Science

Master of Science in Geology

The Master of Science in Geology is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in geological science, mineral exploration, hydrogeology, petroleum geology, and environmental geology. The programme combines geological theory with practical field work, laboratory analysis, and research application.

Core areas include mineralogy, petrology, economic geology, hydrogeology, petroleum geology, engineering geology, environmental geology, geochemistry, geophysics, seismology, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both theoretical and practical work through coursework, field work, laboratory sessions, and research.

The programme is offered by the University of Nairobi as MSc in Geology through the Department of Earth and Climate Science in the Faculty of Science and Technology. UoN is a public university offering the programme over two academic years of four semesters through full-time and part-time modes of study.

Students develop competencies in geological analysis, mineral exploration, hydrogeology, petroleum geology, and environmental geology. The programme includes 12 taught course units of 45 contact hours each and a supervised research project, with 12 specialisation areas including Mineralogy and Petrology, Economic Geology, Hydrogeology, Petroleum Geology, Engineering Geology, and Environmental Geology.

University of Nairobi charges approximately KES 400,500/year (KES 801,000 total) for MSc in Geology. Entry requires a BSc degree in Geology with at least Second Class Honours Upper Division from a recognised university, or Lower Second with two years of relevant post-qualification experience and evidence of research.

Graduates pursue careers as geologists, hydrogeologists, petroleum geologists, mining geologists, engineering geologists, and lecturers in geology across mining companies, oil and gas companies, government geological surveys, water resource agencies, construction firms, environmental consultancies, and universities.

Skills Required

Mineralogy and Petrology
Economic Geology and Mineral Exploration
Hydrogeology and Groundwater Management
Petroleum Geology and Basin Analysis
Engineering Geology and Geotechnical Assessment
Environmental Geology and Impact Assessment
Applied Geochemistry and Geophysics
Field Mapping and Geological Surveying
Research Methods in Geological Science
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Mineralogy and Petrology
Economic Geology and Mineral Exploration
Hydrogeology and Groundwater Management
Petroleum Geology and Basin Analysis
Engineering Geology and Geotechnical Assessment
Environmental Geology and Impact Assessment
Applied Geochemistry and Geophysics
Field Mapping and Geological Surveying
Research Methods in Geological Science
Thesis Research

Certifications

Geological Society of Kenya Registration
IUGS Professional Certification

Specializations

Mineralogy and Petrology

Focuses on mineralogy and petrology, covering minerals, rocks, classification, origin, and managing mineralogical analysis.

Economic Geology and Mineral Resources

Examines economic geology, covering ore deposits, mineral resources, exploration, mining, and managing economic geology.

Hydrogeology and Groundwater

Covers hydrogeology, covering aquifers, groundwater, flow, contamination, and managing groundwater resources.

Petroleum Geology

Focuses on petroleum geology, covering basins, source rocks, reservoirs, exploration, and managing petroleum geology.

Engineering Geology

Examines engineering geology, covering site investigation, soil, rock mechanics, foundations, and managing engineering geology.

Environmental Geology

Covers environmental geology, covering hazards, pollution, waste, remediation, and managing environmental geology.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 401,000
Job market: Moderate

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: 15 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Mineralogy and Petrology
Economic Geology and Mineral Exploration
Hydrogeology and Groundwater Management
Petroleum Geology and Basin Analysis
Engineering Geology and Geotechnical Assessment
Environmental Geology and Impact Assessment
Applied Geochemistry and Geophysics
Field Mapping and Geological Surveying
Research Methods in Geological Science
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Advanced Mineralogy and Petrology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines minerals, crystallography, igneous, metamorphic, sedimentary, textures, and managing mineralogical and petrological analysis.
Structural Geology and Tectonics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers structures, deformation, stress, strain, folding, faulting, tectonics, and managing structural geology.
Research Methods in Geological Science
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research design, data collection, analysis, geological research methods, and conducting research, preparing students for their thesis.
Economic Geology and Mineral Resources
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines ore deposits, mineral resources, exploration, mining, and managing economic geology.
Hydrogeology and Groundwater Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers aquifers, groundwater, flow, wells, contamination, modelling, and managing groundwater resources.
Petroleum Geology and Basin Analysis
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines basins, source rocks, reservoirs, traps, exploration, and managing petroleum geology.
Engineering Geology and Geotechnics
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers site investigation, soil, rock mechanics, foundations, slopes, and managing engineering geology.
Environmental Geology and Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines hazards, pollution, waste, remediation, climate, and managing environmental geology.
Applied Geochemistry
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers elements, isotopes, analysis, exploration, environmental, and managing geochemistry.
Applied Geophysics
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines gravity, magnetic, seismic, electrical, exploration, and managing geophysics.
Field Mapping and Geological Surveying
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers mapping, structural, stratigraphy, surveying, GPS, and managing field geology.
Research Project
Year 2Semester 29 creditsCore
Original supervised research project on a geology topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and geological knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Mineralogy and Petrology
Focuses on mineralogy and petrology, covering minerals, rocks, classification, origin, and managing mineralogical analysis.
Economic Geology and Mineral Resources
Examines economic geology, covering ore deposits, mineral resources, exploration, mining, and managing economic geology.
Hydrogeology and Groundwater
Covers hydrogeology, covering aquifers, groundwater, flow, contamination, and managing groundwater resources.
Petroleum Geology
Focuses on petroleum geology, covering basins, source rocks, reservoirs, exploration, and managing petroleum geology.
Engineering Geology
Examines engineering geology, covering site investigation, soil, rock mechanics, foundations, and managing engineering geology.
Environmental Geology
Covers environmental geology, covering hazards, pollution, waste, remediation, and managing environmental geology.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Geology programme combines lectures, laboratory sessions, field work, practical workshops, seminars, and independent study. Sessions cover mineralogy, petrology, economic geology, hydrogeology, petroleum geology, and environmental geology. Mineralogy sessions examine minerals, crystallography, identification, classification, and managing mineralogical analysis. Petrology sessions cover igneous, metamorphic, sedimentary, textures, and managing petrological analysis. Economic geology sessions cover ore deposits, mineral resources, exploration, mining, and managing economic geology. Hydrogeology sessions cover aquifers, groundwater, flow, wells, contamination, and managing groundwater. Petroleum geology sessions cover basins, source rocks, reservoirs, traps, exploration, and managing petroleum geology. Engineering geology sessions cover site investigation, soil, rock mechanics, foundations, and managing engineering geology. Environmental geology sessions cover hazards, pollution, waste, remediation, and managing environmental geology. Geochemistry sessions cover elements, isotopes, analysis, and managing geochemistry. Geophysics sessions cover gravity, magnetic, seismic, electrical, and managing geophysics. Field mapping sessions cover mapping, structural, stratigraphy, surveying, and managing field geology. Research methods sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. Laboratory sessions provide hands-on experience with thin sections, mineral identification, geochemical analysis, and rock testing. Field work provides hands-on experience with geological mapping, sampling, structural analysis, and site investigation. Practical workshops provide hands-on experience with geological tools, software, and analytical instruments. Seminars and discussion groups provide opportunities for debating current issues in geology and presenting research findings. Guest lectures from experienced geologists, mining engineers, and researchers provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a supervised research project on a geology topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

