Skip to content
Pathrel
Start free
All courses
Business

Master of Science in Procurement & Contract Management

<p>The Master of Science in Procurement and Contract Management is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in procurement, contract management, and supply chain governance. The programme provides specialised training in procurement strategy, contract law, negotiation, project management, and public procurement regulation.

Duration
2 years
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 126,000
Ksh 252,000 total
Job market
High
Market demand for graduates

The short answer

What it costs
Up to Ksh 126,000 a year at a public institution, Ksh 252,000 for the whole course.The detail
Who can get in
A KCSE mean grade of N/A (Postgraduate) or above. There is another way in without it.The detail
How long, and when
Takes 2 years, full-time, part-time, with 0 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 2 institutions.The detail
Where it leads
8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Early Childhood Strategist, at 10 out of 100.The detail

The programme

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

Overview

Core areas include procurement principles, contract law and management, negotiation and dispute resolution, project management, supply chain management, public procurement, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both theoretical and practical work through coursework, case studies, and research.

The programme is offered by Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology through the School of Human Resource Development. JKUAT is a public university offering the programme over two years through full-time and part-time study, combining coursework with research.

Students develop competencies in procurement strategy, contract formulation and management, negotiation, supplier management, public procurement compliance, risk management, and research. The programme includes coursework, examinations, case studies, and a supervised research thesis, preparing graduates for procurement, contract management, and supply chain leadership roles.

JKUAT charges approximately KES 126,000 per year for procurement programmes. No private university confirmed offering this exact programme name. Entry requires at least an Upper Second Class Honours degree in a relevant field from a recognised institution.

Graduates pursue careers as procurement managers, contract managers, supply chain consultants, procurement auditors, project managers, and lecturers across public sector organisations, private companies, NGOs, and international organisations.

Skills Required

  • Procurement Strategy and Planning
  • Contract Law and Contract Management
  • Negotiation and Dispute Resolution
  • Public Procurement and Regulation
  • Supply Chain Management and Logistics
  • Supplier Relationship Management
  • Procurement Risk Management and Auditing
  • Project Management
  • Research Methods in Procurement
  • Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

  • Procurement Principles and Strategy
  • Contract Law and Contract Management
  • Negotiation and Dispute Resolution
  • Public Procurement and Regulation
  • Supply Chain Management and Logistics
  • Procurement Risk Management and Auditing
  • Project Management
  • Supplier Relationship Management
  • Research Methods in Procurement
  • Thesis Research

Certifications

  • KISM Professional Registration
  • CIPS Professional Certification

Specializations

Contract Management

Focuses on contract management, covering contracts, law, formulation, administration, and managing contract management.

Public Procurement

Examines public procurement, covering public, procurement, regulation, compliance, and managing public procurement.

Negotiation and Dispute Resolution

Covers negotiation, covering negotiation, disputes, resolution, contracts, and managing negotiation and dispute resolution.

Procurement Risk Management

Focuses on procurement risk, covering risk, procurement, management, auditing, and managing procurement risk.

Supplier Relationship Management

Examines supplier relationships, covering suppliers, relationships, management, performance, and managing supplier relationships.

Strategic Procurement

Covers strategic procurement, covering strategy, procurement, planning, sourcing, and managing strategic procurement.

What you study

10 subjects
  • Procurement Principles and Strategy
  • Contract Law and Contract Management
  • Negotiation and Dispute Resolution
  • Public Procurement and Regulation
  • Supply Chain Management and Logistics
  • Procurement Risk Management and Auditing
  • Project Management
  • Supplier Relationship Management
  • Research Methods in Procurement
  • Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

  • Procurement Principles and Strategy

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Examines procurement, strategy, planning, sourcing, and managing procurement principles and strategy.

  • Contract Law and Contract Management

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Covers contracts, law, formulation, administration, and managing contract law and contract management.

  • Public Procurement and Regulation

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Examines public, procurement, regulation, compliance, and managing public procurement and regulatory compliance.

  • Negotiation and Dispute Resolution

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Covers negotiation, disputes, resolution, contracts, and managing negotiation and dispute resolution in procurement.

