Education

Masters of Education in Economics of Education

The Masters of Education in Economics of Education is a postgraduate programme that trains educators and analysts in the economics of education, education financing, education policy, and resource allocation. The programme prepares graduates for advanced careers in education planning, education finance, policy analysis, and educational development.

Core areas include economics of education, education financing, cost-benefit analysis, education and economic growth, human capital theory, education policy, resource allocation, education markets, equity and efficiency, and research methods. Students engage with theoretical foundations and practical economics of education applications.

The programme is offered by Moi University, Chuka University, and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, with Moi University also listed as a college. Moi University offers MEd in Economics of Education. JOOUST offers MEd in Planning and Economics of Education with part-time mode.

Students develop competencies in economic analysis, education financing, cost-benefit analysis, policy analysis, and research. The programme includes coursework, economic analysis projects, examinations, supervised research, and thesis.

The programme is delivered over two years. Moi University education masters fees are estimated at KES 140,000/year. Chuka University art-based masters fees are KES 71,000/semester (~KES 142,000/year). JOOUST education masters fees are estimated at KES 130,000/year. Entry requires Bachelor's degree in Education or related field with Upper Second or Lower with experience.

Graduates pursue careers as education economists, education planners, policy analysts, education finance specialists, and university lecturers in government, ministries, international organisations, and research institutions.

Skills Required

Economics of Education Analysis
Education Financing and Budgeting
Cost-Benefit Analysis in Education
Human Capital Theory and Education
Education Policy Analysis and Development
Resource Allocation and Efficiency in Education
Education Markets and Privatisation Analysis
Equity and Access in Education Economics
Education Planning and Forecasting
Economics of Education Research Methods

Key Subjects

Economics of Education
Education Financing
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Human Capital Theory
Education Policy
Resource Allocation
Education Planning
Education Markets
Equity and Efficiency
Economics of Education Research Methods

Certifications

UNESCO IIEP Education Planning Certification
World Bank Education Finance Certification

Specializations

Education Financing

Focuses on education financing, education budgets, funding mechanisms, school fees, scholarships, loans, and financing education systems.

Cost-Benefit Analysis

Examines cost-benefit analysis, returns to education, rates of return, cost-effectiveness, and analysing costs and benefits of education.

Education Policy

Covers education policy, policy analysis, education reform, financing policy, equity policy, and analysing and developing education policy.

Education Planning

Focuses on education planning, educational planning, demand forecasting, supply analysis, school mapping, and planning education systems.

Human Capital

Examines human capital theory, education and economic growth, human capital investment, productivity, and understanding education as human capital.

Equity and Efficiency

Covers equity and efficiency in education, access, inequality, gender, poverty, and analysing equity and efficiency in education.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 150,000
Private, up to: Ksh 191,050
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

Economics of Education
Education Financing
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Human Capital Theory
Education Policy
Resource Allocation
Education Planning
Education Markets
Equity and Efficiency
Economics of Education Research Methods

Modules

12 in the programme

Economics of Education Theory
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines economics of education theory, supply and demand in education, education production functions, efficiency, externalities, and understanding the economics of education.
Education Financing and Budgeting
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers education budgets, funding mechanisms, government funding, school fees, scholarships, loans, HELB, public finance, and financing education systems.
Cost-Benefit Analysis in Education
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines cost-benefit analysis, returns to education, rates of return, cost-effectiveness, internal efficiency, and analysing costs and benefits of education.
Human Capital and Economic Growth
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers human capital theory, education and economic growth, human capital investment, productivity, labour market, earnings, and understanding education as human capital.
Education Policy Analysis
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines education policy, policy analysis, education reform, financing policy, equity policy, FPE, and analysing and developing education policy.
Resource Allocation and Efficiency
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers resource allocation, efficiency, equity, input-output, school resources, teacher allocation, and allocating resources in education.
Education Planning and Forecasting
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines educational planning, demand forecasting, supply analysis, school mapping, projections, enrolment projections, and planning education systems.
Education Markets and Privatisation
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers education markets, privatisation, school choice, vouchers, private schools, PPP, and understanding education markets and privatisation.
Equity, Access and Inclusion in Education
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines equity, access, inequality, gender, poverty, inclusion, disability, marginalisation, and analysing equity and efficiency in education.
Economics of Education Research Methods
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers economics of education research methods, econometric methods, education data, cost analysis, and conducting economics of education research, preparing students for their thesis.
Education and Labour Market
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines education and labour market, employability, skills, youth unemployment, transition, earnings, and understanding the relationship between education and labour market.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research thesis on an economics of education topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Education Financing
Focuses on education financing, education budgets, funding mechanisms, school fees, scholarships, loans, and financing education systems.
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Examines cost-benefit analysis, returns to education, rates of return, cost-effectiveness, and analysing costs and benefits of education.
Education Policy
Covers education policy, policy analysis, education reform, financing policy, equity policy, and analysing and developing education policy.
Education Planning
Focuses on education planning, educational planning, demand forecasting, supply analysis, school mapping, and planning education systems.
Human Capital
Examines human capital theory, education and economic growth, human capital investment, productivity, and understanding education as human capital.
Equity and Efficiency
Covers equity and efficiency in education, access, inequality, gender, poverty, and analysing equity and efficiency in education.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MEd Economics of Education programme begins with morning lectures on economics of education, education financing, or education policy. Students engage with theoretical foundations and practical economics of education applications. Economics of education sessions cover economics of education theory, supply and demand in education, education production functions, efficiency, and understanding the economics of education. Education financing sessions examine education budgets, funding mechanisms, government funding, school fees, scholarships, loans, HELB, and financing education systems. Cost-benefit analysis sessions cover cost-benefit analysis, returns to education, rates of return, cost-effectiveness, internal efficiency, and analysing costs and benefits of education. Human capital theory sessions examine human capital theory, education and economic growth, human capital investment, productivity, labour market, and understanding education as human capital. Education policy sessions cover education policy, policy analysis, education reform, financing policy, equity policy, and analysing and developing education policy. Resource allocation sessions examine resource allocation, efficiency, equity, input-output, school resources, and allocating resources in education. Education planning sessions cover educational planning, demand forecasting, supply analysis, school mapping, projections, and planning education systems. Education markets sessions examine education markets, privatisation, school choice, vouchers, private schools, and understanding education markets and privatisation. Equity and efficiency sessions cover equity, access, inequality, gender, poverty, inclusion, and analysing equity and efficiency in education. Economic analysis projects provide hands-on experience with education cost analysis, benefit analysis, budget analysis, and policy evaluation. Research methodology sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering economics of education research methods, econometric methods, and data analysis. Guest lectures from university faculty, Ministry of Education officials, UNESCO IIEP experts, World Bank advisors, and international education economists provide real-world insights. The two-year programme culminates in a research thesis.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's education financing, SDG 4, free education policy, devolution, education planning, and resource allocation create moderate demand for qualified education economics professionals.
Programme offered at multiple public universities including Moi, Chuka, and JOOUST, providing accessible options.
Career opportunities with government, Ministry of Education, UNESCO IIEP, World Bank, UNICEF, and international education organisations.
Programme provides economic analysis skills for education financing, planning, policy, and resource allocation, supporting evidence-based education decisions.

