Health Sciences

Master of Public Health

The Master of Public Health is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in public health, disease prevention, and health promotion. The programme combines public health theory with epidemiological methods and health systems management.

Core areas include epidemiology, biostatistics, health promotion, disease control, health systems management, environmental health, reproductive health, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both public health theory and practical field application.

The programme is offered by multiple universities including the University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University, Moi University, JKUAT, and Amref International University. Both public and private institutions offer the programme over two academic years through full-time and part-time modes.

Students develop competencies in epidemiology, biostatistics, health promotion, disease control, health systems management, environmental health, research methods, and public health practice. The programme includes coursework, field practicum, examinations, and thesis or research project.

UoN charges approximately KES 431,000/year (total KES 862,000). JKUAT charges approximately KES 248,000/year (total KES 496,000). Kenyatta University charges KES 326,400/year. Amref International University charges KES 292,000 (Year 1) and KES 243,000 (Year 2). Entry requires a Bachelor's degree in health or related fields with at least Second Class Honours.

Graduates pursue careers as public health officers, epidemiologists, health programme managers, health promotion specialists, research officers, and lecturers in public health.

Skills Required

Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance
Biostatistics and Health Data Analysis
Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
Health Systems Management
Environmental and Occupational Health
Reproductive and Child Health
Public Health Research Methods
Health Policy and Planning
Community Health Assessment
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Principles of Epidemiology
Biostatistics and Health Data Analysis
Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
Health Systems Management
Environmental and Occupational Health
Reproductive and Child Health
Public Health Research Methods
Health Policy and Planning
Disease Control and Surveillance
Thesis Research

Certifications

KMPDC Registration (for medical graduates)
APHN Professional Membership

Specializations

Epidemiology and Disease Control

Focuses on epidemiology, covering disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, epidemiological methods, and managing disease control programmes.

Health Promotion

Examines health promotion, covering health education, behaviour change communication, health promotion interventions, and managing health promotion programmes.

Health Systems Management

Covers health systems management, covering health policy, health planning, health financing, and managing health systems and services.

Reproductive Health

Focuses on reproductive health, covering maternal health, family planning, reproductive health programmes, and managing reproductive health services.

Environmental Health

Examines environmental health, covering environmental health risks, sanitation, water safety, and managing environmental health programmes.

Monitoring and Evaluation in Health

Covers M&E in health, covering health programme monitoring, health indicators, health data systems, and managing M&E for health programmes.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 431,000
Private, up to: Ksh 267,500
Job market: Very high

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 30 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Principles of Epidemiology
Biostatistics and Health Data Analysis
Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
Health Systems Management
Environmental and Occupational Health
Reproductive and Child Health
Public Health Research Methods
Health Policy and Planning
Disease Control and Surveillance
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Principles of Public Health
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines public health principles, public health history, public health systems, and fundamental approaches to public health practice.
Principles of Epidemiology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers epidemiological methods, disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, study designs, and analysing disease patterns in populations.
Biostatistics and Health Data Analysis
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines statistical methods, health data analysis, statistical software, probability, and analysing and interpreting health data.
Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers health education, behaviour change communication, health promotion interventions, and designing disease prevention programmes.
Health Systems Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines health systems, health policy, health planning, health financing, and managing health systems and services.
Public Health Research Methods
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers research design, data collection, analysis, and conducting public health research, preparing students for their thesis.
Environmental and Occupational Health
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines environmental health risks, sanitation, water safety, occupational health, and managing environmental and occupational health.
Reproductive and Child Health
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers maternal health, family planning, child health, reproductive health programmes, and managing reproductive and child health services.
Disease Control and Surveillance
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines infectious disease control, chronic disease prevention, immunisation programmes, and managing disease control and surveillance.
Health Policy and Planning
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers health policy analysis, health planning, health programme design, and managing health policy and planning processes.
Field Practicum and Research Seminar
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Field practicum in public health settings and preparation of research proposal, including research design, literature review, methodology, and presentation.
Research Thesis or Project
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research thesis or project on a public health topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and public health knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Epidemiology and Disease Control
Focuses on epidemiology, covering disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, epidemiological methods, and managing disease control programmes.
Health Promotion
Examines health promotion, covering health education, behaviour change communication, health promotion interventions, and managing health promotion programmes.
Health Systems Management
Covers health systems management, covering health policy, health planning, health financing, and managing health systems and services.
Reproductive Health
Focuses on reproductive health, covering maternal health, family planning, reproductive health programmes, and managing reproductive health services.
Environmental Health
Examines environmental health, covering environmental health risks, sanitation, water safety, and managing environmental health programmes.
Monitoring and Evaluation in Health
Covers M&E in health, covering health programme monitoring, health indicators, health data systems, and managing M&E for health programmes.

