Health Sciences

Master of Science in Nursing Education

The Master of Science in Nursing Education is a postgraduate programme that trains graduates in nursing education, curriculum development, teaching methodologies, and educational leadership. The programme prepares graduates for advanced careers as nurse educators, nursing faculty, curriculum developers, and educational administrators.

Core areas include nursing education, curriculum development, teaching and learning, assessment and evaluation, educational leadership, clinical teaching, educational research, instructional design, simulation in nursing education, and research methods. Students engage with theoretical foundations and practical nursing education applications.

The programme is offered by Daystar University and Kirinyaga University, with Mount Kenya University and Kenya Methodist University as colleges. Daystar University offers MSc Nursing Education through its School of Nursing with Master's tuition at KES 110,400 per semester. MKU offers MSc Nursing Education with MSc Nursing fees at KES 100,000 per semester. KEMU offers MSc Nursing Education at multiple campuses.

Students develop competencies in curriculum design, teaching strategies, clinical instruction, assessment, educational research, and educational leadership. The programme includes coursework, teaching practicum, examinations, supervised research, and thesis.

The programme is delivered over two to three years. Daystar Master's tuition is KES 110,400 per semester. MKU MSc Nursing fees are KES 100,000 per semester. Entry requires BSc Nursing, NCK registration, and minimum 2 years clinical experience.

Graduates pursue careers as nurse educators, nursing lecturers, curriculum developers, clinical instructors, and educational administrators in nursing schools, universities, hospitals, and health training institutions.

Skills Required

Nursing Education and Curriculum Development
Teaching and Learning in Nursing
Clinical Teaching and Preceptorship
Assessment and Evaluation in Nursing Education
Educational Leadership and Administration
Instructional Design and Educational Technology
Simulation in Nursing Education
Educational Research and Evidence-Based Teaching
Nursing Programme Development and Accreditation
Nursing Education Research Methods

Key Subjects

Nursing Education
Curriculum Development
Teaching and Learning in Nursing
Assessment and Evaluation
Educational Leadership
Clinical Teaching
Instructional Design
Simulation in Nursing Education
Educational Research
Nursing Education Research Methods

Certifications

NCK Nurse Educator Certification
NLN Certified Nurse Educator (CNE)

Specializations

Curriculum Development

Focuses on nursing curriculum development, curriculum design, programme outcomes, competency-based education, and developing nursing curricula.

Clinical Teaching

Examines clinical teaching, preceptorship, clinical instruction, clinical placement, clinical assessment, and teaching nursing in clinical settings.

Educational Leadership

Covers educational leadership, nursing school administration, programme management, faculty development, and leading nursing education programmes.

Assessment and Evaluation

Focuses on assessment and evaluation in nursing education, testing, clinical assessment, programme evaluation, and measuring nursing education outcomes.

Simulation in Nursing Education

Examines simulation in nursing education, simulation design, debriefing, skills labs, virtual simulation, and using simulation for nursing education.

Instructional Design

Covers instructional design, educational technology, e-learning, online learning, blended learning, and designing and delivering nursing education.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 178,500
Private, up to: Ksh 374,700
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

Nursing Education
Curriculum Development
Teaching and Learning in Nursing
Assessment and Evaluation
Educational Leadership
Clinical Teaching
Instructional Design
Simulation in Nursing Education
Educational Research
Nursing Education Research Methods

