Health Sciences

Master of Medicine in General Surgery

The Master of Medicine in General Surgery is a postgraduate medical specialty programme that trains medical doctors to become specialist surgeons. The programme prepares graduates to perform surgical procedures, manage surgical patients perioperatively, and conduct surgical research in Kenya and beyond.

Core areas of study include surgical anatomy, surgical physiology, preoperative and postoperative care, general surgical procedures, trauma surgery, gastrointestinal surgery, breast surgery, endocrine surgery, vascular surgery, surgical oncology, emergency surgery, and research methods. Students engage with both theoretical foundations and extensive clinical surgical practice.

The programme is offered by numerous universities across Kenya, with University of Nairobi, Moi University, and Aga Khan University as colleges. University of Nairobi offers a five-year MMed General Surgery programme through its Department of Surgery, with training at Kenyatta National Hospital and other affiliated hospitals. Aga Khan University offers a four-year programme at AKUH Nairobi.

Students develop competencies in surgical assessment, performing surgical procedures, perioperative management, trauma surgery, emergency surgery, endoscopic procedures, surgical decision-making, and surgical research. The programme includes coursework, clinical rotations, surgical skills training, examinations, and a research thesis.

The programme is delivered over five years at University of Nairobi with full-time residency mode. The curriculum allows intercalation for one year after completing the first three years for MSc or PhD study. The programme is designed for medical doctors seeking to specialise in general surgery.

Graduates pursue careers as consultant surgeons, trauma surgeons, surgical oncologists, academic surgeons, and surgical department directors in hospitals, medical schools, and health ministries.

Skills Required

Surgical Assessment and Decision-Making
General Surgical Procedures and Techniques
Preoperative and Postoperative Care
Trauma and Emergency Surgery
Gastrointestinal Surgery
Surgical Oncology Principles
Endoscopic and Minimally Invasive Surgery
Surgical Anatomy and Physiology
Surgical Research and Audit
Surgical Team Leadership and Management

Key Subjects

Surgical Anatomy
Surgical Physiology
Preoperative and Postoperative Care
General Surgical Procedures
Trauma and Emergency Surgery
Gastrointestinal Surgery
Surgical Oncology
Endoscopic Surgery
Vascular Surgery
Surgical Research Methods

Certifications

KMPDC Specialist Registration in General Surgery
COSECSA Fellowship in Surgery

Specializations

Trauma and Emergency Surgery

Focuses on trauma surgery, emergency surgical procedures, managing polytrauma patients, and emergency surgical decision-making in acute settings.

Gastrointestinal Surgery

Examines gastrointestinal surgery, upper and lower GI surgery, hepatobiliary surgery, and managing complex GI surgical conditions.

Surgical Oncology

Covers surgical oncology principles, cancer surgery, tumour resection, managing surgical cancer patients, and multidisciplinary cancer care.

Breast and Endocrine Surgery

Focuses on breast surgery, thyroid surgery, parathyroid surgery, adrenal surgery, and managing breast and endocrine surgical conditions.

Vascular Surgery

Examines vascular surgery, arterial and venous surgery, vascular trauma, and managing peripheral vascular disease surgically.

Minimally Invasive and Laparoscopic Surgery

Covers laparoscopic surgery, minimally invasive techniques, endoscopic procedures, and applying minimally invasive approaches to surgical practice.

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: 15 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Surgical Anatomy
Surgical Physiology
Preoperative and Postoperative Care
General Surgical Procedures
Trauma and Emergency Surgery
Gastrointestinal Surgery
Surgical Oncology
Endoscopic Surgery
Vascular Surgery
Surgical Research Methods

