Social Sciences

Master of Science in Governance, Peace and Security

The Master of Science in Governance, Peace and Security is a postgraduate programme that trains graduates in governance, peace-building, security management, and conflict studies. The programme prepares graduates for advanced careers in governance, security, peace-building, diplomacy, and public administration.

Core areas include theories of governance, peace and conflict studies, security management, international security and intelligence, public policy and constitutionalism, diplomacy and foreign policy, emerging security issues, armed conflict, demobilisation and disarmament, national cohesion, and research methods. Students engage with theoretical foundations and practical governance, peace, and security applications.

The programme is offered by Africa Nazarene University through its School of Humanities and Social Sciences. ANU is a private university with main and Nairobi campuses. The programme aims to prepare leaders with governance, peacemaking, security, and conflict studies skills applicable across disciplines and professions.

Students develop competencies in governance, peace-building, security management, conflict resolution, policy analysis, diplomacy, leadership, and research. The programme includes 18 course units over 4 semesters, with coursework, examinations, supervised research, and thesis.

The programme is delivered over two academic years (4 semesters) with intakes in January and August. ANU requires Second Class Upper (GPA 2.7) or Lower (GPA 2.5) with 2 years relevant work experience. ANU registration fee is KES 1,500 for Kenyan citizens.

Graduates pursue careers as governance specialists, security managers, peace-building officers, policy analysts, diplomatic officers, and lecturers in government, security agencies, NGOs, international organisations, and universities.

Skills Required

Governance and Public Administration
Peace-building and Conflict Resolution
Security Management and Intelligence
Public Policy Analysis and Constitutionalism
Diplomacy and Foreign Policy
National Cohesion and Ethnic Integration
Emerging Security Issues and Threat Analysis
Armed Conflict and Disarmament
Leadership and Institutional Governance
Governance and Security Research Methods

Key Subjects

Theories of Governance
Peace and Conflict Studies
Security Management
International Security and Intelligence
Public Policy and Constitutionalism
Diplomacy and Foreign Policy
Emerging Security Issues
Armed Conflict and Disarmament
National Cohesion and Ethnic Integration
Governance Research Methods

Certifications

NCIC Peace Building Certification
IPI Professional Membership

Specializations

Governance and Public Administration

Focuses on governance theories, institutional governance, public policy, constitutionalism, leadership, and understanding and applying governance principles in public administration.

Peace and Conflict Studies

Examines peace and conflict, peace-building, conflict resolution, alternative dispute resolution, national cohesion, and understanding and managing conflict and building peace.

Security Management

Covers security management, security systems, homeland security, national security, intelligence, and managing security in organisations and nations.

International Security and Diplomacy

Focuses on international security, intelligence, diplomacy, foreign policy, international cooperation, and understanding and managing international security and diplomatic relations.

Emerging Security Issues

Examines emerging security issues, terrorism, radicalisation, de-radicalisation, cyber security, transnational threats, and understanding and managing emerging security challenges.

Public Policy and Constitutionalism

Covers public policy, constitutionalism, policy analysis, governance policy, and understanding and analysing public policy and constitutional frameworks.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 268,500
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: 25 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Theories of Governance
Peace and Conflict Studies
Security Management
International Security and Intelligence
Public Policy and Constitutionalism
Diplomacy and Foreign Policy
Emerging Security Issues
Armed Conflict and Disarmament
National Cohesion and Ethnic Integration
Governance Research Methods

