Business

Master of Science in Enterpreneurship and Innovation Management

The Master of Science in Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in entrepreneurship, innovation management, venture creation, and enterprise development. The programme combines entrepreneurship theory with practical venture creation, innovation management, and research application.

Core areas include entrepreneurship theory, innovation management, venture creation, business modelling, entrepreneurial finance, technology entrepreneurship, strategic management, new product development, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both entrepreneurship theory and practical venture and innovation work through coursework and research.

The programme is offered by the University of Nairobi as MSc in Entrepreneurship and Innovations Management through the School of Business, JKUAT as MSc in Entrepreneurship through the School of Business, and Kenyatta University as MSc in Entrepreneurship Development. All are public universities offering programmes over two academic years through full-time and part-time modes of study.

Students develop competencies in entrepreneurship, innovation management, venture creation, business modelling, and entrepreneurial finance. The programme includes coursework, examinations, business plan projects, and a supervised research thesis.

University of Nairobi charges approximately KES 353,500/year (KES 707,000 total) for MSc in Entrepreneurship and Innovations Management. JKUAT and KU charge similar fees for entrepreneurship masters programmes. Entry requires a Bachelor's degree with Second Class Honours in business, commerce, economics, engineering, or related fields from a recognised university.

Graduates pursue careers as entrepreneurs, innovation managers, venture developers, business consultants, enterprise development officers, and lecturers in entrepreneurship across startups, innovation hubs, consulting firms, government agencies, financial institutions, and universities.

Skills Required

Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice
Innovation Management and Strategy
Venture Creation and Business Modelling
Entrepreneurial Finance and Funding
Technology Entrepreneurship and Commercialisation
New Product Development and Design Thinking
Strategic Management and Competitive Analysis
Business Plan Development and Pitching
Research Methods in Entrepreneurship
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice
Innovation Management and Strategy
Venture Creation and Business Modelling
Entrepreneurial Finance and Funding
Technology Entrepreneurship and Commercialisation
New Product Development and Design Thinking
Strategic Management and Competitive Analysis
Business Plan Development and Pitching
Research Methods in Entrepreneurship
Thesis Research

Certifications

KeNIA Innovation Management Certification
ICSB Entrepreneurship Certification

Specializations

Venture Creation and Startups

Focuses on venture creation and startups, covering ideation, validation, business modelling, launch, and managing venture creation.

Innovation Management

Examines innovation management, covering innovation strategy, processes, culture, R&D, and managing innovation.

Technology Entrepreneurship

Covers technology entrepreneurship, covering commercialisation, IP, tech ventures, spin-offs, and managing technology entrepreneurship.

Entrepreneurial Finance

Focuses on entrepreneurial finance, covering funding, venture capital, angel, crowdfunding, and managing entrepreneurial finance.

Social Entrepreneurship

Examines social entrepreneurship, covering social ventures, impact, sustainability, and managing social entrepreneurship.

