Health Sciences

Master of Medicine in Paediatrics & Child Health

The Master of Medicine in Paediatrics and Child Health is a postgraduate medical programme that trains medical doctors to become specialist paediatricians. The programme combines advanced medical theory with intensive clinical training in paediatric and child health care.

Core areas include neonatology, general paediatrics, paediatric infectious diseases, paediatric emergency care, child development, paediatric cardiology, paediatric neurology, community paediatrics, 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, Moi University, and Aga Khan University. Both public and private universities offer the programme over three academic years through full-time clinical training at affiliated teaching hospitals.

Students develop competencies in neonatal care, general paediatrics, paediatric emergencies, infectious diseases, child development, chronic disease management, community paediatrics, and research methods. The programme includes coursework, clinical rotations, examinations, and thesis.

The University of Nairobi charges approximately KES 382,000 (Year 1), KES 332,000 (Year 2), and KES 362,000 (Year 3), total KES 1,076,000 (~KES 358,667/year). UoN has trained over 80 percent of all paediatricians in Kenya since the programme launched in 1973. Entry requires an MBChB degree, registration with KMPDC, and at least one year of internship.

Graduates pursue careers as consultant paediatricians, neonatologists, paediatric cardiologists, paediatric neurologists, community paediatricians, and academic faculty in medical schools.

Skills Required

Neonatal Care and Management
General Paediatrics Practice
Paediatric Emergency Care
Paediatric Infectious Disease Management
Child Development and Neurodevelopmental Assessment
Paediatric Chronic Disease Management
Community Paediatrics and Public Health
Paediatric Resuscitation and Critical Care
Clinical Research Methods
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Neonatology
General Paediatrics
Paediatric Infectious Diseases
Paediatric Emergency Care
Child Development and Neurodevelopment
Paediatric Cardiology
Paediatric Neurology
Community Paediatrics
Clinical Research Methods
Thesis Research

Certifications

KMPDC Specialist Registration in Paediatrics
KPA Professional Membership

Specializations

Neonatology

Focuses on newborn care, covering neonatal resuscitation, neonatal intensive care, premature infant management, and neonatal disorders.

Paediatric Cardiology

Examines heart conditions in children, covering congenital heart disease, paediatric cardiac assessment, and managing cardiac conditions in children.

Paediatric Neurology

Covers neurological conditions in children, covering seizures, developmental disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, and managing neurological conditions in children.

Paediatric Infectious Diseases

Focuses on infectious diseases in children, covering immunisation, tropical diseases, HIV in children, and managing paediatric infections.

Paediatric Emergency and Critical Care

Examines paediatric emergencies and critical care, covering paediatric resuscitation, trauma management, and managing critically ill children.

Community Paediatrics

Covers community child health, covering child health programmes, school health, child protection, and public health approaches to child health.

Duration: 3 years
Public, up to: Ksh 358,667
Private, up to: Ksh 213,875
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

Neonatology
General Paediatrics
Paediatric Infectious Diseases
Paediatric Emergency Care
Child Development and Neurodevelopment
Paediatric Cardiology
Paediatric Neurology
Community Paediatrics
Clinical Research Methods
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Foundations of Paediatrics
Year 1Semester 14 creditsCore
Examines paediatric theory, growth and development, child health principles, and fundamental approaches to paediatric practice.
Neonatology
Year 1Semester 14 creditsCore
Covers newborn care, neonatal resuscitation, neonatal intensive care, premature infant management, and managing neonatal disorders.
Paediatric Infectious Diseases
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines infectious diseases in children, covering immunisation, tropical diseases, HIV in children, and managing paediatric infections.
Clinical Research Methods
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers research design, data collection, analysis, and conducting clinical research, preparing trainees for their thesis.
General Paediatrics
Year 2Semester 14 creditsCore
Covers general paediatric conditions, common childhood illnesses, nutrition, growth disorders, and managing general paediatric problems.
Paediatric Emergency and Critical Care
Year 2Semester 24 creditsCore
Examines paediatric emergencies, covering resuscitation, trauma management, poisoning, and managing critically ill children.
Child Development and Neurodevelopment
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers child development, developmental assessment, neurodevelopmental disorders, and managing developmental and behavioural problems.
Paediatric Sub-specialities
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines paediatric sub-specialities including cardiology, neurology, nephrology, haematology, and managing sub-speciality conditions.
Research Seminar
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Preparation of research proposal and thesis, including research design, literature review, methodology, and presentation.
Community Paediatrics
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers community child health, child health programmes, school health, child protection, and public health approaches to child health.
Paediatric Chronic Disease Management
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines chronic disease management in children, covering diabetes, asthma, sickle cell disease, cancer, and managing chronic paediatric conditions.
Research Thesis
Year 3Semester 210 creditsCore
Original clinical research thesis on a paediatrics or child health topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and clinical knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Neonatology
Focuses on newborn care, covering neonatal resuscitation, neonatal intensive care, premature infant management, and neonatal disorders.
Paediatric Cardiology
Examines heart conditions in children, covering congenital heart disease, paediatric cardiac assessment, and managing cardiac conditions in children.
Paediatric Neurology
Covers neurological conditions in children, covering seizures, developmental disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, and managing neurological conditions in children.
Paediatric Infectious Diseases
Focuses on infectious diseases in children, covering immunisation, tropical diseases, HIV in children, and managing paediatric infections.
Paediatric Emergency and Critical Care
Examines paediatric emergencies and critical care, covering paediatric resuscitation, trauma management, and managing critically ill children.
Community Paediatrics
Covers community child health, covering child health programmes, school health, child protection, and public health approaches to child health.

