Social Sciences

Master of Science in Bioethics

The Master of Science in Bioethics is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in ethical review, research ethics governance, and bioethics scholarship. The programme combines philosophical foundations with practical ethics application in healthcare and research.

Core areas include philosophy and bioethics, human rights and gender, law and bioethics, clinical ethics, research ethics, public health principles, health systems, qualitative data analysis, epidemiology, biostatistics, and thesis. Students engage with both ethical theory and practical ethics review through coursework and research.

The programme is offered by Mount Kenya University, Amref International University, Moi University, and the University of Nairobi. MKU and Amref are private universities while Moi and UoN are public. All offer the programme over two academic years through regular, weekend, or part-time virtual modes of study.

Students develop competencies in bioethics theory, research ethics, clinical ethics, ethical review, health policy, qualitative research, and research methods. The programme includes coursework, examinations, practicum, and a research thesis.

MKU charges approximately KES 180,000/year (KES 360,000 total). UoN charges approximately KES 148,000/year (KES 296,000 total). Entry requires a Bachelor's degree with Second Class Honours Upper Division in health sciences, sciences, arts, humanities, or related fields from a recognised university.

Graduates pursue careers as bioethicists, research ethicists, ethics committee members, clinical ethics consultants, research managers, and lecturers in bioethics across hospitals, research institutions, universities, and regulatory bodies.

Skills Required

Bioethics Theory and Philosophical Foundations
Research Ethics and Ethical Review
Clinical Ethics and Consultation
Health Law and Human Rights
Qualitative Research Methods
Epidemiology and Biostatistics for Ethics
Health Policy and Planning
Gender and Research Ethics
Ethics Committee Management
Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

Philosophy and Bioethics
Human Rights, Gender and Bioethics
Law and Bioethics
Clinical Ethics
Research Ethics
Principles of Public Health
Foundations of Health Systems
Qualitative Data Analysis
Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Thesis Research

Certifications

UNESCO Bioethics Certification
African Bioethics Consortium Certification

Specializations

Research Ethics

Focuses on research ethics, covering ethical review, informed consent, vulnerable populations, clinical trial ethics, and managing research ethics.

Clinical Ethics

Examines clinical ethics, covering patient autonomy, end-of-life care, informed consent, clinical decision-making, and managing clinical ethics.

Public Health Ethics

Covers public health ethics, covering population health, resource allocation, surveillance ethics, vaccination policy, and managing public health ethics.

Health Law and Policy

Focuses on health law, covering medical law, human rights, health legislation, regulatory frameworks, and managing health policy.

Global Bioethics

Examines global bioethics, covering international research ethics, cross-cultural ethics, global health justice, and managing global bioethics.

Environmental Ethics

Covers environmental ethics, covering environmental research ethics, One Health ethics, conservation ethics, and managing environmental ethics.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 260,500
Private, up to: Ksh 180,000
Job market: Moderate

The programme

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

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time, Weekend, Online
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 15 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Philosophy and Bioethics
Human Rights, Gender and Bioethics
Law and Bioethics
Clinical Ethics
Research Ethics
Principles of Public Health
Foundations of Health Systems
Qualitative Data Analysis
Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Philosophy and Bioethics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines metaphysics, theories of knowledge, ethical theories, moral reasoning, belief systems, religion, culture, and managing philosophical foundations.
Human Rights, Gender and Bioethics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers human rights, gender equity, social justice, cultural sensitivity, gender and research ethics, and managing rights-based ethics.
Law and Bioethics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines medical law, health legislation, regulatory frameworks, patient rights, international health regulations, and managing health law.
Principles of Public Health and Health Systems
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers public health principles, health systems, health policy, disease prevention, health promotion, and managing public health.
Clinical Ethics
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines patient autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, end-of-life care, clinical decision-making, and managing clinical ethics.
Research Ethics and Ethical Review
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers informed consent, vulnerable populations, ethical review, clinical trial ethics, research integrity, publication ethics, and managing research ethics.
Qualitative Data Analysis
Year 1Semester 22 creditsCore
Examines qualitative research methods, interviews, focus groups, content analysis, thematic analysis, and managing qualitative research.
Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers study design, disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, causal inference, biostatistics, and managing epidemiological methods.
Ethical, Environmental and Policy Issues in Research
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines environmental research ethics, One Health ethics, conservation ethics, policy issues, and managing environmental and policy ethics.
Contemporary Ethical Theories and Emerging Issues
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers contemporary ethical theories, emerging issues in international research, management of international research, and managing emerging ethics.
Practicum and Ethical Review Committee Experience
Year 2Semester 16 creditsCore
Hands-on practicum with ethical review committees, research ethics boards, and clinical ethics consultation, providing practical experience in bioethics.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 29 creditsCore
Original research thesis on a bioethics topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and bioethics knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Research Ethics
Focuses on research ethics, covering ethical review, informed consent, vulnerable populations, clinical trial ethics, and managing research ethics.
Clinical Ethics
Examines clinical ethics, covering patient autonomy, end-of-life care, informed consent, clinical decision-making, and managing clinical ethics.
Public Health Ethics
Covers public health ethics, covering population health, resource allocation, surveillance ethics, vaccination policy, and managing public health ethics.
Health Law and Policy
Focuses on health law, covering medical law, human rights, health legislation, regulatory frameworks, and managing health policy.
Global Bioethics
Examines global bioethics, covering international research ethics, cross-cultural ethics, global health justice, and managing global bioethics.
Environmental Ethics
Covers environmental ethics, covering environmental research ethics, One Health ethics, conservation ethics, and managing environmental ethics.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Bioethics programme combines lectures, seminars, case discussions, practicums, and independent study. Sessions cover philosophy and bioethics, research ethics, clinical ethics, health law, and public health. Philosophy sessions examine metaphysics, theories of knowledge, ethical theories, moral reasoning, and managing philosophical foundations. Research ethics sessions cover informed consent, vulnerable populations, ethical review, clinical trial ethics, research integrity, and managing research ethics. Clinical ethics sessions cover patient autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, end-of-life care, and managing clinical ethics. Health law sessions cover medical law, human rights, health legislation, regulatory frameworks, gender and rights, and managing health law. Public health sessions cover principles of public health, health systems, epidemiology, biostatistics, health policy, and managing public health. Qualitative methods sessions cover qualitative data analysis, interviews, focus groups, content analysis, and managing qualitative research. Epidemiology sessions cover study design, disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, causal inference, and managing epidemiology. Gender sessions cover gender and research ethics, equity, social justice, cultural sensitivity, and managing gender ethics. Belief systems sessions cover religion, culture, and bioethics, examining how belief systems influence ethical decision-making. Research methods sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. Practicum sessions provide hands-on experience with ethical review committees, research ethics boards, and clinical ethics consultation. Seminars and discussion groups provide opportunities for debating current issues in bioethics. Guest lectures from experienced bioethicists, ethicists, and researchers provide practical insights. The programme culminates in a research thesis on a bioethics topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

Growing demand for bioethics professionals with increasing clinical trials, biomedical research, and regulatory requirements in Kenya.
Programme offered by both public (Moi, UoN) and private (MKU, Amref) universities, providing institutional and sectoral choice.
UoN offers competitive fees at approximately KES 148,000/year (KES 296,000 total) with scholarship opportunities through MOHERE.
Programme combines philosophy, law, health sciences, and research, providing versatile interdisciplinary skills.

Against it

MKU fees are higher at approximately KES 180,000/year (KES 360,000 total).
Niche field with relatively small job market compared to broader health or social science programmes.
Programme may require interdisciplinary background which can be challenging for those with purely technical training.
Limited number of universities offering this specific programme, though more are expected to develop bioethics capacity.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 241 social sciences courses

Public187k to 261k

187k at Moi University261k at University of Nairobi

Private180k to 180k

180k at Mount Kenya University180k at Mount Kenya 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 MOHERE 521K/2yr~260K/yr. Moi ~~187K/yr. MKU 90K/sem~~180K/yr. Kabarak unverified. Src: uonbi/mku.ac.ke

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. MKU may offer postgraduate bursaries for eligible students. The UoN MOHERE programme offers competitive scholarships for tuition fees, research costs, and workshop participation through Ohio State University. Some organisations may sponsor staff for postgraduate bioethics study.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
MKU Postgraduate Bursary
MOHERE Scholarship

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
MKU Postgraduate Bursary
ScholarshipKsh 100,000Kenyan
Mount Kenya University offers postgraduate bursaries for eligible students.
MOHERE Scholarship
ScholarshipKsh 300,000Kenyan
UoN MOHERE programme offers competitive scholarships for tuition, research costs, and workshop participation through Ohio State University partnership.

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, sciences, arts, or humanities. Lower Second Division holders with relevant experience are considered. Pass degree holders with postgraduate diploma and at least five years of 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, seminar presentations, case discussions, literature reviews, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination70% of the mark
Written examinations covering philosophy, research ethics, clinical ethics, health law, public health, and qualitative methods.
Practicum Assessment
Practical30% of the mark
Practical assessment through ethical review committee practicum, clinical ethics consultation, and demonstrating bioethics skills.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on a bioethics topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and bioethics knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Mount Kenya University and Amref International University (private) and Moi University and University of Nairobi (public) offer MSc in Bioethics or related bioethics programmes. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in bioethics. Graduates are eligible for UNESCO bioethics certification and African Bioethics Consortium certification.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. Mount Kenya University and Amref International University (private) and Moi University and University of Nairobi (public) offer MSc in Bioethics or related bioethics programmes. All programmes meet CUE standards for postgraduate training in bioethics. Graduates are eligible for UNESCO bioethics certification and African Bioethics Consortium certification.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Bioethicist
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Provides bioethics expertise, overseeing ethical review, consultation, teaching, research, and managing bioethics practice.
Research Ethicist
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Serves on ethical review committees, overseeing protocol review, informed consent, compliance, and managing research ethics.
Clinical Ethics Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Provides clinical ethics consultation, overseeing case consultation, policy development, education, and managing clinical ethics.
Research Manager
Moderate demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 550,000
Manages research projects, overseeing compliance, ethics, regulatory affairs, and managing research operations.
Ethics Committee Member
Moderate demandKsh 100,000 to Ksh 400,000
Serves on institutional review boards, overseeing ethical review, protocol assessment, compliance monitoring, and managing ethics governance.
Bioethics Lecturer
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches bioethics at university or college level, overseeing instruction, research, seminar supervision, and academic supervision.

Graduate outcomes

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

NVivo
SoftwarePrimary
NVivo for qualitative data analysis, covering coding, thematic analysis, content analysis, and managing qualitative research data.
SPSS
Software
SPSS for statistical analysis, covering data analysis, statistical tests, research data, and managing biostatistics data.
EndNote
Software
EndNote for reference management, covering citation management, bibliography, literature review, and managing research references.
Covidence
Software
Covidence for systematic review, covering literature screening, data extraction, quality assessment, and managing systematic reviews.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Bioethics is just about medical ethics.
Bioethics covers comprehensive research ethics, public health ethics, environmental ethics, global bioethics, health law, and human rights beyond just medical ethics.
This programme is only for medical professionals.
Bioethics skills are valuable for anyone in health sciences, social sciences, law, philosophy, research, and policy interested in ethical governance and responsible research.
Bioethics has limited career prospects in Kenya.
With growing clinical trials, biomedical research, and regulatory requirements, demand for bioethics professionals is increasing in Kenya and internationally.
Research ethics is just about informed consent.
Research ethics covers comprehensive ethical review, vulnerable populations, risk-benefit analysis, data ethics, publication ethics, and research integrity.
Bioethics is purely theoretical.
Bioethics includes practical application through ethical review committees, clinical ethics consultation, policy development, and research ethics governance.
Health law is just about medical malpractice.
Health law covers comprehensive human rights, health legislation, regulatory frameworks, patient rights, public health law, and international health regulations.