  • Supply Chain Management and Logistics

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Examines supply, chain, logistics, management, and managing supply chain management and logistics.

  • Procurement Risk Management and Auditing

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Covers risk, procurement, management, auditing, and managing procurement risk management and auditing.

  • Project Management

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Examines projects, management, planning, execution, and managing project management in procurement contexts.

  • Supplier Relationship Management

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Covers suppliers, relationships, management, performance, and managing supplier relationship management.

  • Research Methods in Procurement

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Examines research, design, methods, ethics, and conducting research in procurement, preparing students for their thesis.

  • Strategic Sourcing and Category Management

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Covers strategic, sourcing, category, management, and managing strategic sourcing and category management.

  • E-Procurement and Digital Supply Chain

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Examines e-procurement, digital, supply, chain, and managing e-procurement and digital supply chain management.

  • Research Thesis

    Year 2Semester 212 creditsCore

    Original supervised research thesis on a procurement or contract management topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and procurement knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

  • Contract Management

    Focuses on contract management, covering contracts, law, formulation, administration, and managing contract management.

  • Public Procurement

    Examines public procurement, covering public, procurement, regulation, compliance, and managing public procurement.

  • Negotiation and Dispute Resolution

    Covers negotiation, covering negotiation, disputes, resolution, contracts, and managing negotiation and dispute resolution.

  • Procurement Risk Management

    Focuses on procurement risk, covering risk, procurement, management, auditing, and managing procurement risk.

  • Supplier Relationship Management

    Examines supplier relationships, covering suppliers, relationships, management, performance, and managing supplier relationships.

  • Strategic Procurement

    Covers strategic procurement, covering strategy, procurement, planning, sourcing, and managing strategic procurement.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Procurement and Contract Management programme combines lectures, case studies, group discussions, seminars, and independent study. Sessions cover procurement principles, contract law, negotiation, and public procurement. Procurement sessions examine procurement, strategy, planning, sourcing, and managing procurement. Contract law sessions cover contracts, law, formulation, administration, and managing contract management. Negotiation sessions cover negotiation, disputes, resolution, contracts, and managing negotiation and dispute resolution. Public procurement sessions cover public, procurement, regulation, compliance, and managing public procurement. Supply chain sessions cover supply, chain, logistics, management, and managing supply chain management. Risk management sessions cover risk, procurement, management, auditing, and managing procurement risk. Project management sessions cover projects, management, planning, execution, and managing project management. Research methods sessions cover research, design, methods, ethics, and conducting research in procurement. Case studies provide practical experience in analysing real-world procurement and contract management scenarios. Seminars provide opportunities for presenting research findings and discussing current issues in procurement. The programme culminates in a supervised research thesis on a procurement or contract management topic.

The trade-offs

In its favourAgainst it
Programme addresses procurement and contract management, critical functions in both public and private sectors.Only one university (JKUAT, public) confirmed offering this exact programme name.
Relatively affordable fees at KES 126,000 per year.No private university confirmed offering this programme.
Graduates are eligible for KISM registration and CIPS professional certification.Fee data sourced from comparable JKUAT procurement programmes, not the exact programme listing.
High job market demand for procurement and contract management professionals in Kenya.Programme may require relevant work experience for Lower Second Class holders.

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
Public126k to 126k
126k at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology126k at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

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 126K/yr (JKUAT discover page). Private unverified

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. JKUAT may offer scholarships for eligible students. Some employers, particularly in the public sector, may sponsor staff for postgraduate study in procurement and contract management.

Funding options

  • HELB Postgraduate Loan

  • JKUAT Scholarship

  • Employer Sponsorship

Scholarships

3 recorded

  • HELB Postgraduate Loan

    LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan

    Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.

  • JKUAT Scholarship

    ScholarshipKsh 126,000Kenyan

    JKUAT may offer scholarships for eligible postgraduate students.

  • Employer Sponsorship

    ScholarshipKsh 252,000Kenyan

    Some employers, particularly in the public sector, may sponsor staff for postgraduate study in procurement.

