Health Sciences

Master of Pharmacy

The Master of Pharmacy is a postgraduate programme that prepares pharmacists for advanced practice in clinical pharmacy, pharmaceutical analysis, industrial pharmacy, and pharmacovigilance. The programme combines pharmaceutical science with clinical application and regulatory practice.

Core areas include clinical pharmacy, pharmaceutical analysis, pharmacology, pharmaceutics, pharmacovigilance, drug development, pharmaceutical quality assurance, regulatory affairs, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both pharmaceutical theory and practical clinical and industrial application.

The programme is offered by the University of Nairobi and Kenyatta University. Both are public universities offering the programme over two to three academic years through full-time mode. UoN offers specialisations in clinical pharmacy, pharmaceutical analysis, industrial pharmacy, and pharmacovigilance.

Students develop competencies in clinical pharmacy practice, pharmaceutical analysis, drug development, pharmacovigilance, pharmaceutical quality assurance, regulatory affairs, and research methods. The programme includes coursework, clinical rotations, laboratory practicals, examinations, and thesis.

UoN charges approximately KES 397,500/year (total KES 795,000 over 2 years). Entry requires a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree, registration with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Kenya, and at least one year of post-registration experience in a relevant field.

Graduates pursue careers as clinical pharmacists, pharmaceutical analysts, industrial pharmacists, pharmacovigilance specialists, regulatory affairs officers, pharmaceutical quality managers, and lecturers in pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences.

Skills Required

Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics
Pharmaceutical Analysis and Quality Control
Pharmacology and Drug Development
Pharmaceutics and Formulation
Pharmacovigilance and Drug Safety
Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance
Regulatory Affairs and Compliance
Research Methods in Pharmacy
Evidence-Based Pharmacy Practice
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics
Pharmaceutical Analysis and Quality Control
Pharmacology and Drug Development
Pharmaceutics and Formulation Science
Pharmacovigilance and Drug Safety
Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance
Regulatory Affairs and Drug Registration
Research Methods in Pharmacy
Biostatistics for Pharmacy Research
Thesis Research

Certifications

PPB Specialist Registration
KPA Professional Membership

Specializations

Clinical Pharmacy

Focuses on clinical pharmacy, covering therapeutics, patient care, drug therapy management, and managing clinical pharmacy services.

Pharmaceutical Analysis

Examines pharmaceutical analysis, covering analytical methods, quality control, drug testing, and managing pharmaceutical analysis.

Industrial Pharmacy

Covers industrial pharmacy, covering pharmaceutical manufacturing, formulation development, production management, and managing pharmaceutical production.

Pharmacovigilance

Focuses on pharmacovigilance, covering drug safety monitoring, adverse event reporting, risk management, and managing pharmacovigilance systems.

Regulatory Affairs

Examines regulatory affairs, covering drug registration, regulatory compliance, regulatory submissions, and managing regulatory affairs.

Pharmacology and Drug Development

Covers pharmacology, covering drug action, drug design, drug development, and managing pharmacological research.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 397,500
Job market: 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

Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics
Pharmaceutical Analysis and Quality Control
Pharmacology and Drug Development
Pharmaceutics and Formulation Science
Pharmacovigilance and Drug Safety
Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance
Regulatory Affairs and Drug Registration
Research Methods in Pharmacy
Biostatistics for Pharmacy Research
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics
Year 1Semester 14 creditsCore
Examines therapeutics, patient care, drug therapy management, pharmacotherapy, and managing clinical pharmacy services.
Pharmaceutical Analysis and Quality Control
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers analytical methods, quality control, drug testing, instrumental analysis, and managing pharmaceutical analysis.
Pharmacology and Drug Development
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines drug action, drug design, drug development, pharmacokinetics, and managing pharmacological research.
Research Methods in Pharmacy
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers research design, data collection, analysis, and conducting pharmacy research, preparing students for their thesis.
Pharmaceutics and Formulation Science
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers formulation development, drug delivery systems, pharmaceutical formulation, and managing pharmaceutical formulation.
Pharmacovigilance and Drug Safety
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines drug safety monitoring, adverse event reporting, risk management, signal detection, and managing pharmacovigilance systems.
Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers quality assurance, GMP, quality systems, pharmaceutical compliance, and managing pharmaceutical quality assurance.
Regulatory Affairs and Drug Registration
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines drug registration, regulatory compliance, regulatory submissions, pharmaceutical regulation, and managing regulatory affairs.
Biostatistics for Pharmacy Research
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers statistical methods, biostatistics, data analysis, and analysing and interpreting pharmacy research data.
Evidence-Based Pharmacy Practice
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines evidence-based practice, literature evaluation, clinical guidelines, and applying evidence in pharmacy practice.
Research Seminar
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Preparation of research proposal and thesis, including research design, literature review, methodology, and presentation.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research thesis on a pharmacy topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and pharmaceutical knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Clinical Pharmacy
Focuses on clinical pharmacy, covering therapeutics, patient care, drug therapy management, and managing clinical pharmacy services.
Pharmaceutical Analysis
Examines pharmaceutical analysis, covering analytical methods, quality control, drug testing, and managing pharmaceutical analysis.
Industrial Pharmacy
Covers industrial pharmacy, covering pharmaceutical manufacturing, formulation development, production management, and managing pharmaceutical production.
Pharmacovigilance
Focuses on pharmacovigilance, covering drug safety monitoring, adverse event reporting, risk management, and managing pharmacovigilance systems.
Regulatory Affairs
Examines regulatory affairs, covering drug registration, regulatory compliance, regulatory submissions, and managing regulatory affairs.
Pharmacology and Drug Development
Covers pharmacology, covering drug action, drug design, drug development, and managing pharmacological research.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MPharm programme combines lectures, clinical rotations, laboratory practicals, seminars, and independent study. Clinical pharmacy sessions cover therapeutics, patient care, drug therapy management, and managing clinical pharmacy services. Pharmaceutical analysis sessions cover analytical methods, quality control, drug testing, and managing pharmaceutical analysis. Industrial pharmacy sessions cover pharmaceutical manufacturing, formulation development, production management, and managing pharmaceutical production. Pharmacovigilance sessions cover drug safety monitoring, adverse event reporting, risk management, and managing pharmacovigilance systems. Research methods sessions prepare students for their thesis. Clinical rotations provide hands-on experience in hospital pharmacy settings. Laboratory practicals provide experience with analytical techniques, formulation, and quality control. The programme culminates in a research thesis on a pharmacy topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

