Science

Doctor of Philosophy in Parasitology

The Doctor of Philosophy in Parasitology is a postgraduate research programme offered at the University of Nairobi through the School of Biological Sciences, and at Kenyatta University. The programme trains scholars to conduct advanced research on parasitic diseases, parasite biology, host-parasite interactions, and vector biology, contributing to control of parasitic infections and public health in Kenya and globally.

Students engage with advanced parasite biology, medical parasitology, vector biology, immunoparasitology, molecular parasitology, and research methodology. The programme combines coursework with thesis research, requiring candidates to develop a research proposal, conduct independent laboratory and field research, and produce a doctoral dissertation that makes an original contribution to parasitology.

Kenya is endemic for malaria, schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminths, and other parasitic diseases that cause significant morbidity and mortality. The programme addresses national health priorities under Vision 2030 and the Kenya Health Policy Framework by training researchers who can develop new diagnostics, treatments, and control strategies for parasitic diseases.

Teaching methods include lectures, parasitology laboratory sessions, field research in endemic areas, molecular techniques, and supervised thesis work. Students have access to university parasitology laboratories and collaborate with KEMRI, the Kenya Division of Vector Borne Diseases, and international research institutions.

Graduates pursue careers as university lecturers, parasitology researchers, medical laboratory scientists, public health specialists, and disease control officers in universities, KEMRI, the Ministry of Health, WHO, and international research institutions.

This programme is ideal for holders of a Master's degree in parasitology, medical parasitology, zoology, or related biological sciences who are committed to advancing knowledge in parasitology and tropical disease control.

Duration: 3-5 years
Public, up to: Ksh 392,000
Private, up to: Ksh 150,000
Job market: High

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 5 students
Award: PhD

What you study

10 subjects

Parasite Biology
Medical Parasitology
Vector Biology
Immunoparasitology
Molecular Parasitology
Research Methodology
Parasite Epidemiology
Thesis Research
Biostatistics
Antiparasitic Drug Development

Modules

12 in the programme

Advanced Parasite Biology and Systematics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced biology of protozoa, helminths, and arthropods including taxonomy, morphology, life cycles, and host-parasite relationships
Medical Parasitology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Advanced parasitology, covering clinical principles, evidence-based practice, and contemporary challenges in healthcare delivery and research.
Medical Parasitology and Tropical Diseases
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Medical parasitology including malaria, schistosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis, leishmaniasis, and soil-transmitted helminths in Kenya
Medical Entomology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Vector biology and control, covering clinical principles, evidence-based practice, and contemporary challenges in healthcare delivery and research.
Vector Biology and Control
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Biology of disease vectors including mosquitoes, snails, and flies, and vector control strategies including insecticide-treated nets and indoor residual spraying
Molecular Parasitology
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Molecular techniques in parasitology, covering parasitological principles, vector biology, and their application in disease control and research.
Immunoparasitology and Host Response
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Immune responses to parasitic infections including innate and adaptive immunity, immunoevasion, and vaccine development
Host-Parasite Relationships
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Immunology of parasitic infections, covering parasitological principles, vector biology, and their application in disease control and research.
Molecular Parasitology and Genomics
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Molecular biology of parasites including parasite genomes, gene expression, molecular diagnostics, and drug target identification
Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Disease distribution and determinants, covering parasitological principles, vector biology, and their application in disease control and research.
Parasite Epidemiology and Disease Control
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Epidemiology of parasitic diseases including transmission dynamics, risk factors, surveillance, and control programme design
Vector Biology
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Vector ecology and behaviour, covering biological principles, research techniques, and their application in understanding living systems.

Specialisations

Academic Research in Science
Specialization in Academic Research in Science, preparing graduates for careers such as university-lecturer.
Public Health Practice
Specialization in Public Health Practice, preparing graduates for careers such as public-health.
Biomedical Research
Specialization in Biomedical Research, preparing graduates for careers such as biomedical-scientist.
Parasitology Research
Specialization in Parasitology Research, preparing graduates for careers such as parasitologist.
Medical Laboratory Science
Specialization in Medical Laboratory Science, preparing graduates for careers such as medical-laboratory-scientist.
Epidemiology Research
Specialization in Epidemiology Research, preparing graduates for careers such as epidemiologist.
Medical Entomology
Research on disease vectors
Medical Parasitology
Research on human parasites
Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases
Research on disease distribution
Molecular Parasitology
Research on parasite molecular biology

A day as a student

A typical day involves reviewing parasitology literature, conducting laboratory experiments on parasites, analysing epidemiological data, attending research seminars, meeting with supervisors to discuss research progress, and engaging with KEMRI and field sites for research and sample collection.

