Health Sciences

Bachelor of Health Sciences

The Bachelor of Health Sciences is a four-year programme that prepares students for diverse health sector roles including public health, health management and health promotion. Students study public health, health management, epidemiology, health promotion and healthcare systems. The programme provides a broad foundation in health sciences for various career paths.

Students develop competencies in public health practice, health promotion, epidemiology, health management, healthcare planning and health research. They learn to assess health needs, plan health programmes, manage health services and promote community health. The programme covers public health, epidemiology, health management, health promotion and research methods.

In Kenya, health sciences is critical for achieving universal health coverage and improving population health. Kenya's health sector reforms and county health systems create demand. The Ministry of Health, county governments and health organisations require health science professionals. Graduates find roles in Ministry of Health, county governments, hospitals, NGOs, research institutions and health insurance organisations.

Teaching is delivered through lectures, fieldwork, health facility practicum, industrial attachment and research projects. Students conduct health assessments, plan health programmes, analyse health data and undertake industrial attachment. The programme includes a final-year research project.

Graduates pursue careers as public health officers, health managers, health promotion officers, health programme officers and health researchers. Some work for the Ministry of Health or county governments. Others join hospitals, NGOs or research institutions.

This programme is ideal for individuals with health awareness, management skills and interest in improving population health.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 275,400
Private, up to: Ksh 135,000
Job market: High

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 45 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Public Health and Epidemiology
Health Management and Administration
Health Promotion and Education
Healthcare Systems and Policy
Biostatistics and Health Data
Environmental Health
Health Research Methods
Community Health
Health Economics
Health Ethics and Law

Modules

12 in the programme

Introduction to Health Sciences
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Introduction to Health Sciences: Fundamentals of health sciences, healthcare systems and public health Covers clinical principles, patient care protocols, and evidence-based practice.
Human Biology and Anatomy
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Human body systems, anatomy and physiology basics. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, cour...
Public Health and Epidemiology
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Public health principles, epidemiology and disease control. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment te...
Health Promotion and Education
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Health Promotion and Education: Health promotion strategies, health education and behaviour change Covers instructional strategies, assessment methods, and educational theory.
Biostatistics and Health Data
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Biostatistics and Health Data: Statistical methods for health data analysis and interpretation Includes probability theory, hypothesis testing, regression analysis, and data interpretation.
Environmental Health
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Environmental Health: Environmental health, sanitation and environmental risk factors Covers ecosystem dynamics, conservation principles, and environmental management practices.
Health Management and Administration
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Health Management and Administration: Healthcare management, administration and health services management Covers planning, organising, leadership, and control in organisational contexts.
Healthcare Systems and Policy
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Health systems, health policy and healthcare planning. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, ...
Community Health
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Community Health: Community health assessment, interventions and primary healthcare Covers clinical principles, patient care protocols, and evidence-based practice.
Health Economics
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Health financing, economic evaluation and health insurance. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment te...
Health Ethics and Law
Year 4Semester 23 creditsCore
Health ethics, medical law and professional practice. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, c...
Final Year Research Project
Year 4Semester 36 creditsCore
Independent research on a health sciences topic. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, course...

Specialisations

Health Economics
Specialization in Health Economics, preparing graduates for careers such as public-health-officer. 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.
Community Health
Specialization in Community Health, preparing graduates for careers such as public-health-officer. 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.
Health Promotion
Specialization in Health Promotion, preparing graduates for careers such as public-health-officer. 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.
Health Management
Specialization in Health Management, preparing graduates for careers such as public-health-officer. 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.
Public Health
Specialization in Public Health, preparing graduates for careers such as public-health-officer. 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.
Environmental Health
Specialization in Environmental Health, preparing graduates for careers such as public-health-officer.

A day as a student

A typical day combines morning lectures on public health or health management with afternoon fieldwork, health facility practicum or project work. Students may conduct health assessments, plan health programmes, analyse health data or work on community health projects.

The trade offs

In its favour

High demand from Kenya's UHC agenda and health reforms
Diverse career paths in health sector
Opportunity to improve population health
Broad foundation for various health careers

Against it

Some positions may require professional registration
Healthcare environments can be demanding
Fieldwork and community engagement can be challenging
May require postgraduate study for specialised roles

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

Public261k to 275k

261k at University of Nairobi275k at Kenyatta University

Private130k to 135k

130k at Kenya Methodist University135k at Mount Kenya University

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

KU 275.4K (ku.ac.ke), UoN 260.9K (educationnewshub). KeMU 130K, MKU 135K/yr (victormatara, mku.ac.ke).

Students may access HELB loans and county bursaries. Some health organisations and NGOs offer internship stipends.

Funding options

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB)
LoanKsh 60,000
National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF)
Bursary
County Government Bursaries
Bursary

Scholarships

3 recorded

Higher Education Fund (HEF)
BursaryKenyan
Kenyan undergraduate students placed by KUCCPS in public universities
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKenyan
Residents of respective counties
Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students admitted to recognised universities

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+
Alternative entry: Relevant diploma or equivalent qualification

Mathematics A/B or any Group II
C+
Biology
C+
Chemistry or Physics
C+
English or Kiswahili
C+

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs)
Coursework20% of the mark
Industrial Attachment Report
Coursework20% of the mark
Fieldwork and Practicum
Coursework20% of the mark
Final Examination
Coursework40% of the mark

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE).

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
InstitutionalRequired

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Health Manager
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 250,000
Manages healthcare facilities and health programmes
Health Promotion Officer
Moderate demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 170,000
Develops and implements health promotion programmes
Health Programme Officer
Moderate demandKsh 55,000 to Ksh 180,000
Manages specific health programmes in organisations
Public Health Officer
High demandKsh 55,000 to Ksh 180,000
Implements public health programmes and disease prevention
Health Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 220,000
Conducts health research in research institutions

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as public health officers, health managers, health promotion officers, health programme officers and health researchers in Ministry of Health, county governments, hospitals, NGOs, research institutions and health insurance organisations.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Stethoscope
Medical equipmentPrimary
Primary diagnostic tool.
KenyaEMR
Health is
Electronic medical records.
Surgical Instruments
Medical equipmentPrimary
Surgical tools and equipment.
Laparoscopic Equipment
Medical equipment
Minimally invasive surgery systems.
PACS
Imaging systemPrimary
Picture Archiving and Communication System.

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Health sciences is the same as medicine
Health sciences covers public health, management and promotion, not clinical medicine.
There are limited jobs in health sciences
Kenya's UHC agenda and health reforms create demand for health science professionals.
Health sciences is not a professional field
Health sciences requires professional registration and specialised knowledge.
Health sciences graduates only work in hospitals
Graduates work in public health, management, research, insurance and community health.