Modules

12 in the programme

Foundations of Nursing Education
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines educational theory, adult learning theories, nursing pedagogy, history of nursing education, philosophical foundations, and understanding nursing education.
Curriculum Development in Nursing
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers curriculum design, programme outcomes, competency-based education, curriculum models, alignment, curriculum evaluation, and developing nursing curricula.
Teaching and Learning in Nursing
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines teaching strategies, lecture methods, small group teaching, problem-based learning, case-based learning, active learning, and teaching nursing effectively.
Clinical Teaching and Preceptorship
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers preceptorship, clinical instruction, clinical placement, clinical assessment, clinical reasoning, clinical evaluation, and teaching nursing in clinical settings.
Assessment and Evaluation in Nursing Education
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines testing, clinical assessment, OSCE, portfolio assessment, programme evaluation, psychometrics, and measuring nursing education outcomes.
Educational Leadership and Administration
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers nursing school administration, programme management, faculty development, accreditation, strategic planning, and leading nursing education programmes.
Instructional Design and Educational Technology
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines instructional design, educational technology, e-learning, online learning, blended learning, learning management systems, and designing and delivering nursing education.
Simulation in Nursing Education
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers simulation design, simulation scenarios, debriefing, skills labs, virtual simulation, standardised patients, and using simulation for nursing education.
Educational Research and Evidence-Based Teaching
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines educational research methods, evidence-based teaching, scholarship of teaching and learning, systematic reviews, and conducting nursing education research.
Nursing Education Research Methods
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research methods for nursing education, quantitative and qualitative methods, data analysis, IRB, and conducting nursing education research, preparing students for their thesis.
Nursing Programme Development and Accreditation
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines nursing programme development, NCK accreditation, CUE standards, programme review, quality assurance, and developing and maintaining nursing programmes.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research thesis on a nursing education topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and nursing education knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Curriculum Development
Focuses on nursing curriculum development, curriculum design, programme outcomes, competency-based education, and developing nursing curricula.
Clinical Teaching
Examines clinical teaching, preceptorship, clinical instruction, clinical placement, clinical assessment, and teaching nursing in clinical settings.
Educational Leadership
Covers educational leadership, nursing school administration, programme management, faculty development, and leading nursing education programmes.
Assessment and Evaluation
Focuses on assessment and evaluation in nursing education, testing, clinical assessment, programme evaluation, and measuring nursing education outcomes.
Simulation in Nursing Education
Examines simulation in nursing education, simulation design, debriefing, skills labs, virtual simulation, and using simulation for nursing education.
Instructional Design
Covers instructional design, educational technology, e-learning, online learning, blended learning, and designing and delivering nursing education.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc Nursing Education programme begins with morning lectures on nursing education, curriculum development, or teaching methodologies. Students engage in theoretical discussions on educational theory, nursing pedagogy, and assessment. Nursing education sessions cover educational theory, adult learning, nursing pedagogy, nursing education history, and understanding nursing education. Curriculum development sessions examine curriculum design, programme outcomes, competency-based education, curriculum models, alignment, and developing nursing curricula. Teaching and learning sessions cover teaching strategies, lecture methods, small group teaching, problem-based learning, case-based learning, and teaching nursing effectively. Clinical teaching sessions examine preceptorship, clinical instruction, clinical placement, clinical assessment, clinical reasoning, and teaching nursing in clinical settings. Assessment and evaluation sessions cover testing, clinical assessment, OSCE, portfolio assessment, programme evaluation, and measuring nursing education outcomes. Educational leadership sessions examine nursing school administration, programme management, faculty development, accreditation, and leading nursing education programmes. Instructional design sessions cover instructional design, educational technology, e-learning, online learning, blended learning, and designing and delivering nursing education. Simulation sessions examine simulation design, simulation scenarios, debriefing, skills labs, virtual simulation, and using simulation for nursing education. Educational research sessions cover educational research methods, evidence-based teaching, scholarship of teaching, and conducting nursing education research. Teaching practicum provides hands-on experience with teaching nursing students in classroom and clinical settings, developing and delivering lectures, and assessing student learning. Research methodology sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering nursing education research methods, educational research, and data analysis. Guest lectures from experienced nurse educators, NCK officials, nursing school deans, and international nursing education experts provide real-world insights. The two-year programme culminates in a research thesis.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's growing nursing schools, expanding nursing programmes, NCK requirements for qualified educators, and shortage of nurse educators create high demand.
Daystar University offers MSc Nursing Education at KES 110,400/semester through its School of Nursing, with established nursing education programmes.
MKU offers MSc Nursing Education at KES 100,000/semester, and KEMU offers at multiple campuses, providing accessible training options.
Career opportunities with nursing schools, universities, hospitals, health training institutions, and international organisations like ICN, WHO, and NLN.

Against it

Programme requires BSc Nursing, NCK registration, and minimum 2 years clinical experience, which may exclude some applicants.
Daystar fees at KES 110,400/semester (~KES 220,800/year) are relatively expensive compared to public universities.
Teaching practicum requires access to nursing schools and clinical teaching sites, which may be limited in some regions.
Programme duration may extend to 3 years at some institutions, longer than typical 2-year master's programmes.