Against it

Programme requires education, economics, or related background, which may exclude some graduates.
Niche field with fewer positions compared to broader education or economics programmes.
Econometric methods and quantitative analysis may be challenging for students without strong quantitative backgrounds.
Access to education finance data and economic data may be limited in some contexts.

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 243 education courses

Public119k to 150k

119k at Chuka University150k at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology

Private165k to 191k

165k at Kabarak University191k at Africa International 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

JOOUST 150,000, Chuka 119,000/yr verified. Kabarak 165,200, AIU 191,050 verified.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. UNESCO IIEP supports education planning training. World Bank supports education finance and development. UNICEF supports education equity. The programme's economics of education focus attracts UNESCO, World Bank, and international education funding.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
UNESCO IIEP Training Funding
World Bank Education Funding

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate economics of education studies at recognised universities.
UNESCO IIEP Training Funding
GrantKsh 300,000
UNESCO IIEP supports educational planning training globally, providing funding for postgraduate research in economics of education.
World Bank Education Funding
FellowshipKsh 400,000
World Bank supports education globally, providing fellowships for postgraduate study in economics of education and education finance.

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 education, economics, educational planning, social sciences, statistics, public administration, and related fields. JOOUST requires Upper Second or Lower with 2 years experience. Two-year programme with full-time and part-time modes.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, cost analysis, policy briefs, economic analysis, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination40% of the mark
Written examinations covering economics of education, financing, cost-benefit, human capital, and policy, conducted at end of each semester.
Economic Analysis Project Assessment
Practical30% of the mark
Assessment of economic analysis projects, cost-benefit studies, budget analysis, policy evaluation, and practical work.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on an economics of education topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Moi University offers MEd in Economics of Education. JOOUST offers MEd in Planning and Economics of Education. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate economics of education training. Ministry of Education oversees education in Kenya, and UNESCO IIEP and World Bank support education planning and finance internationally.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. Moi University offers MEd in Economics of Education. JOOUST offers MEd in Planning and Economics of Education. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate economics of education training.
Teachers Service Commission (TSC)
Professional accreditation
TSC manages teachers in Kenya. Graduates working in educational institutions may benefit from TSC registration and professional development.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Education Economist
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Analyses economics of education, overseeing cost analysis, benefit analysis, financing, and supporting education economics and policy.
Education Planner
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Plans education systems, overseeing demand forecasting, supply analysis, school mapping, and supporting education planning and development.
Education Policy Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Analyses education policy, overseeing policy research, economic analysis, policy development, and supporting education policy and reform.
Education Finance Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Manages education finance, overseeing budgets, funding, cost analysis, and supporting education financing and resource allocation.
University Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches economics of education in universities, conducting research and training future education economics professionals.
Education Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Provides education consultancy, overseeing education finance, planning, policy advice, and supporting education development.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as education economists, education planners, and policy analysts in government, ministries, and international organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Stata
SoftwarePrimary
Statistical software for economics of education research, econometric analysis, education data, and research data analysis.
SPSS
SoftwarePrimary
Statistical software for education research, survey analysis, education data, cost analysis, and research data analysis.
Excel
Software
Spreadsheet software for education budgeting, cost analysis, financial modelling, and education finance and budget analysis.
R Statistical Computing
Software
Open-source statistical computing for economics of education research, econometric modelling, and research data analysis.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Economics of education is just about school fees.
The programme involves education financing, cost-benefit analysis, human capital, policy, planning, markets, equity, and research, covering comprehensive economics of education.
This programme is only for economics graduates.
The programme accepts graduates from education, economics, planning, social sciences, and related fields.
There is limited demand for education economists in Kenya.
Kenya's education financing, SDG 4, free education policy, devolution, education planning, and resource allocation create moderate demand for qualified education economics professionals.
Economics of education is too theoretical.
Economics of education provides practical tools for education financing, planning, policy, budgeting, and resource allocation, making it highly applied.
Education cannot be analysed economically.
Education is a significant economic sector with substantial investment, returns, costs, and impacts that can and must be analysed economically.
A master's in economics of education is redundant after an MEd.
The master's provides specialised economics skills, finance expertise, research capability, and career progression to senior education planning and finance positions.