Below are some of the best mathematics courses in Kenya to help you make an informed decision..

Best mathematics courses in Kenya

Economics and Finance

Professionals in economics and finance are in related disciplines-They inform and influence each other.

That said, it is important to understand that economists are concerned about how goods and services are produced and distributed.

Their work also involves helping governments address economic problems –mostly those related to production as well as distribution of goods/service sectors.

They also help in formulating monetary and fiscal policies.

Professionals in finance are concerned about the flow of cash, interests’ rates, risk management, rates of return, and financial markets.

In this field, they engage in the economics of making businesses run, governments operate, and markets function effectively and efficiently.

Still, finance professionals advise businesses and investors on sound investments, capital allocation, and financial management.

How do the two disciplines intersect?

Well, economists are in the decision-making process while financial professionals implement the decisions made.

Key skills and interests required to pursue a career in this field

• Ability to explain very complex information simply(and clearly)
• Research and analytical skills
• Effective communications skills
• Interpersonal skills active listening skills
• A high level of numeracy and logical skills
• A target-driven mindset
• Self-motivation and organization
• Team spirit
• Time management skills
• A flexible approach to work
• Ethical and professional approach to work
• Determination and tenacity
• Discretion and commitment to maintain client confidentiality

What the job / career / profession entails

A financial economist does the following functions:

• Conducts research
• Prepares reports
• Formulates plans to address various challenges related to production and final distribution of goods/services
• Come up with appropriate monetary and fiscal policy(if hired by the government)
• Collects and processes required economic / statistical data using appropriate sampling techniques / econometric methods
• Studies and analyses a range of economic issues (for example: consumer demand /sales to help an organization maximize its profits
• Forecast market trends by applying mathematical models/ statistical techniques to collected data.
• Supervise research projects
• Teach economic theories, principles, methods etc.
• Study the socio-economic impact of newly public(government) policies, for example, proposed legislation/regulations, taxes, and more.
• Formulate recommendations to solve economic difficulties or to interpret the markets.

Who can you work for?

In general, you can also get employed by international organizations(including not-for-profits), research firms,  think tanks, and more and your main role is to study and analyze numbers that influence economic issues.

Other potential employers include marketing research firms, banks, management consulting firms, securities/commodities brokers, and government agencies including county government (Departments of Trade, Agriculture, and Treasury).

The best thing about a career in economics is that you can combine your full-time job (in government or private sector) with part-time (or consulting work) in academia or any other setting.

Entry requirements for economics and finance degree in Kenya

The minimum admissions requirement are C+ (KCSE mean grade) which is often the minimum entry grade set for admission into public universities in Kenya.

In addition, you must have good grades in these cluster subjects in your KCSE examinations (mostly you must have scored a C plus-at least- though some institutions accept a C plain):

Cluster Subjects

• Mathematics
• English/Kiswahili
• Any Group III subject
• Any Group II subject /2nd Group III subject/Any Group IV subject/ Any Group V subject

ALSO READ: High school subjects in Kenya [Full list and groups]

Please note its best to take this course at the degree level (in any case, there are very few accredited diploma in mathematics and statistics programs in Kenya)

Keep in mind that you can also decide to pursue a Bachelor of Economics(B. Econ.) -which is essentially pure economics- if you want to specialize in economics only.

So, is economics marketable in Kenya?

Well, yes to a degree ( jobs are nowadays fewer than they were a decade ago but people do still get jobs even if it takes a bit of waiting and a higher number of applications than in the past).

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Other similar courses you can pursue (Other degrees that are very close to economics and finance):

1. Economics and sociology
2. Economics and statistics
3. Finance
4. Financial engineering
5. Econometrics and statistics
6. Finance and statistics
7. Mathematics and statistics
8. Industrial Mathematics
9. Bachelor of commerce (Finance option)- but with this, you will mainly get work in the finance field (finance manager, Accountant, Financial controller, etc)

Career Prospects for Economics and Finance graduates

• Economic
• Financial risk analyst
• Financial planner
• Economic researcher
• Financial consultant
• Investment analyst
• Statistician
• Stockbroker

Is bachelor of economics and statistics marketable in Kenya?

So, is economics and finance marketable in Kenya?

Well, jobs are still there but they are not as many as they used to be a decade ago- and this could be because the economy has not been doing very well recently.

In fact, there is a significant number of economics and finance graduates who are yet to get employed so that tells you that you need to have a good strategy to secure employment immediately after graduating.

But that should not worry you a lot if you’re deeply passionate about  economics and finance- you should get meaningful employment at some point especially once you get good experience.

Accountancy courses in Kenya

Accountancy is another traditionally good course so we also rate it among the best mathematics courses in Kenya.

In fact, most serious businesses always employ someone who has done accountancy to help them keep proper financial records, file their tax returns, and offer financial advisory.

If you would like to give accountancy a shot, read my comprehensive article about the course before you make your final decision.

Here it is: Accountancy courses in Kenya [All you need to know]

ALSO READ: List of business courses in Kenya and what you need to know

Statistics courses in Kenya

Your next option if you are in love with numbers is statistics courses in Kenya.

Now, I wrote previously about statistics courses in Kenya including applied statistics with computing and what you can expect if you choose to take statistics.

Here it is:  Statistics courses in Kenya [All you need to know](Read it to the end)

Best mathematics courses in Kenya: Other Mathematical Sciences courses worth considering

Still on the best mathematics courses in Kenya, there are other very good mathematical sciences courses you can consider..

Before we look at these courses, let us just mention something small about what Professionals in mathematical sciences do:

What do Professionals in mathematical sciences do?

