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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.

Duration
3-5 years
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 392,000
Ksh 1,176,000 to Ksh 1,960,000 total
Private tuition
Ksh 150,000
Ksh 450,000 to Ksh 750,000 total
Job market
High
Market demand for graduates

The short answer

What it costs
Up to Ksh 392,000 a year at a public institution, Ksh 1,176,000 to Ksh 1,960,000 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 150,000 a year at a private one.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 3-5 years, full-time, with 0 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 1 institution.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

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.

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 favourAgainst it
High burden of parasitic diseases in Kenya creates strong research demandProgramme is research-intensive with significant lab and field work
Strong institutional links with KEMRI, ICIPE, and WHO/TDRField research in endemic areas can be challenging and requires safety precautions
Two public universities offer the programme providing choice and fee rangeMolecular parasitology research requires expensive equipment and reagents
Opportunities for international collaboration through WHO/TDR and Wellcome TrustResearch 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

Scholarships you could apply for

2 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

Relevant diploma or equivalent qualification

Subject requirements
Master's DegreeMSc in Parasitology, Medical Parasitology, Zoology, or related biological science from a recognised university
Undergraduate qualificationBachelor's degree in Biology, Zoology, Medical Laboratory Science, or related science field
Research capabilityEvidence of research ability through publications, reports, or academic work

When it next starts

Taught at 1 institution
January 20271 institution

Including Kisii University.

May 20271 institution

Including Kisii University.

September 20271 institution

Including Kisii University.

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

  • 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

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE).

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

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.

Further reading

Read next