Health Sciences

Master of Medicine in Ear, Nose and Throat Surgery

The Master of Medicine in Ear, Nose and Throat Surgery (Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery) is a postgraduate medical programme that trains medical doctors to become specialist ENT surgeons. The programme combines advanced surgical theory with intensive clinical training in otolaryngology, head and neck surgery.

Core areas include otology, rhinology, laryngology, head and neck surgery, paediatric ENT, facial plastic surgery, audiology, and research methods. Students engage with both theoretical study and extensive clinical practice in hospital settings.

The programme is offered by the University of Nairobi through its Department of Surgery at Kenyatta National Hospital. It is a five-year programme with clinical training at KNH and accredited external rotation sites. The programme has trained ENT surgeons for Eastern, Central and Southern Africa since 1986.

Students develop competencies in ENT diagnosis, otological surgery, rhinological surgery, laryngological surgery, head and neck oncology, paediatric ENT, facial plastic surgery, and research methods. The programme includes coursework, clinical rotations, surgical training, examinations, and thesis.

The University of Nairobi charges approximately KES 382,000 (Year 1), KES 332,000 (Years 2-4), and KES 362,000 (Year 5), total KES 1,740,000 (~KES 348,000/year). Entry requires an MBChB degree, registration with the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council, and professional indemnity insurance.

Graduates pursue careers as consultant ENT surgeons, head and neck surgeons, otologists, rhinologists, and academic faculty in medical schools.

Skills Required

ENT Diagnosis and Assessment
Otological Surgery
Rhinological Surgery
Laryngological Surgery
Head and Neck Oncology Surgery
Paediatric ENT Surgery
Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Audiology and Vestibular Assessment
Clinical Research Methods
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Otolaryngology Theory and Practice
Otology and Neurotology
Rhinology and Sinus Surgery
Laryngology and Voice Disorders
Head and Neck Surgery and Oncology
Paediatric ENT Surgery
Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Audiology and Vestibular Medicine
Clinical Research Methods
Thesis Research

Certifications

KMPDC Specialist Registration in Otorhinolaryngology
KENTS Professional Membership

Specializations

Otology and Neurotology

Focuses on ear surgery, covering middle ear surgery, cochlear implants, skull base surgery, and managing hearing disorders.

Rhinology and Sinus Surgery

Examines nasal and sinus disorders, covering endoscopic sinus surgery, nasal reconstruction, and managing sinonasal disease.

Head and Neck Oncology

Covers head and neck cancer surgery, covering tumour resection, neck dissection, reconstructive surgery, and managing head and neck malignancies.

Paediatric ENT

Focuses on ENT disorders in children, covering paediatric airway management, congenital anomalies, and paediatric ENT surgery.

Laryngology and Voice Disorders

Examines voice and laryngeal disorders, covering voice surgery, airway management, and managing laryngeal disease.

Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Covers facial plastic surgery, covering facial reconstruction, rhinoplasty, and managing facial deformities and trauma.

Duration: 5 years
Public, up to: Ksh 348,000
Private, up to: Ksh 1,350,000
Job market: Very 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: 8 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Otolaryngology Theory and Practice
Otology and Neurotology
Rhinology and Sinus Surgery
Laryngology and Voice Disorders
Head and Neck Surgery and Oncology
Paediatric ENT Surgery
Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Audiology and Vestibular Medicine
Clinical Research Methods
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Foundations of Otorhinolaryngology
Year 1Semester 14 creditsCore
Examines ENT anatomy, physiology, pathology, basic ENT examination, and fundamental principles of otolaryngology practice.
Otology and Neurotology
Year 1Semester 14 creditsCore
Covers ear diseases, middle ear surgery, cochlear implants, skull base surgery, and managing hearing and vestibular disorders.
Rhinology and Sinus Surgery
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines nasal and sinus disorders, endoscopic sinus surgery, nasal reconstruction, and managing sinonasal disease.
Clinical Research Methods
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers research design, data collection, analysis, and conducting clinical research, preparing trainees for their thesis.
Laryngology and Voice Disorders
Year 2Semester 14 creditsCore
Covers voice and laryngeal disorders, voice surgery, airway management, and managing laryngeal disease.
Head and Neck Surgery and Oncology
Year 2Semester 24 creditsCore
Examines head and neck cancer surgery, covering tumour resection, neck dissection, reconstructive surgery, and managing head and neck malignancies.
Paediatric ENT Surgery
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers ENT disorders in children, paediatric airway management, congenital anomalies, and paediatric ENT surgery.
Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines facial plastic surgery, covering facial reconstruction, rhinoplasty, and managing facial deformities and trauma.
Audiology and Vestibular Medicine
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers audiological assessment, hearing rehabilitation, vestibular assessment, and managing hearing and balance disorders.
Advanced Head and Neck Surgery
Year 4Semester 14 creditsCore
Examines advanced head and neck surgery, covering skull base surgery, microvascular reconstruction, and complex head and neck procedures.
Research Seminar
Year 5Semester 13 creditsCore
Preparation of research proposal and thesis, including research design, literature review, methodology, and presentation.
Research Thesis
Year 5Semester 210 creditsCore
Original clinical research thesis on an ENT or head and neck surgery topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and clinical knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Otology and Neurotology
Focuses on ear surgery, covering middle ear surgery, cochlear implants, skull base surgery, and managing hearing disorders.
Rhinology and Sinus Surgery
Examines nasal and sinus disorders, covering endoscopic sinus surgery, nasal reconstruction, and managing sinonasal disease.
Head and Neck Oncology
Covers head and neck cancer surgery, covering tumour resection, neck dissection, reconstructive surgery, and managing head and neck malignancies.
Paediatric ENT
Focuses on ENT disorders in children, covering paediatric airway management, congenital anomalies, and paediatric ENT surgery.
Laryngology and Voice Disorders
Examines voice and laryngeal disorders, covering voice surgery, airway management, and managing laryngeal disease.
Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Covers facial plastic surgery, covering facial reconstruction, rhinoplasty, and managing facial deformities and trauma.