Modules

10 in the programme

Surgical Anatomy and Physiology
Year 1Semester 14 creditsCore
Examines surgical anatomy, regional anatomy for surgical practice, surgical physiology, wound healing, and applied anatomy for surgical procedures.
Preoperative and Postoperative Care
Year 1Semester 14 creditsCore
Covers preoperative assessment, surgical risk stratification, postoperative management, complication management, and perioperative care of surgical patients.
General Surgical Procedures
Year 1Semester 24 creditsCore
Examines general surgical procedures, hernia repair, appendicectomy, cholecystectomy, bowel resection, and fundamental surgical techniques and procedures.
Trauma and Emergency Surgery
Year 1Semester 24 creditsCore
Covers trauma surgery, emergency surgical procedures, managing polytrauma patients, damage control surgery, and emergency surgical decision-making.
Gastrointestinal Surgery
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines gastrointestinal surgery, upper GI surgery, colorectal surgery, hepatobiliary surgery, and managing complex GI surgical conditions.
Surgical Oncology
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers surgical oncology principles, cancer surgery, tumour resection, managing surgical cancer patients, and multidisciplinary cancer care.
Breast and Endocrine Surgery
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines breast surgery, thyroid surgery, parathyroid surgery, adrenal surgery, and managing breast and endocrine surgical conditions.
Vascular and Minimally Invasive Surgery
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers vascular surgery, arterial and venous surgery, laparoscopic surgery, endoscopic procedures, and applying minimally invasive approaches to surgical practice.
Surgical Critical Care and Anaesthesia
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines surgical critical care, managing postoperative complications, surgical ICU care, surgical anaesthesia principles, and managing critically ill surgical patients.
Research Methods and Thesis
Year 5Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research thesis on a general surgery topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and surgical knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Trauma and Emergency Surgery
Focuses on trauma surgery, emergency surgical procedures, managing polytrauma patients, and emergency surgical decision-making in acute settings.
Gastrointestinal Surgery
Examines gastrointestinal surgery, upper and lower GI surgery, hepatobiliary surgery, and managing complex GI surgical conditions.
Surgical Oncology
Covers surgical oncology principles, cancer surgery, tumour resection, managing surgical cancer patients, and multidisciplinary cancer care.
Breast and Endocrine Surgery
Focuses on breast surgery, thyroid surgery, parathyroid surgery, adrenal surgery, and managing breast and endocrine surgical conditions.
Vascular Surgery
Examines vascular surgery, arterial and venous surgery, vascular trauma, and managing peripheral vascular disease surgically.
Minimally Invasive and Laparoscopic Surgery
Covers laparoscopic surgery, minimally invasive techniques, endoscopic procedures, and applying minimally invasive approaches to surgical practice.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MMed General Surgery residency begins with early morning ward rounds where residents assess postoperative patients, review surgical plans, and manage complications. Residents then proceed to operating theatre sessions where they assist with and perform surgical procedures under consultant supervision, developing skills in open surgery, laparoscopic surgery, and endoscopic procedures. Academic sessions include lectures on surgical anatomy, surgical physiology, and case discussions linking clinical findings to surgical management. Emergency surgery sessions involve managing acute surgical presentations, trauma surgery, and emergency surgical decision-making. Residents rotate through various surgical subspecialties including gastrointestinal, breast, endocrine, vascular, and trauma surgery. On-call duties involve managing surgical emergencies, performing emergency operations, and providing surgical consultation. Journal clubs and mortality and morbidity meetings deepen understanding of evidence-based surgical practice and quality improvement. Research methodology sessions prepare residents for their thesis. The programme at University of Nairobi is based at the Department of Surgery with Kenyatta National Hospital access. The five-year programme culminates in MMed examinations and thesis defence.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya has a severe shortage of surgeons, creating very high demand and excellent career prospects in hospitals and medical schools nationwide.
Surgeons earn competitive salaries and are among the highest-paid medical specialists in Kenya.
Programme offers diverse career paths across trauma, GI, oncology, breast, endocrine, and vascular surgery subspecialties.
University of Nairobi programme provides comprehensive training with detailed fee structure and Kenyatta National Hospital access.

Against it

Five-year full-time residency requires significant time commitment and may limit income during training years.
Surgery involves high-stress work environment with life-and-death decisions, long operating hours, and demanding on-call schedules.
Programme requires significant manual dexterity, stamina, and ability to perform under pressure.
Many listed universities may not have established MMed General Surgery programmes, limiting actual training options.

