Health Sciences

Bachelor of Arts in Medical Anthropology

The Bachelor of Arts in Medical Anthropology is a four-year degree programme that examines the intersection of culture, health, illness, and healing.

The curriculum covers general anthropology, medical anthropology, social anthropology, cultural anthropology, biological anthropology, health and illness in cultural context, traditional healing systems, global health, bioethics, research methods, ethnographic fieldwork, and health policy.

Students develop competencies in ethnographic research, qualitative analysis, cross-cultural communication, health needs assessment, programme evaluation, and research methods. The programme combines lectures, seminars, tutorials, fieldwork, and research projects.

Graduates pursue careers as research assistants, community health workers, public health officers, programme coordinators, cultural consultants, and social workers. They find employment in NGOs, research institutions, government ministries, international health organisations, community-based organisations, and healthcare facilities.

The programme is offered at the University of Nairobi as a specialisation within the Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology, with medical anthropology as a core course unit. Related anthropology programmes are also available at Pwani University and the Catholic University of Eastern Africa.

Accreditation is provided by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Admission requires a KCSE mean grade of C+ or equivalent, following KUCCPS cluster 3 subject requirements. The programme also accepts diploma holders and A-level holders with appropriate qualifications.

Duration: 4 Years
Public, up to: Ksh 223,000
Private, up to: Ksh 160,000
Job market: Moderate

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 30 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

General Anthropology
Medical Anthropology
Social Anthropology
Cultural Anthropology
Biological Anthropology
Traditional Healing Systems
Global Health
Bioethics
Research Methods
Ethnographic Fieldwork

Modules

12 in the programme

Introduction to Anthropology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Foundational concepts of anthropology, including the four-field approach, cultural relativism, and the anthropological perspective.
Cultural Anthropology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Study of cultural beliefs, practices, values, and their influence on human behaviour and social organisation.
Biological Anthropology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Human biological variation, evolution, and adaptation in relation to health, disease, and environment.
Social Anthropology
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Social structures, kinship systems, religion, and social organisation in diverse cultural contexts.
Introduction to Medical Anthropology
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Cultural dimensions of health, illness, and healing, including disease ecology, medical systems, and health-seeking behaviour.
Traditional Healing Systems
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Study of traditional and indigenous healing practices in Africa, including herbal medicine, spiritual healing, and their integration with biomedical systems.
Ethnographic Research Methods
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Qualitative research methods for ethnographic fieldwork, including participant observation, interviews, and ethnographic writing.
Global Health and Culture
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Cultural dimensions of global health issues, including infectious diseases, maternal health, nutrition, and health inequalities.
Bioethics and Medical Anthropology
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Ethical issues in health research and medical practice, including informed consent, cultural sensitivity, and research ethics in cross-cultural contexts.
Health Policy and Anthropology
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Role of anthropological knowledge in health policy development, implementation, and evaluation in Kenya and globally.
Applied Medical Anthropology
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Application of medical anthropological knowledge to solve practical health problems in communities and organisations.
Research Project in Medical Anthropology
Year 4Semester 26 creditsCore
Final-year research project involving original ethnographic research on a health-related topic, assessed by supervisor and external examiner.

Specialisations

Medical Anthropology
Focus on the cultural dimensions of health, illness, and healing systems, including traditional and biomedical approaches.
Social Anthropology
Focus on social structures, kinship systems, religion, and social organisation in diverse cultural contexts.
Cultural Anthropology
Focus on cultural beliefs, practices, values, and their influence on human behaviour and society. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Biological Anthropology
Focus on human biological variation, evolution, and adaptation in relation to health and disease. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Applied Anthropology
Focus on applying anthropological knowledge to solve practical problems in health, development, and policy.

A day as a student

A typical day combines lectures, seminars, and fieldwork preparation. Morning sessions cover anthropological theory, medical anthropology, or research methods, while afternoons focus on ethnographic fieldwork workshops, qualitative analysis practicals, or seminar discussions. Students engage in reading ethnographic texts, analysing case studies, conducting community interviews, and writing field reports. Group projects involve designing health-related research studies, conducting participant observation in communities, and presenting findings. Students participate in the anthropology club and attend research seminars and community engagement activities.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme provides unique interdisciplinary perspective combining anthropology with health studies, highly valued in public health and development sectors.
Kenya's diverse cultural landscape and health challenges create demand for professionals who understand cultural dimensions of health.
Programme develops strong research and analytical skills applicable across diverse sectors including health, development, and policy.
Fieldwork and ethnographic research provide practical experience working with communities.