Modules

12 in the programme

Theories of Governance
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines theories of governance, science of governance, governance principles, governance frameworks, and understanding and applying governance theories.
Peace and Conflict Studies
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers peace and conflict, conflict theory, conflict resolution, peace-building, alternative dispute resolution, and understanding and managing conflict and building peace.
Security Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines security management, security systems, homeland security, national security, security planning, and managing security in organisations and nations.
Public Policy and Constitutionalism
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers public policy, constitutionalism, policy analysis, governance policy, constitutional frameworks, and understanding and analysing public policy and constitutions.
International Security and Intelligence
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines international security, intelligence, intelligence analysis, security threats, international cooperation, and understanding and managing international security.
Diplomacy and Foreign Policy
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers diplomacy, foreign policy, international relations, negotiation, diplomatic practice, and understanding and practising diplomacy and foreign policy.
Emerging Security Issues
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines emerging security issues, terrorism, radicalisation, de-radicalisation, cyber security, transnational threats, and understanding and managing emerging security challenges.
Armed Conflict, Demobilisation and Disarmament
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers armed conflict, demobilisation, disarmament, post-conflict reconstruction, peace agreements, and understanding and managing armed conflict and disarmament.
National Cohesion and Ethnic Integration
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines national cohesion, ethnic integration, diversity management, conflict prevention, and promoting national cohesion and ethnic integration in Kenya.
Governance and Security Research Methods
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research methods for governance and security, research statistics, proposal writing, data analysis, and conducting governance and security research, preparing students for their thesis.
Leadership, Administration and Governance
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines leadership, administration, governance, institutional governance, international cooperation, economic and urban planning, and applying leadership and governance in practice.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research thesis on a governance, peace and security topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and governance knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Governance and Public Administration
Focuses on governance theories, institutional governance, public policy, constitutionalism, leadership, and understanding and applying governance principles in public administration.
Peace and Conflict Studies
Examines peace and conflict, peace-building, conflict resolution, alternative dispute resolution, national cohesion, and understanding and managing conflict and building peace.
Security Management
Covers security management, security systems, homeland security, national security, intelligence, and managing security in organisations and nations.
International Security and Diplomacy
Focuses on international security, intelligence, diplomacy, foreign policy, international cooperation, and understanding and managing international security and diplomatic relations.
Emerging Security Issues
Examines emerging security issues, terrorism, radicalisation, de-radicalisation, cyber security, transnational threats, and understanding and managing emerging security challenges.
Public Policy and Constitutionalism
Covers public policy, constitutionalism, policy analysis, governance policy, and understanding and analysing public policy and constitutional frameworks.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc Governance, Peace and Security programme begins with morning lectures on governance theories, peace and conflict, or security management at ANU's School of Humanities and Social Sciences. Students engage in theoretical discussions on governance, security, peace-building, and conflict. Governance sessions cover theories of governance, science of governance, institutional governance, international cooperation, leadership planning, administration, and understanding and applying governance principles. Peace and conflict sessions examine peace and conflict, peace-building, radicalisation, de-radicalisation, alternative dispute resolution, religious unity, peacemaking, and understanding and managing conflict. Security management sessions cover security management, security systems, homeland security, national security, and managing security in organisations and nations. International security sessions examine international security, intelligence, diplomacy, foreign policy, and understanding and managing international security and diplomatic relations. Emerging security sessions cover emerging security issues, terrorism, radicalisation, cyber security, transnational threats, and understanding and managing emerging security challenges. Armed conflict sessions involve armed conflict, demobilisation, disarmament, post-conflict reconstruction, and understanding and managing armed conflict and disarmament. Public policy sessions examine public policy, constitutionalism, policy analysis, governance policy, and understanding and analysing public policy and constitutional frameworks. National cohesion sessions cover national cohesion, ethnic integration, diversity management, and promoting national cohesion and ethnic integration. Crime and law sessions examine crime, law and order, criminal justice, law enforcement, and understanding crime and law enforcement. Politics sessions cover politics and democracy in Africa, democratic governance, political systems, and understanding political processes in Africa. Diplomacy sessions examine diplomacy, foreign policy, international relations, negotiation, and understanding and practising diplomacy. Globalisation sessions cover globalisation, sustainable development, global governance, and understanding globalisation and its impacts. Research methodology sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering governance and security research methods, research statistics, proposal writing, and data analysis. Guest lectures from NCIC commissioners, NCTC officials, diplomats, security experts, and governance practitioners provide real-world insights. The two-year programme culminates in a research thesis.

The trade offs

In its favour

ANU offers a comprehensive 18-unit curriculum covering governance, peace, security, diplomacy, and conflict studies with intakes in January and August.
Kenya's security challenges, governance reforms, peace-building needs, national cohesion efforts, and counter-terrorism requirements create moderate demand for qualified governance and security professionals.
Programme accepts diverse backgrounds including law, security studies, international relations, and public administration, making it accessible to many graduates.
Career opportunities with government, NCIC, NCTC, security agencies, NGOs, AU, UN, and international organisations.

Against it

ANU is a private university and fees may be higher than public universities, though specific fee structure is not publicly listed.
Only one university (ANU) offers this specific programme, limiting choice and geographic access for prospective students.
Programme is broad, covering governance, peace, and security, which may lack depth in any single area compared to specialised programmes.
Career progression in governance and security may require additional professional certifications or security clearance.