Scholarships you could apply for

2 usable where it is taught
Save one and be reminded before it closes

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade
N/A (Postgraduate)minimum entry
Alternative entry

JKUAT requires at least an Upper Second Class Honours degree. Lower Second Class may be considered with at least three years of working experience. Contact JKUAT for specific admission requirements.

When it next starts

Taught at 2 institutions
January 20272 institutions

Including Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenyatta University.

May 20272 institutions

Including Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenyatta University.

September 20272 institutions

Including Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenyatta University.

How you are assessed

4 components

  • Coursework and Continuous Assessment

    Coursework30% of the mark

    Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, case study analyses, seminar presentations, group discussions, and class participation.

  • Written Examinations

    Examination70% of the mark

    Written examinations covering procurement principles, contract law, public procurement, negotiation, and supply chain management.

  • Case Study Assessment

    Project40% of the mark

    Practical assessment through case studies, demonstrating procurement strategy, contract analysis, and problem-solving in real-world scenarios.

  • Research Thesis

    Research100% of the mark

    Original supervised research thesis on a procurement or contract management topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and procurement knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

  • Commission for University Education (CUE)

    Academic accreditationRequired

    Programme accredited by CUE. JKUAT (public) offers MSc in Procurement and Contract Management through the School of Human Resource Development. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in procurement and contract management. Graduates should be registered with KISM and may pursue CIPS professional certification. The programme aligns with PPRA public procurement standards and CIPS global procurement standards.

  • Kenya Institute of Supplies Management (KISM)

    Professional accreditationRequired

    KISM regulates the supply management profession in Kenya. Graduates working in procurement and supply management should be registered with KISM.

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). JKUAT (public) offers MSc in Procurement and Contract Management through the School of Human Resource Development. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in procurement and contract management. Graduates should be registered with KISM and may pursue CIPS professional certification. The programme aligns with PPRA public procurement standards and CIPS global procurement standards.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

  • Procurement Manager

    High demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 500,000

    Manages procurement operations, overseeing procurement, sourcing, contracts, and managing procurement functions.

  • Contract Manager

    High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 450,000

    Manages contracts, overseeing contracts, administration, compliance, and managing contract management.

  • Supply Chain Consultant

    Moderate demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 500,000

    Provides supply chain consulting services, overseeing advisory, optimisation, strategy, and managing supply chain consulting.

  • Procurement Auditor

    High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 400,000

    Conducts procurement audits, overseeing audits, compliance, risk, and managing procurement auditing.

  • Project Manager

    High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 500,000

    Manages projects, overseeing projects, planning, execution, and managing project management.

  • Procurement Lecturer

    Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 400,000

    Teaches procurement at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as procurement managers, contract managers, supply chain consultants, procurement auditors, project managers, and lecturers across public sector organisations, private companies, NGOs, and international organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

  • SAP Ariba

    SoftwarePrimary

    SAP Ariba for e-procurement and supplier management, covering procurement, sourcing, contracts, and managing e-procurement.

  • Microsoft Excel

    Software

    Excel for procurement data analysis and reporting, covering analysis, reporting, data, and managing procurement data.

  • Contract Management Software

    Software

    Contract management software for contract administration, covering contracts, tracking, compliance, and managing contract lifecycle.

  • SPSS

    Software

    SPSS for statistical analysis of research data, covering statistics, analysis, research, and managing research data.

Common misconceptions

  • Procurement is just about buying things.

    Procurement involves strategic sourcing, contract management, supplier relationships, risk management, and compliance beyond just purchasing.

  • Contract management is only for lawyers.

    Contract management requires procurement expertise, negotiation skills, and project management knowledge, not just legal training.

  • This programme is only for those working in government.

    Procurement and contract management skills are valuable in private companies, NGOs, international organisations, and consulting firms beyond just government.

  • Procurement has limited career growth.

    Procurement professionals can advance to chief procurement officer, supply chain director, and executive roles with significant career growth potential.

  • Public procurement is just about following rules.

    Public procurement requires strategic thinking, risk management, value optimisation, and innovation within regulatory frameworks, not just rule-following.

  • Procurement is not relevant in the private sector.

    Private sector procurement is critical for cost management, supplier strategy, and competitive advantage, making procurement skills highly valued.

Further reading

Read next