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Master of Medicine in Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery

The Master of Medicine in Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery is a master's programme offered at Kenyan universities. This postgraduate degree prepares professionals for advanced practice and research careers in health sciences.

Duration
1-2 years
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 348,000
Ksh 348,000 to Ksh 696,000 total
Job market
Moderate
Market demand for graduates

The short answer

What it costs
Up to Ksh 348,000 a year at a public institution, Ksh 348,000 to Ksh 696,000 for the whole course.The detail
Who can get in
A KCSE mean grade of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) or equivalent or above, plus 4 subject grades. There is another way in without it.The detail
How long, and when
Takes 1-2 years, full-time, part-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.

What you study

10 subjects
  • Epidemiology
  • Biostatistics
  • Health Systems Management
  • Public Health Research Methods
  • Health Policy and Planning
  • Clinical Research Methods
  • Health Economics
  • Disease Control
  • Nutrition Assessment
  • Healthcare Ethics

Modules

10 in the programme

  • ENT Anatomy, Physiology and Diagnosis

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    ENT anatomy, ear anatomy, nasal anatomy, throat anatomy, head and neck anatomy, audiology, ENT examination, and understanding ENT anatomy and diagnosis

  • Otology and Hearing Disorders

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Otology, chronic otitis media, hearing loss, audiology, tympanoplasty, mastoidectomy, cochlear implantation, and managing ear and hearing disorders

  • Rhinology and Endoscopic Sinus Surgery

    Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore

    Rhinology, sinusitis, nasal polyps, epistaxis, endoscopic sinus surgery, FESS, septoplasty, and managing nasal and sinus conditions

  • Laryngology, Voice and Airway Disorders

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Laryngology, voice disorders, vocal cord pathology, airway emergencies, foreign body aspiration, stridor, tracheostomy, and managing laryngeal and airway conditions

  • Head and Neck Surgery and Oncology

    Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore

    Head and neck surgery, oral cancer, throat cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer, thyroid surgery, neck dissection, and managing head and neck tumours

  • Paediatric ENT

    Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore

    Paediatric ENT, tonsillitis, adenoids, otitis media in children, foreign body aspiration, congenital ENT conditions, and managing paediatric ENT conditions

  • Facial Plastic and Skull Base Surgery

    Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore

    Facial plastic surgery, reconstructive surgery, skull base surgery, facial trauma, rhinoplasty, and managing facial and skull base conditions

  • Audiology, Hearing Rehabilitation and Sleep Medicine

    Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore

    Audiology, hearing aids, cochlear implants, hearing rehabilitation, sleep apnoea, sleep surgery, and managing hearing and sleep disorders

  • Clinical Practicum and Research Methods

    Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore

    Clinical practicum in ENT clinics and theatres, hospital rotations, supervised surgery, research methods, and preparing for the research thesis

  • Thesis

    Year 4Semester 16 creditsCore

    Original research on an ENT topic such as hearing loss prevalence, chronic otitis media, head and neck cancer, sinusitis, foreign body aspiration, or cochlear implant outcomes in Kenya

Specialisations

  • Head and Neck Surgical Oncology

    Specialisation in head and neck cancer surgery, oral cancer, throat cancer, thyroid surgery, neck dissection, and managing head and neck tumours

  • Rhinology and Endoscopic Sinus Surgery

    Focus on rhinology, sinusitis, nasal polyps, endoscopic sinus surgery, FESS, skull base approaches, and managing nasal and sinus conditions

  • Paediatric ENT

    Specialisation in paediatric ENT, tonsillitis, adenoids, otitis media, foreign body aspiration, congenital conditions, and managing children's ENT conditions

  • Otology and Neurotology

    Focus on ear surgery, chronic otitis media, hearing loss, cochlear implantation, skull base surgery, and managing ear and hearing disorders

  • Laryngology and Voice Surgery

    Focus on laryngology, voice disorders, vocal cord surgery, airway management, swallowing disorders, and managing laryngeal and voice conditions

A day as a student

A typical day involves attending public health lectures, analysing epidemiological data, participating in field visits, reviewing medical literature, presenting at journal clubs, and meeting with supervisors to discuss research projects.

The trade-offs

In its favourAgainst it
High demand and versatile practice — Kenya has a shortage of ENT surgeons, and the specialisation covers a wide range of conditions from hearing loss to cancer, offering diverse practiceComplex anatomy and delicate surgery — ENT surgery involves very small structures in complex anatomy including the ear, skull base, and larynx, requiring exceptional surgical precision
Improves quality of life — ENT surgeons restore hearing, treat voice disorders, manage breathing problems, and treat cancer, dramatically improving patients' livesLimited training positions — very few universities in Kenya offer ENT surgery training, making admission highly competitive

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

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 1.74M/5yr (surgery.uonbi.ac.ke). Moi ~187K/yr (worldscholarshipforum). Private unverified.