Growing demand for geology professionals with Kenya's mining sector expansion and oil and gas exploration.
Programme offers 12 specialisation areas, providing diverse career pathways.
Graduates are eligible for Geological Society of Kenya registration and IUGS certification.
Programme combines theoretical knowledge with extensive field work and laboratory practice.

Against it

Only one university (UoN) confirmed offering this specific programme, limiting institutional choice.
UoN charges relatively high fees at approximately KES 400,500/year (KES 801,000 total).
No private university confirmed offering this programme.
Programme requires geology 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 243 science courses

Public401k to 401k

401k at University of Nairobi401k 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 MSc Geology ~401K/yr (kenyaeducationguide.com). Private: unverified.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. Ministry of Mining may offer grants for geology professionals. IUGS may offer research fellowships for geological research. Some mining and oil companies may sponsor staff for postgraduate study.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
Ministry of Mining Grant
IUGS Research Fellowship

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
Ministry of Mining Grant
ScholarshipKsh 300,000Kenyan
Ministry of Mining may offer grants for geology professionals pursuing postgraduate study.
IUGS Research Fellowship
ScholarshipKsh 500,000
IUGS provides research fellowships for geological research internationally.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: UoN requires BSc Geology with Upper Second from recognised university, or Lower Second with two years of relevant post-qualification experience and evidence of research through publications, or Pass degree with postgraduate diploma, or Pass degree with five years of relevant post-qualification experience. Contact the university for specific admission requirements.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, laboratory reports, field reports, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Written examinations covering mineralogy, petrology, economic geology, hydrogeology, and petroleum geology.
Practical and Field Assessment
Practical30% of the mark
Practical assessment through laboratory work, field mapping, geological surveying, and demonstrating geology skills.
Research Project
Research100% of the mark
Original supervised research project on a geology topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and geological knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). University of Nairobi (public) offers MSc in Geology through the Department of Earth and Climate Science. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in geological science. Graduates are eligible for Geological Society of Kenya registration and IUGS professional certification.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. University of Nairobi (public) offers MSc in Geology through the Department of Earth and Climate Science. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in geological science. Graduates are eligible for Geological Society of Kenya registration and IUGS professional certification.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Geologist
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Conducts geological analysis, overseeing mapping, sampling, analysis, and managing geological projects.
Hydrogeologist
High demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Manages groundwater resources, overseeing aquifers, wells, flow, and managing hydrogeology.
Petroleum Geologist
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Explores for oil and gas, overseeing basins, reservoirs, exploration, and managing petroleum geology.
Mining Geologist
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Manages mineral exploration, overseeing ore deposits, mining, quality, and managing mining geology.
Engineering Geologist
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Assesses geological conditions for construction, overseeing site investigation, foundations, and managing engineering geology.
Geology Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaches geology at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Petrographic Microscope
EquipmentPrimary
Petrographic microscope for mineralogy, covering thin sections, identification, and managing mineralogical analysis.
ArcGIS
Software
ArcGIS for geological mapping, covering spatial analysis, mapping, and managing geological data.
XRF Spectrometer
Equipment
XRF spectrometer for geochemical analysis, covering elements, composition, and managing geochemical data.
Rock Mechanics Testing Equipment
Equipment
Rock testing equipment for engineering geology, covering strength, deformation, and managing geotechnical testing.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Geology is just about rocks.
Geology covers comprehensive mineralogy, petrology, hydrogeology, petroleum, engineering, and environmental geology beyond just rocks.
This programme is only for miners.
Geology skills are valuable for water resources, oil and gas, construction, environment, and research beyond just mining.
Hydrogeology is just about wells.
Hydrogeology covers comprehensive aquifers, groundwater flow, contamination, modelling, and management beyond just wells.
Petroleum geology is just about drilling.
Petroleum geology covers comprehensive basins, source rocks, reservoirs, traps, and exploration beyond just drilling.
Engineering geology is just about foundations.
Engineering geology covers comprehensive site investigation, soil mechanics, rock mechanics, slopes, and tunnels beyond just foundations.
Environmental geology is just about pollution.
Environmental geology covers comprehensive hazards, pollution, waste, remediation, and climate beyond just pollution.