A day as a student

A typical day during the Master of Public Health programme combines lectures, field practicum sessions, data analysis workshops, seminars, and independent study. Sessions cover epidemiology, biostatistics, health promotion, disease control, and health systems management. Epidemiology sessions examine disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, epidemiological study designs, and analysing disease patterns. Biostatistics sessions cover statistical methods, health data analysis, statistical software, and analysing health data. Health promotion sessions cover health education, behaviour change, health communication, and designing health promotion interventions. Disease control sessions cover infectious disease control, chronic disease prevention, immunisation, and managing disease control programmes. Health systems sessions cover health policy, health planning, health financing, and managing health systems. Environmental health sessions cover environmental risks, sanitation, water safety, and managing environmental health. Reproductive health sessions cover maternal health, family planning, child health, and managing reproductive health programmes. Research methods sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. Field practicum provides hands-on experience with public health practice in community settings, health facilities, or public health organisations. Data analysis workshops provide practical experience with statistical software and health data analysis. Seminars and journal clubs provide opportunities for discussing current evidence, public health issues, and research. Guest lectures from experienced public health practitioners, epidemiologists, and policy makers provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a research thesis or project on a public health topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

Very high demand for public health professionals in Kenya and globally, with excellent career prospects.
Programme is offered by multiple universities (UoN, KU, Moi, JKUAT, Amref), providing institutional choice.
Programme is open to diverse professionals, not just medical doctors, broadening access.
JKUAT offers affordable fees at approximately KES 248,000/year.

Against it

UoN fees are high at approximately KES 431,000/year (total KES 862,000).
Programme fees vary significantly between institutions, making cost comparison complex.
Field practicum may require travel and time away from work for part-time students.
Programme may overlap with specialised MPH tracks (Epidemiology, Reproductive Health), causing confusion for prospective students.

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

Public120k to 431k

120k at Kisii University431k at University of Nairobi

Private151k to 268k

151k at Mount Kenya University268k at Amref International 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

Public: Kisii 120K, UoN 431K/yr (sphun.uonbi.ac.ke). Private: MKU 151K, Amref 268K/yr (eafinder).

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. WHO may provide training support for public health professionals. Amref International University offers scholarships and flexible payment plans. Some health organisations and counties may sponsor staff for public health postgraduate study.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
WHO Training Support
Amref Scholarship

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
WHO Training Support
GrantKsh 300,000
World Health Organization provides training support for public health professionals in developing countries.
Amref Scholarship
ScholarshipKsh 250,000Kenyan
Amref International University offers scholarships and flexible payment plans for MPH students.

Getting in

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

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: Most universities require Upper Second Class Honours in a health or related field. Lower Second Division holders with relevant experience are considered. Some universities accept Postgraduate Diploma holders with relevant experience. Contact respective universities for specific admission requirements.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, field practicum reports, seminar presentations, case studies, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination40% of the mark
Written examinations covering epidemiology, biostatistics, health promotion, disease control, and health systems management.
Field Practicum Assessment
Practical30% of the mark
Practical assessment through field practicum performance, field reports, community health assessment, and demonstrating public health practice skills.
Research Thesis or Project
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis or project on a public health topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and public health knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Multiple public universities (UoN, KU, Moi, JKUAT) and private universities (Amref International University) offer Master of Public Health programmes. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate public health training. Medical graduates are also eligible for KMPDC registration. Graduates are eligible for APHN professional membership.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. Multiple public universities (UoN, KU, Moi, JKUAT) and private universities (Amref International University) offer Master of Public Health programmes. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate public health training. Medical graduates are also eligible for KMPDC registration. Graduates are eligible for APHN professional membership.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Public Health Officer
Very high demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 600,000
Manages public health programmes, overseeing disease prevention, health promotion, and managing public health services.
Epidemiologist
High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 800,000
Investigates disease patterns, overseeing disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, and managing epidemiological activities.
Health Programme Manager
High demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 700,000
Manages health programmes, overseeing programme design, implementation, monitoring, and managing health programme operations.
Health Promotion Specialist
Moderate demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 550,000
Designs and implements health promotion, overseeing health education, behaviour change, and managing health promotion programmes.
Public Health Research Officer
Moderate demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 600,000
Conducts public health research, overseeing research design, data collection, analysis, and managing research activities.
Public Health Lecturer
High demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 600,000
Teaches public health at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, field supervision, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes