Health Sciences

Master of Medicine in Internal Medicine

The Master of Medicine in Internal Medicine is a postgraduate medical specialty programme that trains medical doctors to become specialist physicians. The programme prepares graduates to diagnose and manage complex medical conditions, provide comprehensive adult care, and conduct clinical research in Kenya and beyond.

Core areas of study include cardiology, nephrology, gastroenterology, endocrinology, pulmonology, neurology, haematology, oncology, infectious diseases, rheumatology, dermatatology, critical care, and research methods. Students engage with both theoretical foundations and extensive clinical practice across internal medicine subspecialties.

The programme is offered by numerous universities across Kenya, with University of Nairobi, Aga Khan University, and Moi University as colleges. University of Nairobi offers a three-year MMed Internal Medicine programme through its Department of Clinical Medicine and Therapeutics, established in 1973. Aga Khan University offers a four-year programme at AKUH Nairobi, ACGME-I accredited.

Students develop competencies in comprehensive clinical assessment, diagnostic reasoning, managing complex medical conditions, interpreting investigations, performing medical procedures, critical care management, evidence-based medicine, and internal medicine research. The programme includes coursework, clinical rotations, examinations, and a research dissertation.

The programme is delivered over three years at University of Nairobi with full-time residency mode, consisting of coursework, rotation, and dissertation. Aga Khan University's four-year programme includes 7,680 hours of training with rotations across cardiology, neurology, oncology, pulmonology, infectious diseases, and other subspecialties. The programme is designed for medical doctors seeking to specialise in internal medicine.

Graduates pursue careers as consultant physicians, cardiologists, nephrologists, gastroenterologists, endocrinologists, intensivists, and academic physicians in hospitals, medical schools, and health ministries.

Skills Required

Comprehensive Clinical Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning
Cardiology and Cardiovascular Management
Nephrology and Renal Management
Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Endocrinology and Metabolic Disease Management
Pulmonology and Respiratory Medicine
Infectious Disease Management
Critical Care and Intensive Care Management
Evidence-Based Medicine and Clinical Research
Medical Procedure Skills and Interpretation

Key Subjects

Cardiology
Nephrology
Gastroenterology
Endocrinology
Pulmonology
Neurology
Infectious Diseases
Haematology and Oncology
Critical Care
Internal Medicine Research Methods

Certifications

KMPDC Specialist Registration in Internal Medicine
ECSACOP Fellowship in Internal Medicine

Specializations

Cardiology

Focuses on cardiovascular medicine, managing cardiac conditions, interpreting ECGs and echocardiograms, and managing heart failure, arrhythmias, and ischaemic heart disease.

Nephrology

Examines renal medicine, managing chronic kidney disease, dialysis, renal transplantation, and managing complex fluid and electrolyte disorders.

Gastroenterology

Covers gastroenterology and hepatology, managing GI conditions, liver disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and performing endoscopic procedures.

Endocrinology

Focuses on endocrine disorders, managing diabetes, thyroid disease, adrenal disorders, and metabolic conditions in internal medicine practice.

Pulmonology

Examines respiratory medicine, managing respiratory conditions, TB, asthma, COPD, and interpreting pulmonary function tests and chest imaging.

Infectious Diseases

Covers infectious disease management, managing HIV, TB, tropical diseases, antimicrobial therapy, and infection control in internal medicine practice.

Duration: 3 years
Public, up to: Ksh 358,667
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: 20 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Cardiology
Nephrology
Gastroenterology
Endocrinology
Pulmonology
Neurology
Infectious Diseases
Haematology and Oncology
Critical Care
Internal Medicine Research Methods

Modules

10 in the programme

Cardiology
Year 1Semester 14 creditsCore
Examines cardiovascular medicine, ECG interpretation, echocardiography, managing heart failure, arrhythmias, ischaemic heart disease, and hypertensive emergencies.
Nephrology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers renal medicine, managing chronic kidney disease, acute kidney injury, dialysis, fluid and electrolyte disorders, and renal transplantation principles.
Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines GI and liver diseases, managing inflammatory bowel disease, peptic ulcer disease, liver cirrhosis, hepatitis, and performing endoscopic procedures.
Endocrinology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers endocrine disorders, managing diabetes mellitus, thyroid disease, adrenal disorders, pituitary disorders, and metabolic bone disease.
Pulmonology
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines respiratory medicine, managing TB, asthma, COPD, pneumonia, interpreting pulmonary function tests, and managing respiratory failure.
Neurology
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers neurology, managing stroke, epilepsy, neuroinfections, neurodegenerative diseases, and performing neurological examination and interpretation.
Infectious Diseases
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines infectious disease management, managing HIV, TB, tropical diseases, antimicrobial therapy, sepsis, and infection control in internal medicine practice.
Haematology and Oncology
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers haematology and oncology, managing anaemias, bleeding disorders, haematological malignancies, solid tumours, and chemotherapy principles.
Critical Care Medicine
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines critical care, managing ICU patients, ventilator management, haemodynamic monitoring, sepsis management, and caring for critically ill patients.
Research Methods and Dissertation
Year 3Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research dissertation on an internal medicine topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and clinical knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Cardiology
Focuses on cardiovascular medicine, managing cardiac conditions, interpreting ECGs and echocardiograms, and managing heart failure, arrhythmias, and ischaemic heart disease.
Nephrology
Examines renal medicine, managing chronic kidney disease, dialysis, renal transplantation, and managing complex fluid and electrolyte disorders.
Gastroenterology
Covers gastroenterology and hepatology, managing GI conditions, liver disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and performing endoscopic procedures.
Endocrinology
Focuses on endocrine disorders, managing diabetes, thyroid disease, adrenal disorders, and metabolic conditions in internal medicine practice.
Pulmonology
Examines respiratory medicine, managing respiratory conditions, TB, asthma, COPD, and interpreting pulmonary function tests and chest imaging.
Infectious Diseases
Covers infectious disease management, managing HIV, TB, tropical diseases, antimicrobial therapy, and infection control in internal medicine practice.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MMed Internal Medicine residency begins with morning ward rounds where residents assess patients, review investigations, and formulate management plans under consultant supervision. Residents manage complex medical cases across cardiology, nephrology, gastroenterology, endocrinology, pulmonology, and infectious diseases. Academic sessions include lectures on internal medicine subspecialties, case discussions linking clinical findings to diagnoses, and journal clubs reviewing recent evidence. Residents rotate through various subspecialties including ICU, cardiology, neurology, dermatatology, and psychiatry. On-call duties involve managing medical emergencies, admitting acute patients, and providing continuity of care. Procedures include lumbar punctures, pleural taps, ascitic taps, central lines, and other medical procedures. Research methodology sessions prepare residents for their dissertation. The programme at University of Nairobi is based at the Department of Clinical Medicine and Therapeutics with Kenyatta National Hospital access. At Aga Khan University, the four-year programme includes 7,680 hours with structured rotations. The programme culminates in MMed examinations and dissertation defence.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya has a severe shortage of physicians, creating very high demand with the rising burden of non-communicable diseases.
Internal medicine offers diverse subspecialty paths including cardiology, nephrology, gastroenterology, and endocrinology.
University of Nairobi programme is the oldest in Kenya, established in 1973, with extensive experience and resources.
Aga Khan University programme is ACGME-I accredited, providing internationally recognised training standards.

Against it

Three-year full-time residency at UoN requires significant time commitment and may limit income during training years.
Internal medicine involves managing complex patients with multiple comorbidities, requiring extensive knowledge and clinical reasoning.
On-call duties and ward work can be demanding with high patient loads in Kenyan hospitals.
Many listed universities may not have established MMed Internal Medicine 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 359k

187k at Moi University359k 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 359K (kenyaeducationguide). Moi ~187K. AKU 214K (businessradar). 1.35M unverified