A day as a student

A typical day during the M.Med in ENT Surgery programme combines ward rounds, outpatient clinics, theatre sessions, tutorials, seminars, and independent study. The programme is primarily clinical, with trainees based at Kenyatta National Hospital and accredited rotation sites. Morning ward rounds involve reviewing inpatients, assessing postoperative patients, and managing ENT admissions. Outpatient clinics provide experience with ENT consultations, diagnosing ear, nose, throat, head and neck conditions, and managing outpatient treatment. Theatre sessions provide hands-on surgical experience in otological surgery, rhinological surgery, laryngological surgery, head and neck surgery, and paediatric ENT surgery, under consultant supervision. Trainees perform procedures including tonsillectomy, septoplasty, tympanoplasty, mastoidectomy, thyroidectomy, and head and neck tumour resections. Tutorials cover ENT theory, anatomy, physiology, pathology, and clinical scenarios. Seminars and journal clubs provide opportunities for discussing current evidence, surgical techniques, and research. On-call duties provide experience with ENT emergencies including airway obstruction, epistaxis, and facial trauma. Research methods sessions prepare trainees for their thesis, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. The programme includes rotations through allied specialities including audiology, speech therapy, and oncology. The programme culminates in a research thesis and clinical examinations for specialist certification.

The trade offs

In its favour

Very high demand for ENT surgeons in Kenya and East Africa, with excellent career prospects and job security.
Programme provides comprehensive training in all sub-specialities of ENT and head and neck surgery, offering diverse career paths.
Graduates are eligible for KMPDC specialist registration, enabling independent specialist surgical practice.
Programme has a long history since 1986, training ENT surgeons for Eastern, Central and Southern Africa.

Against it

Programme is expensive at ~KES 348,000/year over 5 years (total ~KES 1,740,000).
Programme duration is 5 years, longer than most other Master's programmes.
Only UoN offers this programme in Kenya, limiting institutional choice.
Clinical training involves long hours, on-call duties, and high-stress surgical environments.

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

Public187k to 348k

187k at Moi University348k at University of Nairobi

Private214k to 1.4M

214k at Aga Khan University1.4M at Private universities

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 348K 5yr prog (kenyaeducationguide). Moi ~187K. AKU/1.35M unverified for ENT

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. KMPDC may provide training support for medical professionals. KENTS, PASOR and IFOS may provide professional development support. Some hospitals and counties may sponsor doctors for specialist training. International medical organisations may provide fellowships and training support.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
KMPDC Training Support
KENTS Professional Development

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
KMPDC Training Support
ScholarshipKsh 300,000Kenyan
Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council supports specialist training for medical professionals in Kenya.
IFOS Fellowships
GrantKsh 500,000
International Federation of Otorhinolaryngological Societies provides fellowships and training grants for ENT surgeons in developing countries.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: Applicants must hold an MBChB degree, be registered with KMPDC, possess evidence of retention, and have valid professional indemnity insurance. Contact the university for specific admission requirements and pre-entry interview details.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Clinical Assessment
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through clinical performance, case presentations, ward rounds, surgical skills evaluation, and clinical logbook during rotations.
Written Examinations
Examination30% of the mark
Written examinations covering ENT theory, anatomy, pathology, surgical techniques, and clinical scenarios.
Clinical and Surgical Examinations
Practical40% of the mark
Practical clinical and surgical examinations including OSCEs, surgical case assessments, and demonstrating ENT surgical skills.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original clinical research thesis on an ENT or head and neck surgery topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and clinical knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) and the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC). University of Nairobi (public) offers M.Med in Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery through its Department of Surgery at Kenyatta National Hospital. The programme meets CUE and KMPDC standards for postgraduate medical training. Graduates are eligible for KMPDC specialist registration in otorhinolaryngology.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE and the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC). University of Nairobi (public) offers M.Med in Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery through its Department of Surgery at Kenyatta National Hospital. The programme meets CUE and KMPDC standards for postgraduate medical training. Graduates are eligible for KMPDC specialist registration in otorhinolaryngology.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Consultant ENT Surgeon
Very high demandKsh 450,000 to Ksh 1,800,000
Provides ENT surgical services in hospitals, overseeing diagnosis, surgery, and management of ear, nose, throat, and head and neck conditions.
Head and Neck Surgeon
High demandKsh 500,000 to Ksh 2,000,000
Specialises in head and neck surgery, overseeing cancer surgery, reconstructive surgery, and managing head and neck malignancies.
Otologist
Moderate demandKsh 450,000 to Ksh 1,700,000
Specialises in ear surgery, overseeing middle ear surgery, cochlear implants, and managing hearing and vestibular disorders.
Paediatric ENT Surgeon
High demandKsh 450,000 to Ksh 1,700,000
Specialises in paediatric ENT, overseeing congenital anomalies, airway management, and paediatric ENT surgery.
ENT Lecturer
High demandKsh 350,000 to Ksh 1,000,000
Teaches ENT surgery at medical school level, overseeing instruction, clinical training, research, and academic supervision.
ENT Service Director
Moderate demandKsh 550,000 to Ksh 1,800,000
Directs ENT services in hospitals, overseeing service delivery, quality assurance, staff management, and ENT department operations.

Graduate outcomes