Health Sciences

Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Public Health - Bsc Nph

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Public Health - Bsc Nph is a degree programme that equips students with knowledge and skills in in nursing and public health - bsc nph. The programme falls under the Health Sciences category and typically spans 4 years of full-time study at accredited Kenyan universities.

The curriculum covers Nursing Fundamentals and Nursing Process, Medical-Surgical Nursing, Maternal and Neonatal Nursing, Paediatric and Child Health Nursing, Community Health and Public Health Nursing, Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance. Students engage with both theoretical foundations and practical applications, developing competencies in technical and analytical competencies. The coursework is designed to build progressive understanding from foundational concepts to advanced topics.

Throughout the programme, students study Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Nursing Fundamentals and Nursing Process, Paediatric and Child Health Nursing, Community Health and Public Health Nursing, Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance. 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 Community Health Nursing, Nursing and Public Health Management, Maternal and Child Health. 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 Nursing and Public Health - Bsc Nph pursue careers as Community Health Nurse, Public Health Officer, Nursing and Public Health Educator / Lecturer, Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance 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 364,000
Private, up to: Ksh 318,900
Job market: High

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 12 months
Average class: 50 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Nursing Fundamentals and Nursing Process
Medical-Surgical Nursing
Maternal and Neonatal Nursing
Paediatric and Child Health Nursing
Community Health and Public Health Nursing
Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance
Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
Environmental Health and WASH
Nursing Leadership and Public Health Management
Research Methods and Evidence-Based Practice

Modules

10 in the programme

Nursing Fundamentals and Nursing Process
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Nursing fundamentals, nursing theory, nursing process, assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, evaluation, nursing documentation, communication, therapeutic communication, and supporting n...
Medical-Surgical Nursing
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Medical nursing, surgical nursing, perioperative nursing, medical-surgical conditions, diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, gastrointestinal disease, renal disease, ...
Maternal and Neonatal Nursing
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Maternal health nursing, antenatal care, intrapartum care, postnatal care, labour and delivery, neonatal nursing, newborn assessment, breastfeeding support, and supporting maternal and neonatal nur...
Paediatric and Child Health Nursing
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Paediatric nursing, child health nursing, adolescent health, growth and development, paediatric assessment, immunisation, nutrition, common childhood illnesses, and supporting paediatric nursing.
Community Health and Public Health Nursing
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Community health nursing, public health nursing, health promotion, disease prevention, health education, community mobilisation, home-based care, family health, and supporting community health and ...
Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Epidemiology, descriptive epidemiology, analytic epidemiology, outbreak investigation, disease surveillance, IDSR, biostatistics, health information systems, DHIS2, and supporting epidemiology and ...
Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Health promotion, disease prevention, health education, behaviour change, health communication, social marketing, health literacy, and supporting health promotion and disease prevention.
Environmental Health, WASH and Occupational Health
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Environmental health, water, sanitation, hygiene, WASH, occupational health, occupational safety, food safety, infection prevention, and supporting environmental health and occupational health.
Nursing Leadership, Public Health Management and Ethics
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Nursing leadership, nursing management, public health management, quality improvement, patient safety, nursing ethics, professional ethics, legal issues, patient rights, informed consent, confident...
Research Methods, Evidence-Based Practice and Project
Year 4Semester 16 creditsCore
Research methods, biostatistics, research ethics, NACOSTI, scientific writing, KNMC regulations, evidence-based practice, independent research project, and supporting research methods and project w...

Specialisations

Community Health Nursing
Concentrates on community health nursing, public health nursing, health promotion, and community-based care.
Nursing and Public Health Management
Focuses on nursing management, public health management, quality improvement, and health 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.
Maternal and Child Health
Focuses on maternal health nursing, neonatal nursing, paediatric nursing, and MCH public health programmes.
Clinical Nursing
Focuses on medical-surgical nursing, critical care nursing, emergency nursing, and specialised patient care.
Public Health Epidemiology
Specialises in epidemiology, disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, and biostatistics. 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 starts with morning lectures on nursing fundamentals, medical-surgical nursing, or epidemiology, followed by laboratory practicals, clinical rotations, or public health fieldwork. Students conduct patient assessments, administer medications, provide wound care, monitor vital signs, conduct disease surveillance, implement health promotion programmes, and work on their research project. Clinical rotations at KNH, MTRH, county hospitals, and public health fieldwork provide hands-on experience.

The trade offs

In its favour

Dual qualification — graduates are qualified as both nurses and public health professionals, expanding career opportunities.
High demand — critical nurse shortage and significant public health challenges create strong demand.
Diverse career paths — graduates work at hospitals, public health departments, NGOs, international organisations, and universities.

Against it

Extended curriculum — combined nursing and public health requires additional coursework and clinical hours.
Shift work — nursing components require night shifts, weekends, and on-call rotations.
Workload — balancing nursing clinical duties with public health fieldwork can be demanding.

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

Public275k to 364k

275k at Kenyatta University364k at University of Nairobi

Private188k to 319k

188k at Catholic University of Eastern Africa319k 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 Nursing & Public Health 275K/yr, UoN 364K/yr. CUEA 188K, MKU 319K/yr (educationnewshub, businessradar).

Students can access HELB undergraduate loans and KUCCPS placement. County bursaries, hospital sponsorships, and international nursing and public health scholarships are available.

Funding options

HELB Undergraduate Loan
KUCCPS Placement
County Government Bursaries

Scholarships

5 recorded

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan citizens pursuing undergraduate studies at accredited universities.
Higher Education Fund (HEF)
PlacementKsh 0Kenyan
Kenyan students placed to public universities through KUCCPS receive government-subsidised tuition.
Hospital Sponsorships
ScholarshipKsh 200,000Kenyan
Some hospitals may sponsor nursing students in exchange for service commitment.
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+
Alternative entry: Diploma in Nursing, Public Health, or related fields from recognised institutions may be considered for upgrading. Relevant healthcare or public health experience is advantageous.

Biology or Biological Sciences
C+
Chemistry
C+
English or Kiswahili
C
Mathematics or Physics
C

How you are assessed

5 components

Continuous Assessment Tests and Assignments
Cat20% of the mark
Assignments, tests, presentations, case studies, nursing care plans, and public health reports throughout each semester.
Clinical Rotation and Fieldwork Assessment
Clinical10% of the mark
Assessment of clinical rotations at hospitals and public health fieldwork including patient care, documentation, and supervision evaluation.
End of Semester Written Examinations
Exam30% of the mark
Written examinations covering nursing fundamentals, medical-surgical nursing, maternal health, paediatrics, epidemiology, and public health.
Research Project
Research10% of the mark
Independent nursing and public health research project, assessed through written report and presentation.
Nursing and Public Health Practical Examinations
Practicum30% of the mark
Assessment of nursing and public health competencies including patient assessment, medication administration, disease surveillance, and health promotion.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) and the Kenya Nursing and Midwifery Council (KNMC). Graduates must register with KNMC to practise. The Nursing Act governs nursing practice. The Public Health Act governs public health practice. UHC requires a strong nursing and public health workforce.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education
NationalRequired
CUE accredits all university programmes in Kenya.
Kenya Nursing and Midwifery Council
ProfessionalRequired
KNMC accredits nursing programmes, regulates nursing practice, and registers nurses. Graduates must register with KNMC to practise.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Community Health Nurse
High demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 150,000
Provides community health services, health education, home-based care, and public health interventions at community health facilities or county governments.
Public Health Officer
High demandKsh 75,000 to Ksh 160,000
Implements public health programmes, conducts disease surveillance, manages outbreak investigations, and supports health promotion at county governments or the Ministry of Health.
Nursing and Public Health Educator / Lecturer
Low demandKsh 85,000 to Ksh 180,000
Teaches nursing and public health at universities, conducts research, and supervises student clinical rotations and fieldwork.
Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Officer
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 170,000
Conducts disease surveillance, outbreak investigations, and epidemiological research at county health departments or the Ministry of Health.
Nurse Manager / Public Health Manager
Medium demandKsh 85,000 to Ksh 180,000
Manages nursing units, supervises nursing staff, ensures quality patient care, and manages public health programmes at hospitals or county governments.
Registered Nurse / Clinical Nurse
High demandKsh 75,000 to Ksh 160,000
Provides comprehensive patient care, administers medications, monitors patient conditions, and implements nursing care plans at hospitals, health centres, or clinics registered with KNMC.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as registered nurses and public health officers. Nursing and public health is in high demand driven by nurse shortage and public health needs. Salaries range from KES 75,000 to 170,000 per month. Ministry of Health, county hospitals, public health departments, and NGOs offer the main opportunities.

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

Nursing and public health is just about nursing.
This programme combines nursing science with public health including epidemiology, disease surveillance, health promotion, and health systems — graduates are both nurses and public health professionals.
Public health is only about government work.
Public health professionals work at hospitals, NGOs, international organisations, private sector, and government — public health skills are needed across multiple sectors.
There are limited career opportunities for nursing and public health graduates in Kenya.
Kenya has a critical nurse shortage and significant public health challenges including infectious diseases, NCDs, and MCH — UHC implementation creates demand at hospitals, county governments, and NGOs.
This programme has limited career opportunities.
Graduates pursue diverse career paths across multiple sectors in Kenya and internationally.