001, and managing energy management.
Energy Auditor
High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 550,000
Conducts energy audits, overseeing assessment, analysis, reporting, and managing energy audits.
Energy Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 140,000 to Ksh 650,000
Provides energy consulting, overseeing advisory, assessment, strategy, and managing energy consulting.
Energy Policy Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 550,000
Analyses energy policy, overseeing development, evaluation, and managing energy policy.
Renewable Energy Project Manager
High demandKsh 140,000 to Ksh 650,000
Manages renewable energy projects, overseeing planning, implementation, and managing renewable energy projects.
Energy Management Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches energy management at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

RETScreen
SoftwarePrimary
RETScreen for energy project analysis, covering feasibility, financial analysis, GHG, and managing renewable energy project assessment.
HOMER Energy
Software
HOMER for energy system modelling, covering hybrid systems, optimisation, simulation, and managing renewable energy system design.
LEAP
Software
LEAP for energy planning, covering forecasting, scenarios, policy analysis, and managing energy planning.
Microsoft Excel
Software
Excel for energy data analysis, covering energy data, audits, budgets, and managing data analysis.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Energy management is just about saving electricity.
Energy management covers comprehensive systems, auditing, efficiency, economics, policy, and renewable energy beyond just saving electricity.
This programme is only for engineers.
Energy management skills are valuable for business, environmental, and policy professionals beyond just engineers.
Energy auditing is just about reading meters.
Energy auditing covers comprehensive walk-through, detailed audits, measurement, analysis, and reporting.
Energy efficiency is just about turning off lights.
Energy efficiency covers comprehensive building, industrial, lighting, HVAC, motors, and process efficiency.
Energy economics is just about calculating bills.
Energy economics covers comprehensive costing, tariffs, investment, financing, and life-cycle cost analysis.
Energy policy is just about making regulations.
Energy policy covers comprehensive development, analysis, implementation, reform, and market regulation.