Overview

Introduction

A paramount challenge for the new millennium is “The Management of Rapidly Expanding Urban Areas (Cities and Towns) in the South”. It is imperative, therefore, that governments train managers for this challenge. Urban Management calls on a range of disciplines and interests: architects, planners, engineers, economists, sociologists, managers and many others are involved.

Philosophy of the Programme

The underlying philosophy of the programme is consistent with the institution’s philosophy which states: ‘The University of Nairobi Philosophy is guided by the need to connect and inspire the Kenyan community to provide leadership and stewardship and to give hope and faith to the Kenyan society that it can excel in whatever it chooses to do with passion, moral responsibility and a strong sense of patriotism’.

The Department of Architecture’s philosophy is a dedication to the search for authentic Architecture through promotion of a sustainable environment; with the pursuit of excellence in meeting community, national and global built environment needs.

Rationale

The Department of Architecture offers a two-year Postgraduate Master of Urban Management Programme. The programme comprises coursework, examination and research project.

Goal of the Programme

The course is intended to provide the requisite solid and balanced academic teaching (including theory and research methods) and professional and practical training relevant to urban management in Kenya and other countries in East Africa and the region.

 Objectives

The expected learning outcome of this programme should be to:

a)  Acquire knowledge and expertise in key aspects of urban management;

b)  Deepen the understanding of the multidimensional and dynamic aspects of urban management;

c)  Develop an understanding of the spatial issues, knowledge and skills needed to design for the functional, aesthetic, social and cost needs of urban communities;

d)  Deepen the understanding of specific methodological areas;

e)  Develop competence in the management of municipal and metropolitan development;

f)  Appreciate interventions which reflect context responsive concepts of sustainable development and deal with different levels of the urban environment;

g)  Relate to exchange and feedback between practice and academic theory.

Intakes: Every September

Electives

W7013 Urban and regional Development Theory

W7014 Applied Techniques for Urban and Regional Analysis

W7015 Urban Planning Theory

W7016 Urban Designs Theory

W7017 Microeconomics for Urban Management

W7018 Macroeconomics for Urban Management

W7019 Real estate Development

W7020 Urban Transportation

W7021 Urban Sociology

W7022 Urban Social Community Services and amenities

W7023 Statistical Methods for Urban Management

W7025 Local Government Management

Contact us for Support:

Phone: (+254) 020-4913519
Email :   architecture@uonbi.ac.ke

Notable Alumni

 

 

Admission Requirements

A student must satisfy the prescribed University of Nairobi requirements for admission to the Master of Urban Management by having any of the following qualifications:

  1.  A holder of a degree of at least Upper Second Class Honours in Architecture, Building Economics, Land Economics, Engineering, Commerce, Economics, Geography, Government, Law, Social Work, Sociology, Urban and/or Regional Planning or any other relevant discipline from the University of Nairobi or any other institution recognized by Senate as being of comparable academic status.
  2.  A holder of a degree of at least Lower Second Class Honours in any of the degree categories specified in (3.1.1) above with a relevant Postgraduate Diploma or other equivalent qualifications from the University of Nairobi or any other institution recognized by Senate as being of comparable academic status or with at least two (2) years of relevant work experience.
  3.  A holder of a degree in degree categories specified in (i) above with a credit pass in a relevant Postgraduate Diploma or other equivalent qualifications from the University of Nairobi or any other institution recognized by Senate as being of comparable academic status or with at least four (4) years of relevant work experience.

 Regulations for Credit Transfers and Exemptions

Applicants who wish to transfer coursework credits for similar courses taken in other institutions may, on recommendation of the Institute Academic Board and approval by Senate, be allowed to transfer credits up to a maximum of one-third of courses offered in the programme. Applications for credit transfer will be made on payment of prescribed fees to the Board of Postgraduate Studies, giving details of the subject for which credit is sought. The Institute may administer an assessment test as appropriate.

