Technology

Master of Science in Mobile Telecommunications and Innovation

The Master of Science in Mobile Telecommunications and Innovation is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in mobile telecommunications, innovation, and entrepreneurship. The programme combines telecommunications theory with practical innovation, mobile application development, and business strategy.

Core areas include mobile telecommunications, network technologies, mobile application development, innovation management, entrepreneurship, telecom policy and regulation, business strategy, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both theoretical and practical work through coursework, projects, and research.

The programme is offered by Strathmore University in partnership with Safaricom Limited. Strathmore is a private university offering the programme over two years, with a curriculum developed jointly by Safaricom and Strathmore to meet current and emerging global telecommunications needs.

Students develop competencies in mobile telecommunications, innovation, app development, entrepreneurship, telecom policy, and research. The programme includes coursework, examinations, practical projects, and a supervised research thesis, preparing graduates for innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership roles in telecommunications.

Strathmore charges approximately KES 677,900 total for the programme (~KES 338,950/year). Entry requires a Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline with at least a Second Class Honours (Upper Division) or equivalent from a recognised institution.

Graduates pursue careers as telecommunications specialists, mobile application developers, innovation managers, telecom entrepreneurs, ICT consultants, and lecturers in telecommunications across telecom companies, tech startups, regulatory bodies, and universities.

Skills Required

Mobile Telecommunications and Network Technologies
Mobile Application Development
Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship
Telecom Policy and Regulation
Business Strategy and Product Development
ICT Project Management
Mobile Financial Services and Payments
Research Methods in Telecommunications
Data Analytics for Telecom
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Mobile Telecommunications and Network Technologies
Mobile Application Development
Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship
Telecom Policy and Regulation
Business Strategy and Product Development
Mobile Financial Services and Payments
ICT Project Management
Research Methods in Telecommunications
Data Analytics for Telecom
Thesis Research

Certifications

CA Kenya Professional Certification
GSMA Professional Membership

Specializations

Mobile Application Development

Focuses on mobile application development, covering design, development, testing, deployment, and managing mobile applications.

Telecom Network Technologies

Examines telecom networks, covering infrastructure, protocols, wireless, 4G/5G, and managing network technologies.

Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Covers innovation and entrepreneurship, covering startups, products, strategy, funding, and managing telecom innovation.

Mobile Financial Services

Focuses on mobile financial services, covering payments, banking, fintech, security, and managing mobile financial services.

Telecom Policy and Regulation

Examines telecom policy, covering regulation, spectrum, competition, policy, and managing telecom regulation.

ICT Project Management

Covers ICT project management, covering planning, execution, delivery, quality, and managing telecom projects.

Duration: 2 years
Private, up to: Ksh 339,000
Job market: Moderate

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 30 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Mobile Telecommunications and Network Technologies
Mobile Application Development
Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship
Telecom Policy and Regulation
Business Strategy and Product Development
Mobile Financial Services and Payments
ICT Project Management
Research Methods in Telecommunications
Data Analytics for Telecom
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Mobile Telecommunications and Network Technologies
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines networks, wireless, 4G/5G, protocols, and managing telecom networks.
Mobile Application Development
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers design, development, testing, deployment, and managing mobile applications.
Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines startups, products, strategy, funding, and managing telecom innovation.
Research Methods in Telecommunications
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research design, data collection, analysis, ethics, and conducting research, preparing students for their thesis.
Telecom Policy and Regulation
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines regulation, spectrum, competition, policy, and managing telecom regulation.
Business Strategy and Product Development
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers business, strategy, models, products, and managing telecom business strategy.
Mobile Financial Services and Payments
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines payments, banking, fintech, security, and managing mobile financial services.
ICT Project Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers planning, execution, delivery, quality, and managing telecom projects.
Data Analytics for Telecom
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines data, analytics, visualisation, insights, and managing telecom data analytics.
Emerging Technologies in Telecom
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers IoT, AI, blockchain, cloud, 5G, and managing emerging telecom technologies.
Capstone Innovation Project
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Provides practical experience in developing innovative telecom solutions and mobile applications, covering design, development, testing, and presentation.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 29 creditsCore
Original supervised research thesis on a mobile telecommunications and innovation topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and telecom knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Mobile Application Development
Focuses on mobile application development, covering design, development, testing, deployment, and managing mobile applications.
Telecom Network Technologies
Examines telecom networks, covering infrastructure, protocols, wireless, 4G/5G, and managing network technologies.
Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Covers innovation and entrepreneurship, covering startups, products, strategy, funding, and managing telecom innovation.
Mobile Financial Services
Focuses on mobile financial services, covering payments, banking, fintech, security, and managing mobile financial services.
Telecom Policy and Regulation
Examines telecom policy, covering regulation, spectrum, competition, policy, and managing telecom regulation.
ICT Project Management
Covers ICT project management, covering planning, execution, delivery, quality, and managing telecom projects.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Mobile Telecommunications and Innovation programme combines lectures, practical sessions, project work, seminars, and independent study. Sessions cover mobile telecommunications, network technologies, mobile application development, and innovation management. Mobile telecommunications sessions examine networks, wireless, 4G/5G, protocols, and managing telecom networks. Network technology sessions cover infrastructure, protocols, security, optimisation, and managing network technologies. Mobile application development sessions cover design, development, testing, deployment, and managing mobile applications. Innovation management sessions cover startups, products, strategy, funding, and managing telecom innovation. Entrepreneurship sessions cover business, strategy, models, funding, and managing telecom entrepreneurship. Telecom policy sessions cover regulation, spectrum, competition, policy, and managing telecom regulation. Mobile financial services sessions cover payments, banking, fintech, security, and managing mobile financial services. ICT project management sessions cover planning, execution, delivery, quality, and managing telecom projects. Practical sessions provide hands-on experience with mobile app development, network configuration, and telecom tools. Project work involves developing innovative telecom solutions and mobile applications. Seminars provide opportunities for presenting research findings and discussing current trends in telecommunications. Guest lectures from experienced telecom professionals, Safaricom executives, and innovators provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a supervised research thesis on a mobile telecommunications and innovation topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme developed jointly with Safaricom, providing industry-relevant curriculum and networking opportunities.
Safaricom has historically provided full sponsorships for eligible students.
Programme is unique in Kenya, designed specifically for telecommunications innovation and entrepreneurship.
Graduates are eligible for CA Kenya professional certification and GSMA professional membership.

