Health Sciences

Master of Science (Epidemiology and Biostatistics)

The Master of Science in Epidemiology and Biostatistics is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in disease surveillance, epidemiological research, and statistical analysis of health data. The programme combines epidemiological methods with biostatistical techniques for public health research.

Core areas include epidemiology, biostatistics, disease surveillance, research methods, data analysis, study design, outbreak investigation, statistical modelling, and thesis. Students engage with both epidemiological theory and practical statistical application in health research.

The programme is offered by JKUAT and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University. Both are public universities offering the programme over two academic years through full-time and part-time modes of study.

Students develop competencies in epidemiological study design, disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, statistical analysis, data management, statistical modelling, research methods, and scientific communication. The programme includes coursework, examinations, and a research thesis.

JKUAT charges approximately KES 248,000/year (total KES 496,000). Entry requires a Bachelor's degree with at least Upper Second Class Honours in medical microbiology, environmental health, public health, biochemistry, biological sciences, nursing, pharmacy, medicine, dentistry, or related fields from a recognised institution.

Graduates pursue careers as epidemiologists, biostatisticians, public health researchers, disease surveillance officers, data analysts, and lecturers in epidemiology and biostatistics across health institutions and research organisations.

Skills Required

Epidemiological Study Design and Analysis
Biostatistical Methods and Statistical Modelling
Disease Surveillance and Outbreak Investigation
Statistical Software (R, SPSS, Stata)
Health Data Management and Analysis
Research Methods in Epidemiology
Survival Analysis and Regression Modelling
Survey Design and Sampling Methods
Spatial Epidemiology and GIS
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Advanced Epidemiology
Advanced Biostatistics
Disease Surveillance and Outbreak Investigation
Epidemiological Study Design
Statistical Modelling and Regression Analysis
Survival Analysis
Survey Design and Sampling Methods
Research Methods in Epidemiology
Spatial Epidemiology and GIS
Thesis Research

Certifications

KAPHA Professional Membership
ISPE Professional Membership

Specializations

Infectious Disease Epidemiology

Focuses on infectious disease epidemiology, covering disease transmission, outbreak investigation, infectious disease surveillance, and managing infectious disease epidemiology.

Chronic Disease Epidemiology

Examines chronic disease epidemiology, covering chronic disease risk factors, disease prevention, chronic disease surveillance, and managing chronic disease epidemiology.

Biostatistics and Statistical Modelling

Covers biostatistics, covering statistical modelling, regression analysis, survival analysis, and managing biostatistical analysis.

Spatial Epidemiology

Focuses on spatial epidemiology, covering disease mapping, spatial analysis, GIS in epidemiology, and managing spatial epidemiology.

Pharmacoepidemiology

Examines pharmacoepidemiology, covering drug safety, adverse event surveillance, drug utilisation research, and managing pharmacoepidemiology.

Genetic Epidemiology

Covers genetic epidemiology, covering genetic risk factors, gene-environment interactions, genetic study design, and managing genetic epidemiology.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 248,000
Job market: 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: 20 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Advanced Epidemiology
Advanced Biostatistics
Disease Surveillance and Outbreak Investigation
Epidemiological Study Design
Statistical Modelling and Regression Analysis
Survival Analysis
Survey Design and Sampling Methods
Research Methods in Epidemiology
Spatial Epidemiology and GIS
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Advanced Epidemiology
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines study design, measures of disease frequency, measures of association, causal inference, bias, confounding, and managing epidemiological research.
Advanced Biostatistics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers probability, hypothesis testing, estimation, confidence intervals, and managing biostatistical analysis.
Disease Surveillance and Outbreak Investigation
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines surveillance systems, outbreak investigation, epidemic response, surveillance data, and managing disease surveillance.
Research Methods in Epidemiology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers research design, data collection, analysis, ethical issues, and conducting epidemiological research, preparing students for their thesis.
Statistical Modelling and Regression Analysis
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers linear regression, logistic regression, Poisson regression, model building, and managing statistical modelling.
Survival Analysis
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines survival data, Kaplan-Meier methods, Cox regression, hazard functions, and managing survival analysis.
Survey Design and Sampling Methods
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers sampling methods, questionnaire design, survey implementation, survey quality, and managing survey research.
Spatial Epidemiology and GIS
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines disease mapping, spatial analysis, GIS, cluster analysis, and managing spatial epidemiology.
Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers disease transmission, outbreak investigation, infectious disease surveillance, vaccination, and managing infectious disease epidemiology.
Chronic Disease Epidemiology
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines chronic disease risk factors, disease prevention, chronic disease surveillance, and managing chronic disease epidemiology.
Data Management and Statistical Computing
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers data management, data cleaning, statistical software (R, SPSS, Stata), reproducible research, and managing health data.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research thesis on an epidemiology or biostatistics topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and epidemiological knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Focuses on infectious disease epidemiology, covering disease transmission, outbreak investigation, infectious disease surveillance, and managing infectious disease epidemiology.
Chronic Disease Epidemiology
Examines chronic disease epidemiology, covering chronic disease risk factors, disease prevention, chronic disease surveillance, and managing chronic disease epidemiology.
Biostatistics and Statistical Modelling
Covers biostatistics, covering statistical modelling, regression analysis, survival analysis, and managing biostatistical analysis.
Spatial Epidemiology
Focuses on spatial epidemiology, covering disease mapping, spatial analysis, GIS in epidemiology, and managing spatial epidemiology.
Pharmacoepidemiology
Examines pharmacoepidemiology, covering drug safety, adverse event surveillance, drug utilisation research, and managing pharmacoepidemiology.
Genetic Epidemiology
Covers genetic epidemiology, covering genetic risk factors, gene-environment interactions, genetic study design, and managing genetic epidemiology.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Epidemiology and Biostatistics programme combines lectures, computer laboratory sessions, seminars, and independent study. Sessions cover epidemiology, biostatistics, disease surveillance, study design, and statistical modelling. Epidemiology sessions examine study design, measures of disease frequency, measures of association, causal inference, and managing epidemiological research. Biostatistics sessions cover probability, hypothesis testing, regression analysis, survival analysis, and managing biostatistical analysis. Disease surveillance sessions cover surveillance systems, outbreak investigation, epidemic response, and managing disease surveillance. Study design sessions cover cohort studies, case-control studies, cross-sectional studies, randomised trials, and managing study design. Statistical modelling sessions cover linear regression, logistic regression, Cox regression, and managing statistical modelling. Survey design sessions cover sampling methods, questionnaire design, survey implementation, and managing survey research. Spatial epidemiology sessions cover disease mapping, spatial analysis, GIS, and managing spatial epidemiology. Research methods sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. Computer laboratory sessions provide hands-on experience with statistical software including R, SPSS, and Stata for data analysis and statistical modelling. Seminars and discussion groups provide opportunities for debating current issues in epidemiology and public health. Guest lectures from experienced epidemiologists, biostatisticians, and public health researchers provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a research thesis on an epidemiology or biostatistics topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