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

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
ECSACOP 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.
ECSACOP Training Grants
ScholarshipKsh 500,000
ECSACOP offers training grants for physicians in East, Central and Southern Africa pursuing internal medicine 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 internal medicine. Admission is competitive. UoN programme runs 3 years full-time (maximum 6 years). AKU programme runs 4 years with application fee KES 5,300. Candidates with one-year further training post-internship have added advantage at AKU.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Clinical Assessment
Practical30% of the mark
Ongoing clinical assessment during residency rotations, evaluating patient management, clinical reasoning, procedure skills, and professional conduct.
Written Examinations
Examination30% of the mark
Written examinations covering internal medicine subspecialties, clinical scenarios, and applied basic sciences, conducted at end of each academic year.
OSCE Examinations
Practical30% of the mark
Objective Structured Clinical Examinations assessing clinical skills, procedure performance, communication, and clinical reasoning in structured stations.
Research Dissertation
Research100% of the mark
Original research dissertation on an internal medicine 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's MMed Internal Medicine was established in 1973. Aga Khan University's programme is additionally accredited by ACGME-I. The programme meets KMPDC standards for specialist training in internal medicine.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. University of Nairobi's MMed Internal Medicine was established in 1973. AKU programme is additionally accredited by ACGME-I.
Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC)
Professional accreditationRequired
KMPDC accredits and regulates medical specialty training. Graduates must register with KMPDC as specialist physicians to practise in Kenya.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Consultant Physician
Very high demandKsh 350,000 to Ksh 1,200,000
Manages complex medical conditions in hospital medical departments, providing specialist consultations, supervising junior staff, and overseeing medical services.
Cardiologist
High demandKsh 400,000 to Ksh 1,500,000
Specialises in cardiovascular medicine, managing cardiac conditions, performing cardiac procedures, and running cardiology clinics.
Nephrologist
High demandKsh 380,000 to Ksh 1,300,000
Specialises in renal medicine, managing chronic kidney disease, dialysis patients, and renal transplantation referrals.
Gastroenterologist
High demandKsh 380,000 to Ksh 1,300,000
Specialises in GI and liver diseases, performing endoscopic procedures, managing complex GI conditions, and running gastroenterology clinics.
Intensivist
High demandKsh 400,000 to Ksh 1,400,000
Manages ICU patients, providing critical care, ventilator management, and coordinating care for critically ill patients.
Academic Physician
High demandKsh 250,000 to Ksh 800,000
Teaches internal medicine in medical schools, conducting clinical research, training residents, and providing clinical medical services.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as consultant physicians, cardiologists, nephrologists, gastroenterologists, and academic physicians in hospitals and medical schools.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Electronic Health Record System
SoftwarePrimary
Electronic health record system for managing patient records, tracking investigations, ordering medications, and coordinating care for complex medical patients.
ECG Machine
EquipmentPrimary
Electrocardiogram machine for recording and interpreting cardiac electrical activity, diagnosing arrhythmias, and monitoring cardiac patients.
Point-of-Care Ultrasound
Equipment
Point-of-care ultrasound for bedside cardiac, abdominal, and vascular assessment in internal medicine practice.
SPSS
Software
Statistical analysis software for clinical research, analysing patient data, and conducting epidemiological and clinical research studies.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Internal medicine is just general practice for adults.
Internal medicine is a specialist discipline requiring postgraduate training covering complex disease management, multiple organ systems, and advanced diagnostic and therapeutic skills.
Internal medicine has limited career prospects compared to surgical specialties.
Physicians are in very high demand in Kenya, with the rising burden of non-communicable diseases creating excellent career prospects across hospitals and medical schools.
Internal medicine is less intellectually challenging than other specialties.
Internal medicine requires complex diagnostic reasoning, managing multiple comorbidities, and understanding interactions across all organ systems, making it highly intellectually demanding.
Physicians cannot perform procedures.
Internal medicine training includes numerous procedures such as lumbar punctures, pleural taps, ascitic taps, central lines, endoscopy, and other medical procedures.
The three-year duration at UoN is too short for proper training.
The three-year programme is intensive and meets CUE and KMPDC standards, with comprehensive coursework, rotations, and dissertation requirements.
Internal medicine is becoming less relevant with increasing subspecialisation.
General internists remain essential for managing complex patients with multiple conditions, coordinating subspecialty care, and providing comprehensive adult care.