 

YEAR 1 - 18UNITS      
   Year 1   Year 2   Yearly TOTAL 
TUITION           432,000             432,000                 864,000
MEDICAL FEE (PER YEAR)               6,500                 6,500                   13,000
ICT SERVICES - (PER YEAR)               7,000                 7,000                   14,000
LIBRARY (PER YEAR)               5,000                 5,000                   10,000
REGISTRATION (PER SEMESTER@2250)               4,500                 4,500                     9,000
EXAMINATION (PER UNIT @1000)             18,000                     18,000
ID CARD ( PER YEAR)               1,000                 1,000                     2,000
ACTIVITY-( PER YEAR)               2,000                 2,000                     4,000
CAUTION - (ONCE)               5,000                       5,000
STUDENT ORGANISATION(PER YEAR)               1,000                 1,000                     2,000
THESIS EXAMINATION                 30,000                   30,000
Grand TOTAL           482,000             489,000                 971,000

2 years

Attachment opportunities

  • Attachment in Policy development in the area of urban management with both National and County Government  and international organizations

The Programme will offer graduates opportunity to:

  1. Acquire knowledge and expertise in key aspects of urban management;
  2. Deepen the understanding of the multidimensional and dynamic aspects of urban management;
  3. Develop an understanding of the spatial issues, knowledge and skills needed to design for the functional, aesthetic, social and cost needs of urban communities;
  4. Deepen the understanding of specific methodological areas;       
  5. Develop competence in the management of municipal and metropolitan development;
  6. Appreciate interventions which reflect context responsive concepts of sustainable development and deal with different levels of the urban environment;
  7. Relate to exchange and feedback between practice and academic theory.

 

Examinations shall be held in line with the Common School Examination Regulations of the School of the Built Environment as approved by the University Senate.

Taught Courses

  1. Candidates SHALL be required to take a minimum of two (2) and a maximum of six (6) examination papers in each semester.
  2.  All candidates shall be required to take and pass a total of seventeen (17) examination papers before being allowed to proceed to do the Research Project.
  3. Each course shall be examined through a three (3) hour written examination paper at the end of the semester in which the course is taught.
  4.  The final written examination shall account for sixty percent (60%) of the marks in each course, while continuous examination shall account for the remaining forty percent (40%).
  5. Continuous assessment shall comprise assignments, semester papers, seminar presentations and such other tests as may be given during the semester.
  6. The pass mark for each course shall be fifty percent (50%).
  7.  A candidate who fails in any paper may, on the recommendations of the Institute Board of Examiners and approval by Senate, be allowed to take up to two (2) resit examinations in the failed paper(s) during the next ordinary examination times before they can be allowed to start the Research Project.
  8. A candidate who fails in a second resit examination, or fails to take resit examinations during the following ordinary examinations, without prior notice to Senate of good cause preventing sitting of the examinations, or fails to complete satisfactorily all the degree requirements within the stipulated study period of fifteen (15) semesters shall be discontinued from the programme.

Research Project

  1.  Each candidate shall undertake a Research Project in an area germane to urban management.
  2.  For purposes of examination regulations, the Research Project shall be considered to be equivalent to four (4) courses.
  3.  Once the Research Project has been started, it must be completed within two (2) semesters.
  4. The pass mark for the Research Project shall be fifty percent (50%).
  5. A candidate who fails in the Research Project shall be allowed to submit a revised project for examination up to two (2) times.
  6. A candidate who fails in the second revised project, or fails to resubmit a revised Research Project without prior notice to Senate showing good cause preventing the resubmission of the Research Project, or fails to complete satisfactorily all the degree requirements within the stipulated study period of fifteen (15) semesters shall be discontinued. However, a candidate may be allowed to complete the Research Project if it was started six (6) months before the expiry of the stipulated study period of fifteen (15) semesters.

Moderation of Examinations – Internal/External

  1. The common regulations for management of examinations in the University of Nairobi shall apply.
  2. The examinations are set by the internal examiners and moderated internally by a panel of subject experts to ensure that all the questions are valid and reliable.
  3. The moderated examination papers shall then be sent out to external examiner for external moderation before sending to Examinations Office for processing.

Intake

September every year