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 349 health sciences courses

Public100k to 179k

100k at Kirinyaga University179k at JKUAT

Private149k to 375k

149k at Mount Kenya University375k at Daystar 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

JKUAT 357k/2=178.5k/yr (kenyaeducationguide). Daystar 374.7k/yr (victormatara). Kirinyaga & MKU unverified.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. NCK supports nursing professional development. WHO supports nursing capacity building. ICN and NLN support nurse educator development. The programme's nursing education focus attracts health sector and international funding.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
NCK Professional Development Funding
WHO Nursing Capacity Building

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate nursing education studies at recognised universities.
WHO Nursing Capacity Building
GrantKsh 300,000
WHO supports nursing and midwifery education capacity building, providing funding for postgraduate training in nursing education.
ICN Nurse Educator Funding
GrantKsh 300,000
ICN supports nurse educator development globally, providing funding for postgraduate study and training in nursing education.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: The programme requires BSc Nursing, NCK registration, and minimum 2 years clinical experience. KEMU requires BScN or equivalent registered by NCK with 2 years experience. Daystar offers full-time, part-time, and distance learning modes. Programme duration is 2-3 years depending on institution.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, teaching portfolios, educational analysis projects, reflective practice, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination30% of the mark
Written examinations covering nursing education, curriculum development, assessment, and educational leadership, conducted at end of each semester.
Teaching Practicum Assessment
Practical40% of the mark
Assessment of teaching practicum, lesson planning, teaching delivery, clinical instruction, student assessment, and teaching practice reports.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on a nursing education topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and nursing education knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Daystar University offers MSc Nursing Education through its School of Nursing. MKU and KEMU offer related MSc Nursing Education programmes. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate nursing education training. NCK regulates nursing education and practice in Kenya, setting standards for nurse educator qualifications.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. Daystar University offers MSc Nursing Education through its School of Nursing. MKU and KEMU offer related MSc Nursing Education. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate nursing education training.
Nursing Council of Kenya (NCK)
Professional accreditationRequired
NCK regulates nursing education and practice in Kenya, setting standards for nurse educator qualifications. Graduates must be registered with NCK and meet NCK educator standards.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Nurse Educator
High demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaches nursing in nursing schools and universities, overseeing curriculum delivery, clinical teaching, assessment, and supporting nursing education.
Nursing Lecturer
High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches nursing at university level, overseeing lectures, research, student supervision, and supporting nursing academic programmes.
Curriculum Developer
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 480,000
Develops nursing curricula, overseeing curriculum design, programme outcomes, competency frameworks, and supporting nursing programme development.
Clinical Instructor
High demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 400,000
Provides clinical instruction to nursing students, overseeing clinical placements, clinical teaching, assessment, and supporting clinical nursing education.
Nursing Education Administrator
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 500,000
Administers nursing education programmes, overseeing programme management, faculty development, accreditation, and supporting nursing school operations.
Simulation Coordinator
Moderate demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 450,000
Coordinates simulation in nursing education, overseeing simulation design, scenarios, debriefing, skills labs, and supporting simulation-based learning.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as nurse educators, nursing lecturers, and curriculum developers in nursing schools, universities, and health training institutions.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

SPSS
SoftwarePrimary
Statistical software for nursing education research data analysis, educational research, assessment data, and statistical modelling in nursing education.
Moodle
SoftwarePrimary
Learning management system for online nursing education, course delivery, assessment, e-learning, and managing nursing education courses.
CINAHL
Database
Nursing and allied health literature database for evidence-based teaching, nursing education research, and accessing nursing research publications.
Simulation Software (vSim)
Software
Virtual simulation software for nursing education, providing virtual patient scenarios, clinical reasoning practice, and simulation-based learning.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Nursing education is just about teaching nursing students.
The programme involves curriculum development, educational leadership, assessment, instructional design, simulation, research, and educational administration, covering comprehensive nursing education.
This programme is only for experienced nurses.
While clinical experience is required, the programme is designed for nurses seeking to transition into education roles, providing comprehensive preparation.
There is limited demand for nurse educators in Kenya.
Kenya's growing nursing schools, expanding nursing programmes, NCK requirements for qualified educators, and shortage of nurse educators create high demand.
Nursing education is less important than clinical nursing.
Nursing education is critical for training the next generation of nurses, ensuring quality nursing practice, and advancing the nursing profession.
A master's in nursing education is redundant after years of clinical practice.
The master's provides educational theory, curriculum development skills, research capability, and formal qualifications required for nurse educator positions.
Online and distance learning nursing education is inferior.
The programme supports multiple delivery modes including distance learning, using educational technology and simulation to provide quality nursing education.