WHO, KEMRI, and AMREF offer research grants. HELB provides postgraduate loans. CDC, NIH, and Fogarty International support health research in Kenya.

Funding options

  • HELB Postgraduate Loan

    Loan

    Kenyan citizens enrolled in accredited postgraduate programmes

  • WHO Research Grant

    Grant

    Public health researchers in WHO priority areas

  • KEMRI Research Grant

    Grant

    Health researchers affiliated with KEMRI

Scholarships

5 recorded

  • Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program

    FullKsh 8,000,000Kenyan

    Kenyan; Academic excellence; Financial need; Leadership

  • IFOS ENT Training Scholarship

    PartialKsh 300,000

    Kenyan; Medical officer; IFOS-supported programme; ENT focus

  • DAAD Medical Specialisation Scholarship

    FullKsh 5,000,000Kenyan

    Kenyan; Academic excellence; Medical specialisation programme

  • HELB Postgraduate Loan

    LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan

    Kenyan citizens pursuing postgraduate studies.

  • WHO Hearing Loss Prevention Grant

    PartialKsh 200,000

    Kenyan; ENT trainee; WHO-supported programme; Hearing focus

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
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) or equivalentminimum entry
Alternative entry

MBChB with completion of internship and KMPDC registration. At least 1 year of post-internship clinical experience preferred.

Subject requirements
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from a recognised universityMBChB or equivalent
KMPDC registration as a medical practitionerrequired
Completion of internship (1 year)required
English proficiency (international applicants)IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 90+

When it next starts

Taught at 1 institution
January 20271 institution

Including University of Nairobi.

May 20271 institution

Including University of Nairobi.

September 20271 institution

Including University of Nairobi.

How you are assessed

4 components

  • Clinical Practicum and Theatre Rotations

    Cat15% of the mark

    Clinical practicum assessments, ENT theatre rotation evaluations, surgical logbook review, and clinical performance

  • Thesis

    Research30% of the mark

    Original research on an ENT topic examined by oral defence

  • Surgical Examinations and Case Presentations

    Project30% of the mark

    Surgical case presentations, operative competency examinations, endoscopic skills assessments, and clinical case discussions

  • End of Semester Examinations

    Exam25% of the mark

    Formal written examinations covering ENT anatomy, otology, rhinology, laryngology, head and neck surgery, paediatric ENT, facial plastic surgery, and audiology

Accreditation

  • Commission for University Education

    Academic accreditationRequired

    Mandatory accreditation for university programmes in Kenya.

  • Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council

    Professional registrationRequired

    Mandatory specialist registration for medical practice in Kenya.

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Health programmes are also regulated by KMPDC, Pharmacy and Poisons Board, Nursing Council of Kenya, or Clinical Officers Council as applicable.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

  • Consultant ENT Surgeon

    High demandKsh 320,000 to Ksh 900,000

    Diagnoses and manages ENT conditions, performs ENT surgery, manages airway emergencies, and works in hospitals or private practice

  • Head and Neck Surgeon

    Medium demandKsh 350,000 to Ksh 1,000,000

    Specialises in head and neck surgery, manages head and neck cancers, performs thyroid surgery and neck dissection, and works in cancer centres

  • Academic Lecturer (Otorhinolaryngology)

    Medium demandKsh 260,000 to Ksh 680,000

    Teaches ENT at medical schools, supervises surgical training, conducts research, and works at University of Nairobi or Moi University

  • Otologist and Cochlear Implant Surgeon

    Medium demandKsh 350,000 to Ksh 1,000,000

    Specialises in ear surgery, cochlear implantation, hearing rehabilitation, and works in specialised ENT centres

  • ENT Practice Owner

    High demandKsh 350,000 to Ksh 1,100,000

    Owns and manages a private ENT practice, provides specialist ENT services, and serves Nairobi and major towns

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as public health officers, clinical specialists, health programme managers, medical researchers, and health policy advisors in Kenya's health sector.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Common misconceptions

  • A Masters in Public Health is only for doctors.

    MPH programmes accept applicants from diverse backgrounds including nursing, pharmacy, social sciences, and environmental health.

  • All health Masters require clinical practice experience.

    While clinical experience is valuable, many public health and health systems Masters require a relevant bachelor's degree, not clinical practice.

  • Health Masters graduates only work in hospitals.

    Graduates work in ministries, NGOs, international organisations, research institutions, insurance companies, and private sector.

  • A Masters in Nursing is the same as a PhD in Nursing.

    A Masters prepares for advanced practice and education roles, while a PhD is focused on research and academic scholarship.

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