High demand for epidemiologists and biostatisticians with increasing disease outbreaks and health data needs in Kenya.
Programme combines epidemiology with biostatistics, providing versatile quantitative skills for health research.
Programme is offered by multiple universities (JKUAT, JOOUST), providing institutional choice.
JKUAT offers competitive fees at approximately KES 248,000/year.

Against it

JOOUST fees not independently verified, limiting fee comparison.
No private university confirmed offering this exact programme, limiting options.
Programme requires strong quantitative and mathematical skills, which may be challenging for some students.
Programme is specialised, which may limit versatility compared to broader MPH degrees.

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 248k

120k at Kisii University248k at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

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, JKUAT 248K/yr (kenyaeducationguide). Private: unverified.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. KEMRI may provide training support for research staff. WHO and Africa CDC may provide training support for epidemiologists and public health professionals. Some research institutions and international health organisations may sponsor staff for postgraduate study.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
KEMRI Training Support
WHO Training Support

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
KEMRI Training Support
ScholarshipKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenya Medical Research Institute supports training for research staff.
WHO Training Support
GrantKsh 300,000
World Health Organization provides training support for epidemiologists and public health professionals 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: Most universities require Upper Second Class Honours in health sciences or biological sciences. Lower Second Division holders with relevant experience may be considered. 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, data analysis exercises, seminar presentations, problem sets, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination40% of the mark
Written examinations covering epidemiology, biostatistics, study design, statistical modelling, and disease surveillance.
Practical and Computing Assessment
Practical30% of the mark
Practical assessment through data analysis exercises, statistical computing, study design projects, and demonstrating epidemiological and biostatistical skills.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on an epidemiology or biostatistics topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and epidemiological knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). JKUAT and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University (both public) offer MSc in Epidemiology and Biostatistics. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in epidemiology and biostatistics. Graduates are eligible for KAPHA professional membership and ISPE professional membership.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. JKUAT and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University (both public) offer MSc in Epidemiology and Biostatistics. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in epidemiology and biostatistics. Graduates are eligible for KAPHA professional membership and ISPE professional membership.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Epidemiologist
High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 650,000
Manages epidemiological research and surveillance, overseeing disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, and managing epidemiological programmes.
Biostatistician
High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 650,000
Manages biostatistical analysis, overseeing data analysis, statistical modelling, and managing biostatistical services.
Public Health Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 600,000
Conducts public health research, overseeing research design, data collection, analysis, and managing research activities.
Disease Surveillance Officer
High demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 550,000
Manages disease surveillance programmes, overseeing surveillance systems, data collection, outbreak response, and managing disease surveillance.
Health Data Analyst
High demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 600,000
Analyses health data, overseeing data management, statistical analysis, data visualisation, and managing health data analysis.
Epidemiology Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 550,000
Teaches epidemiology and biostatistics at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, student supervision, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

R
SoftwarePrimary
R statistical software for epidemiological data analysis, covering statistical analysis, data visualisation, and managing biostatistical computing.
Stata
Software
Stata statistical software for epidemiological research, covering data analysis, statistical modelling, and managing epidemiological data.
SPSS
Software
SPSS statistical software for health research, covering data analysis, statistical tests, and managing research data.
EpiInfo
Software
EpiInfo public health software for epidemiological analysis, covering disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, and managing epidemiological data.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Epidemiology is just about tracking diseases.
Epidemiology covers comprehensive study of disease distribution, determinants, prevention, and control in populations using rigorous research methods.
Biostatistics is just about calculating numbers.
Biostatistics covers comprehensive statistical science including study design, data analysis, statistical modelling, and interpretation of health data.
This programme is only for medical doctors.
Epidemiology and biostatistics skills are valuable for nurses, pharmacists, public health professionals, biologists, and anyone with a health sciences background.
Epidemiology has limited career prospects in Kenya.
With increasing disease outbreaks and health data needs, demand for epidemiologists and biostatisticians is growing in Kenya.
Biostatistics is too mathematical and not practical.
Biostatistics is highly practical, applied to real health problems including disease surveillance, clinical trials, and public health programme evaluation.
This programme is the same as Master of Public Health.
While related, this programme focuses specifically on epidemiological methods and biostatistical analysis, while MPH covers broader public health including policy and management.