Health Sciences

Bachelor of Science in Public Health

The Bachelor of Science in Public Health is a programme that provides comprehensive training in disease prevention, health promotion and community health management. Offered at Kenyatta University, JKUAT, Maseno University, Mount Kenya University, Kenya Methodist University, Great Lakes University of Kisumu and other institutions, the programme prepares graduates for careers in public health, epidemiology and health promotion.

The curriculum covers public health, epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental health, health promotion, disease control, maternal and child health, nutrition in public health, health policy, health systems management, community health, occupational health, disaster management, health communication, research methods and a research project. Students develop analytical and management skills for public health practice.

Kenya's disease burden, universal health coverage agenda and community health strategy create strong demand for public health graduates. The programme is offered through lectures, fieldwork, community health practice, industrial attachment and research projects.

Graduates are prepared for careers as public health officers, epidemiologists, health promotion officers, disease surveillance officers, community health coordinators, environmental health officers, health programme managers, public health consultants and health researchers. They work in the Ministry of Health, county governments, NGOs, international organisations, research institutions, universities and consulting firms.

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Admission requires KCSE mean grade C+ with C+ in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics 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.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 277,185
Private, up to: Ksh 190,150
Job market: High

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 50 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Public Health
Epidemiology
Biostatistics
Environmental Health
Health Promotion
Disease Control
Maternal and Child Health
Health Policy
Health Systems Management
Community Health

Modules

10 in the programme

Public Health
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Public health principles. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semeste...
Epidemiology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Disease patterns and control. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-sem...
Biostatistics
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Statistics in health. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semester ex...
Environmental Health
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Environmental health. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semester ex...
Health Promotion
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Health education. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semester examin...
Disease Control
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Communicable and NCD control. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-sem...
Maternal and Child Health
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
MCH public health. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semester exami...
Health Policy
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Health policy and planning. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semes...
Health Systems Management
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Health systems. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-semester examinat...
Research Project
Year 4Semester 16 creditsCore
Final year research project. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursework and end-of-seme...

Specialisations

Epidemiology
Disease surveillance. 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 Systems Management
Health management. 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
Environmental health. 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
Health education. 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 public health lectures, studying epidemiology, analysing health data, conducting community health assessments, researching disease patterns, learning health policy, studying environmental health, participating in field visits, and working on public health research projects.

The trade offs

In its favour

High demand due to UHC agenda and disease burden
Diverse career paths in government, NGOs and international organisations
Socially impactful profession improving population health

Against it

Fieldwork can involve working in challenging environments
Requires strong analytical and communication skills
Public sector salaries may be modest

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 277k

275k at Maseno University277k at Kisii University

Private135k to 190k

135k at Mount Kenya University190k at Kabarak 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 275,400/yr; Maseno 275K; MKU 135K; Kabarak 190K (educationnewshub).

HELB loans and government scholarships under the new funding model are available. Health NGOs and international organisations may offer support.

Funding options

HELB Loan
County Bursaries
Government Scholarship (New Funding Model)

Scholarships

5 recorded

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
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKsh 30,000Kenyan
Kenyan students from participating counties
Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan
LoanKsh 60,000Kenyan
Kenyan undergraduate students in health sciences
Higher Education Fund (HEF)
ScholarshipKsh 200,000Kenyan
KUCCPS-placed students

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+
Alternative entry: KCSE mean grade C+ with C+ in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and English or Kiswahili. Diploma in public health, environmental health, nursing or related field from a recognised institution. KUCCPS Cluster 4.

Biology
C+
Chemistry
C+
Mathematics
C+
English or Kiswahili
C+

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment Tests
Cat30% of the mark
Regular tests and assignments
End of Semester Examinations
Written examination40% of the mark
End of semester written exams
Research Project
Project10% of the mark
Final year research project
Field and Community Practicals
Practicum20% of the mark
Community health practice and field visits

Accreditation

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

Accredited by

Commission for University Education
AcademicRequired
Statutory body responsible for accreditation of university programmes in Kenya

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Health Programme Manager
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 350,000
Health programmes
Public Health Officer
High demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 250,000
Public health practice
Public Health Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 380,000
Public health consulting
Health Promotion Officer
High demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 230,000
Health promotion
Epidemiologist
High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 350,000
Disease surveillance

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as public health officers, epidemiologists and health promotion officers in the Ministry of Health, county governments and NGOs.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Google Workspace
Cloud
Microsoft Excel
SpreadsheetPrimary
R
Analytics
Tableau
Analytics
DHIS2
DatabasePrimary
Microsoft Word
Creative
SPSS
Analytics
KenyaEMR
Medical

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Public health is just about community health.
The programme covers epidemiology, biostatistics, health policy, environmental health and health systems management.
Public health graduates only work for the government.
Graduates work in NGOs, international organisations, research, consulting and private sector.
There are no public health jobs in Kenya.
UHC agenda and disease burden create strong demand for public health professionals.
Public health is less rigorous than clinical medicine.
Public health requires strong analytical skills in epidemiology, biostatistics and health systems.