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Bachelor of Science in Health Informatics

The Bachelor of Science in Health Informatics is a programme that bridges healthcare and information technology, providing comprehensive training in health data management, electronic health records and health information systems. Offered at Kenyatta University, JKUAT, Maseno University, Mount Kenya University and other institutions, the programme prepares graduates for careers at the intersection of health and technology.

Duration
4 years
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 204,000
Ksh 816,000 total
Job market
High
Market demand for graduates

The short answer

What it costs
Up to Ksh 204,000 a year at a public institution, Ksh 816,000 for the whole course.The detail
Who can get in
A KCSE mean grade of C+ or above, plus 3 subject grades. There is another way in without it.The detail
How long, and when
Takes 4 years, full-time, part-time, with 3 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 5 institutions.The detail
Where it leads
8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Dental Ceramist, at 3 out of 100.The detail

The programme

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

Overview

The curriculum covers health informatics, health information systems, electronic health records, health data management, database design, programming, health statistics, medical coding, telemedicine, health IT project management, healthcare quality management, data security and privacy, health policy, research methods, systems analysis and design, and a research project. Students develop both healthcare knowledge and IT skills.

Kenya's digital health strategy, the rollout of electronic health records and the growing demand for health data management create strong demand for health informatics graduates. The programme is offered through lectures, computer laboratory sessions, hospital visits, industrial attachment and research projects.

Graduates are prepared for careers as health informatics officers, health data managers, EHR specialists, health IT project managers, medical coders, health systems analysts, telemedicine coordinators, health data analysts and health IT consultants. They work in hospitals, Ministry of Health, county governments, health insurance companies, NGOs, research institutions and health tech companies.

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Admission requires KCSE mean grade C+ with C+ in Mathematics, Biology or Chemistry, and English or Kiswahili. KUCCPS Cluster 4.

Prospective students should have strong analytical skills, a commitment to continuous learning, and an interest in contributing to Kenya's socio-economic development. The programme provides a solid foundation for further postgraduate study and professional advancement in related fields.

What you study

10 subjects
  • Health Informatics
  • Health Information Systems
  • Electronic Health Records
  • Health Data Management
  • Database Design
  • Programming
  • Health Statistics
  • Medical Coding
  • Telemedicine
  • Health IT Project Management

Modules

12 in the programme

  • Health Informatics Fundamentals

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Introduction to health informatics concepts, healthcare systems, and information technology in healthcare.

  • Medical Terminology

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Medical vocabulary, anatomical terms, and clinical terminology used in health information systems.

  • Electronic Health Records

    Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore

    EHR systems. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semester examinations.

  • Database Management Systems

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Database design, SQL, relational database management, and data modelling for health applications.

  • Biostatistics

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Statistical methods for health data analysis, probability, hypothesis testing, and epidemiological statistics.

  • Database Design

    Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore

    Database systems for health. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-seme...

  • Health Information Systems Design

    Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore

    System analysis and design methodologies for health information systems, including requirements gathering and modelling.

  • Health Data Standards and Interoperability

    Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore

    Health data standards including HL7, FHIR, ICD-10, and interoperability frameworks for health information exchange.

  • Information Systems Security

    Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore

    Security principles for health data, access control, encryption, and compliance with data protection regulations.

  • Medical Coding

    Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore

    Medical classification systems. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-s...

  • Telemedicine and eHealth

    Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore

    Telemedicine technologies, remote healthcare delivery, mobile health applications, and eHealth policy frameworks.

  • Research Methods in Health Informatics

    Year 4Semester 23 creditsCore

    Research design, data collection methods, and evaluation of health informatics interventions and systems.

Specialisations

  • Telemedicine

    Telehealth technology. 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 Data Analytics

    Health data analysis. 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 IT Project Management

    Health IT projects. 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.

  • Electronic Health Records

    EHR 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.

  • Health Information Systems

    Design and management of hospital information systems and health data exchange platforms. 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.

  • Database Management

    Database administration for health data, including security, backup, and performance optimisation. 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 health informatics lectures, working in computer laboratories, studying health data management, designing databases, programming health applications, researching telemedicine, analysing health statistics, visiting hospitals to study EHR systems, and working on health IT projects.