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 241 social sciences courses

Public134k to 269k

134k at Maseno University269k 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 MA Armed Conflict 537K/2yr~268K/yr. Maseno ~134K/yr. Private: ANU unverified. Src: uonbi.ac.ke

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. AU supports peace and security initiatives. IPI supports peace and security research. UNIDIR supports disarmament research. The programme's governance, peace, and security focus attracts donor and international organisation funding.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
AU Peace and Security Funding
IPI Research Grants

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate governance, peace and security studies at recognised universities.
AU Peace and Security Funding
GrantKsh 400,000
African Union supports peace and security initiatives, providing funding for training and research in governance, peace, and security across Africa.
IPI Research Grants
GrantKsh 300,000
International Peace Institute supports peace and security research, providing funding for research in peace, security, and international affairs.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: The programme accepts graduates from law, security studies, international relations, public administration, political science, sociology, and related fields. Two academic years (4 semesters) with 18 course units. Intakes in January and August. ANU requires Second Class Upper (GPA 2.7) or Lower (GPA 2.5) with 2 years relevant work experience. ANU registration fee KES 1,500 for Kenyan citizens, $35 for non-citizens.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Assignments
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, policy analysis papers, case studies, governance analysis projects, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination30% of the mark
Written examinations covering governance, peace and conflict, security management, and public policy, conducted at end of each semester.
Research Projects and Presentations
Practical40% of the mark
Assessment of research projects, policy briefs, case study presentations, security analysis, and governance assessment reports.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on a governance, peace and security topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and governance knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). ANU offers MSc in Governance, Peace and Security through its School of Humanities and Social Sciences with 18 course units over 4 semesters. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate governance, peace, and security training. NCIC promotes national cohesion and NCTC coordinates counter-terrorism in Kenya.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. ANU offers MSc in Governance, Peace and Security through its School of Humanities and Social Sciences with 18 course units over 4 semesters. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate governance, peace, and security training.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Governance Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Provides governance expertise, overseeing governance frameworks, policy analysis, institutional governance, and supporting good governance in organisations.
Security Manager
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages security operations, overseeing security systems, threat assessment, security planning, and ensuring security in organisations and institutions.
Peace-Building Officer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Develops and implements peace-building programmes, overseeing conflict resolution, community engagement, and supporting peace and reconciliation.
Policy Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 450,000
Analyses public policy, conducting policy research, policy evaluation, and supporting policy development and decision-making in government and organisations.
Diplomatic Officer
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Represents Kenya in diplomatic missions, overseeing diplomatic relations, foreign policy, and supporting international cooperation and engagement.
University Lecturer
High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches governance, peace and security in universities, conducting research and training future governance and security professionals.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as governance specialists, security managers, and peace-building officers in government, security agencies, NGOs, and international organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

SPSS
SoftwarePrimary
Statistical software for governance and security research data analysis, survey analysis, and statistical modelling in governance and peace studies.
NVivo
SoftwarePrimary
Qualitative data analysis software for governance and security research, conflict analysis, interview analysis, and qualitative research in peace studies.
Microsoft Excel
Software
Spreadsheet software for governance and security data analysis, policy analysis, and data management for governance and security projects.
R Statistical Computing
Software
Open-source statistical computing for governance and security data analysis, research data analysis, and statistical modelling.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Governance, peace and security is just about politics.
The programme involves governance theory, security management, conflict resolution, diplomacy, policy analysis, and research, far beyond everyday politics.
This programme is only for those wanting to join politics.
Graduates pursue diverse careers in security agencies, NGOs, international organisations, diplomacy, public administration, and academia, not just politics.
There is limited demand for governance and security professionals in Kenya.
Kenya's security challenges, governance reforms, peace-building needs, national cohesion efforts, and counter-terrorism requirements create moderate demand for qualified governance and security professionals.
This programme is only for social science graduates.
The programme accepts graduates from diverse backgrounds including law, security studies, international relations, public administration, and related fields.
Peace and security studies is not a rigorous academic discipline.
The programme involves 18 course units covering governance theory, security analysis, conflict research, policy analysis, and a research thesis, making it a rigorous academic programme.
A master's in governance is redundant after a bachelor's in political science.
The master's provides specialised governance, security, and peace-building skills, research capability, and career progression to senior governance, security, and diplomatic positions.