Corporate Entrepreneurship

Covers corporate entrepreneurship, covering intrapreneurship, corporate venturing, innovation, and managing corporate entrepreneurship.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 353,500
Private, up to: Ksh 700,000
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: 25 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice
Innovation Management and Strategy
Venture Creation and Business Modelling
Entrepreneurial Finance and Funding
Technology Entrepreneurship and Commercialisation
New Product Development and Design Thinking
Strategic Management and Competitive Analysis
Business Plan Development and Pitching
Research Methods in Entrepreneurship
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines entrepreneurship theory, opportunity, venture creation, growth, and managing entrepreneurship.
Innovation Management and Strategy
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers innovation strategy, processes, culture, R&D, and managing innovation.
Venture Creation and Business Modelling
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines ideation, validation, business modelling, launch, scaling, and managing venture creation.
Research Methods in Entrepreneurship
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research design, data collection, analysis, entrepreneurship research methods, and conducting entrepreneurship research, preparing students for their thesis.
Entrepreneurial Finance and Funding
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers funding, venture capital, angel, crowdfunding, bootstrapping, and managing entrepreneurial finance.
Technology Entrepreneurship and Commercialisation
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines commercialisation, IP, tech ventures, spin-offs, and managing technology entrepreneurship.
New Product Development and Design Thinking
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers design thinking, prototyping, testing, launch, and managing product development.
Strategic Management and Competitive Analysis
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines strategy, competitive advantage, positioning, and managing strategy.
Social Entrepreneurship and Impact
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers social ventures, impact, sustainability, measurement, and managing social entrepreneurship.
Corporate Entrepreneurship and Intrapreneurship
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines intrapreneurship, corporate venturing, innovation, and managing corporate entrepreneurship.
Entrepreneurship Ecosystems and Policy
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers ecosystems, policy, support, incubation, and managing entrepreneurship ecosystems.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 29 creditsCore
Original supervised research thesis on an entrepreneurship and innovation topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and entrepreneurship knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Venture Creation and Startups
Focuses on venture creation and startups, covering ideation, validation, business modelling, launch, and managing venture creation.
Innovation Management
Examines innovation management, covering innovation strategy, processes, culture, R&D, and managing innovation.
Technology Entrepreneurship
Covers technology entrepreneurship, covering commercialisation, IP, tech ventures, spin-offs, and managing technology entrepreneurship.
Entrepreneurial Finance
Focuses on entrepreneurial finance, covering funding, venture capital, angel, crowdfunding, and managing entrepreneurial finance.
Social Entrepreneurship
Examines social entrepreneurship, covering social ventures, impact, sustainability, and managing social entrepreneurship.
Corporate Entrepreneurship
Covers corporate entrepreneurship, covering intrapreneurship, corporate venturing, innovation, and managing corporate entrepreneurship.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management programme combines lectures, seminars, case studies, practical workshops, business plan exercises, and independent study. Sessions cover entrepreneurship theory, innovation management, venture creation, and entrepreneurial finance. Entrepreneurship sessions examine theory, opportunity, venture creation, growth, and managing entrepreneurship. Innovation management sessions cover innovation strategy, processes, culture, R&D, and managing innovation. Venture creation sessions cover ideation, validation, business modelling, launch, scaling, and managing venture creation. Business modelling sessions cover canvas, lean startup, validation, pivoting, and managing business models. Entrepreneurial finance sessions cover funding, venture capital, angel, crowdfunding, bootstrapping, and managing entrepreneurial finance. Technology entrepreneurship sessions cover commercialisation, IP, tech ventures, spin-offs, and managing technology entrepreneurship. New product development sessions cover design thinking, prototyping, testing, launch, and managing product development. Strategic management sessions cover strategy, competitive advantage, positioning, and managing strategy. Business plan sessions cover planning, financials, pitching, and managing business plans. Research methods sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. Case studies provide opportunities for analysing real entrepreneurial ventures and innovation scenarios. Practical workshops provide hands-on experience with business modelling, design thinking, and innovation tools. Business plan exercises provide hands-on experience with venture planning, financial modelling, and pitching. Seminars and discussion groups provide opportunities for debating current issues in entrepreneurship and presenting research findings. Guest lectures from experienced entrepreneurs, investors, and innovation managers provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a supervised research thesis on an entrepreneurship and innovation topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

High demand for entrepreneurship and innovation skills with Kenya's startup ecosystem, innovation hubs, and enterprise development needs.
Programme offered by three public universities (UoN, JKUAT, KU), providing institutional choice.
Programme combines entrepreneurship and innovation management, providing versatile skills for both venture creation and corporate innovation.
Graduates are eligible for KeNIA and ICSB certifications, enhancing career prospects.

Against it

UoN charges relatively high fees at approximately KES 353,500/year (KES 707,000 total).
JKUAT and KU specific entrepreneurship fees not independently verified.
No private university confirmed offering this specific combined programme.
Programme may be more theoretical than practical at some institutions, with limited hands-on venture creation experience.