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 (kenyaeducationguide). Moi ~187K. AKU 214K (businessradar). 1.35M unverified

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. COSECSA offers training grants for surgical trainees in East, Central and Southern Africa. Aga Khan University provides partial scholarships for eligible MMed students. The programme's critical surgical specialty status attracts health sector funding.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
COSECSA Training Grants
Aga Khan University Financial Aid

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate medical studies at recognised universities.
COSECSA Training Grants
ScholarshipKsh 500,000
COSECSA offers training grants for surgical trainees in East, Central and Southern Africa pursuing surgical specialisation.
Aga Khan University Partial Scholarship
ScholarshipKsh 400,000
Aga Khan University offers partial scholarships for eligible MMed students based on need and merit.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: The programme is designed for medical doctors seeking to specialise in general surgery. Moi University accepts candidates with MMed General Medicine joining Part II (3 years). Admission is competitive. Full-time residency mode over five years at UoN or four years at AKU.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Clinical Assessment
Practical30% of the mark
Ongoing clinical assessment during residency rotations, evaluating surgical skills, perioperative management, clinical decision-making, and professional conduct.
Written Examinations
Examination30% of the mark
Written examinations covering surgical anatomy, surgical physiology, surgical procedures, and clinical scenarios, conducted at end of each academic year.
OSCE and Practical Examinations
Practical30% of the mark
Objective Structured Clinical Examinations and practical assessments evaluating surgical skills, procedures, clinical reasoning, and emergency surgical management.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on a general surgery topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and surgical 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's MMed General Surgery is offered through its Department of Surgery. The programme meets KMPDC standards for specialist training in general surgery and aligns with COSECSA standards.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. University of Nairobi's MMed General Surgery is offered through its Department of Surgery.
Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC)
Professional accreditationRequired
KMPDC accredits and regulates medical specialty training. Graduates must register with KMPDC as specialist surgeons to practise in Kenya.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Consultant Surgeon
Very high demandKsh 400,000 to Ksh 1,500,000
Performs surgical procedures in hospital surgical departments, managing surgical patients, supervising junior staff, and overseeing surgical services.
Trauma Surgeon
Very high demandKsh 400,000 to Ksh 1,400,000
Specialises in trauma surgery, managing polytrauma patients, performing emergency surgical procedures, and coordinating trauma care services.
Surgical Oncologist
High demandKsh 450,000 to Ksh 1,600,000
Specialises in cancer surgery, performing tumour resections, managing surgical cancer patients, and participating in multidisciplinary cancer care.
Academic Surgeon
High demandKsh 300,000 to Ksh 900,000
Teaches surgery in medical schools, conducting surgical research, training residents, and providing clinical surgical services.
Surgical Department Director
Moderate demandKsh 500,000 to Ksh 1,800,000
Directs surgical services in hospitals, managing surgical departments, overseeing quality, staffing, theatre management, and service delivery.
Rural General Surgeon
Very high demandKsh 350,000 to Ksh 1,100,000
Provides comprehensive surgical services in rural and district hospitals, managing diverse surgical conditions with limited resources and referral coordination.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as consultant surgeons, trauma surgeons, surgical oncologists, and academic surgeons in hospitals, medical schools, and health ministries.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Surgical Instruments Set
EquipmentPrimary
Comprehensive surgical instruments set for performing general surgical procedures including dissecting, grasping, cutting, and suturing instruments.
Laparoscopic Surgery System
EquipmentPrimary
Laparoscopic surgery system for performing minimally invasive surgical procedures, including camera, monitor, insufflator, and laparoscopic instruments.
Electrosurgical Unit
Equipment
Electrosurgical unit for cutting and coagulating tissue during surgical procedures, providing haemostasis and precise tissue dissection.
SPSS
Software
Statistical analysis software for surgical research, analysing surgical outcomes data, and conducting clinical research studies.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

General surgery is just about performing operations.
The programme covers comprehensive surgical care including preoperative assessment, postoperative management, surgical decision-making, trauma care, and research, far beyond performing operations.
General surgery has limited career prospects with increasing subspecialisation.
General surgeons remain in very high demand in Kenya, especially in district hospitals and rural areas where subspecialty surgeons are not available.
Surgery is only for those who are good with their hands.
While manual dexterity is important, surgery requires deep anatomical knowledge, clinical judgement, decision-making skills, and the ability to manage complex patients comprehensively.
The five-year duration is unnecessarily long.
The five-year residency is essential for developing competencies across all surgical subspecialties, managing complex cases, and meeting international standards for surgical training.
General surgery is becoming obsolete with minimally invasive techniques.
General surgery encompasses both open and minimally invasive techniques, and general surgeons are essential for managing diverse surgical conditions across all settings.
Surgery is a male-dominated field with no opportunities for women.
Increasing numbers of women are pursuing surgical careers in Kenya, with growing support and mentorship for women in surgery through professional organisations.