A day as a student

A typical day during the M.Med in Paediatrics and Child Health programme combines ward rounds, outpatient clinics, emergency room sessions, tutorials, seminars, and independent study. The programme is primarily clinical, with trainees based at teaching hospitals. Morning ward rounds involve reviewing neonatal patients, paediatric inpatients, and managing complex paediatric cases. Outpatient clinics provide experience with well-child clinics, paediatric consultations, immunisation, and managing outpatient paediatric conditions. Emergency room sessions provide experience with paediatric emergencies including respiratory distress, seizures, dehydration, and trauma. Neonatal care sessions involve managing newborns, premature infants, neonatal resuscitation, and neonatal intensive care. Tutorials cover paediatric theory, growth and development, infectious diseases, and clinical scenarios. Seminars and journal clubs provide opportunities for discussing current evidence, clinical guidelines, and research. On-call duties provide experience with paediatric emergencies and managing acutely ill children. Research methods sessions prepare trainees for their thesis, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. The programme includes rotations through sub-specialities including neonatology, cardiology, neurology, and infectious diseases. The programme culminates in a research thesis and clinical examinations for specialist certification.

The trade offs

In its favour

Very high demand for paediatricians in Kenya with a ratio of 1:84,100 children, far below WHO recommendations, creating excellent career prospects.
Programme is 3 years, shorter than some other M.Med programmes, enabling faster specialist qualification.
UoN has trained over 80% of Kenya's paediatricians since 1973, providing a strong legacy and network.
Programme offered by three universities including both public and private, providing institutional choice.

Against it

Programme is expensive at ~KES 358,667/year over 3 years (total ~KES 1,076,000).
Moi University and Aga Khan University fee data not independently verified, limiting cost comparison.
Programme requires MBChB degree and KMPDC registration, limiting access to medical doctors only.
Clinical training involves long hours, on-call duties, and emotionally challenging situations with sick children.

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 214k

214k at Aga Khan University214k at Aga Khan 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 1.08M/3yr (kenyaeducationguide). AKU ~214K/yr (businessradar). Moi ~187K/yr (worldscholarshipforum).

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

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
KMPDC Training Support
KPA 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.
KPA Professional Development
GrantKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenya Paediatric Association supports professional development for paediatricians in Kenya.

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, have completed at least one year of internship, provide a certificate of good conduct, and pass a written and oral entry examination. Contact respective universities for specific admission requirements.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Clinical Assessment
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through clinical performance, case presentations, ward rounds, clinical skills evaluation, and clinical logbook during rotations.
Written Examinations
Examination30% of the mark
Written examinations covering paediatric theory, neonatology, infectious diseases, and clinical scenarios.
Clinical and OSCE Examinations
Practical40% of the mark
Practical clinical examinations including OSCEs, clinical case assessments, and demonstrating paediatric clinical skills.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original clinical research thesis on a paediatrics or child health 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 and Moi University (public) and Aga Khan University (private) offer M.Med in Paediatrics and Child Health. All programmes meet CUE and KMPDC standards for postgraduate medical training. Graduates are eligible for KMPDC specialist registration in paediatrics.

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 and Moi University (public) and Aga Khan University (private) offer M.Med in Paediatrics and Child Health. All programmes meet CUE and KMPDC standards for postgraduate medical training. Graduates are eligible for KMPDC specialist registration in paediatrics.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Consultant Paediatrician
Very high demandKsh 400,000 to Ksh 1,500,000
Provides paediatric services in hospitals, overseeing child health care, managing paediatric conditions, and providing specialist consultation.
Neonatologist
High demandKsh 450,000 to Ksh 1,700,000
Specialises in newborn care, overseeing neonatal intensive care, premature infant management, and managing neonatal disorders.
Paediatric Cardiologist
Low demandKsh 500,000 to Ksh 1,800,000
Specialises in heart conditions in children, overseeing cardiac assessment, congenital heart disease management, and paediatric cardiac care.
Paediatric Neurologist
Low demandKsh 500,000 to Ksh 1,800,000
Specialises in neurological conditions in children, overseeing seizure management, developmental disorders, and managing neurological conditions.
Community Paediatrician
Moderate demandKsh 350,000 to Ksh 1,200,000
Works in community child health, overseeing child health programmes, school health, child protection, and public health initiatives.
Paediatrics Lecturer
High demandKsh 350,000 to Ksh 1,000,000
Teaches paediatrics at medical school level, overseeing instruction, clinical training, research, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes