Health Sciences

Master of Science (Global Health Care)

The Master of Science in Global Health Care is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in global health, international health systems, and cross-border health challenges. The programme combines public health knowledge with global health policy and international health systems analysis.

Core areas include global health, international health systems, health policy, infectious diseases, epidemiology, health economics, research methods, and thesis. Students engage with both global health theory and practical international health application through coursework and research.

The programme is offered by JKUAT and Moi University. Both are public universities offering the programme over two academic years through full-time mode of study. Moi University offers a related MSc in Infectious Diseases and Global Health.

Students develop competencies in global health analysis, international health systems, health policy, infectious disease management, epidemiology, health economics, and research methods. The programme includes coursework, examinations, field work, and a research thesis.

JKUAT charges approximately KES 248,000/year (total KES 496,000). Entry requires a Bachelor's degree with at least Second Class Honours Upper Division in health sciences, biological sciences, or related fields from a recognised institution.

Graduates pursue careers as global health specialists, international health consultants, health policy analysts, programme managers, public health researchers, and lecturers in global health and international health across international organisations, NGOs, and government agencies.

Skills Required

Global Health Systems Analysis
International Health Policy and Governance
Infectious Disease Management and Control
Health Economics and Financing
Epidemiology in Global Health
Cross-Cultural Health Communication
Health Programme Design and Management
Research Methods in Global Health
Global Health Ethics and Equity
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Global Health Concepts and Frameworks
International Health Systems
Health Policy and Governance
Infectious Diseases and Global Health
Epidemiology in Global Health
Health Economics and Financing
Research Methods in Global Health
Global Health Ethics and Equity
Health Programme Management
Thesis Research

Certifications

KAPHA Professional Membership
WHO Global Health Certification

Specializations

Infectious Diseases and Global Health

Focuses on infectious diseases in global context, covering disease surveillance, outbreak response, pandemic preparedness, and managing infectious disease programmes.

Health Systems and Policy

Examines health systems, covering health system analysis, health policy, health financing, health governance, and managing health system strengthening.

Global Health Economics

Covers health economics, covering health financing, economic evaluation, cost-effectiveness analysis, and managing health economics research.

International Health Development

Focuses on international health development, covering development assistance, global health partnerships, health diplomacy, and managing international health programmes.

Global Health Research

Examines global health research, covering research design, implementation science, translational research, and managing global health research.

Health Equity and Social Justice

Covers health equity, covering health disparities, social determinants, equity analysis, and managing health equity programmes.

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
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 20 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Global Health Concepts and Frameworks
International Health Systems
Health Policy and Governance
Infectious Diseases and Global Health
Epidemiology in Global Health
Health Economics and Financing
Research Methods in Global Health
Global Health Ethics and Equity
Health Programme Management
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Global Health Concepts and Frameworks
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines global health concepts, global burden of disease, global health governance, SDGs, and managing global health challenges.
International Health Systems
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers health system comparison, health system analysis, health system strengthening, and managing international health systems.
Infectious Diseases and Global Health
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines disease surveillance, outbreak response, pandemic preparedness, emerging diseases, and managing infectious disease programmes.
Research Methods in Global Health
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers research design, data collection, analysis, ethical issues, and conducting global health research, preparing students for their thesis.
Health Policy and Governance
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers health policy analysis, policy development, policy implementation, health governance, and managing health policy.
Health Economics and Financing
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines health financing, economic evaluation, cost-effectiveness analysis, health insurance, and managing health economics.
Epidemiology in Global Health
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers epidemiological methods, disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, global epidemiology, and managing epidemiological analysis.
Global Health Ethics and Equity
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines global health ethics, equity, social justice, health disparities, and managing ethical considerations in global health.
Health Programme Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers programme design, programme implementation, programme monitoring, programme evaluation, and managing health programmes.
Cross-Cultural Health Communication
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines cross-cultural communication, health communication, cultural competence, and managing cross-cultural health programmes.
Implementation Science in Global Health
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers implementation science, evidence uptake, translational research, and managing implementation of health interventions.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research thesis on a global health topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and global health knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Infectious Diseases and Global Health
Focuses on infectious diseases in global context, covering disease surveillance, outbreak response, pandemic preparedness, and managing infectious disease programmes.
Health Systems and Policy
Examines health systems, covering health system analysis, health policy, health financing, health governance, and managing health system strengthening.
Global Health Economics
Covers health economics, covering health financing, economic evaluation, cost-effectiveness analysis, and managing health economics research.
International Health Development
Focuses on international health development, covering development assistance, global health partnerships, health diplomacy, and managing international health programmes.
Global Health Research
Examines global health research, covering research design, implementation science, translational research, and managing global health research.
Health Equity and Social Justice
Covers health equity, covering health disparities, social determinants, equity analysis, and managing health equity programmes.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Global Health Care programme combines lectures, seminars, field visits, and independent study. Sessions cover global health, international health systems, infectious diseases, health policy, and health economics. Global health sessions examine global health concepts, global burden of disease, global health governance, and managing global health challenges. International health systems sessions cover health system comparison, health system analysis, health system strengthening, and managing international health systems. Infectious disease sessions cover disease surveillance, outbreak response, pandemic preparedness, and managing infectious disease programmes. Health policy sessions cover health policy analysis, policy development, policy implementation, and managing health policy. Health economics sessions cover health financing, economic evaluation, cost-effectiveness, and managing health economics. Epidemiology sessions cover epidemiological methods, disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, and managing epidemiological analysis. Research methods sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. Health ethics sessions cover global health ethics, equity, social justice, and managing ethical considerations. Field visits provide practical experience with health programmes, international organisations, and field data collection. Seminars and discussion groups provide opportunities for debating current issues in global health. Guest lectures from experienced global health professionals, WHO advisors, and international health consultants provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a research thesis on a global health topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

