The number of youths entering the job market in Kenya each year is 800,000. Yet there are very limited available job opportunities in the country. However there are a number of courses which if you study you might be able to get a job in your fields immediately after graduating.
Currently there are over 400 degree courses offered in Kenyan Universities. This article is aimed at helping you make informed decision when enrolling for a degree or diploma course here in Kenya.
These are the most marketable degree and diploma courses offered in Kenyan universities.
Bachelor of Science in Real Estate Management
Real Estate Industry is currently growing at a vest rate in the country. Many entrepreneurs are opting to invest in real estate, hence an increase in demand for real estate specialists. The number of real estate companies in the country has also drastically increased, this will ensure after graduating you’ll have a company to work in, or you can as well start your own company.
Starting salary for real estate professionals in Kenya is at least 120000ksh.
Bachelor of Commerce plus CFA/ACCA, Finance, economics and statistics
Despite having a high number of students enrolling for this course, it is still one of the top marketable courses in Kenyan colleges and Universities. To be on the safe side, you will need to enroll for CPA/CFA/ACCA/CIFA courses as well to go along side your degree in commerce.
This course is important especially to graduates who intent to start their own business, they will ultimately need this knowledge to set up and run their businesses.
Architecture/ Structural engineering/ Quantity survey
It takes 7 years to become a fully complete the degree and be a qualified architect, including several years working in agencies on placements. This means many of the junior roles are taken up by people still studying and actual graduate level jobs are higher up than most other careers.
With increase in the number of construction projects still underway in the country, graduates in this course won’t be jobless when they enter the job market.
Electrical Engineering
This is one of the toughest but marketable courses. It takes 5 years for one to finish his/her degree in Kenyan Universities. The high demand for electrical engineers has always be in existence in the country. This mainly is due to the limited number of students enrolling for this course.
Bachelor of Medicine and surgery
This course as well top marketable courses. To enroll for the course requires two things; very high grades in order to government sponsored or very huge amount of money to enroll for a parallel program.
One can earn a lot of money especially from starting his or her own practice.
Software engineering / web design
We are living in a fast growing world where companies are coming up with innovative technology to make transaction and business more optimal. Software engineers are required to perform programming for development of software and applications.
Companies like IBM, Google, Facebook, Safaricom and others will come for you if at all they realize you are top of the game. Your salary will definitely be not less than Ksh250, 000.
Bachelor of Law
This is also a marketable course. Although much is earned if an individual sets up his/her own law firm. Legal profession is one of top earning professions in the country.
Bachelor of Applied Statistics with IT/Bachelor of Statistics
Bachelor of Applied Statistics with IT involves data analysis, statistical modelling and monitoring and evaluation. This course can be done at most universities in Kenya.
The good thing about the course is that you can go into self-employment as a data analyst, if you are unable to find a job.
Together with this course one should do CIFA, CFA or ACCA to increase your value to employers.
A graduate of statistics can work as an accountant, financial analyst, investment analyst, monitoring and evaluation officer, project manager, statistician, actuary, policy analyst, economist and many more.
Bachelor of pharmacy
Bachelor pharmacy, just like medicine will drive you into financial freedom. The moment you switch your mind that your career is this, you will find yourself swimming in money few years later.
Bachelor of Education in Special Needs Education
The demand for Sign language interpreters and other professionals in special needs education field is increasing each and every day; radios, Televisions, musicians, NGOs, education sector, banks and other institutions are all in need of these people to help disadvantaged groups perform their duties.
Enrolling for this course will be much better than just a degree in education.
Degree in Criminology
This degree course is currently growing very fast in Kenya. This is due to an increase in the demand for security managers as well as forensic experts, more universities are hence incorporating this program into their curriculum.