A degree course in economics is very marketable in Kenya but the truth is that you will not be employed as an Economist.
You have just completed your high school and have passed your KCSE exams well. Congratulations!
Now you are looking into courses to study in the university and we are here to help you.
All courses can are often applied through the KUCCPS Portal and here is our guide on how to apply for courses on KUCCPS Portal.
Majority of Kenyan Universities offer economics courses for undergraduate studies but the question is, are economics courses marketable in Kenya?
A degree in economics in Kenya offers you vast options of being employed in both public and private firms. You should however consider taking professional courses such as Certified Public Accountants (CPA), Certified Investment and Financial Analysts (CIFA) and Chartered Financial Analyst courses (CFA) offered by the Kenya Accountants and Secretaries National Examinations Board (KASNEB).
There are also courses offered by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) which when combined with your degree, will give you a competitive advantage over the other thousands of graduates seeking to be employed.
Before we get into reasons why economics courses are marketable, let’s look at the different economics courses available in most Kenyan Universities.
- Bachelor of Economics and Finance: This is one of the best economics courses to consider for undergraduate because its coursework covers subjects in accounting, statistics, Project Management, business law, investment, Finance and Economics. This provides you wth several job options as well as professional courses to add to.
The universities offering this course in Kenya are; Kenyatta University, Mount Kenya University, Kabarak University, Machakos University, Kirinyaga University, Embu University and Cooperative University.
- Bachelor of Economics and Statistics: You can never go wrong with a degree in Economics and Statistics which is a combination of both statistics and economics disciplines. This is the best course to pursue in Kenya because of its wide career prospects. Almost all universities in Kenya offer this course.
- Bachelor of Economics: Kenyatta university offers this course as a ‘pure economics’ course but other universities like Egerton University offer it as a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree which requires a combination other subjects such as sociology, history, etc.
More details on Economics Degree courses, universities offering and respective cut-off points here.
You can check out the list of all accredited Kenyan Universities here and explore their Economics courses.
The main reason why economics courses are marketable is the wide career prospects they offer. You can become a financial analysist, a banker, a project manager, accountant, finance manager, tax consultant, researcher, auditor, sales and marketing agent, real estate professional among other career options.
With a degree in economics you can work in any sector because all the sectors of the economy require skills in accounting, financing, sales, marketing, project management, human resources, planning, insurance, policy making, auditing, taxation and management.
The minimum entry requirements forDegree in Economicsis a C+ (Plus) in KCSE and B- in Mathematics.
Remember the marketability of all these economics courses depend on several factors like the specific economics course pursued, your college grade and whether or not you have other certifications.
It is estimated that more than 40% of Economics degree graduates in Kenya are actively seeking employment. What you scored in college and work experiences will play a major role in giving you a chance of getting a job with the stiff competition in the job market right now.