High demand for advanced pharmacy professionals in Kenya's growing pharmaceutical industry and healthcare sector.
Programme offers multiple specialisation tracks (clinical, analysis, industrial, pharmacovigilance).
Programme combines pharmaceutical science with clinical practice, providing versatile skills.
UoN is a well-established pharmacy training institution with strong industry links.

Against it

UoN fees are high at approximately KES 397,500/year (total KES 795,000).
KU fees not independently verified, limiting fee comparison.
No private university confirmed offering this exact programme, limiting options.
Programme requires a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree and PPB registration, limiting access to qualified pharmacists only.

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 398k

187k at Moi University398k 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 795K/2yr (kenyaeducationguide). Moi ~187K/yr (worldscholarshipforum). Private unverified.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. PPB may provide training support for pharmacy professionals. FIP may provide training support for pharmacists. Some pharmaceutical companies and hospitals may sponsor pharmacists for postgraduate study.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
PPB Training Support
FIP Training Support

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
PPB Training Support
ScholarshipKsh 200,000Kenyan
Pharmacy and Poisons Board supports training for pharmacy professionals specialising in advanced practice.
FIP Training Support
GrantKsh 250,000
International Pharmaceutical Federation provides training support for pharmacists 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 a BPharm degree, be registered with PPB, and have at least one year of post-registration experience. Some programmes may require an entry examination. Contact respective universities for specific admission requirements.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework20% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, case presentations, seminar presentations, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination30% of the mark
Written examinations covering clinical pharmacy, pharmaceutical analysis, pharmacology, pharmaceutics, and pharmacovigilance.
Clinical and Practical Assessment
Practical50% of the mark
Practical assessment through clinical rotation performance, laboratory exercises, analytical demonstrations, and OSCE examinations.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on a pharmacy topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and pharmaceutical knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) and the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB). University of Nairobi and Kenyatta University (both public) offer Master of Pharmacy programmes. All programmes meet CUE and PPB standards for postgraduate pharmacy training. Graduates are eligible for PPB specialist registration and KPA professional membership.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE and the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB). University of Nairobi and Kenyatta University (both public) offer Master of Pharmacy programmes. All programmes meet CUE and PPB standards for postgraduate pharmacy training. Graduates are eligible for PPB specialist registration and KPA professional membership.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Clinical Pharmacist
High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 700,000
Works as a specialist clinical pharmacist in hospitals, overseeing drug therapy management, patient care, and managing clinical pharmacy services.
Pharmaceutical Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 600,000
Manages pharmaceutical analysis in laboratories, overseeing drug testing, quality control, and managing analytical services.
Industrial Pharmacist
Moderate demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 700,000
Works in pharmaceutical manufacturing, overseeing production, formulation, quality assurance, and managing pharmaceutical production.
Pharmacovigilance Specialist
High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 650,000
Manages pharmacovigilance programmes, overseeing drug safety monitoring, adverse event reporting, and managing pharmacovigilance systems.
Regulatory Affairs Officer
Moderate demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 650,000
Manages regulatory affairs in pharmaceutical companies, overseeing drug registration, regulatory compliance, and managing regulatory submissions.
Pharmacy Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 550,000
Teaches pharmacy at university level, overseeing instruction, research, clinical supervision, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as clinical pharmacists, pharmaceutical analysts, industrial pharmacists, pharmacovigilance specialists, regulatory affairs officers, and lecturers in pharmacy.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

HPLC System
EquipmentPrimary
High-performance liquid chromatography system for pharmaceutical analysis, covering drug analysis, quality control, and managing analytical testing.
SPSS
Software
Statistical analysis software for pharmacy research, data analysis, and analysing and interpreting research data for thesis.
Pharmacovigilance Database
Software
Pharmacovigilance database for drug safety monitoring, covering adverse event reporting, signal detection, and managing pharmacovigilance data.
Microsoft Excel
Software
Spreadsheet software for pharmaceutical data management, quality control data, and managing pharmacy research data.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Master of Pharmacy is just an extension of the bachelor's degree.
MPharm provides specialised advanced training in clinical pharmacy, pharmaceutical analysis, industrial pharmacy, or pharmacovigilance, going well beyond undergraduate level.
Pharmacy is only about dispensing medications.
Pharmacy covers comprehensive pharmaceutical science including drug development, clinical therapy, quality assurance, regulatory affairs, and pharmacovigilance.
This programme is only for those working in pharmacies.
Pharmacy skills are valuable in hospitals, pharmaceutical industry, regulatory bodies, research institutions, and academia.
Pharmacy has limited career prospects in Kenya.
With growing pharmaceutical industry and healthcare sector, demand for advanced pharmacy professionals is increasing.
Clinical pharmacy is the same as hospital pharmacy.
Clinical pharmacy focuses on optimising drug therapy and patient outcomes, while hospital pharmacy covers broader hospital medication management.
Pharmacovigilance is just about reporting side effects.
Pharmacovigilance covers comprehensive drug safety monitoring including risk assessment, signal detection, risk management, and regulatory reporting.