High demand for global health professionals with increasing pandemics, international health partnerships, and cross-border health challenges.
Programme is offered by multiple universities (JKUAT, Moi), providing institutional choice.
Programme combines public health with global health policy and international health systems, providing versatile skills.
JKUAT offers competitive fees at approximately KES 248,000/year.

Against it

Moi University fees not independently verified, limiting fee comparison.
No private university confirmed offering this exact programme, limiting options.
Programme requires understanding of both health sciences and international policy, which may be challenging for some students.
Career prospects may be concentrated in specific sectors (international organisations, NGOs, government), limiting options in private sector.

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, Africa CDC, and international organisations may provide training support for global health professionals. Some NGOs 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 global 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 related field. Lower Second Division holders with relevant experience may be considered. Some universities may require oral interview and written entrance examination. 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, policy briefs, seminar presentations, group projects, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination40% of the mark
Written examinations covering global health, international health systems, infectious diseases, health policy, and health economics.
Practical and Field Assessment
Practical30% of the mark
Practical assessment through field projects, policy analysis exercises, programme evaluation projects, and demonstrating global health skills.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on a global health topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and global health knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). JKUAT and Moi University (both public) offer MSc in Global Health Care and related programmes. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in global health. Graduates are eligible for KAPHA professional membership and WHO global health certification.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. JKUAT and Moi University (both public) offer MSc in Global Health Care and related programmes. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in global health. Graduates are eligible for KAPHA professional membership and WHO global health certification.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Global Health Specialist
High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 700,000
Manages global health programmes, overseeing programme design, implementation, monitoring, and managing global health initiatives.
International Health Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 200,000 to Ksh 800,000
Consults on international health, providing advisory services, programme evaluation, and technical guidance to international organisations.
Health Policy Analyst
Moderate demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 650,000
Analyses health policy, overseeing policy research, policy analysis, policy recommendations, and managing health policy work.
Health Programme Manager
High demandKsh 180,000 to Ksh 700,000
Manages health programmes, overseeing programme design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and managing programme operations.
Public Health Researcher
Moderate demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 600,000
Conducts global health research, overseeing research design, data collection, analysis, and managing research activities.
Global Health Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 550,000
Teaches global health 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

SPSS
SoftwarePrimary
SPSS statistical software for global health research, covering data analysis, statistical tests, and managing research data.
Stata
Software
Stata statistical software for epidemiological research, covering data analysis, epidemiological methods, and managing health data.
DHIS2
Software
DHIS2 health information system for health data management, covering data collection, indicators, dashboards, and managing health data.
GIS Software
Software
GIS software for health mapping, covering spatial analysis, disease mapping, and managing geographic health data.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Global health is just about international travel.
Global health covers comprehensive health challenges including infectious diseases, health systems, policy, economics, and equity across borders.
This programme is only for those working internationally.
Global health skills are valuable in national health systems, research, NGOs, and any organisation dealing with health challenges that cross borders.
Global health has limited career prospects in Kenya.
With increasing global health challenges, pandemics, and international health partnerships, demand for global health professionals is growing in Kenya.
This programme is the same as general MPH.
This programme focuses specifically on global and international health, while MPH covers broader public health including domestic health management.
Global health is just about infectious diseases.
Global health covers comprehensive health challenges including non-communicable diseases, health systems, maternal health, nutrition, and environmental health.
Health economics is not relevant to global health.
Health economics is critical to global health, covering health financing, resource allocation, and cost-effectiveness of health interventions.