Against it

Programme is offered as a specialisation within BA Anthropology rather than as a standalone degree at most universities.
Entry-level salaries for anthropology graduates are often modest compared to clinical health professions.
Career advancement often requires postgraduate specialisation in public health or medical anthropology.
Fieldwork can be challenging, requiring travel to remote communities and extended periods away from campus.

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 349 health sciences courses

Public153k to 223k

153k at Kenyatta University223k at University of Nairobi

Private105k to 160k

105k at Mount Kenya University160k at Catholic University of Eastern Africa

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

UoN BA Anthropology 223K, KU BA 153K/yr. CUEA 160K, MKU 105K/yr. KUCCPS

Government-sponsored students receive fee subsidies through KUCCPS. HELB loans are available for eligible students. Universities offer internal bursaries for needy students.

Funding options

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB)
KUCCPS Government Sponsorship
University Bursaries

Scholarships

5 recorded

Higher Education Fund (HEF)
Government subsidyKenyan
Kenyan students who meet KUCCPS cluster cut-off points for participating universities.
Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
Government loanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students admitted to recognised universities. Must demonstrate financial need.
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKenyan
Residents of respective counties pursuing undergraduate studies
AMREF International University Scholarships
ScholarshipKenyan
Health sciences students demonstrating financial need
Ministry of Health Kenya Scholarships
ScholarshipKenyan
Healthcare workers sponsored by national or county governments

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+ (Plus)
Alternative entry: KCSE mean grade C+ or equivalent; OR KCSE mean grade C plain with a diploma from a recognised institution; OR KACE with two principal passes and one subsidiary pass; OR equivalent qualifications recognised by the university senate.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment Tests
Coursework30% of the mark
Regular written tests, ethnographic assignments, seminar presentations, and fieldwork reports during the semester.
End of Semester Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Comprehensive written examinations covering anthropological theory, medical anthropology, and research methods.
Research Project
Project100% of the mark
Final-year research project involving original ethnographic research on a health-related topic, assessed by supervisor and external examiner.
Fieldwork Assessment
Practical100% of the mark
Assessment of ethnographic fieldwork including community engagement, data collection, and field report writing.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE), the statutory body responsible for quality assurance and regulation of university education in Kenya.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
CUE is the statutory body responsible for the accreditation and quality assurance of university programmes in Kenya.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Research Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 80,000
Assists in health and social science research projects at research institutions, universities, and NGOs.
Community Health Worker
High demandKsh 25,000 to Ksh 70,000
Works with communities to promote health awareness, disease prevention, and healthcare access.
Public Health Officer
High demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 100,000
Implements and monitors public health programmes in government, NGOs, and international organisations.
Programme Coordinator
Moderate demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 120,000
Coordinates health and development programmes for NGOs and community-based organisations.
Cultural Consultant
Low demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 100,000
Provides advisory services on cultural aspects of health programmes and development initiatives.
Social Worker
Moderate demandKsh 30,000 to Ksh 85,000
Supports individuals and communities in accessing healthcare, social services, and community resources.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as research assistants, community health workers, and public health officers. Demand is moderate with opportunities in health research and community development.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

NVivo
Qualitative analysisPrimary
Qualitative data analysis software for coding and analysing ethnographic interviews and field notes.
ATLAS.ti
Qualitative analysis
Qualitative data analysis software for managing and analysing textual, graphical, and audio data.
Microsoft Office
ProductivityPrimary
Productivity suite for research papers, field reports, and ethnographic writing.
SPSS
Statistical software
Statistical analysis software for mixed-methods research and survey data analysis.
Google Scholar
Research database
Academic search engine for finding scholarly literature on anthropology and health.

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Medical Anthropology is the same as medicine.
Medical anthropology studies the cultural and social dimensions of health and illness, not clinical medicine. Graduates do not practise medicine but work alongside health professionals.
Anthropology graduates can only work as lecturers.
Graduates work in research institutions, NGOs, government ministries, international health organisations, and community-based organisations in diverse roles.
Medical Anthropology is not relevant in modern healthcare.
Understanding cultural beliefs about health and illness is crucial for effective healthcare delivery, health promotion, and disease prevention in multicultural societies.
Anthropology is just about studying exotic cultures.
Anthropology studies all human societies, including contemporary ones, examining how culture shapes health behaviours, social institutions, and everyday life.