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 331 business courses

Public246k to 354k

246k at Kenyatta University354k at University of Nairobi

Private119k to 700k

119k at Mount Kenya University700k at Strathmore 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 246,000, UoN 353,500/yr verified (kenyaeducationguide, 707K/2yr). MKU, Strathmore unverified.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. UoN may offer postgraduate bursaries. KeNIA may offer innovation grants for entrepreneurship research. Some startups and innovation hubs may sponsor staff for postgraduate study.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
UoN Postgraduate Bursary
KeNIA Innovation Grant

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
UoN Postgraduate Bursary
ScholarshipKsh 100,000Kenyan
UoN offers postgraduate bursaries for eligible students.
KeNIA Innovation Grant
ScholarshipKsh 500,000Kenyan
KeNIA provides innovation grants for entrepreneurship and innovation research.

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 in relevant fields. JKUAT requires Upper Second in relevant discipline, or Lower Second with relevant experience. KU requires relevant Bachelor's degree. 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, case study analyses, business plan reports, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Written examinations covering entrepreneurship theory, innovation management, venture creation, and entrepreneurial finance.
Business Plan and Project Assessment
Project30% of the mark
Practical assessment through business plan development, venture creation projects, innovation analysis, and demonstrating entrepreneurship skills.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original supervised research thesis on an entrepreneurship and innovation topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and entrepreneurship 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 Kenyatta University (all public) offer MSc programmes in entrepreneurship and innovation management. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in entrepreneurship. Graduates are eligible for KeNIA innovation management certification and ICSB entrepreneurship certification.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. University of Nairobi, JKUAT, and Kenyatta University (all public) offer MSc programmes in entrepreneurship and innovation management. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in entrepreneurship. Graduates are eligible for KeNIA innovation management certification and ICSB entrepreneurship certification.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Entrepreneur
High demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 1,000,000
Creates and manages ventures, overseeing ideation, launch, growth, and managing entrepreneurial ventures.
Innovation Manager
High demandKsh 140,000 to Ksh 650,000
Manages innovation programmes, overseeing strategy, processes, R&D, and managing innovation.
Venture Developer
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 600,000
Develops ventures, overseeing modelling, validation, launch, and managing venture development.
Business Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 600,000
Provides business consulting, overseeing advisory, strategy, growth, and managing consulting.
Enterprise Development Officer
Moderate demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages enterprise development, overseeing support, training, incubation, and managing enterprise development.
Entrepreneurship Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches entrepreneurship at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Business Model Canvas
ToolPrimary
Business Model Canvas for venture planning, covering business modelling, value proposition, revenue, and managing business models.
Lean Startup Methodology
Tool
Lean Startup for venture creation, covering MVP, validation, pivoting, and managing lean venture development.
Design Thinking
Tool
Design Thinking for innovation, covering empathy, ideation, prototyping, testing, and managing innovation.
Microsoft Excel
Software
Excel for financial modelling, covering business plans, projections, budgets, and managing financial analysis.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Entrepreneurship is just about starting businesses.
Entrepreneurship covers comprehensive theory, innovation, venture creation, finance, and management beyond just starting businesses.
This programme is only for aspiring entrepreneurs.
Entrepreneurship and innovation skills are valuable for corporate managers, consultants, and policy makers beyond just aspiring entrepreneurs.
Innovation management is just about new products.
Innovation management covers comprehensive strategy, processes, culture, R&D, and business model innovation.
Venture creation is just about having ideas.
Venture creation covers comprehensive ideation, validation, business modelling, launch, and scaling.
Entrepreneurial finance is just about getting loans.
Entrepreneurial finance covers comprehensive funding, venture capital, angel, crowdfunding, and bootstrapping.
Technology entrepreneurship is just about tech startups.
Technology entrepreneurship covers comprehensive commercialisation, IP, tech ventures, spin-offs, and corporate innovation.