Against it

Only one university (Strathmore, private) confirmed offering this programme.
No public university confirmed offering this specific programme.
Programme fees are high at KES 677,900 total (~KES 338,950/year) without sponsorship.
Programme availability may depend on Safaricom partnership continuation.

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 191 technology courses

Private339k to 339k

339k at Strathmore University339k 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

Strathmore MSc MTI archived (strathmore.edu). Was ~339,000/yr (Safaricom 677,900/2yr). No public uni.

Safaricom has historically provided full sponsorships worth KES 677,900 per student for the MSc MTI programme. HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. Strathmore University offers financial aid for needy and deserving students. Some telecom companies and ICT organisations may sponsor staff for postgraduate study.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
Safaricom Academy Sponsorship
Strathmore Financial Aid

Scholarships

3 recorded

Safaricom Academy Sponsorship
ScholarshipKsh 677,900Kenyan
Safaricom has historically provided full sponsorships worth KES 677,900 per student for the MSc MTI programme.
HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
Strathmore Financial Aid
ScholarshipKsh 200,000Kenyan
Strathmore University offers financial aid for needy and deserving postgraduate students.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: Strathmore University requires a Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline with at least a Second Class Honours (Upper Division) or equivalent. Lower Second Class may be considered with relevant experience or a Postgraduate Diploma. Contact Strathmore University for specific admission requirements.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, project reports, practical exercises, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Written examinations covering mobile telecommunications, network technologies, innovation management, and telecom policy.
Capstone Innovation Project
Project40% of the mark
Practical assessment through capstone project, developing innovative telecom solutions, mobile applications, and demonstrating innovation skills.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original supervised research thesis on a mobile telecommunications and innovation topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and telecom knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Strathmore University (private) offers MSc in Mobile Telecommunications and Innovation in partnership with Safaricom Limited. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in telecommunications. Graduates are eligible for CA Kenya professional certification and GSMA professional membership.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. Strathmore University (private) offers MSc in Mobile Telecommunications and Innovation in partnership with Safaricom Limited. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in telecommunications. Graduates are eligible for CA Kenya professional certification and GSMA professional membership.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Telecommunications Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages telecommunications operations, overseeing networks, services, quality, and managing telecom services.
Mobile Application Developer
High demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Develops mobile applications, overseeing design, development, testing, and managing mobile app development.
Innovation Manager
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages innovation programmes, overseeing products, strategy, projects, and managing telecom innovation.
Telecom Entrepreneur
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages telecom startups, overseeing business, products, strategy, and managing telecom entrepreneurship.
ICT Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Provides ICT consulting services, overseeing advisory, strategy, implementation, and managing ICT consulting.
Telecommunications Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaches telecommunications at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Android Studio
SoftwarePrimary
Android Studio for mobile application development, covering design, development, testing, and managing mobile app development.
Python
Software
Python for data analytics and telecom scripting, covering data, analysis, scripting, and managing telecom data.
Network Simulation Tools (NS-3)
Software
NS-3 for network simulation and analysis, covering simulation, modelling, analysis, and managing telecom networks.
Git and GitHub
Software
Git and GitHub for version control and collaboration, covering code, versioning, collaboration, and managing software development.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Mobile telecommunications is just about making phone calls.
Mobile telecommunications covers comprehensive networks, data, internet, fintech, IoT, and innovation beyond just making phone calls.
This programme is only for engineers.
Telecommunications innovation skills are valuable for business professionals, entrepreneurs, developers, and policy makers beyond just engineers.
Innovation in telecom is just about building apps.
Innovation in telecom covers comprehensive product development, business models, policy, regulation, and strategy beyond just building apps.
Telecom careers are limited to telecom companies.
Telecom skills are valuable across fintech, healthcare, agriculture, education, and government sectors beyond just telecom companies.
Mobile financial services is just about M-Pesa.
Mobile financial services cover comprehensive payments, banking, lending, insurance, and cross-border transfers beyond just M-Pesa.
Telecom regulation is just about licensing.
Telecom regulation covers comprehensive spectrum management, competition, consumer protection, quality of service, and policy beyond just licensing.