Agriculture

Bachelor of Science in Animal Health

The Bachelor of Science in Animal Health is a degree programme that equips students with knowledge and skills in in animal health. The programme falls under the Agriculture & Environment category and typically spans 4 years of full-time study at accredited Kenyan universities.

The curriculum covers Animal Anatomy and Physiology, Animal Diseases, Parasitology, Microbiology, Pharmacology, Epidemiology. Students engage with both theoretical foundations and practical applications, developing competencies in Animal Anatomy and Physiology, Animal Disease Diagnosis, Animal Nutrition, Epidemiology, Herd Health Management. The coursework is designed to build progressive understanding from foundational concepts to advanced topics.

Throughout the programme, students study Animal Anatomy and Physiology, Animal Nutrition, General Microbiology, Parasitology, Animal Diseases. The teaching approach combines lectures, laboratory practicals, tutorials, assignments and independent research projects. This blend ensures graduates can apply theoretical knowledge to real-world problems in their field.

The programme offers specialisations in Herd Health Management, Disease Control and Epidemiology, Meat Inspection and Food Safety. Students can focus their studies on areas of particular interest, allowing them to tailor their degree to specific career goals. The flexibility enables graduates to pursue diverse professional paths within the sector.

Graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Animal Health pursue careers as Animal Health Officer, Veterinary Assistant, Meat Inspector, Livestock Production Officer. They find employment in various sectors including government agencies, private companies, research institutions, non-governmental organisations and academic institutions. The degree opens doors to both local and international opportunities.

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) and offered at recognised universities across Kenya. Students benefit from industry attachments, fieldwork and practical training that complement classroom learning and enhance employability upon graduation.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 324,000
Private, up to: Ksh 178,800
Job market: Moderate

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 12 months
Average class: 20 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Animal Anatomy and Physiology
Animal Diseases
Parasitology
Microbiology
Pharmacology
Epidemiology
Herd Health Management
Meat Inspection
Veterinary Public Health
Animal Nutrition

Modules

12 in the programme

Animal Anatomy and Physiology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Structure and function of body systems in domestic animals including livestock and poultry.
Animal Nutrition
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Principles of animal nutrition, feed formulation and nutritional requirements of different livestock species.
General Microbiology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Microorganisms of veterinary importance, bacterial and viral pathogens affecting livestock.
Parasitology
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Internal and external parasites of livestock, their life cycles, diagnosis and control methods.
Animal Diseases
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Major infectious and non-infectious diseases of livestock, clinical signs, diagnosis and treatment.
Pharmacology and Toxicology
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Veterinary drugs, their actions, dosage, administration and toxicity in animals.
Epidemiology and Disease Control
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, epidemiological methods and control strategies.
Herd Health Management
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Management of health at herd level, vaccination programmes, biosecurity and production optimisation.
Meat Inspection and Food Safety
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Meat inspection procedures, food safety standards and quality assurance in animal product processing.
Veterinary Public Health
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Interface between animal and human health, zoonotic diseases and food safety regulation.
Animal Breeding and Genetics
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Principles of animal breeding, genetic improvement and breeding programmes for livestock.
Research Project
Year 4Semester 26 creditsCore
Independent research project on an animal health topic, culminating in a written report.

Specialisations

Herd Health Management
Focus on managing health at the herd level, including vaccination programmes, disease prevention and production optimisation.
Disease Control and Epidemiology
Specialisation in disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, epidemiological methods and zoonotic disease control.
Meat Inspection and Food Safety
Focus on meat inspection, food safety standards and quality assurance in animal product processing. 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.
Veterinary Public Health
Concentration on the interface between animal and human health, zoonotic diseases and food safety regulation.
Animal Nutrition and Production
Focus on animal nutrition, feed formulation and livestock production systems. 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.

A day as a student

A typical day involves attending lectures on animal diseases and pharmacology, conducting laboratory practicals on parasitology and microbiology, visiting livestock farms for field demonstrations, participating in meat inspection practicals and analysing epidemiological data.

The trade offs

In its favour

Growing demand for animal health professionals due to expanding livestock sector and increasing focus on food safety.
Practical skills in disease diagnosis, meat inspection and herd health management are directly applicable in the field.
Opportunities in both public and private sectors including veterinary departments, pharmaceutical companies and NGOs.