The trade-offs

In its favourAgainst it
Combines IT skills with healthcare knowledge, creating a unique and growing career niche.Requires both healthcare knowledge and technical skills
Unique combination of healthcare and IT skillsRequires proficiency in both healthcare concepts and technical skills, which can be challenging.
High demand for health informatics professionals as Kenyan hospitals digitise records and systems.Limited number of universities offering the programme in Kenya, restricting study options.
Programme includes practical computer lab work, hospital attachments, and real-world system projects.Rapidly evolving field requiring continuous learning

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
Public204k to 204k
204k at Moi University (estimated from BSc Informatics)204k at Moi 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

Moi Univ BSc Health Informatics (KUCCPS 1253678); fee unlisted. Est. ~Ksh204k from BSc Informatics.

HELB loans and government scholarships under the new funding model are available. Health tech companies may offer sponsorships.

Funding options

  • HELB Loan

  • County Bursaries

  • Government Scholarship (New Funding Model)

Scholarships

3 recorded

  • County Government Bursaries

    BursaryKsh 30,000Kenyan

    Kenyan students from participating counties

  • Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan

    LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan

    Kenyan students admitted to recognised universities demonstrating financial need.

  • Higher Education Fund (HEF)

    Government fundingKenyan

    Kenyan students in public universities under the new funding model based on financial need assessment.

Scholarships you could apply for

11 usable where it is taught
Save one and be reminded before it closes

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade
C+minimum entry
Alternative entry

KCSE mean grade C+ with C+ in Mathematics, Biology or Chemistry, and English or Kiswahili. Diploma in health records, IT, computer science or related field from a recognised institution. KUCCPS Cluster 4.

Subject requirements
MathematicsC+
Biology or ChemistryC+
English or KiswahiliC+

When it next starts

Taught at 5 institutions
January 20275 institutions

Including Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, Mount Kenya University, Maseno University.

May 20275 institutions

Including Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, Mount Kenya University, Maseno University.

September 20275 institutions

Including Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, Mount Kenya University, Maseno University.

How you are assessed

5 components

  • Continuous Assessment Tests and Assignments

    Coursework30% of the mark

    Written tests, assignments, and practical exercises throughout the semester.

  • Practical Projects

    Practicum20% of the mark

    Health IT projects and lab sessions

  • Research Project

    Project10% of the mark

    Final year research project

  • End of Semester Examinations

    Written examination40% of the mark

    End of semester written exams

  • Continuous Assessment Tests

    Cat30% of the mark

    Regular tests and assignments

Accreditation

  • Commission for University Education

    AcademicRequired

    Statutory body responsible for accreditation of university programmes in Kenya

  • Commission for University Education (CUE)

    Academic accreditationRequired

    CUE is the statutory body responsible for the accreditation and quality assurance of university programmes in Kenya.

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Offered at KU, JKUAT, Maseno, MKU and other institutions. Admission requires KCSE mean grade C+ with C+ in Mathematics, Biology or Chemistry, and English or Kiswahili. KUCCPS Cluster 4.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

8 roles

  • Health Systems Analyst

    Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 350,000

    Health systems analysis

  • Health Data Manager

    High demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 300,000

    Health data management

  • EHR Specialist

    High demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 300,000

    Electronic health records

  • Health IT Consultant

    Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 400,000

    Health IT consulting

  • Health Informatics Officer

    High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 350,000

    Health informatics

  • Health Data Analyst

    High demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 90,000

    Analysing health datasets to support decision-making, surveillance, and quality improvement.

  • Medical Records Officer

    High demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 60,000

    Managing patient records, coding, and health information documentation in healthcare facilities.

  • Database Administrator

    Moderate demandKsh 55,000 to Ksh 95,000

    Administering health databases, ensuring data integrity, security, and performance.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as health informatics officers, health data managers and EHR specialists in hospitals, Ministry of Health and health tech companies.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

  • OpenMRS

    Database

  • Google Workspace

    Cloud

  • ODK (Open Data Kit)

    Database

  • Excel

    Spreadsheet

  • KenyaEMR

    Medical

  • DHIS2

    DatabasePrimary

  • Microsoft Excel

    SpreadsheetPrimary

  • Python

    SoftwarePrimary

    Programming language for health data analysis and informatics applications.

  • R

    Software

    Programming language for statistical computing in health informatics.

  • Tableau

    Software

    Data visualisation software for health data dashboards and reporting.

  • SQL

    Database

Certifications

Common misconceptions

  • Health informatics is just about typing medical records.

    The programme covers database design, programming, data analytics, telemedicine and health IT project management.

  • Health informatics is the same as IT.

    Health informatics combines healthcare knowledge with IT skills for health-specific applications.

  • There are no health informatics jobs in Kenya.

    Kenya's digital health strategy creates strong demand for health IT professionals.

  • Health informatics is only for hospitals.

    Graduates work in insurance, research, government, NGOs and health tech companies.

Further reading

Read next