Now, Professionals in mathematical sciences combine traditional mathematical subjects with advanced courses in statistics, programming (coding), and data science.

ALSO READ:

Data science course in Kenya [All you need to know]

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In a nutshell, this field presents an array of numerate and analytical professions at the core of modern research and the fast-growing digital economy (we all know that a lot of business has moved online in the last few years).

But it is not just working as a data scientist (or other digital-based jobs), conventional jobs such as Actuarial scientist, Investment analyst, and financial engineers are also available once you complete mathematical sciences courses.

That is because mathematical scientists acquire extensive skills that enable them solve real world problems using quantitative mathematical approaches.

So, what mathematical science courses can you pursue in Kenya?

Well, you have a number of options.

Here they are:

Bachelor of Science in mathematics in Kenya

You can also pursue pure maths and that’s where a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics in Kenya comes in.

Minimum Entry requirements:

KCSE mean grade:C+

Additional requirements: In addition, you need to have a very good grade in mathematics (for instance, the University of Nairobi needs you to have a B+ in maths to be admitted).

Besides, you need to have a C+ (at least) in Physics/Physical Science plus in either Chemistry/ Biology/Biological Science/ Geography

Other acceptable qualifications:

1. Diploma in fields such as Computer Studies/ Education/ Statistics as long as you have majored in mathematics and you got a credit pass (the Diploma must be awarded by an accredited institution).
2. A Bachelors Degree in other fields as long as you have a solid mathematics background.

Career opportunities

Graduates of a Bachelor of Science in mathematics can get work in software/programming companies, educational institutions, finance companies, insurance companies, and government agencies (treasury/national planning departments)..

Bachelor of Science(BSc.) in Mathematics & Computer Science

If you want to fit in both the finance sector and the software development industry (computing services firms), you may go for a mathematics and computer science degree.

Minimum Entry requirements:

KCSE mean grade: C+

Additional requirements: a minimum of B plain in Mathematics. You also need a C+ (minimum) in Physics/Physical Science as well as in one of Chemistry/Biology/Biological Science/Geography.

Is mathematics and computer science marketable in Kenya?

Yes. The course is super marketable- it’s one of the most marketable mathematics courses in Kenya in my opinion.

You see, companies are nowadays keen to hire staff who have both financial qualifications and programming knowledge to cut costs (it’s cheaper than hiring a finance office and a programmer separately).

That being so, you will be in hot demand especially if you take a CPA course alongside your degree.

Actuarial science

The other course you can take is Bachelor of Science (Bsc.) in actuarial science

Once you finish the course, you will be applying mathematical, statistical and probabilistic models as well as financial theories to come up with practical solutions to real business problems.

Please read my previous article: What is actuarial science course? to learn more about the course and its job prospects.

Key skills and interests required to pursue a career in mathematical sciences

• Persistence and resilience
• A strong passion for working with numbers
• Logical and critical thinking
• Creativity and analytical thinking
• Curiosity
• Numerical reasoning
• Organizational and time management skills
• Problem solving skills
• Ability to synthesize complex ideas
• Effective communication skills

What a mathematical sciences job / career / profession entails

Professionals in this field carry out the following functions among other roles:

• Use advanced mathematical models/systems to develop (and understand) mathematical principles
• Analyze and interpret data to be able to solve real-world problems;
• Apply mathematical theories and techniques to solve practical problems in businesses, engineering, the sciences, and other fields;
• Use mathematical formulae and models to prove or disprove theories; and
• Analyze data to support and improve business decisions.

Banking and finance courses in Kenya

Remember that you can also opt to go for a career in banking – and here you need to take one of the best Banking and finance courses in Kenya.

Here is a good read to point you in the right direction if you’re thinking of Banking courses in Kenya.

What about a career teaching mathematics in Kenya?

Finally, if you love teaching and you greatly love maths, you can just take a bachelor of education in mathematics and business studies course.

Once you graduate, you’ll be spending your days in classrooms imparting your maths knowledge to future mathematicians.

It can definitely be very rewarding.

Don’t forget that you need to have a C+ (mean grade) and a C+ too in mathematics and business studies to be admitted to universities offering teaching degrees in Kenya.

Read our article: Qualifications for secondary school teacher in Kenya to learn more about becoming a secondary school teacher in Kenya

General Career prospects for holders of mathematical sciences qualifications

• Data entry clerk
• Financial consultant
• Investment analyst
• Actuary
• Statistician
• Teacher
• Banker
• Researcher
• mathematician

Universities offering the Best mathematics courses in Kenya

Nearly all leading private universities offer one or more of the above mathematical courses.

Here are a few names to get you started:

Moi university

1. Bachelor of Science (Mathematics)
2. Bachelor of Arts with Education(Mathematics)
3. Mathematics Physics & Computing
4. Bsc applied statistics with computing

JKUAT

1. in Operations research
2. Bachelor of Science (Mathematics)
3. BSc in Mathematics & Computer Science
4. BSc Industrial Mathematics

Dedan Kimathi University

1. Bachelor of Science (Bsc) in Mathematics & Modeling Processes.
2. Master of Science (Msc) in Industrial Mathematics.

Machakos University

Mathematics and Statistics

Chuka university

Bachelor of Science (Mathematics) 

Strathmore University

1. Actuarial science
2. Financial economics
3. Financial engineering

Maseno University

1. Pure & applied mathematics
2. Actuarial science

University Of Nairobi

1. Bachelor Of Science (Bsc) In Mathematics
2. Bachelor Of Science (Bsc) In Statistics
3. Bachelor Of Science (Bsc) In Actuarial Science

Multimedia University of Kenya

Bachelor Of Science (Bsc) In Mathematics & Computer Science

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