Against it

Graduates cannot practise as full veterinary surgeons without further training in Veterinary Medicine.
Fieldwork can be physically demanding and may involve working in remote rural areas.

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 303 agriculture courses

Public275k to 324k

275k at Kenyatta University324k at University of Nairobi

Private125k to 179k

125k at Mount Kenya University179k at University of Eastern Africa, Baraton

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 Sch II:324K/yr. KU:275.4K/yr. MKU:125K/yr. UEAB:178.8K/yr.

Students can access HELB undergraduate loans, Universities Fund government scholarships and county government bursaries.

Funding options

HELB Undergraduate Loan
Universities Fund Government Scholarship
County Government Bursaries

Scholarships

4 recorded

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan students admitted to accredited universities. Means-tested based on family income.
County Government Bursaries
GrantKsh 50,000Kenyan
Students from specific counties. Criteria vary by county.
Higher Education Fund (HEF)
GrantKsh 200,000Kenyan
Government-sponsored (KUCCPS) students in public universities. Awarded through the Higher Education Funding Model.
TAGDev 2.0 Scholarship at Egerton University
ScholarshipKenyan
Students admitted to agriculture, natural resources and food science programmes at Egerton University

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+ (Plus) mean grade at KCSE
Alternative entry: Diploma holders in Animal Health, Animal Husbandry, Agriculture or related fields with Credit pass from recognised institutions may also apply.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment Tests and Practical Examinations
Coursework30% of the mark
Written tests, laboratory practical assessments and field reports throughout the semester.
End of Semester Examinations
Examination50% of the mark
Comprehensive written and practical examinations covering animal health, disease control and livestock production.
Industrial Attachment Report
Practicum10% of the mark
Supervised attachment with a veterinary department, farm or animal health organisation, assessed through logbook and written report.
Research Project
Project10% of the mark
Independent research project on an animal health topic, including field data collection and written report.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). The programme is offered at Kisii University and Egerton University. Graduates working in veterinary-related roles may register with the Kenya Veterinary Board (KVB) for professional recognition.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
NationalRequired
CUE accredits all university programmes in Kenya. This programme must be offered by a CUE-accredited university.
Kenya Veterinary Board (KVB)
Professional
Graduates working in veterinary-related roles may register with KVB for professional recognition as animal health technicians.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Animal Health Officer
High demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 100,000
Provides animal health services, implements vaccination programmes and advises farmers on disease control in county livestock departments.
Veterinary Assistant
High demandKsh 45,000 to Ksh 85,000
Assists veterinary surgeons in clinical practice, animal handling and treatment under supervision.
Meat Inspector
Moderate demandKsh 55,000 to Ksh 110,000
Conducts meat inspection at abattoirs and slaughterhouses to ensure food safety and compliance with public health standards.
Livestock Production Officer
High demandKsh 48,000 to Ksh 95,000
Advises farmers on livestock production, nutrition and breeding to improve productivity in county agricultural offices.
Research Assistant
Moderate demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 90,000
Supports animal health research projects at KALRO, universities or research institutions through data collection and analysis.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as animal health officers, veterinary assistants, livestock production officers, meat inspectors and food safety officers in veterinary departments, county governments, pharmaceutical companies and research institutions.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Microsoft Excel
SoftwarePrimary
Spreadsheet for herd health records, disease surveillance data and farm management.
SPSS
SoftwarePrimary
Statistical analysis software for epidemiological research and animal health data analysis.
R
Software
Programming language for epidemiological modelling and statistical analysis.
QGIS
Software
GIS software for disease mapping, surveillance and spatial epidemiology.
KoboToolbox
Software
Mobile data collection tool for field surveys and animal health assessments.

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Animal Health is the same as Veterinary Medicine.
Animal Health focuses on herd health management, disease control and livestock production. Veterinary Medicine is a separate, longer degree leading to qualification as a veterinary surgeon.
Graduates can treat animals as veterinarians.
Graduates work as animal health officers and veterinary assistants under the supervision of registered veterinary surgeons. They cannot practise as full veterinarians without further training.
The programme is only for students from farming backgrounds.
The programme is open to all students meeting entry requirements and covers scientific principles applicable in any context.
Career opportunities are limited to rural areas.
Graduates work in veterinary departments, pharmaceutical companies, meat processing firms, dairy enterprises, research institutions and NGOs in both urban and rural settings.