The trade offs

In its favour

High burden of parasitic diseases in Kenya creates strong research demand
Strong institutional links with KEMRI, ICIPE, and WHO/TDR
Two public universities offer the programme providing choice and fee range
Opportunities for international collaboration through WHO/TDR and Wellcome Trust

Against it

Programme is research-intensive with significant lab and field work
Field research in endemic areas can be challenging and requires safety precautions
Molecular parasitology research requires expensive equipment and reagents
Research involving human subjects and infectious agents requires strict ethical and safety approvals

What it costs

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

What it costs, and where

Against 243 science courses

Public367k to 392k

367k at Kenyatta University392k at University of Nairobi

Private150k to 150k

150k at Mount Kenya University150k 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

UoN Bio Sci PhD ~392K/yr (uonbi.ac.ke). KU ~367K/yr (ku.ac.ke). MKU ~150K/yr.

Students may access HELB postgraduate loans, WHO/TDR research grants, Wellcome Trust research grants, and NRF research grants for parasitology research.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 80,000
WHO/TDR Research Grant
Grant
Wellcome Trust Research Grant
Grant
NRF Research Grant
Grant

Scholarships

5 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Scholarship
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students
Wellcome Trust Research Grant
Grant
Health researchers in Africa
WHO/TDR Research Grant
GrantKenyan
Researchers working on tropical diseases in endemic countries
NRF Research Grant
GrantKenyan
Researchers at Kenyan institutions conducting research relevant to national development
HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 80,000Kenyan
Kenyan postgraduate students enrolled in 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

Master's Degree
MSc in Parasitology, Medical Parasitology, Zoology, or related biological science from a recognised university
Undergraduate qualification
Bachelor's degree in Biology, Zoology, Medical Laboratory Science, or related science field
Research capability
Evidence of research ability through publications, reports, or academic work

How you are assessed

5 components

Thesis Proposal Defence
Oral defence20% of the mark
Defence of research proposal before faculty panel
Coursework
Continuous assessment20% of the mark
Assignments, laboratory work and seminar presentations
Laboratory and Field Reports
Coursework20% of the mark
Oral Viva Voce
Coursework100% of the mark
Thesis Examination
Coursework100% of the mark

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE).

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Mandatory accreditation for all university programmes in Kenya
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

7 roles

University Lecturer (Parasitology)
High demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 200,000
Teaches parasitology and conducts research in university biological science departments
Medical Entomologist
Moderate demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Vector research and control
Public Health Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 160,000 to Ksh 400,000
Disease control research
University Professor
Moderate demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 450,000
Teaching and research in parasitology
Public Health Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Manages parasitic disease control programmes at the Ministry of Health or WHO
Parasitology Researcher
High demandKsh 80,000 to Ksh 180,000
Conducts parasitology research at KEMRI, ICIPE, or international research institutions
Medical Laboratory Scientist
High demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 160,000
Performs parasitological diagnostics and research at hospitals and diagnostic laboratories

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as university lecturers, parasitology researchers, medical laboratory scientists, and public health specialists in universities, KEMRI, the Ministry of Health, WHO, and international research institutions.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Microscope
Laboratory equipmentPrimary
Parasite identification and microscopy.
PCR Equipment
Laboratory equipment
Molecular parasite detection.
Microsoft Excel
Spreadsheet
KenyaEMR
Medical
DHIS2
Database
Google Workspace
Cloud

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Parasitology is just about studying worms under a microscope
Parasitology encompasses parasite biology, molecular parasitology, immunoparasitology, vector biology, epidemiology, and drug development, requiring advanced scientific training.
A PhD in parasitology has limited career prospects
Kenya's high burden of parasitic diseases creates strong demand for parasitology researchers at universities, KEMRI, the Ministry of Health, WHO, and international research institutions.
Parasitology research is not relevant to Kenya
Kenya is endemic for malaria, schistosomiasis, and other parasitic diseases, making parasitology research critical for public health and disease control.
Parasitology is only for medical laboratory scientists
Graduates work as researchers, university lecturers, public health specialists, and disease control officers in diverse settings, not only in diagnostic laboratories.

Related courses

Doctor of philosophy in entomology